Biulding a wildshape ranger

[Theafroscotsman]

Ok, so the DM has started us at level 3 (32 point buy), and I'm wondering what abilities are most important to a wildshape ranger. Could someone recommend what I put points into? I'm a bit wary of putting points into strength as I don't know how that would change when I wild shape into something.

[holywhippet]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#alternateForm

Wild shaping is covered under the alternate form rules, so you get the Str, Dex & Con of your target shape and keep the Int, Wis and Cha of your original shape (no idea how the last one works).

Thing is, you aren't getting any wild shaping until level 5. You only get one change per day when that happens and can only hold that shape for one hour per level. You won't have the awesome bonuses that a druid has when wild shaping because you can't cast spells to buff yourself. Any magical items you get won't be useful while wild shaped either as I understand it.

I suspect wild shaping is more of a tactical thing for a ranger, like changing into a dog to infiltrate. If you change to a bear for a fight in the middle of a city, you might be getting into more trouble than you've bargained for.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Human, Str 14, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8
Wildshape Ranger 5/ Master of Many Forms 7/ Warshaper 4/ WSRanger or Nature's Warrior 1/ MoMF 3
Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Alertness, Leap Attack, Frozen Wild Shape, Multiattack, Robilar's Gambit, Defensive Sweep
Trade Ride for Tumble as a class skill (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a). Consider taking skill tricks from CS, particularly the movement ones.
All of your Ranger spell slots should be spent on Rhino's Rush, and consider some 1st level Pearls of Power to use it more often.
Plan on getting a Monk's Belt with a Wilding Clasp attached so you get your Wis bonus to AC when wild shaped.
Use a Masterwork Glaive starting out, and get a Healing Belt. Wear armor spikes so you'll still threaten and be able to AoO adjacent squares.

Alternatively, go Str 8, Dex 8, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 10, and make a Human Divine Minion of Anhur (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a). Go LA +1/ Wild Shape Ranger 1/ Master of Many Forms 1 starting out, buy off your level adjustment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) at your next level and hit MoMF 7 asap. Your starting feats will have to be Endurance and Alertness, but if you can take flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) (more here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258440#30)) then you can also start with probably Multiattack and Improved Multiattack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#improvedMultiattack). Also note Divine Minion can Wild Shape at will as a free action, and you heal as though you rested for a night each time you do it.

[MirddinEmris]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#alternateForm

Wild shaping is covered under the alternate form rules, so you get the Str, Dex & Con of your target shape and keep the Int, Wis and Cha of your original shape (no idea how the last one works).

Thing is, you aren't getting any wild shaping until level 5. You only get one change per day when that happens and can only hold that shape for one hour per level. You won't have the awesome bonuses that a druid has when wild shaping because you can't cast spells to buff yourself. Any magical items you get won't be useful while wild shaped either as I understand it.

I suspect wild shaping is more of a tactical thing for a ranger, like changing into a dog to infiltrate. If you change to a bear for a fight in the middle of a city, you might be getting into more trouble than you've bargained for.

Where does it says about only 1 hour? The UA restrict ranger only in forms that he can wildshape into (medium and small animals).

On topic: I would take int, wis and con as important stats (though i wouldn't completely dump
dex, str and cha, about 10-12 in each would be nice) and take Alertness and Darkstalker feats (one for Master of Many Forms prereqs and other so you would be a good scout) and take skills for scouting (Hide, Move Silently, Spot, Listen, Survival) and relevant knowledge skills like Nature and Dungeoneering. At this levels you should work as party scout and tracker (or, with right ACFs - a general skillmonkey), after 5-6 level you can be anything you want to be ^_^

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Where does it says about only 1 hour? The UA restrict ranger only in forms that he can wildshape into (medium and small animals).

Wildshape Ranger gains wild shape as a Druid, though it never improves beyond small and medium animals. A Druid's Wild Shape (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/druid.htm#wildShape) lasts 1 hour per class level, so a Wildshape Ranger's would do the same as it works identically.

[Donny_Green]

I assumed Rangers obtained their wildshape class at level 2 when they'd usually get their weapon specialization feats. The same feats they give up for wildshape.

That being said, rangers spells progression isn't anything to be get excited about, so look into Master of Many Forms in Complete Adventurer. No spell casting and everything you want in the wild shape ability.

I'm taking 7 levels of MoMF for the extraordinary abilities feature, but it's not unheard of to get 10. I also added in a level of Monk with Ascetic Hunter so my levels of ranger stack for unarmed damage.

On a final note if you want a decent companion look up Beast Master, Complete Adventurer. A 2 level dip add 4 HD and helps with feat requirements for MoMF.

[holywhippet]

I assumed Rangers obtained their wildshape class at level 2 when they'd usually get their weapon specialization feats. The same feats they give up for wildshape.


A fair assumption, but not correct unfortunately. The SRD states:


Gain

Wild shape (as druid; Small or Medium animals only), fast movement (as barbarian).

So you gain the wild shape progression exactly the same as a druid, only you cannot change into anything other than medium and small creatures.

[Talya]

Wildshape Ranger build:
Mystic Wildshape Ranger 10
Master of Many Forms 10
(not necessarily in that order.)

Necessary feats: Natural Spell.
Nice to have feats: Sword of the Arcane Order + Magical Training.

[Coidzor]

Whether you need Magical Training or not to work with Sword of the Arcane Order is entirely dependent on how the DM adjudicates Sword of the Arcane Order, as it is a feat that requires adjudication, especially for those not playing in Forgotten Realms.


So you gain the wild shape progression exactly the same as a druid, only you cannot change into anything other than medium and small creatures.

Hence the popularity of Master of Many Forms, especially since even at their best casting in the form of the Mystic Ranger variant, they still only need 10 levels of Ranger casting to get their max of 5th level spells. :smallbiggrin:

[Talya]

note too that the Wildshape Ranger/MoMF is a far, far better wildshaper than the druid 19. They lack good spellcasting (Even the Mystic ranger with SotAO - though they're an awesome "Gish" caster), but they make up for it with better BAB and more available forms.

I didn't include Druid 20 there. Shapeshift is the reason - it obsoletes wildshape.

[Duke Arioch]

A couple of things. Don't dump WIZ and CON. CON needs to be as high as possible, and WIZ at least 16 for bonus spells of 3rd level. Those are the most important stats for you if you go WS ranger route. Staying ranger all the way might be preferable for these reasons: Fleshraker IS the BEST medium form you can hope to change into (what with medium restriction), and level 11 gives you level 3 spells which include Venomfire spell. Now enjoy doing xd6 acid damage with 3 of your 4 natural weapons on a full attack or after a pouncing/jumping charge. CON is the most important stat because when you change into an animal, you get new CON score, but carry over your original HPs. And, your poison DC is CON based :)

[Coidzor]

note too that the Wildshape Ranger/MoMF is a far, far better wildshaper than the druid 19. They lack good spellcasting (Even the Mystic ranger with SotAO - though they're an awesome "Gish" caster), but they make up for it with better BAB and more available forms.

I didn't include Druid 20 there. Shapeshift is the reason - it obsoletes wildshape.

The Enhance Wildshape spell gives them a run for their money until MOMF 7 though, IIRC.

Shapechange (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shapechange.htm), it's a hell of a drug.

[Tvtyrant]

For pure wildshaping I like Dwarf Wildshape Ranger 5/Master of Many Forms 2/Deepwarden 2/Master of Many Forms 8/Forsaker 3.

It loses casting and the animal companion for constitution to AC twice, which stacks with each other, natural armor and worn armor but not dexterity. Pretty easy to get 50+ AC (Thoon Elder Brain for instance nets +35 without armor)