Felvion
2014-03-12, 05:27 PM
Hello there!
I'm having some trouble with a character I have created and I will explain in almost full detail. For those not interested in reading the whole post I would really apreciate an ACF for spell casting in a ranger. It shouldn't be spell-like stuff cause I don't like magic anymore (in character) and would rather be something martial focused. Also don't bother to suggest anything allready printed cause i've read them all (or i think so!), just homebrew stuff you would find interesting.
For all those interested in reading the whole story behind this it's more of build advice.
Few months ago we were about to start a new campaign. All i knew was that it would be a low stat, kinda core limited and definatelly low op campaign.
For various reasons I came up with a wood-elf ranger that would be introduced as a "bodyguard" for the female elf wizard the party had.
Sadly I got shocked to know that we would go for dragonlance so no wood- elves, I got stuck with just a qualinesti for the dex bonus. My starting character was like this:
STR:14
DEX:16
CON:12
INT:10
WIS:13
CHA:8
Feats: Power attack
and i was going for the archery style with a falchion (background based).
So far so good, I was happy with character in terms of flavor cause it reminded me the very first one i had ever created and also had an interesting background. As for power I wouldn't say he was anything special, just supposed to fill every hole in a party of 6. Of course, considering the other PCs i felt really badass in terms of optimisation.
Everything was great at the very start except one really serious problem. Every session, I ended up eiter dying or dead. I'm sure the DM fudged numbers to prevent the later more than once or twice. At first i was ok with it cause i knew i was fragile anyway and a confirmed crit at lvl 2 is equally bad for everyone.
At levels 3-4 we had realised there was a true cleric among us, proof the gods were back again. In addition my ranger felt really greatful towards the cleric and her gods, it was due to their help he was still alive.
I took Iron Will at lvl3 and raised WIS to 14 to justify my character's tension to spirituality and divine devotion. These, assisted by a cloak of res +2 were supposed to help me deal with the lots of casters wondering around.
They also served as prerequisites for my lvl4 "connection" with a deity to get the ac and spells.
Wrong! I kept dying and spent almost half of every session unconsious! Rightfully i was nicknamed Kenny!
I privately discussed it with my DM, he confirmed i had just been unlucky with specific rolls and suggested patience.
I started playing more cautiously but still, i kept falling! Meanwhile i could somehow cast but no sign of my companion. It was true (and my DM's official excuse which seemed quite reasonable) that there had not been a proper situation to justify a divine "connection", even though i tried a lot. I was full of unanswered prayers while disappointent of my condition soon turned into frustration which grew more and more inside me (in character ofc:smallamused:).
During last session (currently lvl5, midway to 6) we were in a really tough situation. I had a 60% roll to save the party. The other option was to let this to the rogue who had higher chances but bad guys were playing between us in initiative and it was a really tough call. I decided to take my own chances, it was undoubtable my elf would act this way, all the hesitation was ooc.
I died in a fancy way and it was my DM that convinced me again not to tear that character sheet apart.
I said ok but radical changes had to take place. I was angry to the gods that didn't appreciate my faith to them, not answering my prayers (not a definite sign from a specific deity and ofc no animal companion). I decided to turn my back to them and change my character as much as I could towards this direction.This involved the following:
-Next level is some variant of barbarian 99%.
-I will have to come with some kind of agreement with my DM to replace the godgiven features.
As for the companion he suggested Improved Trip, Weapon Focus with my C.Longbow and toughness (Homebrew 1hp/lvl). He thinks this makes up for the meatshield and martial support a wolf would provide. I think it's more than i could ask. I raise my hp from 33 to 38 (we roll them), the trip is awesome and the +1 to the longbow is always welcome. TBH i feel its more than i would get from a rangers animal companion and definately makes me better in all these unpleasant (up to now) melee situations.
The other feature i would trade is the spells. He warned me i wouldn't get much for this and I haven't come to anything cool yet thus I would like some suggestions. Keep in mind that next lvl will be a variant barbarian....
Finally, when the barbarian lvl shows up i think i will trade fast movement in order to keep my good reflex saves like i was still a ranger but this is still under discussion.
So, what do you think about the character progression and what would you suggest as apropriate acf for him?
I'm having some trouble with a character I have created and I will explain in almost full detail. For those not interested in reading the whole post I would really apreciate an ACF for spell casting in a ranger. It shouldn't be spell-like stuff cause I don't like magic anymore (in character) and would rather be something martial focused. Also don't bother to suggest anything allready printed cause i've read them all (or i think so!), just homebrew stuff you would find interesting.
For all those interested in reading the whole story behind this it's more of build advice.
Few months ago we were about to start a new campaign. All i knew was that it would be a low stat, kinda core limited and definatelly low op campaign.
For various reasons I came up with a wood-elf ranger that would be introduced as a "bodyguard" for the female elf wizard the party had.
Sadly I got shocked to know that we would go for dragonlance so no wood- elves, I got stuck with just a qualinesti for the dex bonus. My starting character was like this:
STR:14
DEX:16
CON:12
INT:10
WIS:13
CHA:8
Feats: Power attack
and i was going for the archery style with a falchion (background based).
So far so good, I was happy with character in terms of flavor cause it reminded me the very first one i had ever created and also had an interesting background. As for power I wouldn't say he was anything special, just supposed to fill every hole in a party of 6. Of course, considering the other PCs i felt really badass in terms of optimisation.
Everything was great at the very start except one really serious problem. Every session, I ended up eiter dying or dead. I'm sure the DM fudged numbers to prevent the later more than once or twice. At first i was ok with it cause i knew i was fragile anyway and a confirmed crit at lvl 2 is equally bad for everyone.
At levels 3-4 we had realised there was a true cleric among us, proof the gods were back again. In addition my ranger felt really greatful towards the cleric and her gods, it was due to their help he was still alive.
I took Iron Will at lvl3 and raised WIS to 14 to justify my character's tension to spirituality and divine devotion. These, assisted by a cloak of res +2 were supposed to help me deal with the lots of casters wondering around.
They also served as prerequisites for my lvl4 "connection" with a deity to get the ac and spells.
Wrong! I kept dying and spent almost half of every session unconsious! Rightfully i was nicknamed Kenny!
I privately discussed it with my DM, he confirmed i had just been unlucky with specific rolls and suggested patience.
I started playing more cautiously but still, i kept falling! Meanwhile i could somehow cast but no sign of my companion. It was true (and my DM's official excuse which seemed quite reasonable) that there had not been a proper situation to justify a divine "connection", even though i tried a lot. I was full of unanswered prayers while disappointent of my condition soon turned into frustration which grew more and more inside me (in character ofc:smallamused:).
During last session (currently lvl5, midway to 6) we were in a really tough situation. I had a 60% roll to save the party. The other option was to let this to the rogue who had higher chances but bad guys were playing between us in initiative and it was a really tough call. I decided to take my own chances, it was undoubtable my elf would act this way, all the hesitation was ooc.
I died in a fancy way and it was my DM that convinced me again not to tear that character sheet apart.
I said ok but radical changes had to take place. I was angry to the gods that didn't appreciate my faith to them, not answering my prayers (not a definite sign from a specific deity and ofc no animal companion). I decided to turn my back to them and change my character as much as I could towards this direction.This involved the following:
-Next level is some variant of barbarian 99%.
-I will have to come with some kind of agreement with my DM to replace the godgiven features.
As for the companion he suggested Improved Trip, Weapon Focus with my C.Longbow and toughness (Homebrew 1hp/lvl). He thinks this makes up for the meatshield and martial support a wolf would provide. I think it's more than i could ask. I raise my hp from 33 to 38 (we roll them), the trip is awesome and the +1 to the longbow is always welcome. TBH i feel its more than i would get from a rangers animal companion and definately makes me better in all these unpleasant (up to now) melee situations.
The other feature i would trade is the spells. He warned me i wouldn't get much for this and I haven't come to anything cool yet thus I would like some suggestions. Keep in mind that next lvl will be a variant barbarian....
Finally, when the barbarian lvl shows up i think i will trade fast movement in order to keep my good reflex saves like i was still a ranger but this is still under discussion.
So, what do you think about the character progression and what would you suggest as apropriate acf for him?