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View Full Version : Challenge #2 - Best PrC or multiclass for a Ranger



Tyger
2008-02-24, 07:50 AM
Looking for the most advantageous next class for a ranger to take. Ranger in question is ECL 12 (9 levels of Ranger, 2 of wolf, +1 LA for natural Werewolf, its homebrewed).

Thinking of something that will mesh the RP and the abilities. Any suggestions? Anything 3.5 is open. I know little of these PrCs, and any advice is appreciated.

AslanCross
2008-02-24, 08:18 AM
What weapon style did you take? For TWF style, Dervish is generally recommended for non-ToB characters. Not so sure about Archery, it's pretty solid on its own. It might just be better to take scout levels as those mesh perfectly with ranger for RP reasons and work very well with the Archery style.

Tyger
2008-02-24, 08:23 AM
In this instance, the Ranger went the TWF style, wielding a legacy longsword in his primary hand and a Sunsword in his off hand.

Zincorium
2008-02-24, 08:38 AM
I'll have to 2nd Dervish. Both weapons are slashing, TWF is already in place. The only problem might be the prerequisites.

Three levels of scout, the swift hunter feat and then dervish isn't a bad idea. It gives you time to work on the prereqs to dervish and also adds skirmish damage to your dervish dance.

IF you have tome of battle: book of nine swords, you'd be foolish not to enter into one of it's options. Swordsage, focusing on the tiger claw discipline, is going to reap extreme benefits to your character. Go two levels, since you probably have a decent wisdom and will be wearing light armor for TWF. Unfortunately, due to your pre-selected weapon choices, you can't take the most advantage of it, but the shadow blade feat will add your (probably fairly high) dexterity to damage on your off-hand sunblade.

As far as RP goes, neither necessitates a change in your character. Swordsages are characterizes as simply very adept masters of the martial arts, specifically the ones involving weapons. Scout is a wilderness oriented skill-monkey. Both mesh so well with ranger that character reasons for taking them almost write themselves.

AslanCross
2008-02-24, 08:49 AM
Hmmm. Given that the weapons are things one generally wouldn't want to discard, Dervish might not be a good idea. It depends too much on the use of scimitars, though one could get the DM to handwave its weapon-specific bonuses to apply to any weapon.

The main problem with TWF is that it needs a full-round action to use. Bypassing this helps a lot. As such, I'd generally recommend multiclassing with the Tome of Battle's Swordsage. It's Dex and Wis-based, so that meshes well with Ranger. The Swordsage gets martial maneuvers that allow it to attack with two weapons as a standard action, as well as boosts that allow more hits per weapon at your highest BAB. As for the RP, Swordsages are esoteric wanderers in search of martial lore. The wandering suits Rangers, IMO.

Zenos
2008-02-24, 09:01 AM
I third or something) about multiclassing with Swordsage, the Tiger Claw discipline has some good manuevers for TWFing.

If not, I remember a variant barbarian from Complete Champ that gave you Pounce instead of Fast Movement at 1st level, might be useful, plus it's a wilderness class, so it isn't too far fetched to say you go a little wild sometimes.

Zincorium
2008-02-24, 09:07 AM
Hmmm. Given that the weapons are things one generally wouldn't want to discard, Dervish might not be a good idea. It depends too much on the use of scimitars, though one could get the DM to handwave its weapon-specific bonuses to apply to any weapon.

I'm confused as to the 'discard' part. Both weapons are slashing, and that means all but one Dervish class features apply. And this class feature is the only one that applies specifically to scimitars and is not all that good anyways. Longsword and sunblade works reasonably well.


The main problem with TWF is that it needs a full-round action to use. Bypassing this helps a lot.

Dervish, swordsage, and the PHB2 all help to negate this, and as far as I know they've all been mentioned. Tempest, from complete adventurer, also helps, but it's not particularly good. Edit: and complete champion lion totem barbarian, but that's pretty universally regarded as way too good for what it costs.

Does anyone have a different method? I've listed the obvious/ones I know.

AslanCross
2008-02-24, 09:39 AM
I'm confused as to the 'discard' part. Both weapons are slashing, and that means all but one Dervish class features apply. And this class feature is the only one that applies specifically to scimitars and is not all that good anyways. Longsword and sunblade works reasonably well.


Ah, I meant that one would stop using the weapons he currently has in favor of something that works with the Dervish's features. I had the impression that a lot of the Dervish's class features required the scimitar.

Zincorium
2008-02-24, 09:46 AM
Ah, I meant that one would stop using the weapons he currently has in favor of something that works with the Dervish's features. I had the impression that a lot of the Dervish's class features required the scimitar.

Reasonable, as most class features work with the scimitar, especially the slashing blades class feature. However, any slashing weapon works, including such weapons as the greatsword. However, as the PC in question benefits overmuch from the use of other weapons, changing to the use of scimitars just isn't justifiable for that one class feature.

Nebo_
2008-02-24, 09:50 AM
I don't like that you're calling your threads challenges. It's like you're trying to trick people into optimising for you.

Ryuuk
2008-02-24, 10:13 AM
If you go the Swift Hunter route and pick up a level or two of swordsage, you should really take a look at the Sudden Leap tigerclaw maneuver. Don't oberlook it just because it's first level, it'll turn your swift action into a jump check to move a certain distance. Suddednly, full attacking with skirmish damage just got much easier.

Person_Man
2008-02-24, 10:53 AM
Warshaper: Gain all sorts of immunities, reach, and bonuses. Requires the ability to Wildshape or an alternate form, which a lycanthrope has.

Stalker of Kharash or Harper Paragon: Gives you Favored Enemy (Evil). Pick up Favored Power Attack.

Master Thrower: Great for TWF builds. Doesn't fit with the weapons you currently use, but you could always take Throw Anything and put Returning on them.

Also, what feats do you have?

FinalJustice
2008-02-24, 11:22 AM
If you get levels in Swordsage, consider taking at least 2 levels in Bloodclaw Master PrC. They're Tiger Claw specialists who draw into feral power to kick ass, so it goes really well with ranger. Taking them will net you a buff for temporary +2 str and the big plus is negating the -2 penalty for TWFing and applying full str bonus to your off-hand.

Ganurath
2008-02-24, 11:36 AM
Since you're looking for a challenge, I suggest multiclassing into Barbarian so you can qualify for frenzied berserker. It'd be a challenge to play, since there's clearly a challenge here somewhere, and it'd be very easy for a lycanthrope to roleplay a dual-wielding berserker.