Equipment???

[Takamari]

I know this build is not optimized, but it is what I'm going with. Ranger 6/Rogue 3. I have some ideas on how to spend my 36k, but I don't have the new Magic Item Compendium. I want some input on equipment and feedback on what I've chosen so far. Again, I know this is not an optimized build.

Gloves of Dex +2
+2 Morphing Composite Longbow (mighty 3)
+2 Mithral Shirt
Ring of Featherfall

Multiple scrolls including one teleport, and 4 invisibility, greater.
2x wand of cure light wounds.

I figure that an archer is doomed when the enemy closes in. I've got an Arrow Mind memorized for that occasion, but my armor class is only 21, and at CR 9, I'm hit too much. The Morphing bow gives me a longsword and then I can get out my large wooden shield. It only puts me up to 23, but in my experience, it helps.

Are there any other enhancements that would be better for my bow? I'm going for the sniper style character, but to make use of my sneak attack I need to be within 30ft, otherwise I'd go with distance.

Any equipment that I don't know about that will be helpful?

Thanks

[Matthew]

It is cheaper to get a Ring of Protection +1 and a Mithral Mail Shirt +1 than a Mithril Mail Shirt +2.

[Takamari]

Hm, I didn't look at that. Saves me 1000gp. That could be more potions, wands, or scrolls.

[Vyker]

Out of curiosity, why the Ring of Featherfall?

[Matthew]

Plenty of Magic Arrows of varying types would also be wise, they don't need more than a +1 Enhancement Bonus, since your Bow will take care of that aspect.

[Grr]

Sad that people have to put, "I know this isn't optimized, but it's what I'm using." in their posts. Use the extra money to invest in some barkskin potions maybe.

[Takamari]

Sorry, a Ring of Feather Fall-continual feather fall. Too many characters have died horribly by falling to their dooms.

I was thinking about magic arrows. If my calculations are correct, and I think they are, it costs 160gp for a +2 arrow. I could by some +1 bane arrows or elemental damage arrows.

[JaronK]

Sad that people have to put, "I know this isn't optimized, but it's what I'm using." in their posts.

Keep that to those two threads currently on that topic, okay?

Anyway, for the OP: consider getting a Rust Bag of Tricks. It's not too expensive, and would give you a pocket tank to deal with anyone getting too close ("ah, it's after me! I throw a bear on it!").

JaronK

[Matthew]

Yeah, Fire Arrows, Ice arrows, etc...

Now that I cme to think about it, consider saving some Gold until you know what the upcoming Adventure will entail, so you can buy 'appropriate' Arrows.

[Takamari]

A Rust Bag of Tricks? lol. Never thought of that one. What about the Morphing on my bow? I think that it is a good idea, but for the cost of that enchantment I could get a second +2 weapon.

[Matthew]

Where's Morphing from? I wouldn't bother, somebody sunders it and you're done, but that's just me. Usually, you need a One Handed and Light Weapon as back ups. A +2 Bow, +1 Sword and +1 Dagger comes to about 12,000 GP.

[Takamari]

Morphing, lol, I read it in Crystal Keep's Magic sections. Therefore, it is possible that it comes Dragon or Dungeon Magazine.

I thought it would be nifty to have my bow turn into my sword, but that sunder possibility would just ruin my day. It is much smarter to cover myself and go for the +1 sword and +1 dagger. My game master has punished people before for putting all of their eggs in one basket.

[JaronK]

A Rust Bag of Tricks? lol.

Damned effective though. No one ever expects you to throw a bear on them... and the bear can grapple targets, giving you sneak attacks! And with 10 uses a week, you can use it in a lot of fights.

JaronK

[ocato]

I dunno about the price, but the good old Oathbow is lovely.

[Takamari]

The only problem with the bag is that i only have a 14% chance for the bear, but in either case, it is a decent idea, and for only 3000gp, it is affordable too.

[Matthew]

I dunno about the price, but the good old Oathbow is lovely.

It is a good weapon, but it is also 25,000 GP, just so you know...

[Takamari]

I have always loved the Oathbow, always. The biggest problem with it is the price. Thats almost all the money I would have...a shame we didnt' start a few levels higher....

[Wehrkind]

How about Tanglefoot Bags?

Alternately, an item of "Evard's Black Tentacles" a few times a day might be an amusing way to mitigate people closing with you.

Or a wand of Entangle or something. Tentacles always make for better role playing opportunities, however.

[Tor the Fallen]

Since you're an archer (it looks like), don't bother with two +1 melee weapons. A masterwork dagger and the morphing bow should probably work. If the enemy closes, morph to sword & board, then fight defensively with combat expertise, and let someone else take care of whatever broke through the ranks. Alternatively, tossing an animal from the bag at them gives you flanking, which means sneak attacks.

For another 1000, you can get a +1 on your shield. 4000 = +2 shield.
Archers don't need that much armor, if they stay back.

Magic arrows, in the end, aren't worth their price. A handful for situations in which you need to overcome DR or whatever, but otherwise, an enchanted bow ultimately saves you money.

[Lord Tataraus]

Why have a morphing longbow? Just make it elvencraft. For 300gp you can interchange between bow and quarterstaff in the middle of a full attack. A lot more cost efficient.

[Telonius]

Get about 8-10 each of Silver, Cold Iron, and Adamantine arrows. You won't need all that many of them, just enough so that you'll be useful if the occasion arises.

How much does Morphing add to your Weapon cost modifier? +1, I'm assuming? That means 18,000 for your bow, as is. One thing you could do would be to bump the bow down to a +1 Morphing Bow, Mighty (4). That will only cost you 8,000. Get some Gauntlets of Ogre Power for 4,000, to bring your damage back up, and Lesser Bracers of Archery for 5,000 to bring your attack bonus up. Total cost: 17,000. If you knock off the Morphing, and use an Elvencraft, as Lord Tataraus suggests, you could shave another 6,000 off of that price.

[ocato]

I agree with a Mighty Morphin' Power Bow.

Dooo do doo dodo dooo. Go go Power Ranger, animal companion zord!

[Fhaolan]

I'm not sure if this would help or not, but if you're going sniper, perhaps some magic equipment to increase your mobility or speed. Just to do the 'You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man' bit.

[Matthew]

If you do go with Gauntlets of Ogre Strength, you will have to rethink your Gloves of Dexterity.

I still wouldn't be inclined to put all your eggs in one basket by way of weapons. Even a Masterwork Long Sword and Dagger are worth getting as back ups.

[Telonius]

Whoops, hadn't noticed that. So, best bet, get an Elvencraft bow. Swap out Morphing for another +1 to your weapon (net price: 300 gp more); or ditch Morphing and use the 10,000 gold on anything else useful.

[Tor the Fallen]

Get a belt of ogre strength. Same cost, takes up the belt space.

[Person_Man]

Morphing is a pretty useless ability, and thus a waste of money. If someone attacks you in close range, take a 5' step and shoot at them. Or drop the bow and draw a longsword.

The Ring of Featherfall is likewise a waste of gp unless you fly a lot. You might use it once in an entire campaign, saving yourself from a small to moderate amount of damage. Not really worth it.

Scrolls and potions are really, really a waste of money unless its a one shot campaign. You use them, and they're gone. Plus you have to make a UMD check (which might fizzle) if you are not normally capable of casting the spell.

I suggest:

2,200 - Mithril Shirt +1, + AC, +5 AC
1,165 - Buckler +1, +2 AC
2,000 - Amulet of Natural Armor +1, +1 AC
4,000 - Gloves of Dexterity +2 (+1 AC)
24,000 - Cloak of Minor Displacement (20% concealment)
750 - Wand of Cure Light Wounds (in case your Cleric is dead)

That will give you a +9 to AC and 20% concealment. The Cloak in particular is a great investment, as it works continuously (unlike its Major version). Pretty much every character should have one as soon as they can afford it and they should keep it all the way up to ECL 20. When you go to buy more items, remember that multiple cheap items are usually more efficient then single expensive items.

I wouldn't bother buying a magic bow at this ECL, just use masterwork. Why? Because 99% of DM's will hand out a magic bow at some point during their campaign. It's almost a rule. And even if he doesn't, your main goal is to stay alive and be a nifty Skill Monkey. A few extra points of damage in combat really aren't worth much for your build. At higher level, invest in a +1 Composite Bow of Flaming Frost Shock Acid (+4d6 damage). But until then, focus on defense and utility.

Perhaps there are better suggestions. But to give them to you, I need to know what books are available to you.

[Telonius]

Hmm, I really don't know about that, PersonMan. Counting on the DM to give you the stuff you need really hasn't panned out very well in my campaigns. If you go that route, I'd still have at least some +1 arrows around, in case you need them for DR. Cost is 2000gp for 50, or 40 gp per arrow. 5-10 of them should be plenty, for 200-400gp.

[Person_Man]

Hmm, I really don't know about that, PersonMan. Counting on the DM to give you the stuff you need really hasn't panned out very well in my campaigns. If you go that route, I'd still have at least some +1 arrows around, in case you need them for DR. Cost is 2000gp for 50, or 40 gp per arrow. 5-10 of them should be plenty, for 200-400gp.

Well, you obviously know your DM better then I do. But a standard encounter is to have the PC's attacked or ambushed by enemies using ranged attacks. So its pretty common to get a magic bow from someone. If you feel you really need it, then get it. But again, I would council you to focus on defense rather then offense.

But even if you do buy a magic bow, don't buy magic arrows, and in general you should avoid anything that is a disposable item. You're basically pissing away money.

If you come to a situation where you can't hurt someone because of damage reduction, you can fight defensively, move into flanking position, and Aid Another. Or use Intimidate to make your enemy Shaken. Or buy a guisarme, keep it strapped to your back, and use it for Trip attacks. Or buy a heavy flail and keep it as a backup to make disarm attacks. There are lots of things you can do besides hurt someone that helps you win combat, and none of it requires a magic weapon. If you were a Tank, you'd want to focus on dealing damage. But you're not. Focus on Skills, and try to distract your enemies in combat so that your other more potent party members can kill them.

[Lolzords]

Ah. I recently made a Ranger 8/Rouge 1. For this character I'm focusing on speed, stealth and a stupidly high AC.

Mithral Scale Mail for armour. Useful, decent bonus and counts as light armour.

Weapons, I had two +2 swords. (Longsword of icy burst and shortsword of flaming burst)

As I'm focusing on stealth and high armour class; I got +1 protection amulet and ring. I bought boots of elvenkind to help with move silently. (Quite handy, costs just over 2k for a +5 bonus with MS.) Finally, I bought some goggles of night, grants me permanent 60' nightvision.