Base wisdom for spellcasting ranger

[Lanvinz]

So, I've seen a lot of people mentioning that you can start with 8-10 wisdom and by using a +4 to +6 wisdom item be able to cast all of the higher level ranger spells?

Is this true? Or must I start with 13-14 wisdom if I want to cast all the higher level spells?

Thanks in advance.

[Turial]

It is true but having the low casting stat does restrict the number of sp you will end up with.

[nbhs275]

It is true but having the low casting stat does restrict the number of sp you will end up with.

How much does a ranger need? i mean, mine has an 18 with itemand tome, and thats 220 without an item. Enough to bark a party, rams, and resist. Devoting alot of points into wisdom on a ranger is a waste of build points.

[McBadger]

Started with 8 wisdom, ate a +1 tome, use a +5 wisdom item, and have a magi item. Total sp 322. This includes a couple action points spent but no major inventment. Indeed all spells are castable.

[Zenako]

FYI, your Active WIS (base + tomes + items + enhancments, if any) must equal 10 + level of the spell to cast those level spells.

So to cast 1st level spells you need a total of 11, 2nd level spells a total of 12, 5th level spells a total of 15.

Since Rangers don't get spells much beyond that, a WIS of 15 would cover all Ranger spells in the game and then some.

However, your WIS also controls the number of spell points you get.

Like the above poster mentioned, my Ranger runs around with a 18 (base + tome + item) and that gives me 236 spell points and with a Magi item 336 which is plenty for most quests. (My Ranger is also a Rogue and the WIS helps for some other skills too..)

I also have a low level ranger who gets something like 2 or 12 sp, but also holds a WIZ II item that he uses to cast a bank of spells right after entering a quest, or after shrining, since once I put a real weapon in hand the SP bar almost goes away....

Augment your spell points with an item. Makes casting buffs on allies a lot less painful and everyone thanks you.

[jjflanigan]

FYI, your Active WIS (base + tomes + items + enhancments, if any) must equal 10 + level of the spell to cast those level spells.

So to cast 1st level spells you need a total of 11, 2nd level spells a total of 12, 5th level spells a total of 15.

Since Rangers don't get spells much beyond that, a WIS of 15 would cover all Ranger spells in the game and then some.

Just a clarification on this -- The highest level spells a ranger gets is 4, so a wisdom of 14 will let you cast every ranger spell without having any item equipped.

[alchilito]

Just a clarification on this -- The highest level spells a ranger gets is 4, so a wisdom of 14 will let you cast every ranger spell without having any item equipped.

that is, every single currently available spell, what the future brings ? uncertain.

I started with a 13 base, +1 tome + 6 item = 20 wisdom

[Zenako]

that is, every single currently available spell, what the future brings ? uncertain.

I started with a 13 base, +1 tome + 6 item = 20 wisdom

Well actually it was early, and I was couching my comments, but Rangers still only get 4th level spells at 20th level so the 14 WIS will cover you forever as far as simple being able to cast the spells. Having spell points available to do so is another matter.

[GeneralDiomedes]

Ah, but if you put more points into Wisdom, it will improve your DC for tide turning spells such as Snare* and Spike Growth*!




* - Spells so bad even the NPCs won't cast them

[Zenako]

What I would really like to be able to do is to slot some 1st level spells into 2nd level slots....I know PnP GM's often let this happen, and it would really help someone like Rangers and perhaps Paladins who often have more desireable lower level spells to focus than some of the very situational higher level ones.

Jump, Resist, Ram's Might, etc at 1st (even Longstider is you want to free up the Boot slot)

While 2nd level has Barkskin and ....and....and...CLW or Mass Camo perhaps....

[Turial]

All depends on what you want to do with your sp. I hit a wis of 22 and sit just shy of 600 sp. As a human I am well set to self heal myself though most areas as well as resisting and barking people. Thats just me though. If your set and happy with what you have then there is no reason to spend extra points on it.
How much does a ranger need? i mean, mine has an 18 with itemand tome, and thats 220 without an item. Enough to bark a party, rams, and resist. Devoting alot of points into wisdom on a ranger is a waste of build points.

[geoffhanna]

...and believes she adds value through her buffs as well as her bows and rapiers.

She only has 10 wis, but she also has a level of Wizard, the Enhance metamagic feat and a PoPX for spell points. That puts her around 550 spell points, enough to put 26 minute barkskins and something else (resists? jump? depends on quest) on everyone and still have plenty left over for Rams Might and my own buffing.

It is kind of a pain tho swapping helmets all the time. I need my Wis+6 helm for casting but prefer a toughness/heavy fort helm for the rest of the time.

[Yaga_Nub]

I know a lot of build experts say that you can start with a 8 or 9 for starting WIS but personally I wouldn't recommend you do that. I Always start with a 10 with the expectations of using a tome on the stat. I hate being gear dependent.

[barecm]

My main ranger has well over 500 sp and a wisdom of 22. (14 +2 tome +6 item). While I agree that you don't NEED tham many sp's, it is nice to be able to heal yourself without expending your wands and pots. Being able to take some of the mana cost off the wizzies, clerics and sorcs by casting resists and freedom of movement on the party is also good. Trust me when I say you won't gimp your build if you go with a 14 wis base.

That being said, I also have a str based ranger who only started with an 11 wisdom. More of a self buffing type player than a party buffer.

[Westerner]

10 + selfcast Owl's Wisdom gets you all spells w/o requiring an item.

Owl's wisdom is a 2nd level slot and there isn't too much going on there anyway. Barkskin and Prot/Energy are the other ones I use regularly.

[Yaga_Nub]

10 + selfcast Owl's Wisdom gets you all spells w/o requiring an item.

Owl's wisdom is a 2nd level slot and there isn't too much going on there anyway. Barkskin and Prot/Energy are the other ones I use regularly.

You don't use ram's might?

[Vra]

You don't use ram's might?

'tis lvl 1 :)

[chromedome]

My ranger currently has a Wisdom of 20 (14 Base, +6 Helm). With a PoP X, the Mental Toughness Feat and all three of the Energy of the Wild enhancements, he is sitting at 542 SP. That's plenty to take care of resists, bark, and FoM for all party members, thus saving the cleric and the casters some mana.

[Westerner]

You don't use ram's might?

'tis lvl 1 :)
Aren't ewe sheepish now, Yaga? // ducks and runs

Seriously tho... I find the level 1 slot has more useful choices than level 2, with Resist, Jump, and Ram's Might being pretty much standard Ranger equipment.

[rpasell]

Lost in all these ranger wisdom discussions is the fact that it also determines your will save (of course this applies to every class). All of my rangers start with at least a base 10 Wis score (usually includes a +1 tome).

To echo chromedome, my favorite ranger sits at 22 Wisdom (14 base + 3 tome + 5item) with 2 energy of the wild and a magi item gives me around 450 sp IIRC.

[Turial]

10 + selfcast Owl's Wisdom gets you all spells w/o requiring an item.

Owl's wisdom is a 2nd level slot and there isn't too much going on there anyway. Barkskin and Prot/Energy are the other ones I use regularly.

I assume your wand casting or potting the Owls wisdom to get started?

Only reason I bring it up is that owls wisdom being a level 2 spell would require a 12 wisdom to cast it.

[Zenako]

I assume your wand casting or potting the Owls wisdom to get started?

Only reason I bring it up is that owls wisdom being a level 2 spell would require a 12 wisdom to cast it.

Don't forget clickies:) I often kept a couple of them hanging around for Runes (Fox, Owl and Eagle mainly).

Kinda nice to be able to hit a lot of runes by yourself.

[Westerner]

I assume your wand casting or potting the Owls wisdom to get started?
Only reason I bring it up is that owls wisdom being a level 2 spell would require a 12 wisdom to cast it.
Yes, thanks for mentioning. I have a WIS item I put on temporarily to "bootstrap" the process.