28pt Elf 2HF Ranger

[Ereshkigal]

I currently have this build to level 9 and It's been a joy to play so far I currently have 5 Extended Displacements that last around 1:40 each. That with stoneskins, fighter haste II, and resist energy, I don't have to whip my cure wands very often. I had Extended Displacment at level 6 and the use of stoneskin wands at level 7. I purposely chose to not take Power Attack though one certainly could add it. I wanted shadow walk, as contrary to most people you hear talking about it, I find it very useful, and the extra displacement it allows is also very nice. If I change my mind later I can always swap it out. I can still use a bow very well and though I haven't tried it, I suppose I could 2WF decently. The selection of ranger/arcane wands provides a nice variety of uses as well.

I know that other builds can do similar things and probably better, but the reason I went with this build is because I think it gets the job done more cheaply. It's a decent self-buffer that has a very high BAB that isn't totally dependent upon the more expensive potions. If I had some tomes I'd like to beef up the con and str a bit, and maybe the wisdom... in that order.

I've kept my heal skill maxed for added expense reduction, high jump, enough tumble to tumble, then the rest would just be to personal taste.


I've never had a character above level 10, so I'm looking for opinions on how this char might play at higher levels.

Starting Stats

S 16
D 10
C 15
I 08
W 13
Ch 8

Levels / Feats
1: R1: 2HF
2: F1: WF:Slashing
3: R2: Least Dragonmark Shadow
4: R3: +1 STR
5: R4: +1 1st Lvl spell
6: W1: Extend Spell: Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow: Arcane Wand Use
7: F2: Improved 2HF (stoneskin wands become avail.)
8: F3: +1 STR
9: F4: IC: Slashing: Greater Dragonmark of Shadow
10: R5
11: R6: +1 Lvl 1 spell
12: R7: Greater 2HF: +1 STR: Resist Energy good for 20 points
13: R8: +1 Lvl 2 spell
14: R9: Evasion
15: R10: WS: Slashing: +1 Lvl 2 spell
16: R11: +1 STR: +1 Lvl 3 spell: Resist Energy good for 30 points

17: R12: +1 Lvl 3 spell
18: R13: Unchosen feat.
19: R14: +1 Lvl 1 & +1 Lvl 4 spell
20: R15: +1 STR: +1 Lvl 4 spell

Enhancements:
Ranger Sprint Boost IV
Ranger Extra Action Boost II
Ranger Item Defense III
Ranger Energy Resistance Boost IV
Ranger Dexterity II
Elven Dexterity II
Extra Dragonmark IV
Ranger Energy of the Wild III
Elven Enchantment Restance III
Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Fighter Haste Boost II
Fighter Armor Mastery I
Fighter Armored Agilitiy I
Elven Keen Eyes I
Ranger Spot I

Spells
1: Resist Energy
Ram's Might
Longstrider
2: Protection from Energy
Barkskin
3: Wild Instinct
Neutralize Posion
4: Freedom of Movement
Cure Serious Wounds

[Wizzly_Bear]

why ranger if you want to thf? lot of wasted abilities there imo.

[Ereshkigal]

ranger for the wands, the minimal self-buffing, speed boosts, and resist boost, all while keeping a high BAB. sure I'm not using all the bonuses, but I am using ones that I couldn't get as easily another way without sacrificing BAB.

[Wizzly_Bear]

1 lvl of ranger will accomplish all that. then you could go barb rest for more power and speed since youre going to be thfing.

[Ereshkigal]

If I wanted a barbarian, that's what I would've created. There are many things that my build can do for itself that a barbarian either could not do or it would cost much more to do.

[Wizzly_Bear]

with arcane wand usage for resists, i dont see what youre gaining over going barb.

[Ereshkigal]

I think you do see the difference... it is obvious, after all... I think it would be more accurate to say that you don't place any value on what I'm gaining by going this route. I can't argue that because you have a right to your opinion.

But to clarify what I like about this build vs. a barbarian... My primary goal with this build is to do things cheaply.

I can use cure wands instead of pots. I can use many divine stat-fixing wands, instead of potions. I get free extended displacements, and I get them early on at level 6 which saves alot of healing costs. I get stoneskin wands relatively cheaply at level 7. I get resist energy and protection from energy as well as the other ranger spells for nearly free.... I get the added bonus 15 points from energy resist boost that I cannot get without ranger levels... this is also free. I get Fighter Haste boost II which is also free. I have a high heal (not cross-class) skill which means less healing

So, while I'm quite certain you can make a barbarian that could be better at 2HF... 2HF optimization is not the goal of this build. The goal is to operate as cheaply as possible while still being an effective 2HF melee. why 2hf instead of 2wf? that's simple. because it's what i want to do. My ranger does it cheaper if not better than a barb.

That being said, I am still interested in peoples opinion of how this build will perform at higher levels.

[Wizzly_Bear]

I think you do see the difference... it is obvious, after all... I think it would be more accurate to say that you don't place any value on what I'm gaining by going this route. I can't argue that because you have a right to your opinion.
actually, no, like i said, i dont see what you gain by going this route.


But to clarify what I like about this build vs. a barbarian... My primary goal with this build is to do things cheaply.

I can use cure wands instead of pots. I can use many divine stat-fixing wands, instead of potions. I get free extended displacements, and I get them early on at level 6 which saves alot of healing costs. I get stoneskin wands relatively cheaply at level 7. I get resist energy and protection from energy as well as the other ranger spells for nearly free.... I get the added bonus 15 points from energy resist boost that I cannot get without ranger levels... this is also free. I get Fighter Haste boost II which is also free. I have a high heal (not cross-class) skill which means less healing

So, while I'm quite certain you can make a barbarian that could be better at 2HF... 2HF optimization is not the goal of this build. The goal is to operate as cheaply as possible while still being an effective 2HF melee. why 2hf instead of 2wf? that's simple. because it's what i want to do. My ranger does it cheaper if not better than a barb.

That being said, I am still interested in peoples opinion of how this build will perform at higher levels.
see, now that you explain it i get it. you want a cheap 2hf self sufficient character. this build delivers on that, although im confused as to how your bills could be so high as to make you want to build this. as for suggestions to improve this, i would suggest jump instead of longstrider as ls doesnt stack with striding and i would also suggest power attack if going 2hf. swap out wf for it and your dps will rise considerably. as for end game, its hard to tell. its a bit squishy to be on the front lines but other than that looks ok afaik.

[sigtrent]

What is odd about the build is theat you made a ranger using two handed fighting.

Rangers get two weapon figthting feats for free, and two weapon fighting is generaly a better way to deal damage than two handed fighting unless you have power attack or are enormously strong, neither of which are true here. So if you just ignored the feats you sepent and grabed a couple of rapiers you would probably do more damage and draw even less agro.

It its just a style thing, thats cool. But it is kind of odd to veer so far away from what your class and race is naturaly good at.

[Aranticus]

i have a 13barb/2rog. he selfs heals with wands AND scrolls, he can pick locks, search n disable traps and avoid damage..... and more importantly he kills well.....


ps: how u get 1.40 min displace?

[Cadaia]

...... as for suggestions to improve this, i would suggest jump instead of longstrider as ls doesnt stack with striding and .....

I would also suggest jump. Longstrider scrolls are fairly cheap and last six minutes. So, I use the scrolls instead of prepping the spell on my rangers.

[Ereshkigal]

i have a 13barb/2rog. he selfs heals with wands AND scrolls, he can pick locks, search n disable traps and avoid damage..... and more importantly he kills well.....


ps: how u get 1.40 min displace?

Elven Lesser Dragonmark & the Extend Feat.

[Ereshkigal]

I would also suggest jump. Longstrider scrolls are fairly cheap and last six minutes. So, I use the scrolls instead of prepping the spell on my rangers.

Well as I won't get this spell until level 19, I will already be maxxed out on the jump skill, but I did not know that the longstrider wouldn't stack so I will look to opt for a different spell for sure.

[Wizzly_Bear]

Well as I won't get this spell until level 19, I will already be maxxed out on the jump skill, but I did not know that the longstrider wouldn't stack so I will look to opt for a different spell for sure.
...you get access to jump at ranger level 4...

[dragons1ayer74]

Just 1 level of wizard gives you full arcane spell access and 1 level of ranger gives you healing wand access, to go two handed with the rest and be a barbarian would likley help what you are trying to do (you would loose 30 point self castable resists, barkskin - you are going for displacement and stone skine instead of ac anyway so not a biggie and Rams might....you would gain rage, critical rage 1 and 2, hit points, basic damage reduction, massive power attacks for even more staking twohanded damage, power attack enhancements for even more two handed damage).

[Ereshkigal]

...you get access to jump at ranger level 4...

but I will not take it as I want resist energy at ranger 4 and i will take ram's might as the 2nd 1st level spell.

[Ereshkigal]

Just 1 level of wizard gives you full arcane spell access and 1 level of ranger gives you healing wand access, to go two handed with the rest and be a barbarian would likley help what you are trying to do (you would loose 30 point self castable resists, barkskin - you are going for displacement and stone skine instead of ac anyway so not a biggie and Rams might....you would gain rage, critical rage 1 and 2, hit points, basic damage reduction, massive power attacks for even more staking twohanded damage, power attack enhancements for even more two handed damage).


Well, when you spell it out that way it does make it a rather tempting idea.

I would be hard pressed to take the feats I want if I lost the 3 feats I get from 4 fighter levels.

I could give up the wizard level and hope that the barbarian damage reduction worked well enough but then I would lose the free extend feat...

I could give up the ranger level but I'd lose the ability to use healing wands...

I could go for umd but i've been talked out of that already by many people...

I still think that for what I'm trying to do I'm better off sticking to this build... I agree I could do better, and once I stick with a character long enough to get some decent gold coming in, I will likely make some builds like you are suggesting. However I am at level 9 with this character and it's my highest character. I need the free displacements, free hastes and wand usage that saves gold over potions. I realize I could give up some feats and still be ok without the fighter levels, but it's not just that I get EXTRA feats... I get some feats SOONER... And that's hard to give up. If I want the lesser and least dragonmarks that means I can get 2hf at level 1 then I would have to wait for level 9 to get a 2nd combat feat and that's not acceptable to me, when I can have 4 combat feats and all 3 dragonmarks at level 9 with my current build.

[Ereshkigal]

i have a 13barb/2rog. he selfs heals with wands AND scrolls, he can pick locks, search n disable traps and avoid damage..... and more importantly he kills well.....


ps: how u get 1.40 min displace? :-)

btw, do you have that build posted anywhere?