Am I getting it? Another Ranger build

[MJNOR1]

Another attempt at a Ranger build....I read some of the suggested resources to better understand the feats, abilities and their effects, enhancements, etc.

So what do ya think? Am I getting it?

As always constructive criticism is welcome and greatly appreciated.

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Level 16 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(16 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 212
Spell Points: 220 
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 16
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 16)
Strength             16                    17
Dexterity            17                    22
Constitution         15                    18
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               12                    12
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 16)
Balance               3                    10
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         2                     4
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                  5                    24
Hide                  3                     6
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  3                     3
Listen                1                     1
Move Silently         7                    25
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search                3                    24
Spot                  5                    24
Swim                  3                     3
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      0                     7.5

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elf
Enhancement: Ranger Search I
Enhancement: Ranger Spot I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Ranger Heal I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Search II
Enhancement: Ranger Spot II


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Dragon
Enhancement: Ranger Heal II


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 7 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics II


Level 8 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Reload
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I


Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Human


Level 11 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III


Level 12 (Ranger)


Level 13 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Search III
Enhancement: Ranger Spot III


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Animal
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
Enhancement: Ranger Heal III
Enhancement: Ranger Search IV
Enhancement: Ranger Spot IV


Level 16 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Heal IV
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I

[Jesen]

Few things,

Stats:
I would suggest dropping DEX and raising STR, rangers get TWF feats for free and DO NOT need the stat requirement to use it. STR will increase your damage and to-hit without needing to take weapon finesse.

Feats:
First pick different Favoured Enemies, some suggestions.
Elementals - Can't crit damage them, so extra normal damage is awesome.
Undead - See Elementals.
Evil Outsider - Lots of end game bosses are this as well as normal monsters, so you want to maximize damage.
Giants - After about level 6 or so you will end up fighting tons of these.

Then your normal feats.
Empower Healing - You will never have enough spell points or decent enough healing spells to make this worthwhile. Your heals are "back up" leave the healing focus to clerics.
Rapid Reload - For you, this is useless. Your build seems to leaning towards TWF.
Dodge, Mobility, Spring attack - Pre-req for Tempest, and it looks like your going that way. Keep as is.
Suggestions...
Improved Critical (Insert weapon style here) - Take this!!! You can not get this till level 9 but it will increase your damage greatly.
Toughness - More HP and will open up the Toughness enhancement line.
Power Attack - -5 To hit +5 to damage, better to take this one after 12 if you do as your gear and buffs should counter the negative after that level.
Extend Spell - Double the duration of your buffs! Great at lower level, post 15 not as useful due to buffs lasting more than long enough. Debatable though.
Weapon Finesse - If you do go the high DEX route you MUST take this and use light weapons(Rapier is considered light as far as Finesse is concerned) I would recommend STR indead and save a feat slot.


Skills:
Spot - I like this one, helps to see hidden mobs earlier.
Search - Useless on a ranger, so what if you can find the trap? You can't disable it. Good for a Multiclass Ranger/Rogue build.
UMD - You wont have it high enough to be useful. Especially with a 6 base CHA.
Balance - Useful, the quicker you can get back up the less chance of not ever getting back up
Heal - Useless, drop this.
Move Silently - I am of the understanding, without good Hide whats the point? I use both on my ranger and do find it useful.
Jump - I would take this just so that you never have to use a spell slot for the spell and can keep Ram's Might loaded

Hope this helps, good luck with your ranger!


-Jesen

[captain1z]

I once had a ranger with 22 charisma.

He was able to mezmerize elementals

Just some useless info really............... meant nothing much by it.

If your umd is gunna top out at 7.5 id say skip it all together.

[MJNOR1]

For the responses so far.

[Impaqt]

I once had a ranger with 22 charisma.

He was able to mezmerize elementals

Just some useless info really............... meant nothing much by it.

If your umd is gunna top out at 7.5 id say skip it all together.

Thats.... Interestuing...... Especially because Wisdom is a rangers Spell modifier.....

With all the end game modifiers for UMD, Its not a terrible Investment, Especially if ya dont expect too much from it.. you can still hit over 30 even with a cross class skill and low CHR.

As for the OP:

I agree pretty much with Jensens recomendations.... I see no reason to go dex build on a ranger nowadays... Where did you end up putting your Level up points? Looks like you scattered em around in Dex, Str and Con? Start 17STR and 15 Dex and put all your level uppoints in STR.

Improved Crit at l9, Toughness at Level 12 and 15 could be Power attack or some other Feat.

[MJNOR1]

My thoughts when building this guy was for him to have a reasonably good DPS and have decent "Rogue" abilities....so that being said wouldn't I want him to have a higher Dex?

[Impaqt]

My thoughts when building this guy was for him to have a reasonably good DPS and have decent "Rogue" abilities....so that being said wouldn't I want him to have a higher Dex?

Without a Rogue level, you cant spot or search out traps with a DC above 20 anyway.

6 points of dex equals +3 to those skills.... and being a class skill, Move Silent and Hide can get up well into invisible territory with just a 24 dex.

[captain1z]

Thats.... Interestuing...... Especially because Wisdom is a rangers Spell modifier.....

.

I was somewhat surprised myself but like cleric ability to turn undead a rangers wild empathy uses his charisma.

- animals are charmed
- vermin..... not sure what happens (probably charms em)
- elememtals get mezzed (cus they dont want us to control em)

[Aranticus]

i detect a large dose of hidden sarcasm in this thread. NEW PLAYERS BEWARE

[Wizzly_Bear]

Heal 5 24

Why have you invested so much in the Heal skill? It is nigh worthless.

Hide 3 6

Move Silently 7 25

I assume you took Move Silently to be able to sneak, however, you will not be able to sneak past anything sith such a low Hide.

Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elf

Unless this is a flavor RP choice I would advise against it. Elves are few and far between as enemies and always easily thwarted without extra dps from Favored Enemy.

Feat:

(Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Dragon

There are only 4 dragons in the game at the moment so unless this is a flavor choice I would advise choosing a more common or more dangerous foe.

Ditto for Human and Animal choices below.

PS I was attempting to give real feedback, but looking back through it I am curious...Is this a serious build attempt?

[MJNOR1]

I just have a difficult time understanding all the factors and how they affect each other.