32 pt Ranged build questions...

[blacklimoband]

I have found so many conflicting views on how to do this type of build that I am now totally confused...

Does high dex effect only the hit rolls on ranged attacks or does it also effect damage?

My main aim with this character is efficient and deadly ranged combat, with reasonable melee skills for when it's required... weapon choice I'm thinking longbow and dual rapiers

So I'm posting a build in the hopes that I have actually understood a bit how this class works...

Neutral Good
Elf (20 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 264
Spell Points: 478 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 18
Will: 8

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             16                 20                   20
Dexterity            18                 19                   22
Constitution         12                 12                   12
Intelligence          8                  8                    8
Wisdom               14                 14                   14
Charisma              8                  8                    8

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Jump                  7                 28                   28
Search                3                 22                   24
Spot                  6                 25                   27
Tumble                6                 17                   17
Use Magic Device      1                 10                   10

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Reptillian
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot

Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons

Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead

Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness

Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons

Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider

Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons

Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 20 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental


Enhancements
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Master of Archery
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense III
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild III
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II

The first FE (Reptilian) will be changed to "Giant" after Korthos Island

I also ended up with 2 skill points left over (so that Tumble and UMD were round numbers rather than .5's) not sure where to put them (was thinking either swim, heal or concentrate)


Any experienced rangers that can provide some good advice? Thanks heaps

[Uska]

dex only goes towards to hit str is for damage for ranged if you have bow str which rangers get free so lvl ups should go to str.

dont need to spend so many skill points on jump it caps at 40 and with items ability bonus and the spell which grants 30 at peak you hit that easy also tumble doesnt really need alot unless you want to reach the back flip lvl which over 30 somewhere and a umd of 10 is basicly useless need a bit more if you want to get any use out of it otherwise dont bother
also favored enemy reptiallian isnt much use heres what I do for my favored enemies

1. undead

2. giant

3. elemental

4 evil outsider

5 construct.

[jcTharin]

your timing is off with when to change FE. the fish guys in korthos are monstrous humanoids. kolbolds and trogs are considered reptiles. and you will see a lot of them. so switch to giant later

[Uska]

your timing is off with when to change FE. the fish guys in korthos are monstrous humanoids. kolbolds and trogs are considered reptiles. and you will see a lot of them. so switch to giant later

Yeah but most are so easy to kill no need to bother wasting FE on them especailly with all the lesser reptile bane weapons that are easy to pick up and so is a lesser monstrous humanoid bane weapon that way you can save yourself a feat exchange. by taking giant as your second fave enemy and undead as your first

[jcTharin]

Yeah but most are so easy to kill no need to bother wasting FE on them especailly with all the lesser reptile bane weapons that are easy to pick up and so is a lesser monstrous humanoid bane weapon

but pretty much everything you fight is reptilian at the low levels. and its soooo easy to switch feats around

[blacklimoband]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Uska, so should I dump UMD totally... it's not a class skill so I can only get 1/2 points into it. Concentrate doesn't seem to be much use for this build as I won't be relying on spells that much (apart from the conjure arrows and shot types, maybe a quick self heal as required and a pet to keep me company )

How many points is adequate in jump?

With your FE choices, that's basically what I will end up with at lvl 20 (just the order was a little different), I have sh1tloads of the shards on my other toons so a couple of feat swaps won't be too hard to accomplish (get 1 free with the dragonmarks quest)


jcTharin, should I take monstrous humanoids first and then swap out to reptillian when I finish at Korthos, then later to giant?


How are the stats (starting and modified) enhancements and feat choices? anything you would pick different?


Appreciate your feedback

[Uska]

but pretty much everything you fight is reptilian at the low levels. and its soooo easy to switch feats around

I dont fight that many repitles and its a waste of shards and cash to switch that feat I fight more giants and undead of course I forget not everyone skips kothos and lvls 1-3

[Uska]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Uska, so should I dump UMD totally... it's not a class skill so I can only get 1/2 points into it. Concentrate doesn't seem to be much use for this build as I won't be relying on spells that much (apart from the conjure arrows and shot types, maybe a quick self heal as required and a pet to keep me company )

How many points is adequate in jump?

With your FE choices, that's basically what I will end up with at lvl 20 (just the order was a little different), I have sh1tloads of the shards on my other toons so a couple of feat swaps won't be too hard to accomplish (get 1 free with the dragonmarks quest)


jcTharin, should I take monstrous humanoids first and then swap out to reptillian when I finish at Korthos, then later to giant?


How are the stats (starting and modified) enhancements and feat choices? anything you would pick different?


Appreciate your feedback

If you can get a bit more in umd you might get to use some resticted items and 10 jump with stat modifer/item is more then enough. I get my spot as high as I can on my ranger and a bit of hide and move silent. on FE trolls and ogres count as giants by the way. I just never found it worth using FE on repitles or monstrous humanoids although I would consider monstrous humanoid more useful then repile as it counts for minotaurs and gargolyes

[blacklimoband]

Is there much point in hide/ms? I was under the impression that stealth was a waste of time... or does that only apply to rogues?

I have spot/search maxed (minus enhancements, wasn't enough points left)

Should I be putting any excess points into concentrate/heal instead? How much is enough for tumble?

[Uska]

Is there much point in hide/ms? I was under the impression that stealth was a waste of time... or does that only apply to rogues?

I have spot/search maxed (minus enhancements, wasn't enough points left)

Should I be putting any excess points into concentrate/heal instead? How much is enough for tumble?

dont waste points on heal yeah most of the time sneak is a waste but there are some places its slightly useful for most of my builds enough tumble to leave me positive after armor check is enough.

[blacklimoband]

Ok, so by swapping UMD and tumble for hide/MS it comes out like this: (btw I swapped a couple of feats around, still have the same ones, just picked up toughness a little earlier)

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Hide                  8                 29                   29
Jump                  5                 20                   20
Move Silently         8                 29                   29
Search                3                 22                   24
Spot                  6                 25                   27
Tumble                5                 10                   10


Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Reptillian
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot

Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons

Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead

Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness

Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider

Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons

Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons

Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 20 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental

I moved 10 points from jump into tumble (at 1/2 makes 5). Are there any other skills worth investing in with this type of character?

Thanks a million for your assistance

[jcTharin]

i would say to not get monstrous humanoid at all if your thinking of it for korthos. that island is so short that its not worth worrying about.

on each character you get one free feat swap. than afterwords you must pay. but you have it for free so why not use it? i say get it and then swap it out when it becomes less useful.

[Silvershaper]

For starting stats, I'd move 2 pts from wisdom to constitution.

Feats look good, but I'd take Power Attack at lvl 18 instead of the extra Toughness.

Favoured Enemies look good, but I agree with above posts that Reptilian is an unnecessary waste (I know you're swapping it for giant). And about the free feat exchange, since the price for switching feats increase, I'd recommend to use shards if you decide to switch at low lvls, and not complete the dragonmark quest before you get to the most expensive swap lvls - if you happen to switch from rapiers to scimitars at lvl 20, switching imp crit will then be free.

With skills, I agree with most of the above posts, +1 tumble (2 pts) is plenty (unless you aim for 36 including spell, which is purely for looks), scrap UMD unless you already have the gear to support it (and even then, you probably wont get full benefit of that skill anyway), hide/ms is purely a play style choice (but it's nice to be able to at least), and spot is a must have. Search is arguable, since you wont be able to disarm traps anyway, and can get a detect secret doors clickie easily. Jump isn't necessary either due to stat bonus and spell, but of course it's nice to have a high jump even if you forget to cast the spell. Generally, you have plenty of skill pts, so after taking the few must haves, go with what you feel...