Tempest Ranger Advice (Yes Again)

[Tildian]

I am hoping to make a Tempest Ranger, and I am torn between Human and Elf (I would most likely use Long swords as a Human, and Scimitars as an Elf). I have done two possible builds up to level 13, just as a basic layout. I am still quite new to the game, so please go easy on me

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Tildian Sheerblade
Level 13 Chaotic Good Human Male
(13 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 195
Spell Points: 172 
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 10
Reflex: 11
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 13)
Strength             16                    20
Dexterity            14                    16
Constitution         14                    15
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               12                    12
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 13)
Balance               4                    11
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         6                    17
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  1                     1
Hide                  6                    19
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  3                     5
Listen                4                    17
Move Silently         6                    20
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     0
Spot                  5                    18
Swim                  3                     5
Tumble                2.5                   3.5
Use Magic Device      1                     7

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mobility
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Extra Empathy I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Ranger Item Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Move Silently I
Enhancement: Ranger Spot I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I


Level 7 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Versatility III


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III


Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 11 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Extra Empathy II


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II


Level 13 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III

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Tildian Elan`Dar
Level 13 Chaotic Good Elf Male
(13 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 185
Spell Points: 150 
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 10
Reflex: 11
Will: 4

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 13)
Strength             16                    19
Dexterity            14                    17
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 13)
Balance               4                    11
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         5                    14
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  6                    19
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  3                     4
Listen                0                     6
Move Silently         6                    19
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     2
Spot                  4                    17
Swim                  3                     4
Tumble                2.5                   3.5
Use Magic Device      1                     7

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Extra Empathy I
Enhancement: Ranger Extra Empathy II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Enhancement: Ranger Item Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I


Level 7 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I


Level 8 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


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


Level 11 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II


Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II


Level 13 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II

[grodon9999]

Do you have 32-point Build and Monk?

[Emili]

Why did you only build to level 13? Human as a tempest I'd go with Khopesh eventually... also PA is like a major feat for melee.

Human : khopesh, dodge, mobility, spring attack, Improved crit, toughness, over sized, power attack

Elf : dodge, mobility, spring attack, Improved crit, toughness, over sized, power attack

[jsaving]

Of the two possibilities you mention, an elf wielding scimitars is stronger than a human wielding longswords. A human wielding khopeshes will dish out more damage than either one under most circumstances, but scimitars are almost as strong as long as you max out the Valenar damage enhancements.

Regarding your stats, I'd recommend setting WIS to 8 and using WIS-boosting items to cast spells. It is true that you'd have a slightly worse will save and slightly fewer spell points, but your will save is going to be terrible either way and the extra SP are less important than the extra damage you could sustain (or dish out) by boosting CON/STR a bit.

You don't seem to be envisioning any multiclassing with this build, but you could certainly consider splashing 2 levels of monk or fighter for the bonus feats, or rogue1/fighter1 for an extra feat and better UMD. In the latter case you could actually think about throwing your wisdom stat points into charisma, rather than using them to boost CON/STR.

[unbongwah]

If you don't care about the ranger capstone (ranged attack speed boost) or your final favored enemy, then take a look at tihocan's Tempest. It takes a splash for rogue for UMD & Open Locks (with higher INT you can also do traps) and a splash of fighter for an extra feat and +12 HPs.

The Exploiter is a popular build too, but it requires monk and doesn't work as well on 28-pt builds.

[PSU93]

For your Human version, I'd start with a 16 CON, 8 INT, and 10 WIS.
For Elf, start with 16 DEX and 8 INT.

Emili's Feat recommendations were spot on.

I'd dump the Extra Empathy and skill Enhancements for something more useful like Energy Resistances, Sprint Boost... but that's just a matter of playstyle. Make sure you take as many damage enhancements (Favored Enemy and/or racial weapons) as possible.

[Tildian]

Thank you all very much for the input! From what I see so far, I think I would prefer to go with Elf. With what you have all shared with me, I think I can manage a decent Tempest Ranger. This character was planned for being a pure ranger, but taking fighter and rogue is a very good idea. How would I do that, take ranger, then at level two fighter and rogue at three? Sorry I didn't get back sooner, work and all.

[jsaving]

Rogue gives you the most skill points and also the broadest array of class skills. Unless you have a *very* specific reason not to, you should always take a rogue splash at 1st level.

[Tildian]

Rogue gives you the most skill points and also the broadest array of class skills. Unless you have a *very* specific reason not to, you should always take a rogue splash at 1st level.

So start as a rogue, then go from there? If, of course, I do decide to go the multi-class path.