TWF Ranger or Barbarian

[salmag]

I am looking at making a Shifter.

Not sure if I should do a TWF Ranger or Barbarian build?

Any suggestions?

[Carpone]

If you're going TWF, then Ranger is the best choice due to Tempest capstone.
If you're going THF, then Barbarian is the superior choice.

[cdbd3rd]

Barbarangerian?

[DerpDerply]

If you're going TWF, then Ranger is the best choice due to Tempest capstone.
If you're going THF, then Barbarian is the superior choice.

That sums it all up.

I'm doing my 3rd shifter life as a str-based tempest w/ longswords, and I have to say that it sucked swamp gas until I completely got rid of shifting. It's only really usable if you're a berserker and don't cast spells. I'll assume that it works fine for barbs though.

[magaiti]

After a quick glance over Shifter's racial enhancements, it seems to me that the tree has some real stuff for barbarian (though not as much as HOrc or WF), but ranger stuff is mostly superficial.

[salmag]

Thank you for all the responses.

I think I'll try TWF ranger.

Next question would be Dex or Str? Any thoughts?

Would handwraps be viable?

Just tossing out ideas...

[magaiti]

Thank you for all the responses.

I think I'll try TWF ranger.

Next question would be Dex or Str? Any thoughts?

Would handwraps be viable?

Just tossing out ideas...

Non-iconic Shifter has nothing to do with handwraps.
Which kind of Shifter you have in mind? You never mentioned Razorclaw or Iconic.

[DerpDerply]

After a quick glance over Shifter's racial enhancements, it seems to me that the tree has some real stuff for barbarian (though not as much as HOrc or WF), but ranger stuff is mostly superficial.

The only really useful racial enhancement for tempests is Magic Fang.

[Cianos_Fanas]

That sums it all up.

I'm doing my 3rd shifter life as a str-based tempest w/ longswords, and I have to say that it sucked swamp gas until I completely got rid of shifting. It's only really usable if you're a berserker and don't cast spells. I'll assume that it works fine for barbs though.

Go Wildhunt Shifter and take Empowered By Nature (Wildhunt) in the racial tree. This will give you +4 dex and wis while shifted and also allow you to cast while shifted. Meshes perfectly with dex based tempest using scimitars.

As for your other comment regarding Magic Fang, there is no need to spend points on that since rangers get it as a level 1 spell.

[Cianos_Fanas]

Thank you for all the responses.

I think I'll try TWF ranger.

Next question would be Dex or Str? Any thoughts?

Would handwraps be viable?

Just tossing out ideas...

I'd go dex and take Wildhunt Shifter as your racial feat at character creation. This will allow you take Empowered By Nature (Wildhunt) in the racial tree and cast while shifted.

[DerpDerply]

Go Wildhunt Shifter and take Empowered By Nature (Wildhunt) in the racial tree. This will give you +4 dex and wis while shifted and also allow you to cast while shifted. Meshes perfectly with dex based tempest using scimitars.

As for your other comment regarding Magic Fang, there is no need to spend points on that since rangers get it as a level 1 spell.

I wouldn’t go DEX/scimis because it’s nowhere near the DPS of STR/longswords. And why in the 9 hells would I waste a spell slot for Magic Fang when I have racial action points that I absolutely must spend in either of those two substandard trees?

[magaiti]

I wouldn’t go DEX/scimis because it’s nowhere near the DPS of STR/longswords.

Please explain. Difference in crit profile is not big enough for "nowhere near"

[Looting_Bin]

Please explain. Difference in crit profile is not big enough for "nowhere near"

So considering you have all the twf feats free you can pick feats you wouldn't normally pick(Knight's training), say on a rogue(which is just trying to increase the number of hits to get your damage based on BS). Considering that knights training basically makes longswords the equivalent of a khopesh but far easier to get. The longswords base damage being higher than scimitar and the multiplier receiving the boost, rolls of a 19-20 do incredible stacked bonuses(I personally hit 12k crits quite commonly). The scimitar is then falling behind on the base damage. I hadn't done the math but I do know that with 100+ dex scimmy (9-10k 19-20 rolls) was doing less than the 80+ str Lonsword. Longswords are not finessable so don't receive the bonuses of the capstone. Not to mention Str is by far the easiest stat to buff up with the least effort.

I could be wrong or incorrect in the math. But as to my playstyle and the bonuses to str over dex, Soulrazor (longsword) is the best one handed weapon in the game(melee specific). Yes I do have the nice scimmies (Nightshard being one raid tier) but when compared to Soulrazor they fall short. Dex would be easier to play out the gate but most people that compare use their own character in the comparison. For me Str is better but if I didn't have the accumulated past lives and gear Dex would be more viable.

So like all things the difference is based on gear availability, Accumulated past lives, and playstyle preference.

Hope that was helpful. And don't quote me saying that one point of view is superior to another. Focus on what you like and work with what makes the game enjoyable for you. To say what is best for you, is only answerable by you.

[Soulfurnace]

So considering you have all the twf feats free you can pick feats you wouldn't normally pick(Knight's training), say on a rogue(which is just trying to increase the number of hits to get your damage based on BS).

Even if you had to pay the 3 feats for the TWF chain, knights training fits in with 0 issues. That's a non-factor, any twf intending to use ls/baxe/whatever the other is is taking it. There's room, very, very easily.

Not to mention Str is by far the easiest stat to buff up with the least effort.

Yes

I could be wrong or incorrect in the math. But as to my playstyle and the bonuses to str over dex, Soulrazor (longsword) is the best one handed weapon in the game(melee specific).

No. Lamplighter is better for some builds. Rogues will benefit more from pain/suffering, so soulrazor isn't better there. That also goes for any VKF melee, which.. Honestly, most twf are VKF or scourge, so soulrazor is the least commonly used option.

I guess it's the best on a non-vkf, non-scourge twf, of which there are few.

[DerpDerply]

No. Lamplighter is better for some builds.

Which builds would those be? The crit range on Lamplighter kinda sucks.

[Looting_Bin]

Even if you had to pay the 3 feats for the TWF chain, knights training fits in with 0 issues. That's a non-factor, any twf intending to use ls/baxe/whatever the other is is taking it. There's room, very, very easily.

No. Lamplighter is better for some builds. Rogues will benefit more from pain/suffering, so soulrazor isn't better there. That also goes for any VKF melee, which.. Honestly, most twf are VKF or scourge, so soulrazor is the least commonly used option.

I guess it's the best on a non-vkf, non-scourge twf, of which there are few.

Like I said in the post (quoting myself now)its a niche grp that find longswords better based on preference and playstyle choices. And when I commented on soulrazor it was as I said based on the gear I had gotten on my build and as I said before each person needs to find what works for them. So based on the fact that I told a point of view as to what I prefer based on my gear. I can't help but wonder *** you actually contributed to what I was talking about? So again "DONT QUOTE ME" as its an opinion I am stating. Where as you seem to be full of "what's best with every possible build" I prefer to let people decide for them selves....

[Hawkwier]

I'm intreagued - which builds is Lamplighter better than Soulrazor?

[DerpDerply]

I'm intreagued - which builds is Lamplighter better than Soulrazor?

Honestly, I’ve never heard anybody recommend Lamplighter for anything other than sentient food before this, so I’m intrigued as well.

[Wdstudios]

TWF Ranger or Barbarian build?

Neither. Go fighter.