Ranger: Tempest (Preview)

[Borror0]

Is the shield label on the AC bonus new?

It is. That means that it won't stack with the Shield spell now.

By the way, is the gain from Tempest II only +1 to-hit and +1 AC? Isn't that a bit weak?

[Taojeff]

The Tempest is a solid enhancement that many current builds are based around. It may not be especially flashy, but has solid passive bonuses. That theme continues with the advanced tiers of the prestige enhancement.

Here's the whirling storm of blades, the Tempest:

Ranger Tempest I
Prerequisites: Ranger level 6, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Cost: 4 AP
Benefit: Your training has turned you into a whirling tempest of steel, granting a 10% competence bonus to dual wield attack speed and a +2 shield bonus to armor class when two weapon fighting.

The bonus to armor class now also actually only applies when you're dual wielding. Both of the bonuses granted by Tempest I have been "typed", to clarify stacking questions that constantly arose.

Ranger Tempest II
Prerequisites: Ranger level 12, Tempest I, Ranger Dexterity II, Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Benefit: Your training has turned you into a whirling tempest of steel, granting a 10% competence bonus to dual wield attack speed, a +3 shield bonus to armor class when two weapon fighting, and your penalty to hit has been reduced by 1.

Since the initial prerequisites for Tempest I are pretty steep, we made the additional prerequisites for Tempest II (and III) on the cheap side. Remember that Rangers get Greater Two Weapon Fighting for free.

Ranger Tempest III
Prerequisites: Ranger level 18, Tempest II, and any one of: Two Weapon Blocking, Two Weapon Defense, Oversized Two Weapon Fighting, or Lightning Reflexes.
Benefit: Your skill with two weapons is unequaled - your training has turned you into a whirling tempest of steel, granting a 10% competence bonus to dual wield attack speed, a +4 shield bonus to armor class when two weapon fighting, your penalty to hit has been reduced by 2, and you gain additional attacks when two weapon fighting.

The additional attacks gained at tier III are identical to what we originally had planned for (the not-in-the-game) Superior Two Weapon Fighting.

This is really great. I like the + shield bonus. What is monks wisdom ac bonus typed as, and will it stack? I personally think its better to go 18 levels of ranger at least instead of the weird monk/ranger/pally builds.

Its nice how the people who cant get all 3 levels do get something. The reduction in the attack penalty is also really cool.

I do think that this will keep rangers the dps favorites. Especially if nothing is done with the monk splash. Who do you want to heal, a Ranger who does less damage a swing but attacks alot faster (and more attacks) and gets hit alot less. Or a barb that does alot of damage but requires constant heal scrolls. I think you can see the preference in most groups today. Rangers win hands down.
Not that its a bad thing. My main is a ranger :P.

[Vorn]

so, ranger lvl 18 are the only ones who can get what is the equivalent of Superior Two Weapon Fighting... not nice for other twf classes imo...

"Your skill with two weapons is unequaled" Classism! Very 4.0-ish.

My gtwf pure fighter will have to be content with Kensai until (hopefully) we get epic levels and he can take stwf as a feat choice.

[Borror0]

QFT .. not all TWF characters are rangers

It's not really a problem if what others classes get is balanced for it, but I doubt it really. That's another 10% bonus...

[Aspenor]

It is. That means that it won't stack with the Shield spell now.

By the way, is the gain from Tempest II only +1 to-hit and +1 AC? Isn't that a bit weak?

Depends on how you look at it. It gives access to the premier twf enhancement in the game.....

it's worth it, obviously. just seems off that the 1st tier is more powerful than the 2nd.

[Aranticus]

so it represents a 2AC drop for a tempest ranger... wonder what will happen to the ranger/monks

[Borror0]

it's worth it, obviously.

Is it, if you don't have 18 level of ranger?

[Vra]

The shield clickes/titan cookies still stop mm/force missles, so not totally useless, but all-in-all looks really cool at first look. But,....too bad for old characters who can't get lvl 18 ranger when the only respec options = reroll.

you will always have to reroll any of your characters vorn, but yeah - sad for old characters with more than 2 other classlvls

[maddmatt70]

No.. it's especially not very nice for other TWF full BAB classes. As they're going to run into a wall at BAB 20.

They should at least give fighters an option for a feat with the requirements of fighter level 18 which gives fighters superior two weapon fighting.

[Aspenor]

you will always have to reroll any of your characters vorn, but yeah - sad for old characters with more than 2 other classlvls

this will be the case for any class PrE....

[bobbryan2]

They should at least give fighters an option for a feat with the requirements of fighter level 18 which gives fighters superior two weapon fighting.

You could say the same thing about Paladins and barbarians too... But really... that's just asking for them to add Superior TWF into the game.. and they already said it would come with a Dex 19 requirement... which would break just as many builds.

[Aspenor]

You could say the same thing about Paladins and barbarians too... But really... that's just asking for them to add Superior TWF into the game.. and they already said it would come with a Dex 19 requirement... which would break just as many builds.

+5 tomes anybody?

but really...uhh....superior two weapon fighting isn't core. it's a DM gift, not something we're entitled to.

[maddmatt70]

You could say the same thing about Paladins and barbarians too... But really... that's just asking for them to add Superior TWF into the game.. and they already said it would come with a Dex 19 requirement... which would break just as many builds.

If they added the feat with requirements dex 19. Since they are going to be putting +4 dex tomes out there next mod alot of builds are still redeemable provided they loot a +4 dex tome.

[Garth_of_Sarlona]

I think it's sadly ironic that monks despite having 'flurry of blows' will get fewer attacks than ranger/18 - how about increasing the number of attacks for monks too - perhaps via a PrE line?

Garth

[MrCow]

Is it, if you don't have 18 level of ranger?

If you are a tempest and take things like "Axe Enhancement I", "Favored Attack I", or any of the +1 to-hit enhancements that cost 2 or more AP then it is for sheer AP consolidation or greater situational versatility it grants.

I know I can guarantee that my ranger/bard will be taking it (although that is more of an issue of having Warforged Power Attack on so often).

[Gol]

Is it, if you don't have 18 level of ranger?

Depends on the AP cost, I'd say (which wasn't in the post). For 2 AP, probably. For 4 AP, no. My Ranger will be in this in-between boat. I haven't really figured what I'm going to do with him yet.

[Irongutz2000]

My ranger is happy!

[Eladrin]

Depends on the AP cost, I'd say (which wasn't in the post). For 2 AP, probably. For 4 AP, no. My Ranger will be in this in-between boat. I haven't really figured what I'm going to do with him yet.

It's 4/2/2, like the others. I've edited the original post.

All prestige enhancements are either 4/2/2 AP, or 4/1/1/1/1 AP, depending on whether they are three or five tier.

[Taojeff]

I think it's sadly ironic that monks despite having 'flurry of blows' will get fewer attacks than ranger/18 - how about increasing the number of attacks for monks too - perhaps via a PrE line?

Garth

Doesnt the ranger tempest get more attacks per round then monks anyway.

[Taojeff]

It's 4/2/2, like the others. I've edited the original post.

All prestige enhancements are either 4/2/2 AP, or 4/1/1/1/1 AP, depending on whether they are three or five tier.

oh, five tiers? Do tell.