Bow Ranger

[CleverUsername123]

Does anyone have a build for a ranger who uses a bow? Preferably human, but it's not that important? Playable from level 1 if possible?

[ValerieJean]

http://nwn2db.com/builds/search/results.php

Here's a few to choose from, did a search on BGTSCC Human, Ranger, Ranged AB 35

[Hrafnar]

I can put the build I'm currently using for reference. I got some good help on the forums:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?261263

It's for a wood elf but could adapt for a human. Racial picks are strictly PvE. Level 14 now and felt competent so far. I chose orcs as racial enemy 1 for backstory purposes. Undead would be better .

[chad878262]

Ranger 30, max DEX, natural bond and epic animal companion, as high attack bonus as you can get to counter many shot, done.

Companion to tank, double one shot, pick favored enemies that have dr/crit immunity and you should be good to go.

[chad878262]

Example of a Ranger 30 Archery build:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?261688

Expose Weakness is not really an Archer feat, but you want Epic Prowess anyway (you want anything to increase your AB to address the penalty of Many Shot).

Note that Rangers have several spells that will grant you bonuses to archery AB. Two specifically grant +1 to hit with ranged weapons and then Aid gives +1 to hit as well. Recommend you also have a wand of heroism and bless as well as scrolls of greater heroism to use as needed. You can gain +5 AB from your own spells (Cat's Grace, Aid, Blessed Aim, Hawkeye) so by using heroism wand (long duration) you have almost erased the penalty from Many Shot (-8 vs. +7) with spells that will last 1 min/level without extending them and a wand that will last any longer (if not dispelled). You then have short term options to use as needed for more AB increase (greater heroism scroll or wand of bless for example).

In addition to all of this, you have many spells to buff your animal companion which can act as a tank while you fire away with arrows. Barkskin, cat's grace, bears endurance, animal growth, nature's favor, jagged tooth, and greater magic fang are all good choices. Wand of IMA will help a lot with your companions survivability as well.

have fun, this is just one idea, you can certainly go different routes, but with an archer having a strong companion is definitely a god send.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

Chad makes a good case for a pure Ranger. The other alternative is 26 Ranger/4 Fighter which will get you +4 damage and +2 to AB at the cost of Practiced Spellcaster and one FE group.

Pure Ranger, however, will allow you to utilize full potential of your Animal Companion, albeit at the cost of two feats (one of which epic).

One thing though, you really want to go with a Wood Elf. You will want extra STR and DEX.

I think Boar is your best bet for a companion, but I can't speak for the new additions, maybe someone else knows more. But out of OC companions, Boar is the way to go.

[Hrafnar]

I think Boar is your best bet for a companion, but I can't speak for the new additions, maybe someone else knows more. But out of OC companions, Boar is the way to go.

My experience of the arctic wolf is that it is quite weak early on, however once its levels go up (should have taken natural bond sooner) its cone of cold hits for some impressive dmg and it seems to have many uses a day, though I'm not sure how many exactly. It's also pretty stealthy. I think the vanilla wolf is a poor choice as its one useful ability (knockdown) is pretty detrimental to your ranged AB.

[Sun Wukong]

Does anyone have a build for a ranger who uses a bow? Preferably human, but it's not that important? Playable from level 1 if possible?

Just take 30 levels of ranger. You can go dexterity, or you can go wisdom and pick the Zen Archery feat. Dexterity based ranger will be a better sneak, and wisdom based ranger will be a better spotter and far more fun. It is your choice.

As for other feats;

Pre epic:
- Natural Bond
- Zen Archery (If going wisdom route)

Post epic:
- Bane of Enemies
- Epic Animal Companion
- Great Dexterity/Wisdom, based on your ranged choice.

Why is it more fun to play a wisdom based ranger? Answer: You get more spell slots. You will have enough spells to buff yourself and your animal companion. (Animal companion should get the priority here.) And then, Rangers have special arrow related spells and reserve feats. Hence, as long as you have one of these arrow related spells memorized, you can use the reserve feat to fire special attacks. Like a burst of multiple arrows, or an arrpow that freezes, and another that causes ability damage, and few others. Each of them come with their respective timers and a wisdom based ranger can have them all. Buffs for you, your companion, and these lovely arrow related reserve feats.

As for starting stats. 16 strength is good enough for most mighty bows. Then depending on whether you want to go for dexterity or wisdom based build, you just 14 in one and 16 into the stat that is to determine your AB.

You really, really do not need anything else.

[Hrafnar]

Why is it more fun to play a wisdom based ranger? Answer: You get more spell slots. You will have enough spells to buff yourself and your animal companion. (Animal companion should get the priority here.) And then, Rangers have special arrow related spells and reserve feats. Hence, as long as you have one of these arrow related spells memorized, you can use the reserve feat to fire special attacks. Like a burst of multiple arrows, or an arrpow that freezes, and another that causes ability damage, and few others. Each of them come with their respective timers and a wisdom based ranger can have them all. Buffs for you, your companion, and these lovely arrow related reserve feats

See now, you just made me want to RCR.

[chad878262]

Not saying WIS ranger isn't good (because it is), but it won't be able to get a second one shot epic feat and will end up with a bit lower AC. DEX archer has different pluses and minuses, but is equally viable.

[mrm3ntalist]

Not saying WIS ranger isn't good (because it is), but it won't be able to get a second one shot epic feat and will end up with a bit lower AC. DEX archer has different pluses and minuses, but is equally viable.

The AC can be the same. It only loses on stealth and one shot you mentioned.

[chad878262]

True, especially with the improvement to Mithral chain mail... Max DEX might get one or two more points I'd AC, but not enough to matter one way or another kin maxed human would be one better ac, wood elf wood be two better.

[Sun Wukong]

As for animal companions, for a ranger, the badger is the worst option. It has a low base strength, and although it will have greater rage to boost it up - it just does not work for a Ranger. You will meet the hard ability buff cap of 12 for strength and I don't think it is even enough to overcome your badger's Weapon Finesse AB.

Thus, any other animal companion works better for a Ranger. You can check the stock epic animal companion stats over here: http://bgtscc.wikia.com/wiki/Druid

Anything that isn't a badger should work just fine - so feel free to pick the creature your character would fancy the most. Boar is the tankiest, Bear does most damage, Panther can actually sneak on this server and comes with 1d6 sneak attack, wolf and dog are identical and come with knockdown, and spider's strength damage can be surprisingly helpful.

So, anything that isn't a badger will work just fine.

(Badger does work for Druids though, because of the different spell list used to buff it up.)

[CleverUsername123]

So, don't get a badger, start with 16 strength, go WIS for the cool arrow reserve feats and spells, remember Zen Archery, Natural Bond, Natural Ward, Bane of Enemies, Epic Animal Companion, and One Shot, use the rest of the epic feats for Great Wisdoms, make sure the ranger is pure ranger 30?

[chad878262]

So, don't get a badger, start with 16 strength, go WIS for the cool arrow reserve feats and spells, remember Zen Archery, Natural Bond, Natural Ward, Bane of Enemies, Epic Animal Companion, and One Shot, use the rest of the epic feats for Great Wisdoms, make sure the ranger is pure ranger 30?

You will get one shot for free at ranger 21. A DEX ranger can take it again to have two uses, but a WIS ranger won't qualify.