Ranger Feat/skill suggestions

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Per the subject title, my suggestion is to bump up Protective Ward for rangers to where Kaedrin's placed it, as follows:

Protective Ward

Type of Feat: Wild

Your fervor in protecting the wild has afforded you divine protection from danger which shields you from attacks.

Prerequisite: Ranger 4, Ability to cast level 1 Ranger spells.

Benefit: You gain a +1 Dodge AC bonus. This bonus increases to +2 at 24th level as a Ranger.

If you do not have levels in any other class except for Ranger, you instead gain the following benefits: At level 4 you gain a +2 Dodge AC bonus and a +1 Attack bonus. This bonus increases to +4 Dodge AC and +2 Attack bonus at 24th level.

Use: Automatic.

This would make it a free feat, with the above bonuses. Currently, the feat only has the first portion, where it provides bonus AC based on levels, and you have to purchase it - its not a free feat.

[Hrafnar]

As a pure ranger player I would love to see it fully implemented, of course!

If it is considered OP - perhaps it could still be a feat you have to choose rather than a free feat? Honestly I think pure rangers are quite strong when built right but an extra +2 to AB and AC isn't going to break the game.

[metaquad4]

Its fairly reasonable, and its a good investment for going beyond 21 ranger. Why not.

[Valefort]

Since when is free +4 AC reasonable ? The feat as it is now is already pretty damn good.

[VillageGreenWitch]

Since when is free +4 AC reasonable ? The feat as it is now is already pretty damn good.

If we didn't speak about pure Ranger as a prerequisite for these +4 AC I'd agree to your statement, Valefort.

But let's face it - pure ranger is no match for pretty much anything above a pure rogue.
Mediocre AC (even with the +5 Barkskin!), mediocre AB, bad saves, no real damage to speak of, the only real defense is HIPS (which works in outside areas only and cannot be used for anything offensive) . . .

There's a shortage of pure rangers on any PW that didn't heavily change them. And that shortage is there for a reason.

[chad878262]

Since when is free +4 AC reasonable ? The feat as it is now is already pretty damn good.

If we didn't speak about pure Ranger as a prerequisite for these +4 AC I'd agree to your statement, Valefort.

But let's face it - pure ranger is no match for pretty much anything above a pure rogue.
Mediocre AC (even with the +5 Barkskin!), mediocre AB, bad saves, no real damage to speak of, the only real defense is HIPS (which works in outside areas only and cannot be used for anything offensive) . . .

There's a shortage of pure rangers on any PW that didn't heavily change them. And that shortage is there for a reason.

Pure Ranger is one of the most balanced classes there is and cam be quite powerful if built properly. Mid - high 40's for AC, solid damage andAB, evasion/ expose weakness, etc. Ranger is up there with Paladin, jyst below tier 1 build s, but nowhere near low or even mid tier. Can solo they majority of content with a properly built ranger.

Played a ranger for 2 years... thought it was a bit too weak the first year and a half or so, then learned how to better optimize my play and it was a breeze.

[VillageGreenWitch]

Pure Ranger is one of the most balanced classes there is and cam be quite powerful if built properly. Mid - high 40's for AC, solid damage andAB, evasion/ expose weakness, etc. Ranger is up there with Paladin, jyst below tier 1 build s, but nowhere near low or even mid tier. Can solo they majority of content with a properly built ranger.

Okay I must be doing something wrong then.
Would you happen to have an example build for such a ranger (archery preferred)?

[chad878262]

Pure Ranger is one of the most balanced classes there is and cam be quite powerful if built properly. Mid - high 40's for AC, solid damage andAB, evasion/ expose weakness, etc. Ranger is up there with Paladin, jyst below tier 1 build s, but nowhere near low or even mid tier. Can solo they majority of content with a properly built ranger.

Okay I must be doing something wrong then.
Would you happen to have an example build for such a ranger (archery preferred)?

On my phone, but ill draw one up later if M3ntalist doesn't sup by before then.

[Hrafnar]

Would you happen to have an example build for such a ranger (archery preferred)?

Having good times with this guy so far:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?263538

I'm sure he could be better optimized as I've made a few flavor choices.

[chad878262]

Pure Ranger is one of the most balanced classes there is and cam be quite powerful if built properly. Mid - high 40's for AC, solid damage andAB, evasion/ expose weakness, etc. Ranger is up there with Paladin, jyst below tier 1 build s, but nowhere near low or even mid tier. Can solo they majority of content with a properly built ranger.

Okay I must be doing something wrong then.
Would you happen to have an example build for such a ranger (archery preferred)?

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

Animal companion buffed up can be one of the strongest summons in the game and should be selected for Tanking ability. It keeps the enemies off of you while you pepper them with arrows. Two uses of One Shot, 4 minutes per rest of Haste, decent AC and saves.

The key to a Ranger is not to skimp on any of it's abilities. Especially for an Archer pure ranger you have some really GREAT buffing spells, but you have to split them between you and your pet. However, CL30 means you only need to worry about mords (few if any of your wards are on the breach list). Your AB is good enough to use manyshot since you have two wards to give +1 AB on ranged and Aid for +1 more. If necessary you can even grab a heroism wand or greater heroism potion. There are rings and other items that are somewhat common to gain bonus Ranger slots as well. The other thing that Pure Ranger gets is the ability to use whatever they want in their neck slot and deflection slot since they have Barkskin and Halo of Sand. Cats Grace brings your DEX to 30 so you can either wear +4 Cloth Armor or +4 Bracer's, whatever you can grab (+4 cloth will generally be cheaper at around 35-45K). Extend spell is important to give you some additional control of your spellbook... Even if you don't necessarily need additional duration, sometimes you just want extra casts of something. Obviously any Ranger does a little better in the wilderness, but you can do fine in dungeons as well so long as you keep an eye on your pet so it doesn't get swarmed. It is very survivable as well because if things do go wrong you generally have a head start on getting away.

[VillageGreenWitch]

Thank you both for your tips, much appreciated.
I need to make a few adjustments (being moon elf ) but your builds look intriguing.

[chad878262]

Thank you both for your tips, much appreciated.
I need to make a few adjustments (being moon elf ) but your builds look intriguing.

Much appreciated, thank you!

With Moon Elf your DEX Can be 2 points higher which would allow you to simply drop luck of hero's for -1 saves (your pet should be getting hit with spells more than you).

Best of luck and feel free to reach out if you need any further assistance.

[Hrafnar]

Chad, the builder does let me select a second one shot, however it says the DEX requirement is 27. Has this been lowered on the server?

[chad878262]

No it hasn't, the requirement is 27. However, VGW indicated Moon elf so the DEX will be two point higher. In the build I posted if need to replace an epic feat or lower ability scores to fit in the second one shot on a human archer ranger.

[Hrafnar]

Ah I understand, sorry.