Wisdom-based archery ranger

[Vermilion]

How does this one work? Obviously Zen Archery is integral but how would you build a human wisdom ranger?

Does anyone have an example build I could look over?

Thank you!

[aaron22]

actually i wouldnt use a ranger as my platform on a wis based archer. id be a druid.

[mrm3ntalist]

actually i wouldnt use a ranger as my platform on a wis based archer. id be a druid.

Where would the damage come from?

[chad878262]

Ranger can certainly work with Zen Archery, though not as good as DEX due to double One Shot and AC... In any case.

You want 17 STR (20 after +3 item) to get the best benefit out of Mighty Longbow property. DEX can be 14 to use the Mithral Chaimail and then maximum WIS. You can either go R30 or R26/F4, Fighter 4 gives a slight increase to Damage, but R30 can get a steller pet with Feat investment (Natural Bond and Epic Animal Companion). In addition your sky high WIS score grants you bonus spells so you should have no issue fully buffing yourself and your companion. Ranger spell list has two spells to give +1 AB to ranged plus Aid so +3 AB goes some way toward mitigating the penalty for Manyshot. F4 can reduce this further by granting Ranged Mastery for +2, but then your companion will be about equivalent with a 'pure' ranger that doesn't take Natural Bond/Epic Animal Companion after still taking those two feats...

Basically your goal should be to get WIS to 26 (30 after Owl's WIS), get WF: Longbow and really try to push AB close to 50 if possible (when fully buffed). With that and a decent companion you'll do just fine, especially against FE's. Basically 4 levels of Fighter has +2 AB, +4 Damage while Pure Ranger has a really solid Animal Companion while saving a feat on Practiced Spellcaster, F would grant 3 total feats, 2 of those would be WS: Longbow and Ranged Mastery, the third one makes up for PSC so it is really a decision between being a better archer yourself or having a more powerful companion. For comparison, the R30 with Natural Bond and Epic Animal Companion will have a companion with +2 HD, +2 Natural AC, +1 STR, +1 DEX over a Druid 30 without epic animal companion. Add to this the buffs you can give the companion (Barkskin, Cats Grace, Bears Endurance, Gr Magic Fang, Jagged Tooth, Aid, etc.) and it can be a really good tank for you to fire at mobs behind. R26/F4 should still take Natural Bond and Epic Animal Companion and it will be roughly equivalent to a R29 companion who has taken Natural Bond, but not Epic Animal Companion. Essentially R30 will have a companion based on a R33 while R26/F4 will have a companion equivalent to R29 (in both cases assumes they take both natural bond and EAC).

[aaron22]

maybe phantom/SD build could be good too. SA dice. phantom invis, hips and wis=AC and AB. could mix in EA for more damage.

you have a really good buffed up pet with druid(epic comp) to tank and you can get your AB up sky high. really nice defense as well when the mobs get to you. all the manyshot, IRS and one shot if you want. your damage will not be near to top end archer levels. but you can cast WAY WAY better. not many archers out there can pop you with a storm of vengeance. jus sayin. plus with wis built d30 you can go dragon form/dragon pet if needed.

could go wood elf and ranger6(to get your manyshot)/fighter9/EA5/OOBI10. weapn spec,weap mastery. EWS. etc etc. good ab. dispelling problems and dex is better for this

dex building is better for most of these builds why i liked the druid, because you can cast really well and have good AB with the zen archery.

ranger model 30 model is how i would go if i went ranger. better pet.

[Vermilion]

For the dexterity build I guess keeping strength at 17 for the mightiest bows, 13 constitution (for the belt of growth?) and wis14?

[chad878262]

DEX Ranger Archer is very similar and your stats are correct. You won't get Epic Animal Companion though and (IMO) adding 4 Fighter is the best option for that build. You really only lose 1 favored enemy and have to take one feat (PSC), but you get 3 feats from 4 fighter levels, 2 of which will be WS and Ranged Mastery. R21 gives free one shot and then you can still take the feat once you qualify for 2/day uses, that and the increased AC is the only thing DEX Archer has over WIS Archer. Frankly I think the Epic Animal Companion is a fair trade so they are roughly equivalent with regard to power levels.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

Dexterity Ranger also gets Blinding Speed, which is phenomenal feat. Instant haste. Dex Archer Ranger 26/4 Fighter is probably more powerful, but Zen Ranger 30 with full animal companion feats is also very strong and very interesting to (role)play.