Ranger/Cavestalker Drow?

[Zahlfire]

Hello! I'm back. I feel like I'm a bit more comfortable with the server and it's setting now, and I've been reading up on the lore of the Underdark for the server. So I've decided to dabble and make a Drow! A Ranger/Cavestalker specifically. What would be a good mix for the two? Looking through the Cavestalker PrC on the Wiki..20/10 looks nice, since you would get the full benefits from both. Dual-wielding of course. Would there be any downfall to a 20/10 mix of the two?

[Storm Munin]

If its a DEXer it may be worth it, however Id settle for 21rgr/9cst to get perfect two weapons feat for free along with the void in space feat from cavestalker.

Unsure if you can take Bane of Enemies from cavestalker levels, so that might be another reason to go 21 ranger.

Cavestalker offers full spell progression and favored enemy progression.


As usual any build really are better defined on what character concept you want to play rather then what the mechanics offer at first glance.

/M

[Zahlfire]

Well I'm thinking of a dual-wielding DEX based char. Doesn't have to be much of a caster, but I wouldn't mind it of course. Just a Drow that prowls the tunnels of the UD slaying beasts and inferior races.

[Sun Wukong]

I am not so sure about the damage output though...

For example, image dual rapiers:
1d6
+ 7 (Favored Enemy)
+ 2d6 (Bane of Enemies)
+ 5 (Combat Insight?)
+ 4 (Enchantment Bonus)
+ 1d4 (Deadly Defense)
= 29~ on avarage hit...

Against DR of 20, you will get about 9~ points of damage... Thus some mobs can be painfully slow to kill. Especially if they got a bit of AC too.

But you can pull it of if you are determined, I suppose. Can anyone recommend favored enemies for UD?

And hey, you will have your HiPS, and other abilities to flee with if things go sour.

[chad878262]

expose weakness will add stacking damage per round when needed. You also have blades of fury to add 1d8 fire damage when needed. Then you can also find or purchase weapons with on hit bonus damage.

[Zahlfire]

Thanks for your replies. If I were to "build" a Ranger/Cavestalker in the NWN2DB site, what class would you recommend as a substitution for Cavestalker on the site?

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

Why don't you go STR? You get TWF feats automatically.

[Zahlfire]

I've pretty much always made DEX based characters...would Strength be a better option?

[Steve]

This is were Ranger is special, in that you can qualify for PTWF with no DEX requirement. More STR will give you more damage, more carrying weight capacity—for those glorious Loot Farming runs...Hi AC81! ...—but lower H/MS skill points and less Expose Weakness dmg.

[chad878262]

DEX has the better synergy for drow and with deadly defense applying 2.5/ hit it makes extra damage from a STR build negligible. With 26 STR you do +8 damage main hand, +4 off hand... meanwhile a drow can easily get 26 DEX (30 after cats) and 17 in't (20 with an item). With combat insight that is +5 main hand, +2 off hand. With deadly defense that becomes 7.5/4.5, this damage is equal to strength based, but you get a more expose weakness damage while AC is the same and stealth is better.

[Sun Wukong]

But the thing is, Ranger/Cavestalker does have fewer epic feats to spare. Thus assuming the dexterity/int build:

Epic Prowess (21), Expose Weakness (23), Combat Insight (25), (Bane of Enemies 27), Cavestalker Bonus Feat? (28), Something else (29).

Thus I would go Ranger 14/Cavestalker 6 pre-epic, and continue with ranger to have ranger 21 at level 27, after which I would take the last 3 levels of Cavestalker. Or then you do it like most barbarian builds do, Ranger 17/Cavestalker 3 pre-epic, and go for ranger 21 ASAP.

But as for damage of that strength based Ranger, if you start out with 16 strength on a drow, you could spend epic feats at level 25 and 29 to get Great Strength and end up with base 25 strength, add +3 item and you are at 28 strength, a +9 strength modifier for mainhand and +4 to your off hand. If you make use of light weapons, you can still add the +1d4 damage from Deadly Defense. (+11.5~ and +6.5~)

[Zahlfire]

Thank you guys again for your information and help with this. I think I'm going to settle with a DEX based character, mostly because that's what I'm most familiar with.

[AC81]

A bit late on this one, but it was grand final weekend and I've only just now sobered up. You should look at a strength-based Ranger26/CS4. They're pretty good and would fit what you want without any real downside.

This is were Ranger is special, in that you can qualify for PTWF with no DEX requirement. More STR will give you more damage, more carrying weight capacity—for those glorious Loot Farming runs...Hi AC81! ...—but lower H/MS skill points and less Expose Weakness dmg.

Loot-farming is for peasants ... Hi Steve!