Ranger 30 archer viability (Wis-based)

[NegInfinity]

How viable is ranger 30, exactly?

I'm talking about Bowman Ranger 30 with focus on wis, zen archery and with aim at epic animal companion.

[TeoDeathDealer]

All your damage comes from FEs, Bane of Enemies, and enough strength to get use from a good mighty bow, you should be fine. Zen archery of course for AB. However, damage to non-FEs will be less than par.

[Sun Wukong]

I have one.

Feats you need to take pre-epic levels: Zen Archery, Natural Bond.

Feats you need to take on epic levels: Bane of Enemies, Epic Animal Companion.

In otherwords you have feats to spare. Hence you could grab Blindfight and the Combat Focus feats for extra +4 AB and Damage. Alternatively the Improved Favored Enemy damage feats could be a rather good match too.

As for your spell selection, you can buff up yourself and your animal companion, while having enough spell slots left to unlock each of the Ranger's Reserve/Arrow/Spell feats. (Bloodfreeze Arrow, Darkflame Arrow, Arrowsplit, Shadow Arrow) Some of these summon a copy of yourself to attack, others just modify your next manual attack. Oh, and you can find some success with your Trip Vine spell thanks to your high Wisdom. (Same might hold true with Entangle spell) You can also use Nondetection and Polymorph spells as added role-play perks.

But when it comes to spell casting, remember that your animal companion comes first. Whenever you get a new slot, you should use it to memorize a spell to buff up your animal companion. One of each of these are good to have: Greater Magic Fang, Skin of the Cactus, Jagged Tooth, Animal Growth, Enrage Animal, and Nature's Fervor. (Enrage animal has the shortest duration.)

My wisdom based ranger was fine with AC of 20~ simply because I had my animal companion to tank for me. It was between me and my enemy, so I could just use the Reserve/Arrow/Spell feats and Manyshot with impunity. I even grinded those non-favored enemy areas to level up, simply because I could.

So without a shade of doubt, wisdom based Ranger 30 is a very solid option to go for.

Edit: Note that Badger is the worst animal companion you can pick up as a ranger. Badger comes with low base strength and ability to Rage, which is not a good match with your ranger spells. You should pick some other animal as your companion. (I went for Panther for the 1d6 sneak attack dice and stealth skills.)

[Sun Wukong]

All your damage comes from FEs, Bane of Enemies, and enough strength to get use from a good mighty bow, you should be fine. Zen archery of course for AB. However, damage to non-FEs will be less than par.

This is true, but the buffed up animal companion will genuingly help you out.

Also note: Extend Spell is a wasted feat.

[Egg Shen]

I would never be able to resist them temptation to splash phantom.

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Don't take blindfight, you get it on a rather long lasting ranger buff.

[mrm3ntalist]

Also note: Extend Spell is a wasted feat.

You should try your build with extend spell. Especially if you plan to use an animal companion. 30min buffs go away rather quickly.

[NegInfinity]

Alright, thanks for the information. Rolled the character.

[Sun Wukong]

Don't take blindfight, you get it on a rather long lasting ranger buff.

It is required for Combat Focus feats if you want the +4 AB and Damage from Combat Strike. You can take Combat Vigor without blindfight, but Combat Awareness requires it. And once again, Combat Strike requires all three other Combat Focus feats, and blindfight.

But yeah, if you are not going for the Combat Focus feats, you can leave Blindfight out.

I would never be able to resist them temptation to splash phantom.

Or monk, but it will slightly nerf your animal companion. I think it will have -2 HD, -2 natural AC, -1 Str and -1 Dex than what it could otherwise have, and it takes little longer for it to catch up. You will also have one less Favored Enemy.

Also note: Extend Spell is a wasted feat.

You should try your build with extend spell. Especially if you plan to use an animal companion. 30min buffs go away rather quickly.

I have been able to rest and rebuff with ease. And personally, with those Reserve/Arrow/Spell feats and the listed animal companion buff spells, even a high Wisdom ranger tends to run little short on spell slots in my experience. But if you ignore the Reserve/Arrow/Spell feats, then in that case the Extend Spell feat can be worth it. You simply have more spell slots open for buffs.