Wilderness Stalker

[Wade]

Wilderness Stalker is like Weaponmaster, a boring barebones class that gives nothing but 2 key feats. I know, WS also gives some ac and sneak dices, but it's still quite boring. The OP suggestion was imho more about giving it more life and flavor than mechanical power, and I 100% support it, flavor-wise Wilderness Stalker doesn't feel as appealing as it could as it's a class without a single unique feat.

[Steve]

It seems the Wilderness Stalker PrC is a funky hybridization of Wilderness Rogue and Highland Stalker PrCs. What prevents WS from being a Ranger-based PrC is the SA requirement. While I personally always perceived WS as a PrC to make sneaky Rangers, it’s actually a rogue-based PrC to make rangy sneaks.

But I’d argue a Rogue can benefit far greater from 5 IB levels and/or 3 levels of Bodyguard, if looking to pick up high AB (or 5 levels of Swash add perks too). Is WS mostly for high AB and consolation SAs??

The build does gain tracking, camouflage, etc., which is a very cool RP feature, since seeing enemies on the mini map does add to gameplay.

But back to the origins...I you read up on them, you’ll see how Wilderness Stalker and it’s “parents” were designed in principle to complement the Scout class, which does not exist on BGTSCC. This is a point very much worth mentioning.

6/10 spell progression would help to make WS more compatible with Ranger, but the SA req. will always make that build suffer...and too much for what it gains. I think WS would need to adopt many of the features of Cavestalker Ranger progression to really make it a worthwhile choice.

Some more suggestions for RP appropriate buffs:

- Woodland Stride at Level 1.
- Trackless Step at Level 9.
- Add 1-2 Favored Enemy feats (like Harper Scout; and this would benefit Rogues in a unique way).

[Whirlwind]

It seems the Wilderness Stalker PrC is a funky hybridization of Wilderness Rogue and Highland Stalker PrCs. What prevents WS from being a Ranger-based PrC is the SA requirement. While I personally always perceived WS as a PrC to make sneaky Rangers, it’s actually a rogue-based PrC to make rangy sneaks.

But I’d argue a Rogue can benefit far greater from 5 IB levels and/or 3 levels of Bodyguard, if looking to pick up high AB (or 5 levels of Swash add perks too). Is WS mostly for high AB and consolation SAs??

The build does gain tracking, camouflage, etc., which is a very cool RP feature, since seeing enemies on the mini map does add to gameplay.

But back to the origins...I you read up on them, you’ll see how Wilderness Stalker and it’s “parents” were designed in principle to complement the Scout class, which does not exist on BGTSCC. This is a point very much worth mentioning.

6/10 spell progression would help to make WS more compatible with Ranger, but the SA req. will always make that build suffer...and too much for what it gains. I think WS would need to adopt many of the features of Cavestalker Ranger progression to really make it a worthwhile choice.

Some more suggestions for RP appropriate buffs:

- Woodland Stride at Level 1.
- Trackless Step at Level 9.
- Add 1-2 Favored Enemy feats (like Harper Scout; and this would benefit Rogues in a unique way).

My perception of the class was more an outdoorsy kinda rogue too. I like it being this too - I like the idea that they can thrive outdoors but they're not attuned to nature in the way a ranger or druid might be with the balance, relationship with beasts and nature magic - they're more of a survivalist etc.

I like your ideas for the additional bonuses, Steve.

On reflection I'd maybe revise mine to:

- Self Sufficient at level 1.
- Woodland Stride at Level 5.
- Trackless Step at Level 9.

If I'm honest though, I prefer favoured enemies being the domain of rangers/hunters only and harpers only as thematically these classes are guardians/guides protecting civilisation/nature from said enemies etc - just my view, but wilderness stalker doesn't scream that to me as much.

I think if they were at least getting favoured enemies, it should perhaps be as a bonus feat option in the same way cave stalkers get.

I also think Zkenic's idea of 6/10 spell progression would be good and reduce the sting of of dipping into it for rangers (those with more than 3 levels).

[Tanlaus]

I will say that in a stealth group tracking is great. I feel like it is under rated both for pve and RP. Especially paired with the ability to lay traps.

Those two things together can make a hard encounter pretty easy.

Not that I’m completely against adding some flavor, but giving it more ranger exclusive abilities just makes it more of a rogue PRC that gets all of a ranger’s toys.

Not all but, you get my point.

[Grendunor]

The dead levels are the main issue and makes the class hard to want compared to other options like Bodyguard or the defensive utility of Thief Acrobat.

That all being said our vexing nerf/buff to Divine Power changing the spell from BaB to an AB boost might make Wilderness stalker slightly more appealing when combined with elixirs.