Ranger 30 Wisdom Base - The two last feats...

[Sun Wukong]

My ranger is getting closer and closer towards level 30. This has got me thinking about what I should spend my last two feats on.

Original plan:
Great Wisdom x 2

• +1 Ranged AB
• +1 Spell Slot
• +1 Will Saves
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Other plans:
Great Wisdom, Epic Prowess

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• +3 item to get most out of the wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Expose Weakness

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• Expose Weakness could provide some melee capability
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Northlander Hewing

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• Northlander Hewing could provide some melee capability
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Armor Skin

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• +1 AC from Armor Skin
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Epic Toughness

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• +30 HP
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Edit:
The build has base 16 strength, 20 with +4 from potion of Bull's Strength. Thus with a +4 EB from weapon, and Aid Spell, I am looking at AB of 40 at level 30. While it has been mostly ranged road for me, I kind of like the idea of being able to fight in melee as well. With that in mind, Expose Weakness and Northlander Hewing both seem like feats worth taking. Expose Weakness natural lowers enemy AC, while Northlander Hewing gives some damage output.

For example, the Manticore Greatsword:
12 (Base Damage Dice Maximised)
+ 4 (EB)
+ 6 (Extra Damage Dice maximised)
+ 7 (Buffed Strength modifier)
+ 5 (Northlander Hewing Extra Damage)
= 34

Which is not great on its own, but then again, this isn't a melee character. Thus, thoughts, comments?

[DreadArtemis]

Personally, I would go for northlander hewing. Even though you could do some EW shenanigans, the nortlander hewing would go a good way to making your damage palatable. The maximized manticore sword damage would be great, not too mention you are dropping your lowest attacks which would be hard to hit anyways.

Just my 2 c.p.

[Sun Wukong]

I have quite a number of characters that actually make use of the Northlander Hewing feat, hence it has made me lean towards Expose Weakness. Not to mention that Expose Weakness can be combined with Blades of Fire with minor spellbook adjustments, and thus the more hits land, the more the fire damage piles up.

However, Northlander Hewing would give my character some +13~ damage on avarage hit, which is a lot especially when going against critters that are not my ranger's Favored Enemies. The avarage 21~ damage per hit without Northlander Hewing can struggle to go through some of the higher DR mobs we have on this server.

It really is not an easy decision to make. But thanks for the input!

[Arn]

What spell level can your Ranger cast?

The only +4 Wisdom item you can count on is the amulet sold at Beregost, which I am sure you're aware of. That means you'll need Barkskin to cover Natural AC. Assuming you have the Ranger levels to access Barkskin, I would personally lean towards the first option. From a purely mechanical perspective, I'd probably ditch the melee idea because you probably won't use melee enough to justify it.

However, if you really think you will use melee (for RP purposes or whatever), I'd go with your third plan of Epic Prowess/EW or your fourth plan of Epic Prowess/Northlander Hewing. I don't like your second plan because there's no reason to use a +3 Wisdom item if you have access to a +4 Wisdom item. Use the +4 Wisdom item to free up an extra epic feat.

Between EW or Northlander Hewing, I think there have been other threads about whether Northlander Hewing is worth it. All I can say is that I once considered Northlander Hewing for my F/FB/WM build, and concluded that the damage would be inferior. Don't know if the numbers work out differently for your build.
Edit: I think the reason I concluded Northlander Hewing wasn't worth it for my F/FB/WM is because of IPA, and because that build wants more attacks for more chances to crit. I really have no idea how it would work out for your build, but I think EW is always a solid pick if you're really going to go melee.

As for Armor Skin or Epic Toughness, I guess I just prefer to build for offense; I have never taken either of those feats.

[Sun Wukong]

What spell level can your Ranger cast?

Uh what? It is a wisdom based single class ranger, ranger spell casting is wisdom based, and rangers have their own spell book with a four levels of spells. Oh, on this server ranger and paladin are full caster level classes, a single level of ranger or paladin gives said ranger or paladin a caster level.

Between EW or Northlander Hewing, I think there have been other threads about whether Northlander Hewing is worth it. All I can say is that I once considered Northlander Hewing for my F/FB/WM build, and concluded that the damage would be inferior. Don't know if the numbers work out differently for your build.

On a high strength character, Northlander Hewing tends to be the better choice with Sword and Board. Otherwise, two-handed Improved Power Attack tends to work better in most situation.

You should not use IPA and NH together, well, not unless you are against absurd ACs where you only land a hit by rolling a 20.

But back to my build, using the first magical weapon she found from loot herself:

Code: Select all

Expose Weakness               Northlander Hewing

1d6 (Hand Axe)                6 (Hand Axe)
+ 2 (Enchantment Bonus)       + 2 (Enchantment Bonus) 
+ 1d4 (Piercing)              + 4 (Piercing)  
+ 5 (Buffed up Strength)      + 5 (Buffed up Strength)
                              + 5 (Northlander Hewing)
= 13 ~ (Avarage)              = 22 (Every Hit)     


+ 7 (Favored Enemies)         + 7 (Favored Enemies)               
+ 2d6 (Bane of Enemies)       + 2d6 (Bane of Enemies) 
= 27~ (Avarage)               = 36~ (Avarage)      

+ 1d8 (Blades of Fire)        + 1d8 (Blades of Fire)      
= 31.5~ (Avarage)             = 40.5~ (Avarage)

If all attacks land against a favored enemy:
- Expose Weakness would be dealing about 189 damage per round.
- Northlander Hewing would be dealing about 165 damage per round.

If all attacks land against a non-favored enemy that is immune to fire:
- Expose Weakness would be dealing about 78 damage per round.
- Northlander Hewing would be dealing about 88 damage per round.

The Northlander Hewing deals slightly more damage when we factor in the enemy AC of 40, however, the Expose Weakness tends to catch up the longer the fight goes on due to its AC debuff.

It is a bit even situation. But considering how my character is Combat Strike, which grants temporary +4 AB and Damage, I think the mechanical advantage slides in favor of Expose Weakness. The +4 AB does boost the hit probability of the lower AB attacks, while the effect on Northlander Hewing mode is less noticable.

But, both kind of have their flavour.

[chad878262]

One thing to consider is that you are primarily an archer, so when you pull out a melee weapon it's likely a boss, thus I would say EW is the better choice, since you should only ever need to engage in melee for longer battles. If the battles over in a couple rounds the enemy should have never reached melee range!

[Arn]

What spell level can your Ranger cast?

Uh what? It is a wisdom based single class ranger, ranger spell casting is wisdom based, and rangers have their own spell book with a four levels of spells.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if you were multiclassing or not.

[Sun Wukong]

Great Wisdom x 2

• +1 Ranged AB
• +1 Spell Slot
• +1 Will Saves
• +1 Wisdom Based Skills
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Expose Weakness

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• Expose Weakness could provide some melee capability
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

Epic Prowess, Northlander Hewing

• +1 AB from Epic Prowess
• Northlander Hewing could provide some melee capability
• +2 or +4 item to get most out of wisdom ability score

With the Wisdom Route:
30 (BAB)
+ 5 (Strength with Potion of Bull's Strength)
+ 4 (Weapon Enchantment Bonus)
+ 1 (Aid Spell, takes a third level spell slot that the wisdom route would get)
= 40

The character is ranged first and foremost... Which means I have started to lean back towards the original wisdom plan.

[Arn]

The character is ranged first and foremost... Which means I have started to lean back towards the original wisdom plan.