« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2009, 01:28:12 PM » |
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11) Multi classing:
- alternative sources for Rangers abilities
- Favoured enemy
Ranger 1 & 5 & 10 & 15 & 20 Deadgrim 2, 5/5, ecl 7 (Magic of Eberron) - undead only Impure Prince 2 & 6, ecl 7 (Magic of Eberron) - abberations only Leviathan Hunter 2, 4/5, ecl 7, Stormwrack - only against huge or larger... Abolisher 1, 4, 8/10, ecl 7, Lords of Madness - abberations only Slayer 1, ecl 5, Expanded Psionics Handbook - specific type of psionic creature only Darkwood Stalker 1, 4, 7, 10/10, ecl 6, Complete Warrior - orcs only, functionally same, but different name Gnome Giant Slayer 1, 4, 7, 10/10, ecl 6, Complete Warrior - giants only Goliath Liberator 1, 5/5, ecl 8, Races of Stone - giants only Scar Enforcer 1, ecl 6, Races of Destiny - humans and elves Eldeen Ranger 4, ecl 9, Eberron Campaign Setting Paladin 4 (Crescent Moon Knight substitution level), Champions of Valor - lycanthropes only Paladin 4 (Shadow Cloak Knight substitution level), Champions of Valor - humanoid subtype Paladin 1 (Holy Judge substitution level), Champions of Valor - devils only Rogue 2 (Golden Hand of Vergadain substitution level), Champions of Valor Web Enhancement - organization opposed to dwarves Shade Hunter 8, ecl 13, FR: Champions of Ruin - only stacks with existing, vs shades only Foe Hunter ?, ecl ?, Player's Guide to Faerun - depends on region Duraak'ash 4, 9/10, ecl 9, Eberron: Dragonmarked Knight of the Chalice 1, 3, 6, 9/10, ecl 9, Complete Warrior - Fiendslaying: against evil outsiders only Corrupt Avenger 1, 4, 7, 10/10, ecl 7, Heroes of Horror - against a specified single creature type, also gain rage like abilility Fighter 6 (Darksong Knight substitution level), Champions of Valor - Yochlols only Unnatural Enemy, feat, Player's Guide to Eberron (p.86) - extra +2 against abberations, see text Revenant Blade 4, ecl 9, Player's Guide to Eberron - called "Giant Slayer", +4 bonus Stalker of Kharesh 2, ecl 7, Book of Exalted Deeds, evil creatures Swanmay 2, ecl 7, Book of Exalted Deeds, see text
- Animal companion
Druid 1 Ranger 4 (elf racial substitution level), Races of the Wild, Elven Hound, advances as animal companion, see text Peregrine Runner 1, ecl 8, Races of Stone Beastmaster 1, ecl 6, Complete Adventurer, also gains extra companions, see text Gatekeeper Mystagogue 1, ecl 6, Player's Guide to Eberron, gains additional bonuses, see text
stacks for animal companion Arcane Heirophant, ecl 8, Races of the Wild Lion of Talisad, ecl 6, Book of Exalted Deeds Wild Plains Outrider, ecl 7, Complete Adventurer Peregrine Runner 1, ecl 8, Races of Stone, peregrine falcon only, otherwise gain extra companion Beastmaster, ecl 6, Complete Adventurer, only stacks for the first one Wavekeeper 2, ecl 7, Stormwrack, stacks at -1 Abolisher, ecl 7, Lords of Madness Vandalis Beastkeeper, ecl 5, Eberron: Dragonmarked Revenant Blade, ecl 6, Player's Guide to Eberron, stacks with ranger only Planar Shepherd, ecl 6, Faiths of Eberron
Special Mention Elemental Companion, druid class variant, Complete Mage, replace animal companion with an elemental (separate advancement table) Natural Bond, feat, Complete Adventurer, add +3 to effective druid level, see text Devoted Tracker, feat, Complete Adventurer, stack benefits of animal companion and mount Beast Heart Adept, ecl 6, Dungeonscape, gain Monstrous Companions, see text Vermin Keeper 3, ecl 8, FR: Underdark, vermin companion, see text Exalted Companion, feat, Book of Exalted Deeds, choose a new companion from list
- Wild empathy
Druid 1 Druid 1, class variant, Dungeonscape, vermin empathy, replaces wild empathy Spirit Shaman 1, Complete Divine Initiate of Nobanion, feat, Champions of Valor - only useable on felines Animal Lord 1, ecl 6, Complete Adventurer Beastmaster 1, ecl 6, Complete Adventurer Totemist 1, Magic of Incarnum Totem Rager 1, ecl 7, Magic of Incarnum Black Blood Hunter 2, ecl (8?), Player's Guide to Faerun Primeval 1, ecl 9, Frostburn - specific animal only Vandalis Beastkeeper 1, ecl 5, Eberron: Dragonmarked Call of the Beast, least warlock invocation, Complete Mage Natural World, mantle, Complete Psionic Weretouched Master 2, ecl 7, Eberron Campaign Setting Vermin Keeper 1, ecl 6, FR: Underdark, vermin only
Stacks Scorpion Wraith, ecl 6, Eberron: Secrets of Xen'Drik, also treat vermin as magical beasts Swanmay, ecl 6, Book of Exalted Deeds
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- Classes
- Fighting classes (full BAB or fighting as main role)
The base attack bonus is vital to rangers. They uses to have a lot of attacks per round, and every bit of BAB they get, improves lots of attacks.
The classes with full bab
- Barbarian: High HD, 4 sp per level, medium armour proficiency, rage and improved base movement, or better than this, pounce ability.
That's a great class to dip if you are a melee or a thrower ranger. Its suggested to take the lion totem alternative feature form Complete Champion. Best levels: - 1st (medium armour proficiency, rage 1/day)
- 2nd (uncanny dodge)
- Stop. Unless you need some special feature for a PrC, you don't need more than 2 barbarian level.
Suggested feats: Extra rage (to rage a few more times per day), Shared Fury (Make your companion rage with you)
- Duskblade: Medium HD, full BAB, all armour proficiencies, 2 good saves, good spellcasting progresion, but low sp/level.
A good class for dipping. From a single level, you gain a lot of spells per day (usable with light armour) including the ever useful true strike. Duskblades may look a bad class to archers, because the arcane chanelling only works over melee weapons, but , on the other hand, they can cast a quickened true strike at level 5. Not so bad. But, if you plan to multi class into duskblade rather than dipping a pair of levels, you should consider bard as better option. They have a broader spell list, and better spell progresion. Best levels:- 1st (armour proficiency, arcane attunement, armoured mage, spells)
- 2nd (combat casting, spells)
- 3rd (arcane chaneling)
- 5th (quick cast)
- Fighter: High HD, medium and heavy armour proficiency, and feats, but low SP per level.
You need feats, and dipping in that class is the easiest way to get them. The other benefits are a bit weak. You can't use heavy armours. You will gain, on average, 1 HP per die, but you will loss 4 sp. Best levels:- 1st (medium and heavy armour proficiency, feat)
- 2nd (feat)
- 4th (feat, weapons specialization).
Suggested feats: If you reach level 4, take weapon specialization,
- Hexblade:High HD, 2 sp/level, light armour prof, curses, spells and familiar.
A sub-optimal class to dip, you can't gain so much from it. Arcane curse, in a multiclass build, is a bit weak but arcane resistance, mettle and dark companion (class feature from PHB2) are good enough to consider it. Best levels:- 1st (Hexblade curse)
- 2nd (arcane resistance)
- 3rd (mettle)
- 4th (spells, familiar or dark companion)
That's the most you can gain. If you need more spells, it would be better to dip in another class.
- Marshal: Medium HD and BAB, 4 sp/level, all armour proficiencies, 2 good saves and auras.
Minor auras are keyed to Char mod, so with a 1 level dip, you can gain a good bonus. Mayor auras are level dependant, so they aren't so great. This class is recommended if you have a lot of companions (animal companion, wild cohort, familiar, cohort and party members), but is not suggested to stealthily characters (you must shout orders to your buddies) unless you have some short of telepathy or silent language. [COLOR="Blue"]Note that you can get the same bonuses if you have a marshal/dragon shaman cohort AND/OR your companion takes the draconic aura feat.[/COLOR] Best levels:- 1st (armour proficiency, skill focus [diplomacy], minor aura)
- 2nd (mayor aura)
- 4th (grant move action, minor aura)
Suggested minor auras (art of war, master of tactics, motivate dexterity, over the top) Suggested mayor auras (any)
- Martial Adepts (Crusader, Swordsage, Warblade): They area a great addition to any melee build, since your character level counts as half initiator levels. Its suggested to take levels on these classes on the latest levels of your build, to max benefits.
Each one is a good class to dip. I list them together simply because you may need any disciplines combination, but may be, Swordsage is the best of them for ranger.
- Monk: Medium HD and BAB, 4 sp/level (and good skills), all good saves, lots of attacks per round and some other goodies.
Great dip class for twin wielders and throwers (shurikens, baby). Unarmed strike allows you to add your full str modifier to the off hand(s). They are light weapons, but you can use them with power attack and with the ascetic hunter feat, your levels stacks for determining your damage. The flurry attacks per round are keyed to your BAB, and you have spells to improve natural weapons. Also, good news for throwers. Shurikens counts as ammunitions, so they are cheap. On the other hand, you will magic aid to improve your AC (but is not so hard to get) and you can't take barbarian levels (for pounce) Best levels:- 1st (feat, flurry of blows, improved unarmed strike)
- 2nd (feat, evasion)
- 3rd (still mind, speed bonus)
- 4th (ki strike, slow fall)
You can go with a single 1st level dip for maximum bonuses for minimum investment. Suggested feats: Ascetic hunter (needed), Superior unarmed strike, wow of poverty.
- Knight: Huge HD, good will save (!!??), all armour proficiences, bad skills and low sp.
That class is a bad choice for rangers. The knight role is as a tank, and stacks badly with the ranger roles. Also, the knight code is like a curse. May be useful to mounted sword and board chars (but there are other better choices) Best levels:- 2nd (mounted combat, shield block)
- 3rd (bulkward defence)
- Paladin: High HD, all armour proficiencies lots of goodies, but low sp/level.
This is a great class for mounted (read the supermount thread), 2 handers and sword and board characters with high Cha score. The paladin allow you to use divine feats, smite, and has a very nice spells list. If you have a decent Cha score, is suggested to take the fist 5 levels, but you can go with more or less, that's up to you. Best levels:- 1st (armours proficiency, smite evil, detect evil)
- 2nd (divine grac, lay on hands)
- 3rd (Aura of courage, divine health)
- 4th (Turn undead, spells)
- 5th (Smite evil 2/day, special mount)
Suggested feats: Devoted tracker (needed), any divine feats (and maybe extra turning to feed them), Extra Smiting
- Psychic Warrior: Medium HD and bab, 1 good save, and low sp.
This class is much like the fighter. If you need feats (but not weapon specialisation), and you can afford to loose a little BAB, this class is much better. I suggest to take up to level 2, for min-maxing, but I don't have much experience with psionic.
- Scout: Great class for a ranger build. Check
The Swift Hunter's Handbook for more information.
- Swashbuckler: Good HD and BAB, 4 sp/level (and good skills) 1 good save.
Good synergy with twin wielders, but nothing else for any other archetype. The ability to add Int to damage is sweet. Is suggested to take up to level 3, for min-maxing. Best levels:- 1st (weapon finesse)
- 3rd (Insightful strike)
Suggested feats: Able learner.
- Skilled classes (With at least, 6 skill points per level)
- Bard: Average BAB, 2 good saves, nice spells, bardic music, and a nice skill list, but low HD
A good class to dip if you plan a skilled character with some arcane magic. Also, is a good class for your cohort. The bardic music feature is much like the marshal auras. The more companions you have, the better. Its suggested to select as perform type something that lets your hands free, like sing, poetry, etc. Best levels:- 1st (Bardic music, bardic knowledge, countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1, spells)
- 2nd and up (more spells)
Suggested feats: Extra music.
- Rogue: 8 sp per level, average BAB, 1 good save, Low HD, but awesome extra damage.
The fastest way to get extra damage. It makes a fantastic combination with your companion, because is needed to be flanking to trigger the sneak attack damage. The bad part is that your animal companion would suffer form your rogue levels. Also, nowadays is easiest to get skirmish damage with a swift hunter build. Best levels:- 1st (trapfinding, sneak attack)
- any odd level
- Ninja: Low DH, 6 sp/level, no armours, 1 good save, and some other stuff.
I think that is a bad class for rangers. Sudden strike only works when the enemy has his Dex bonus denied, (hard to get unless you surprise or grapple him). Also, you must be unarmoured. Dipping into monk or scout gives you much more benefits. Anyway, can be useful to archers builds, due the poison use. Best levels:- 1st (trapfinding, sudden trike, ki power, )
- 3rd (sudden strike, poison use)
- Spellthief:
A very weird class. It looks so weak to me that I think I must be missing something. I prefer to not make comments until I made a extensive review of that class.
- Arcane spellcasters
- Sorcerer: Lowest HD, BAB and sp, 1 good save, familiar and lots of spells
It may be a interesting choice to add some magic to your character, but the sorcerer spell progression is slower than wizards. Also, due the sword of the arcane order feat, wizard levels stacks better with the ranger class.
- Warlock: Average BAB, low HD, low sp per level, awesome spell like abilities (usables in light armour), DR.
Nice class to dip. His best feature is that his invocations are usable at will. the eldritch blast is not so great for a multiclass character (good to have, but not awesome) The damage reduction is very nice (cold iron). Is not recomended to sword and board rangers, unless they can avoid the ASF. Best levels: 1, 2, 4 and 6 seems to be the best levels for min-maxing, but I'm not used to work with warlocks
- Wizard: Lowest HD, BAB and sp, 1 good save, familiar and lots of spells
If you need arcane magic, this class if for you. The wizard class synergices well with rangers with mid-high Int score. The scribe scroll feat is a good addition to rangers, since they have few spells per day. The familiar improves with your character level, so he will be stronger than average. Also, the specialist variants are full of cool features. Simply, try to use a armour with no ASF, and spells with no save, or fixed effects. And if you are allowed, get the Sword of the arcane order feat. Best levels: Any odd level
- Divine Spellcasters
If you plans to dip into divine caster, may be interesting to check the prestige ranger. Anyway, you would loose some BAB, but your spellcasting abilities would be much better. Also, if you want to enter a PrC that gives you a full spellcasting level progression, you may want to dip, to use those levels into a better spellcaster class.
- Cleric: Average BAB and HD, low sp/level, 2 good saves, all armour proficiencies, spells, turn undead
Good class if you need more spells AND turn undead OR domain powers. If not, go for druid. Suggested feats: Any divine feats.
- Druid: Average BAB, HD, sp/level, 2 good saves, medium armour proficiency, spells and more.
Even greater than cleric. Some class features can be repeated and not stackable in both classes, so check for substitution levels, but otherwise, is great to improve your nature features. If you runs your campaign in the FR, take Mielikki as deity, to lesser the metal restriction.
- Favoured soul: Average BAB and HD, low sp/level, all good saves, all armour proficiencies, spells.
Much like the cleric, but more spells per day. Depending he build, FS may be a better option.
- Other classes
- Psionic classes
- Psionic: Looks like a sorcerer without ASF. Is not awesome for a ranger, but it can be worth for some builds.
Suggested feats: Practiced manifester.
- Divine mind: A cool mix from marshal, paladin and psionic. The auras and mantles are good to improve your companion and yourself, but you can't share the psionic powers with your companion.
Suggested feats: Practised manifester.
- Incarnun classes
- Soulborn: A light essentia user warrior (looks like a paladin). If you want to use some soulmelds and improve your combat skills, dip here.
- Totemist: A strong essentia user with druid flavour.
Suggested feats: Azure enmity, bonus essentia.
- Prestige classes
Suggested PrC by role
Archer: Deepwood sniper, Justice of Weald and Woe, Order of the Bow Initiate, Peerless Archer, Wild Runner Thrower: Bloodstrom Blade, Exotic Weapon Master, Hulking Hurler, Master Thrower, Wild Runner, Melee: Blackguard, Bloodstrom Blade, Exotic Weapon Master, Nightsong Enforcer, Pious Templar, Wild Runner
- Dual wielder: Assassin, Bloodclaw Master,
- Sword and board: Tempest
- 2 handed: Tempest
Skilmonkey: Scorpion Heritor, Spellcaster: Consecrated Harrier, Geomancer, Harper paragon, Master of the Yuirwood, Nentyar Hunter Animal friend: Beastmaster, Halfling Outrider, Harper paragon, Shaarian Hunter, Wild Plains Outrider,
- Animal lord: Easy requirements.
A good way to improve your companion and remain at full bab. the best option is wolflord for flankers, or horselord for mounted rangers. - Assassin: Easy requirements.
A PrC perfectly suited for stealthy rangers. Skilled, with extra damage, cool features, and a fantastic spell list. - Beastmaster Sub-optimal req. (skill focus (handle animal)
The best option for enhance your companion. If you can, try to get level 4 in this PrC for min-maxing. Suggested natural bond feat - Blackguard Medium requirements.
A good melee PrC, with some paladin and rogue features. Since this class is the core Anti-paladin, check with your DM about Devoted tracker feat. It can work. - Bloodclaw Master: Easy requirements.
Do you want to lesser the 2WF penalties? Take a swordsage level, and then, dip here. - Bloodhound: Easy requirements.
This class have some cool features, but most of them are related to the marked creature. I think that this PrC is great for NPC, but a bit weak for PC - Bloodstrom Blade: Easy requirements.
Simply the best PrC for throwers and a good one for any other melee ranger. Returning attacks, power throw, weapon attitude, lighting ricochet. I haven't words for this PrC. - Chaotician: Many of the PrCs in that book can be interesting for a ranger, but this one is probably the most fascinating. Anarchic grace is a great ability if you get in trouble, and babble is simply great if you surprise an enemy who can raise an alarm or, even more importantly, cast spells. The other abilities are also useful, particularly for a character with a decent charisma - chaotic contagion even looks as if it can stack with itself.
- Consecrated Harrier: Easy requirements.
This PrC is much better than blood hound. Most features are a bit weak (for standard campaigns) but it has ranger spells (with faster progression, full spellcaster level and some additions.) and some other features. Is suggested to dip here if you want to follow another PrC which grants divine spellcasting levels, to get a more ranger spells per day. - Dark Hunter: Easy requirements.
Good PrC for underdark campaigns. The death attack will be a bit weak, but the stone hue ability looks like a improved camouflage. On the other hand, your companion and spellcasting capabilities will suffer, so, if you want this PrC, exchange them. Darkrunner: Unlike most of the PrCs I've discussed so far, this one improves your outdoorsman role (ok, undergroundsdwarf/drow will likely be more appropriate) at the expense of some of your combat potential. Between a serious insight bonus to many skills, abilities to deal better with aberrations, and other very useful abilities, it is almost worth it. If the party can cover for you in combat and spends a lot of time underground, this is easily one of the better options. It requires (and improves) your darkvision and makes good use of a good intelligence score. Ranger/scouts might want to pay particular attention to this PrC, as can characters who want to add a few more levels to a Dark Hunter build. - Darkwood stalker: Easy requirements.
Is better to have a broader favoured enemy list than a narrow but stronger one, but, for some campaigns this PrC can be perfect. Anyway check with your DM if the ancient foe feature can count as a FE for other purposes (like hunting weapons). If not, this PrC is not suggested. - Deepwarden Easy requirements.
Great for rangers with low Dex score (rangers doesn't need high Dex to qualify for the weapon stile). Drop Ranger's track feat for trapfinding before entering this PrC. - Deepwood Sniper Easy requirements.
This 3.0 PrC is simply awesome for any archer. The first 2 or 3 levels are mandatory. - Dervish Heavy requirements.
It can be great for swift hunters or fighters, but not much for standard rangers. The dervish dance is very hard to handle, the AC bonus is a bit weak. The thousands cutsis great, but is once a day, and you can make the same amount of attacks simply casting blade storm. - Dragonstalker (Draconomicon): the value of this PrC, like that of the darkwood staker, depends on how often a particular enemy group come into play. Against dragons, the PrC is quite decent - especially if you can put that sneak attack to good use. Against any other enemies, it is not very good. Still, it has a good reflex/will save and abilities that foil scent and blindsense or allow you to ignore natural AC a few times per day for a guaranteed shot or (favored) power attack goodness.
- Dread Commando: Easily one of the better ranger PrCs, all things included. The sudden strike gives you a little more damage in a few situations, and a TWF ranger with weapons having a high critical threat range (i.e. kukri) can make good use of it and the Telling Blow feat. The armored ease and stealthy movement features are both often useful, and the initiative boost is simply great - especially as often applies to your entire party.
- Eldeen Ranger: Easy requirements.
Simply great for any ranger in Eberron. Gatekeepers, Greensingers and Wardens of the Wood seems the best options. - Exotic Weapon Master: Easy requirements.
If you uses a exotic weapon, dipping here almost mandatory. - Eye of Gruumsh (Complete Warrior): while not a ranger PrC by any means, this can be quite useful to orc or half-orc rangers who want to improve their combat potential. The PrC requires two sub-standard feats for entry imo, but at least TWF ranger can find the orc double axe a versatile weapon. In combat, the rage, extra AC, blinding spittle and blindsight abilities are likely to prove very useful. Orc or half-orc only, requires NE, CE or CN alignment.
- Geomancer: Medium requirements.
Great for multiclass characters. It allows you to cast spells without ASF, with improved caster level, or a greater ability score. Also gives you some other cool nature oriented features. - Justiciar: rangers make damn good bounty hunters, and this is, essentially, what this PrC is. The extra damage (if nonlethal) can be quite useful for TWF rangers, as can the crippling strike feature. You also get some nifty grapple-related features, which a strong ranger can make good use of. Overall an interesting PrC which can be useful if your campaign doesn't require you to kill every enemy you come across - or at least not immediately, as an unconscious enemy one round away from coup-de-grace death. You might want to get merciful weapons, though, or enter the PrC as a monk/ranger with ascetic hunter. Lawful only.
- Justice of Weald and Woe: Easy-Medium requirements.
Awesome for archers. Levels on this PcR counts as fighter levels, so you can get WS. It has his own spell list (narrow, but great), some sneak attack, poison use, death attack, and more. - Kensai: this is a PrC for rangers who want to focus on their martial prowess and on having a really good weapon regardless of what the DM decides the loot for the campaign is. One of the good options for archer rangers, as a bow is a legitimate kensai weapon (and with enhanced arrows you can get a bucketful of enhancements on each shot); TWF rangers can get some good mileage out of it by choosing a double weapon or the SUS feat/monk levels. The power surge and other abilities are nice if you have a few ranks in concentration. Not an incredible PrC, overall, but a useful one. Beats me why it's not full BAB - whatever the flavor text says, it's not overpowered. Lawful only
- Halfling Outrider: Easy requirements.
Great for mounted characters, and even more if you have paladin levels with the Devoted tracker feat. Read this for more information. - Harper paragon: Medium (sub-optimal) requirements.
Favoured enemy (evil), exalted companion, full spellcasting. Simply great. Suggested to dip into some other spellcasting class before entering. - Horizon Walker Easy requirements.
Darkvision, tremorsense, element resistances, dimension door... this PrC is full of cool features. Take a level or two if your campaign is likely to be heavily set in a certain environment or to feature certain creatures, or up to 6 level, for dimension door. It also suggested for epic play. - Hulking Hurler Easy-Medium requirements.
A great PrC for large throwers. Catch weapon and throw anything gives them much more flexibility. Check the incubus' Hulking Hurler build for more information. - Master of the Yuirwood Easy requirements.
A PrC with decent skills points, full spellcasting levels and some nature features. Can be useful for multiclass rangers. - Master Thrower Easy-Medium requirements.
A few free feats, and some good weapon tricks. If you want a versatile thrower, take a look here. - Nentyar Hunter: Easy (sub-optimal) requirements.
Lots of spells (good spells, also) in only 5 levels. And your ranger caster level stacks. The remaining features aren't so good for rangers (some are repeated). - Nightsong Enforcer: Easy requirements.
Not awesome, but good for melee rangers, and may be great if your party is composed entirely by stealthily characters. - Occult Slayer (Complete Warrior): quite useful to any ranger expecting to face more than a few enemies with magical powers, whether from class levels or racial abilities. The PrC boosts the ranger's single weak save (will), gives you a bonus to saves vs spells, and other useful features in detecting, avoiding, or defeating casters. Great for any ranger who wants to be slightly more useful against casters than the usual warrior. Let's face it - ToB or no ToB, casters are likely to be your biggest problem.
- Order of the Bow Initiate: Medium requirements.
D8 sneak attack? Every odd level? Wow. Take up to level 5 for max benefits. - Peerless Archer: Medium (sub-optimal) requirements.
A bit weak PrC. His best feature is power shoot, (power attack with bow). Until we find another source for power shoot, we must use that one. Take up to level 3-4, and then leave it, or forget it completely. - Pious Templar: Easy requirements.
A holy PrC. Mettle, paladin or blackguard spells, DR, smite, weapons specialisation... A good choice for players who wants paly features. - Primeval: Medium requirements.
This PrC doen't improve any ranger feature (except wild empathy), but is nature related and is a great choice for [COLOR="Blue"]wildshaping rangers[/COLOR] (In fact, I think a single level dip makes them viable as combat characters) - Shaarian Hunter: Easy-Medium requirements.
Not so great, but still good for mounted characters (specially if you like to track mounted) - Shadowblade: Despite the medium BAB progression, this PrC should not be overlooked. Both archers and twf rangers can benefit from a good sudden strike progression, although the unseen weapon ability marks this prestige class as melee-oriented (as if the name wasn't a dead giveaway). Ideally, rangers can use unseen weapon with two weapons or at least a double weapon, and some of the abilities aren't half bad, either - from ignoring concealment (which, as you remember, prevents you from dealing precision damage) to resolving attacks as touch attacks. Bonuses to stealth skills and vision help round out the PrC as a sneaksman's choice, but I can't help but think that it, and not the shadowsmith, was supposed to have 6+int sp/level. That would make it even better
- Shadow scout: Easy requirements.
Do you need more favoured enemies? Dip here. The the fist level, and then, look for another PrC - Shadowsmith: A good mix of combat and support abilities, and a self-sufficiency that ties in well with ranger levels. Like with the shadowblade, a ranger benefits from some good stealth-related features, but the class' main feature is the ability to create items - including weapons, armor, or tools - from shadow. At higher levels, these weapons and armor can be enchanted, allowing you to quickly come up with the perfect item for the situation. You also get an ability that gives you a deflection bonus to AC and a few low-level mysteries per day. All in all, a pretty amazing PrC for rangers who want something different than the PHB class abilities.
- Scorpion Heritor: Easy requirements.
A nice class for skilled rangers. Sneak attack, tremorsense (short range), poison, and a limited polymorph ability. Simply cool. - Stalker of Kharash: Easy requirements.
Much like Harper Paragon, but easier requirements, and full BAB. I think the other PrC is better, but depends on your capacity to meet the req. - Stonelord: While there is some synergy between the two in terms of prerequisites and skills, the stonelord is more useful to characters only dipping in ranger levels as it doesn't continue most iconic ranger features. If that's okay with you, you get a slew situationally useful abilities. Useful for dwarven rangers with high constitution score; consider pairing it with a few deepwarden levels for a high-constitution, low-dexterity build. If the campaign takes place underground, the PrC can be very useful.
- Umbral Disciple: This medium-BAB PrC offers some sneak attack and a selection of interesting abilities to make you a better sneaksman. Abilities such as concealment/HiPS in shadowy environments or blindsight are great for a stealth-oriented ranger, and the prerequisites are easy enough to meet. I'm not sure how good the higher-level abilities are in practice, but on paper they look, well, awesome. Incarnum-wielding rangers should at least consider this prestige class if they're not hell-bent on focusing only on their martial abilities.
- Tempest: Medium (sub-optimal) requirements.
A PrC for fighters, so is not recommended for rangers, but can be useful for sword and board and 2 hander rangers. Tempest lesser the penalties for 2 weapon fighting, and allow to use feats in both weapons. Also adds some bonuses to AC. If you only want to reduce the 2WF penalties, take oversized 2WF or dip in exotic weapon master. - Warmind: A ranger wanting to boost his combat potential can find this PrC more than useful, especially if taken after a level or two in a psionic class (I recommend psychic warrior for the extra feats) to get the required skills at a lower cost. The abilities and powers can be great for both TWF and archery-oriented rangers. More than most other PrC presented here, however, the warmind will detract from a ranger's outdoorsman/skillmonkey role. If that's okay and your specialization won't hinder the party, then the PrC is a good option. Requires a lawful character with some PP pool (psionic race/class levels or the wild/hidden talent feat)
- Wild Plains Outrider: Easy requirements.
Simply great. One of the worst problems with mounted characters is what to do with your mount when you need to hide or to move in silent. (you can't diminish her, like a paladin mount). With that PrC, your mount can use your skills. Great for any mounted character. - Wild Runner Easy requirements.
Rage that gives you +6 to Dex? Give me, please.
********************* - More PrC
Please, check the awesome review that The_Shaman made at the original post on WoTC forums.
Part I, from A to M: Part II, PrCs from N to Z:
- PrC for Ranger variants
Wildshaping rangers:
- Nature's Warrior: Between good BAB and a choice of several very good passive abilities for your wildshaped forms, this PrC is great for a ranger using wildshape as his primary attack mode.
- Warshaper: This is a very specialized PrC, but a very useful one. Despite the medium BAB, the abilities you get for your wildshaped form are amazing - immunity to stun and precision damage, extra strength and constitution (great before the PHB II polymorph/wildshape nerf), extra reach, healing, and eventually the ability to change shapes in the same use of wildshape.
- Master of Many Forms: A great way to bypass the wildshaping restrictions of the UA wildshaping ranger variant; compared to druids, rangers have a lot less to lose from this PrC and bring more skills and better fighting abilities to it. When you start getting all extraordinary abilities of your shifted form, your versatility becomes practically unmatched
| | « Last Edit: June 06, 2009, 12:42:47 PM by Antarx » | [/t][/t] |
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