[3.5] Mystic Ranger, Shooting Star, Sword of The Arcane Order... A Mini-Guide

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Mystic Ranger,
Shooting Star, Sword of The Arcane Order... A Mini-Guide

Contents

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I. Introduction
II. What You have to work with...
III. Concerning Wizard Spells...
IV. Alternate Class Features, Class Variants and Substitution Levels
V. Builds

I. Introduction
The mystic ranger coupled with the shooting star substitution levels und the sword of the arcane order feat leads to some interesting options...

This character concept makes an excellent gish without the need for heavy multi-classing, which has the advantage of less character-information to track.

However, the concept has some pecularities which are not immediately appearent. This guide shall help with these and be a non-exhaustive reference for the possibilities opened up with this concept.

Rating: Perfect, Good, Okay, Bad.
(highly subjective, of course)

The Sources

• Mystic Ranger: Class variant from DR#336 p.105
• Shooting Star: Substitution levels from cov p.50
• Sword of the Arcane Order: Feat from cov p.34

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II. What You have to work with...
As said, the mystic ranger combined with the SotAO feat has some pecularities. Let's try to examine these.

First off, we'll focus on the benefits and what you have to give up.

• The Good
  Cantrips and 5th level spells -- Through level 10 when it comes to spellcasting, a mystic ranger is on par with a sorcerer.
  More spell slots -- The ranger spell list is really nice, this change lets you make use of it.
  Ability to cast sorcerer/wizard spells -- Every class wants to be able to cast these spells.
  A spell-like ability and an expanded spell list -- You take what you get.
  
  
• The Bad
  More MAD -- From now on you need a minimum of 15 intelligence at level 10 in order to cast the highest level wizard spells. Get an item with an enhancement bonus and be done with it.
  Delayed class features -- This can be annoying when multi-classing but otherwise a very fair trade-off.
  
  
• The Ugly
  Reduced Proficiencies -- You lose proficiency in martial melee weapons and shields.
  No animal companion -- When multi-classing an animal companion is fodder anyway. But it's a useful class feature you have to give up nontheless.
  One favored enemy less -- Not only do you lose a favored enemy, you get them later. Depending on the campaign this can make a difference, but sorcerer/wizard spells are still a more than adequate compensation.
  

You see, it's totally worth it to go this route with your ranger (this variant actually makes a push for the most powerful class in the early to early mid levels of the game). Still, there are some more aspects which you have to be aware of.

Facts

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• How is a mystic ranger's caster level determined? The core rules are not applicable as written.
  

  PHB: Through 3rd level, a ranger has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, his caster level is one-half his ranger level.

  Since the mystic ranger casts spells from level 1 on, there are two possibilities: either caster level = ranger level or caster level = ranger level/2, though in the latter case you would again have no caster level at level 1 and couldn't cast any spells at that level.
  
  But all the core classes, including the bard, do not mention the caster level in their rules text, thus it is safe to assume that your caster level is equal to your mystic ranger class level.
  
  
• Shooting star rangers with the sword of the arcane order feat and levels in wizard cast their ranger spells at an ex-orbitantly high caster level:
  

  Benefit: [...] If you also have levels in wizard, your wizard caster level is treated as the sum of your wizard, paladin, and ranger class levels.

  Improved Spellcasting (Ex): When casting ranger spells, a Shooting Star can treat her caster level as equal to one-half her ranger level +2. If she also has arcane spellcasting ability from another class, she can add her caster level from that class to this value to determine her caster level.

  Now let's take a look at this...
  The feat explicitly says that your wizard caster level is exactly "the sum of your wizard, paladin, and ranger class levels". in the case of a ranger10/wizard1 this is 11. (Note, that without a level in wizard, when casting wizard spells your caster level is one-half your ranger level+2.)
  The substitution level says that, "when casting ranger spells", your caster level is "equal to one-half her ranger level +2" plus the caster level of any arcane class you might have, in this case 11, thus your ranger caster level is indeed 10/2+2+11=18. A mystic ranger's caster level would even be at 21 (10+11). Good luck getting this past your DM, though. Normally your DM will simply rule that your caster level for wizard and ranger spells equals the sum of your wizard, ranger and paladin levels, which should be the way it was intended to be.
  
  
• Since you never get an animal companion, you cannot take the level 4 shooting star substitution level. This doesn't hurt you, as a mystic ranger you get more spells anyway.
  
  
• The improved spellcasting ability gained from the level 4 shooting star substitution level does not have this problem. Thus, from 4th level on your caster level is at least one half your ranger level +2. This change is pointless for mystic rangers however, whose caster level equals their class level anyway.
  
  
• Rangers with the sword of the arcane order feat DO NOT gain access to the sorcerer/wizard spell list. They merely can use their ranger spell slots to prepare the spells.
  

  Champions of Valor: You can use your paladin and ranger spell slots to prepare wizard spells.

  
  
• It's clear that in order to prepare wizard spells, the ranger either has to use a foreign spellbook or take levels in a class, which provides access to the sorcerer/wizard spell list.
  

  Rules Compendium: Spellcasters who use spellbooks can add a spell to their book whenever they find one on a scroll or in another caster’s spellbook. The spell to be copied must be on the copier’s class spell list.

Debatable

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• It is subject to debate whether a mystic ranger casts divine or arcane spells from his spell slots, when he casts a spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list.
  

  Champions of Valor: You can use your paladin and ranger spell slots to prepare wizard spells.

  Now it depends on if your DM rules if casting with ranger spell slots makes these spells automatically divine or not. If your DM does rule that they are indeed divine spells, this is advantageous on the one hand, because you do not suffer ACF while casting those spells, but can be troublesome on the other hand, as you cannot qualify for prestige classes which explicitly demand arcane spellcasting and prestige classes which only advance arcane spellcasting will have no effect.
  
  Further elaboration of this matter:
  
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  The core rules say:
  

  Beginning at 4th level, a ranger gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells, which are drawn from the ranger spell list. A ranger must choose and prepare his spells in advance (see below).
  
  To prepare or cast a spell, a ranger must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a ranger’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the ranger’s Wisdom modifier.

  
  note that this is a little different from what the rules entry about spells says when it comes to other casters.
  

  A bard casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the bard spell list.

  A cleric casts divine spells, which are drawn from the cleric spell list.

  The difference is that clerics obviously cast divine spells no matter what the spell is, a ranger however casts spells which are divine. the cleric rules imply that a cleric casting these spells makes them divine, the ranger rules do not imply that (at least in my reading), the spell itself is divine (and in the case of SotAO arcane). Even if you discard this, the rules say that they are drawn from the cleric/bard/ranger/x/y/z list. SotAO spells are from the wizard list, thus the rules must be expanded or maybe even adjusted...
  
  Now with the SotAO feat a ranger obviously gets the ability to prepare wizard spells from a spellbook (with a reference to the rules about how wizards do that), which use intelligence as the key stat. The rules about preparing spells of either the arcane or divine type again are substantially different. The way a SotAO ranger prepares wizard spells is exactly the way a wizard prepares arcane spells and has nothing to do with how divine spellcasters prepare their spells.
  
  Conclusion...
  
  Without the different way the rules about a ranger's spellcasting open up compared to other casters, and if you discard the matter about the part "from the ranger spell list" versus "wizard spells", the conclusion that SotAO spells are divine would be totally and indisputably RAW. If you argue that the rules are simply badly worded in the ranger's case and that the wizard spells are only an expansion to the rules, the case is clear: Rangers cast divine spells.
  
  If you consider the way the spells are prepared and the rules text of SotAO, which explicitly mentions the connection to the arcane (even the name of the feat does imply this), you could argue that RAI it is totally intended that these spells are arcane.
  
  If you also say that the ranger spellcasting rules do not explicitly say that all ranger spells cast are divine, and that the part about the "wizard spells" is a rules adjustment (and the fact that you do NOT get access to the wizard spell list which makes it even more awkward to rule this a rules expansion), you get to a "dwk/true dragon"-type of argument...
  
  
• Since a mystic ranger gets endurance at level 4, it's up to your DM if you can take the first shooting star substitution level. A reasonable DM should allow you to take it at level 4, though.

Results

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Now this is what we can learn from the aforementioned aspects.

• Since spellcasting does not improve after level 10 apart from gaining more spell slots, a mystic ranger is especially suited for prestige classes, which lose caster levels.
  
  
• Because of the improved spellcasting ability gained from the level 4 shooting star substitution level, taking levels in arcane spellcasting classes helps your ranger spellcasting ability, too. This, and the ability to make your own spellbook, makes a dip (or maybe even more) into wizard (or another class which gives you access to the sorcerer/wizard spell list) profitable, but not as much as you'd like (See Chapter III: A Dip in the Wizard Class...).

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III. Concerning Wizard Spells...
Shooting Star and Sword of the Arcane Order do not give you access to the sorcerer/wizard spell list. This is a very important problem, because it makes it a little more difficult to actually get to cast wizard spells. Further, you have to remember that you cannot substitute a primary arcane caster. You are a gish and as such need your spellcasting in combat mainly for yourself.


What a Dip in the Wizard Class means to you...

• Access to the Wizard Spell List: First of all, you get access to the wizard spell list, which is mandatory to make your own spellbook. Otherwise you will need a spellbook from a foreign source, which means that you have to make a spellcraft check every time you try to memorize a spell. But of course, the spellcraft check is not that hard to make: You can take 10 and as a shooting star ranger you have spellcraft on your class list, and 8 ranks is the number you need to auto-succeed on up to level 5 spells, if your intelligence score is at least 15 (15+spell level).
  
  
• Improved Caster Level: Further, your ranger caster level gets a push, because of the wording of the shooting star improved casting ability (see Chapter II: Debatable), and if you do not use the mystic ranger variant your wizard caster level increases, too.
  
  
• At the DM's Mercy, anyway: In the end wether you dip into wizard or not, your DM has almost complete control over your selection of wizard spells: You have no way to learn new spells other than taking more levels in wizard (which would be a total waste), or finding and/or buying scrolls and/or spellbooks. And if you think about it, since you are of a Mystra-worshipping order, there should be someone who copies spells you find into a spellbook for you.
  
  
• A quick Fix for the SotAO Feat:
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  If you've got levels in wizard, every time you gain a level in the ranger class, you learn a wizard spell of up to the highest level you can cast (either with your wizard or ranger slots, whichever is higher).

  While this addition would grant nothing new, it would actually take the DM fiat out of the picture (an advantage for players AND for DMs) and change SotAO into a real dual class feat.

How to get a Spellbook...

Borrow a spellbook -- As a shooting star ranger, your order should provide you a spellbook with fitting spells. This is surely the most usual way for a mystic ranger to get a spellbook. Unfortunately, you will have to make spellcraft checks to use it.
Buy a spellbook -- Read magic or spellcraft checks are necessary; highly unlikely too.
Class Dip -- At least one level in a class with access to the sorcerer/wizard spell list is required. This allows you to copy scrolls and spells from other spellbooks into your own.
Feat: Leadership -- Leadership is totally broken, but it is probably the best way for you to get to the spells you want: Simply get a wizard cohort.
Feat: Magical Training -- This 1st level only feat gives you a spellbook with three cantrips. You still won't automatically learn any new spells while leveling up, but you are now totally capable of maintaining and copying spells into your very own spellbook! Since this actually still won't give you access to the sorcerer/wizard spellist, you will still have to make spellcraft checks, but that should be a minor issue.
Loot a spellbook -- See buying, but a lot more realistic. Watch out for traps.
Share a spellbook -- Requires a friendly wizard willing to share his/her spellbook with you, which probably won't be the case regularly. Again, spellcraft checks are necessary.
Steal a spellbook --  See buying, but even more unlikely. Watch out for traps.
Wizard Spells of Note

1st Level

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Blood Wind -- Wild-shaping rangers will love this.
Grease -- This spell is a very nice option to control the battle field and makes hunter's eye (or sneak attack in general) that much easier to use, since balancing makes people lose their dexterity bonus to armor class. What's a bit of a problem though, is the fact that prone targets are harder to hit with ranged weapons.
Enlarge/Reduce Person -- For melee and ranged builds respectively.
Expeditious Retreat, Swift -- Nice if you absolutely need it.
True Strike -- This never hurts.

2nd Level

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Alter Self -- Need I say more?
Deflect -- This can save your butt.
Glitterdust -- One of the early superstars. Blinded creatures lose their dexterity bonus to armor class.
Heroics -- A floating fighter bonus feat for a 2nd level spell? Yes please!
Invisibility -- Self-explicatory.
Mirror Image -- Defense!
Wraithstrike -- Totally overpowered spell... Not quite that good for rangers, but still...

3rd Level

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Arcane Sight -- If you've selected the arcane hunter acf, this can be useful to detect casters.
Fly -- This spell changes combat like teleport changes everything else.
Haste -- You do get swift haste via the ranger spell list, but this is great nontheless.
Magic weapon, greater -- Saves a lot of gold...

4th Level

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Black Tentacles -- Another spell which gives you the power to control the battle field and makes hunter's eye (or sneak attack in general) that much easier to use, since grapplers lose their dexterity bonus to armor class.
Celerity -- As an ass-saver... Sure, why not?
Dimension Door -- This spell solves a lot of out of combat problems and is a very nice "o shit!"-button in combat.
Minor Creation -- This spell's got its own thread.
Polymorph -- Broken beyond repair...

5th Level

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Overland Flight -- See fly.
Teleport -- This spell changes the game like no other, but this is really more the party's prime arcane caster's domain.

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IV. Alternate Class Features, Class Variants and Substitution Levels
You may have already settled for the variants mentioned in the thread's title, but it doesn't need to stop there: The following ACFs and substitution levels are at your disposal.

• Alternate Class Features
  Arcane Hunter^CM -- Good choice as a favored enemy. A lot of BBEGs are casters.
  Spell Reflection^CM -- Reflecting targeted spells can be really satisfying, but losing evasion does really hurt. This totally depends on your taste.
  Trap Expert^DS -- Now you can be the party's trapfinder.
  
  
• Class Variants
  Wild-Shaping Ranger^SRD -- A very strong class variant, this helps you reduce MAD and makes you a melee powerhouse.
  
  
• Substitution Levels
  Elf Ranger^RotW -- The skillpoints come in handy if you want to be the party's skillmonkey, and you can override the favored enemy with the Arcane Hunter acf.
  Elf Wizard^RotW -- If you are an elf and pick up a level of wizard, you can do nothing wrong with this substitution level.

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V. Builds

• Wild-shaping ranger with the natural spell feat

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reserve #1

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reserve #2

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reserve #3