Ranger Feat Tracks

[Harroghty]

Please recommend ranger feat tracks from existing feats. I am looking at an archery and a dual-wield track to begin with, but could be persuaded for something else.

If an existing feat does not work as advertised, or could be improved, please note that.

[hasryn]

The dual wield feat track would be pretty straight forward for rangers. Two weapon fighting >> improved two weapon fighting>> greater two weapon fighting.

Now archery is a bit more tricky since the way it works in n table top doesn't mesh completely with how it moves over to a mud.

Archery:

Rapid shot>. manyshot(if the feat could be put in)>>preciseshot if we can't get the improved precise shot.

I've been considering the paths for quite a bit of time. I really enjoy rangers and love the class!

If we did introduce these I would wonder. Would the rangers out there who have chosen these feats already be given back there used points to put elsewhere?

[Kinal]

I was talking to somebody about ranger bonus feats, and how we dont get them. Is that normal, or is that standard for v3.5 to not get them? It would be nice to diversify without losing the benefits of a full track.

[Vaemar]

Personally I would love a stealth track of ranger feats, for I initially thought my ranger as a stealth specialist. But I understand there are no current feats that allow it.

A more reasonable track would be in my humble opinion a shield based track, granting shield specialization and shield ward. And then maybe also tower shield proficiency?

Other than that I am curious how the support for these tracks will be provided for deep shadows svirfneblin rangers.

edit: another track I thought just now could be about mounted combat: mounted combat, mounted rescue, mounted archery. I do understand, however, it might not be very popular, so I wonder if it would be worth it. On the other hand it could provide a good stimulus to have a few mounted-based rangers out there.

[Terageld]

To me, rangers and tower shields don't mix. I support the dual-wield track along with bonus feats.

[Vaemar]

No, they don't look so well on rangers, although now nobody forbids them to train it. Perhaps either expertise or a point of armour proficiency instead of them?

I am just trying to brainstorm. On my ranger I would definitely go for the two-weapon fight track.

[hasryn]

Well with 3.5 you'd lose your bonus feats aka combat style if you wear anything over light armor

[Llanthyr]

I have suggested a few times that rangers receiving bonus feats like fighters, thieves, wizards do.

This will a variant from 3.5e, but I believe that simple tweaks are the best.

Rangers with 3 bonus feats to spread. Feats allowed:
- Dual wielding feat tree
- Archery feat tree
- Mounted combat and associated feats (rider archetype)
- Weapon finesse
- Improved initiative (hunter archetype)
- Run (hunter archetype)
- New feat: Additional racial enemy (hunter archetype)

[Vaemar]

I'm a noob. A good third feat for a shield track would be probably improved bash.

[Anguin]

I envisioned my ranger as a simple farmer with wanderlust. High STR and CON, decent WIS, proficient with tools more than weapons (he used a pitchfork, then a logging axe, then a magical staff). Vaguely horrified when I realized all ranger tracks required high DEX.

So, I would like to see a great weapon feat track.

[Beskytter]

I would really like to see an archery track that helps fix a couple of the feats that go with it.

Point Blank Shot seems to work as noted.
Precise Shot seems to work as noted.
Rapid Shot shouldn't require the use of second attack or other skills, it should be an automatic coded bonus of another arrow firing quickly after the first. It should only work with the first attack in each round, the book doesn't make it a chance to get another shot off, you just get the extra shot.
Many Shot should be added to the track and be a second extra arrow per round following the first attack. This would give rangers three shots for each one they make, plus any successful second/third/fourth attacks they get. It's the most important aspect to rangers who focus on archery.

This would make a good archery track to follow for some rangers and keep them competitive DPR wise with other classes.

A side note: Is there any chance we might get a brewing capability using herbs? I know a few years ago it wasn't in game and nothing had been worked on with it, has that changed at all?

[Yemin]

I think it's worth noting that the str bonus to composite bows should probably be fixed before adding extra features built ontop.

Also, i've seen a ranger in medium armor here. You only need medium dex to really take advantage of that. so your high str, con medium wis ranger should still be viable I think.

[Mele]

Back when I was playing a ranger, I remember reading that rangers had specific branches they tended to take in FR. They were beast master or hunters, and dual-wielders or archers. So like.. a beast master who dw's.

So coming from that, and over a thousand hours of rangering I'd say the twin weapon and archery recommendations are the best and looking at the feats list only practical options.

There COULD also be something like hardiness, which could be liiiike.. luck of heroes, toughness, iron will, endurance, expertise things like. But the likelihood of use/usefullness..

[Rordan]

EDIT: Seems most of what I said was covered in other posts here! I'm late to the party!

Hello everyone!

Based on what I've read here, I have something to bring up!

In 3.5 rangers choose a fighting style around level 2-3, melee or ranged. What this does is it gives them automatic feats as they level!

The melee path grants all three dual wield feats (not two-weapon defense though) as the player levels (I would make it so if they choose the dual wield path they get apprentice dual wield automatically, or even inept since it's a super low level they'd get the feats and they have time to raise them).

The ranged path grants point blank shot, precise shot, and rapid shot (I think?) as the player levels.

This is something that exists in 3.5 core players handbook if I recall, and if we're coming up with paths (I think that's what you mean by feat tracks? Kinda like paths the ranger can take?) then this, I think, should be added in along with other suggestions!

I know other paths from 2e and 4e/5e exist, along with prestige options and other kits, but those are the two basic 'kits', or paths, that rangers take. This will free up feat points for rangers and allow them to have a more core 3.5 feel as a class!

However! To make a ranged option viable compound bows still need to be reworked to include strength bonus in damage. I have -no- idea how that'd work, but it's something to consider!

[hasryn]

Good suggestions!

[Mattrik]

One feat I hope to one day see in this game is the Zen Archery feat. Seeing all of what you folks are saying, it seems a long way off, but it is my favorite feat. Of course, I am new here, and have no idea about the coding of the game - but I like the ideas you guys are giving...

[Yemin]

Looks like a feat for monks rather than rangers.

There is an entire class base don this feat in path finder.

[Mattrik]

So, now my interest is up. I am currently working on my first character, and hope he becomes a Ranger - as a new player, seeing a thread like this is giving me a bit of pause to think. I am studying the game a bit as I go, here, and there is a ton of things to learn. My question here, is do you get the skill dual wield to replace, say, the feat Two Weapon Fighting? Do we actually get a companion, now, or do we have to use Animal Empathy/Claim to find one? I don't think a Ranger should have to go out and purchase their companions, but it may be the case, here. I just have so many questions on the class, now. Do Rangers start out with Light Armor proficiency as their Only proficiency in armor once they choose the Ranger class? When I look at my score, it appears I have two ranks in armor proficiency, making me think that fighters start with Medium Armor - and then when we choose Ranger, we lose one, and go down to Light Armor.

I like wisdom archery for a ranger for the spot and listen checks, the bonus to how many spells he can cast, and those sorts of things - so even if there is no Zen Archery, my character will most likely still RP a high wisdom. When I do that, it helps that my BAB stems from Wisdom instead of Dex - to keep STR and CON and WIS my main stats...

Anyway, that is no longer a concern. Now I am taking some time to consider my path... I think I will still be a Ranger, but I had some assumptions coming into it that now I may need to rethink...

[Areia]

...do you get the skill dual wield to replace, say, the feat Two Weapon Fighting?

Dual wielding is slightly different here than it is in SRD ("help dual wield"). In SRD, anyone can dual wield but with those massive penalties. Here, only those who have trained the dual wielding skill can dual wield. When you train the skill, you start out at the usual attack penalties. Once you get to be a journeyman in dual wielding, then you can purchase the two-weapon fighting feat, which functions just as in SRD, reducing the attack penalties to -2/-2. So here you need to put a little work into it before you can be called a decent dual wielder, which I think makes a lot more sense. And only once you've grandmastered the skill can you dual wield two medium-sized weapons at the same time. There's no option to do so with even heavier penalties here.

Do we actually get a companion, now, or do we have to use Animal Empathy/Claim to find one? I don't think a Ranger should have to go out and purchase their companions, but it may be the case, here.

I've actually never seen a ranger in FK use a companion for any real length of time. I'm not a huge ranger player so others might correct where I'm wrong, but I think the associated skills and the animals themselves need a little work before the concept can be strong enough for regular use.

Do Rangers start out with Light Armor proficiency as their Only proficiency in armor once they choose the Ranger class? When I look at my score, it appears I have two ranks in armor proficiency, making me think that fighters start with Medium Armor - and then when we choose Ranger, we lose one, and go down to Light Armor.

This is the case ("help rangers"). Warriors, rangers' base class, start with two ranks in armor proficiency. Once you join the ranger's guild, you lose one rank. If you train one rank before you've guilded, then, you'll end up with two ranks when you join the guild.

[Mattrik]

Thank you for the quick response! Given those answers I think I know what sort of Ranger I will go for. I think my original plan for him is still intact, and I can begin RP'ing him faithfully.