Melee Ranger

[GawainBS]

Hey,

I'm considering a melee Ranger for the OC & MotB. How would you go about this? I'm thinking about adding levels of Barbarian, but does Rage stack with STR enhancing gear? I read somewhere it didn't.

Thanks in advance!

[Claudius]

Hey,

I'm considering a melee Ranger for the OC & MotB. How would you go about this? I'm thinking about adding levels of Barbarian, but does Rage stack with STR enhancing gear? I read somewhere it didn't.

Thanks in advance!

It does not stack in my recollection of my builders guild I designed builds for about 5 years ago (so I may ot remember). Specifically, I recall it being good for low magic settings to have rage including frenzied zerker.

For OC anything will work because the difficulty of the campaign is so low. There are a lot of undead in the OC so improved favored enemy and improved FE power attack would be good.

For MoTB the problem with a strength ranger is to make it with enough AC. Where is scottg? I have a dungeon lords question for him

You can build a frezerker dual wielding strength build that gets around the dex requirement with ranger feats. That build can have EDM and dish out insane damage. From that however the AC is terrible.

[Claudius]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?222

Here is an example of the dps horror. I might give a rogue level and UMD for some wands/scrolls to add Mirror Image and Displacement.

[GawainBS]

Thanks! I'm not convinced by that build, though.

[Claudius]

Thanks! I'm not convinced by that build, though.

Yeah, that build isn't good, but it is an example o dps. The AC is the problem.

[Endugu]

I've finished the OC & MotB with a meele ranger build. It was also a jack-of-trades, being able to talk (diplomacy) and disarm traps and locks.
Never ran into any problems with it. Of course, it''s not "perfect" in the eyes of some builder, but hey, I liked playing it.

Anyway, IIRC it was simply a human rogue 2 / fighter 1/ cleric 1 / ranger X.

Rogue levels were chosen for the increase in skill points, evasion as well as unlocking the relevant skills via the "able learner" feat. Cleric and fighter were taken for the bonus feats and heavy armor proficiency.

You could switch some classes, according to your preferred play style. For example, I dislike having to switch characters to disarm a trap, so rogue levels are a must for a main character. Maybe take a level of barbarian for the increased movement. Something like that.
A yuan-ti or wood elf would also work well for this kind of character.

What I like about this build is the versatility it offers. Besides being able to fight, rogue duties as well as talking, you can switch gear according to the situation you face.
Light armor & dual-wielding weapons makes for a rather offensive melee warrior.
Heavy armor & a two-handed works against some harder-hitting foes.
Heavy armor, shield & a one-handed weapon are better suited for situations where a better defense is asked for and so on...

Anyway, have fun playing!

[Scottg]

Where is scottg? I have a dungeon lords question for him

I'm back.. for a bit anyway! (..and replied to a PM.)


I believe Rage does stack with strength item bonus, but Frenzy does not. There is however a +12 (bonus) attribute cap.

http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Rage

Kaedrins adds-in an optional alternative type of "Rage" (..for an attack bonus that stacks with everything instead of a Strength bonus).


With the exception of role-playing value, I think that both the Ranger and the Barbarian are wasted classes. The Ranger is at it's best with Archery + Dino summon. The Dritz'esq dual-wielder Ranger is heavily overshadowed by Fighter-based class combinations. With Uncanny Dodge broken the Barbarian is a wasted class altogether.

[GawainBS]

Thanks, Scott. I know the melee Ranger in NWN2 isn't exactly great, but I'm still wanting to try one.

Alternatively, what would you recommend for a dualwielder that does not rely on Sneak Attacks, but has a decent skill selection? (Pfff, and I also want to play a SwiftBlade Fighter/Mage... But all that buffing and weak early game... )

[Scottg]

Thanks, Scott. I know the melee Ranger in NWN2 isn't exactly great, but I'm still wanting to try one.

Alternatively, what would you recommend for a dualwielder that does not rely on Sneak Attacks, but has a decent skill selection? (Pfff, and I also want to play a SwiftBlade Fighter/Mage... But all that buffing and weak early game... )

1st: Forget about off-hand attacks beyond 2, they just don't hit that often - even for high BAB with good modification. (..this is why a Monk's Flurry/Greater Flurry is often as good or better: better in that unarmed damage scales.) At lower levels forget about the 2nd off-hand attack period (often to about level 11-12).

2nd: Look for classes that incorporate the class skills you want with classes that give you more skill points and methods for improving damage. Consider a more intelligent character build (for more skill points), and potentially look to added benefits for that added intelligence.

3rd: ALWAYS consider cleaves in relation to added attacks provided by dual-wielding.

4th: Because Dual-Wield requires Dexterity and Feats - consider either the Ranger class or Fighter class (+ Race with added skill point bonuses in Dexterity) as a base class.

5th: Kukri. The exception on weapon selection is either Monk with Unarmed (or Kama's), OR Kaedrins (and certain class selections).

With Kaedrins there are of course several other things to think about including Power Attacks.


Non-Kaedrins, perhaps something like:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?113715

(..select the skills you want.)

Will saves are crap, but you do have spell resistance. You'll also likely have a mental immunity by level 15 or sooner.
While AC *looks* bad, you can use Dexterity modifiers along with Mithral light armor. Combat Expertise/Improved is there for those occasions where you need more and don't need the attack numbers. Don't forget AC bonuses from Tumble as well.

Adding in Strength and Intelligence modifiers this build should do a lot of damage - particularly to "mobs".

Don't forget to modify Wisdom for spells at Epic levels.

[GawainBS]

I only play with Kaedrin's classpack. But me mentioning that Swiftblade gish now made that itch tingle...Maybe I should start a new thread for that...

[Scottg]

I only play with Kaedrin's classpack. But me mentioning that Swiftblade gish now made that itch tingle...Maybe I should start a new thread for that...

That would be cool, however because of the power I'd recommend further limiting party members.

Though poor skill-wise, this was a non-magical two-weapon fighter that dramatically improves both AC and Damage while still having good attack numbers. (..it was intended to be a threat-drawing "shield" for SOZ.):

http://nwn2db.com/build/?71642

No cleaves though.

[GawainBS]

That one looks quite intresting, actually. Maybe some more Diplomacy, and it's good for the OC.

[Scottg]

That one looks quite intresting, actually. Maybe some more Diplomacy, and it's good for the OC.

Not many skill points though.

Also *way* over-powered for the OC. (..it was intended for what was basically a 2 party member party for SOZ - and even there it "cleaned-up" easily on the hardest setting.)

[Scottg]

Getting back to the Dual-wield + skill points, though *with* Kaedrins,

Anointed Knight/Warrior of Darkness once again is the "go-to" class for a melee'er.

Skill Points: It has 4+ int. modifier for skills, and a nice grouping of skills (that are variable depending on which class you choose).

Feats: It requires only one Feat (Indominatble Will), and provides a TON of excellent feats in return. Additionally, the bonus feats can be stacked at Epic levels for added Epic feats (if you want to).

Damage: It provides added elemental damage (that you can vary).

Defenses: It also provides Spell Resistance and even "throws-in" some damage reduction.


Bard might make an interesting base class (..considering it's add-on feats like Song of the Heart, Battle Dancer, Snowflake Wardance - in combination with additional skill points and class skills).

[GawainBS]

I already played a Bard, and while VERY good as a meleefighter, I'd prefer to use another baseclass. But I think my intrest has shifted to that Swiftblade by now. New thread incoming.