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Considering how venerated the Ranger class is to fantasy lore, being inspired by none other than the notorious Strider of Lord of the Rings fame, it's a surprise that it took so long for them to show up in role-playing games. The class isn't one of the more popular ones, either, often getting lost somewhere around Druids, Rogues, and Fighters, but the Ranger has their own unique set of skills.
Some RPG games like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pathfinder find the class to be so vers🥀atile that they tend to be overpowered, thus there are several other classes inspired by the Ranger in an attempt to break up their power. The Cavalier, Hunter, and Slayer classes in Pathfinder have their roots in the Ranger archetype and are variations on certain aspects of the class.
Rangers are a hardy lot, using their wide array of skills to survive in the wilderness. They are trackers, spelunkers, trappers, and herbalists, and recently games that have the same kinds of survivalist th💃emes havꦯe been popular. In the Pathfinder universe, their abilities are based on two ability scores, Wisdom and Dexterity. Rangers are the high priests of their own environment and often have the same reflexes as the enemies they pursue.
The Ranger - Character Creation
Ability Scores
- Wisdom. The Ranger's spellcasting ability is based on their Wisdom score, and as a Divine spellcaster, they can wear armor and cast without a penalty.
- Dexterity. There is some overlap with Rogue skills here, including Athletics and Stealth, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:and the favored weapons of Rangers often include weapons with a Dexterity modifier.
- Constitution. A Higher Constitution means more hit points. How much your Ranger values this Ability Score depends on the type of Ranger build.
- Strength. Rangers are a fighting class as much as they are casters, so put some extra points into Strength.
- Intelligence. Only important for a Ranger if they want to learn Arcane spells, but otherwise the closest thing a Ranger has to a "dump stat."
- Charisma. This is a class that lives in harsh terrain, not bathing for days on end and going without grooming for even longer. Even Aragorn wasn't well-received by the Hobbits at first.
Party Roles
- Damage. A Ranger can be a savage damage-per-second dealer with either ranged or melee weapons. This class is typically proficient in both but a complete build will usually choose one or the other.
- Damage and Support Healing. Rangers have some Divine healing spells, but they only go as far as level four, which means a ranger would have to multiclass or choose certain Backgrounds, Archetypes, and Feats to build a pure healer.
- Crowd Control (CC) and Support Healing. This class has a lot of handy CC spells, like Entangle and Hold Animal, that can be used for organizing combat situations.
Racial Choices
Wisdom and Dexterity are a tricky combination, and not all races have bonuses in both Ability Scores. Several have one or the other, however, and a creative player can build from tܫhere. Other customization options like Backgrounds and su𒉰bclasses can also help raise those crucial scores.
- Aasimar. Many of the Assimar Heritage choices include bonuses to Dexterity and Wisdom, and the Plumekith actually has both. Every choice also has an innate spellcasting ability, ideal for a Ranger with a spellcasting build.
- Dhampir. This can work, with some Heritage choices offering a Dexterity bonus but choose carefully, as others have a penalty to Wisdom.
- Dwarf. Bonuses to both Consitution and Wisdom make the Dwarf an excellent start provided the Charisma penalty won't be an issue.
- Elf. The +2 to Dexterity is nice, but a Constitution penalty makes this a better ranged or spellcaster build.
- Gnome. The +2 to Consitution is a nice start, and whether or not the Charisma bonus would be useful to a Ranger is entirely up to the player.
- Half-Elf. There are several racial abilities that overlap nicely with a Ranger build, like Adaptability and Keen Senses, plus you can add +2 to any Ability Score.
- Half-Orc. Another good choice with a +2 to the Ability Score of your choice plus extra weapon proficiencies and racial skills like Orc Ferocity make this ideal for a melee build.
- Halfling. A decent choice provided this isn't a melee build, as you get a +2 to Dexterity but a penalty to Strength.
- Human. A great choice for any class and any Ranger build, players can add +2 to any ability score along with an extra Feat and Skill rank.
- Kitsune. A race known for its Dexterity bonuses, there's plenty for a ranger to work with here if they're putting a ranged build together.
- Oread. The Ironsoul Heritage choice gives a Ranger a bonus to both Consitution and Wisdom, making it an ideal choice.
- Tiefling. Several of the Tiefling Heritage options have bonuses for Dexterity or Wisdom, but not both together, and some have penalities to key Ability Scores as well, so choose wisely.
The Ranger Subclasses
The Ranger subclasses cover a wide range of possibilities. Players also have the option of building their Ranger without choosing a subclass if they're multi-classing or building to a specific Prestige Class.
- Demonslayer. The name says it all. Since demons make up the bulk of the enemies you face in Pathfinder: WotR this would be a good choice.
- Espionage Expert. Rangers have many of the same skills as Rogues, and when placed in an urban environment that make fine assassins, spies, or thieves. One of the more secretive companions in the game, the ascen🌠dant demon Arueshalae, is an Es💙pionage Expert.
- Flamewarden. A subclass that uses fire magic to cleanse and purify, a good choice for a damage-based Ranger.
- Freebooter. Also known as musketeers, pirates, or privateers, these Rangers often work with a team and have a talent for organizing strategies and travel plans.
- Nomad. The life of a Nomad is deeply connected to their steed and archery skills. A subclass a Ranger can take if they insist on a mount.
- Stormwalker. A Ranger that has mastered the art of channeling electrical energy, these are also accomplished Archers and have wind-control powers.
Prestige Classes And Multi-Classing Options
Rangers can take on several roles, so multiclassing is only useful if your Ranger wants to be a defender or a healer as opposed to a damage-dealer. Although the rules about dual-classing characters don't exist in Pathfinder, other options for character customization and progression exist along with multiclassing. Prestige Classes, an advanced character progression that starts at level ten, can fill the gaps that multiclassing is used to fill. Pathfinder: WotR 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:also has the Mythic Path option, in which players ca𓆏n take on even more new abilities.
Regular Classes
- Barbarian. It makes sense from a role-playing viewpoint, and a Barbarian's skills are also based on Wisdom so it's a nice match. Plus, this gives your Ranger access to Rage abilities.
- Cleric. Wisdom is the common ground here, plus this would give a Ranger more healing abilities.
- Druid. Another multi-class option with a lot of role-playing potential, Druids also use Wisdom and have overlapping abilities when it comes to Stealth and Tracking.
- Fighter. Strength is usually the most important stat for the Fighter, but you can use a Dexterity build instead to make this combination work.
- Hunter. These two classes already have a lot in common, but Hunters focus much more on animals and wild environments 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:and also have an animal companion.
- Kineticist. There are Kinteticist subclasses that base their abilities on Wisdom or Consitution, and these would make the best combination with the Ranger with wants more damage-dealing powers.
- Rogue. One of the best combinations with a Ranger who wants even better Stealth and Perception abilities, these classes share the Dexterity stat and other related abilities.
- Shaman. For those Rangers that want even more power over the elements, a Shaman is a good choice. They also have handy abilities like Spirit Animal and Hex.
- Warpriest. If you're trying to build a Ranger for battlefield healing and more melee damage, the Warpriest is a good choice. This class also values Wisdom and Constitution.
- Witch. The Ranger needs a relatively high Intelligence or Charisma score to multiclass with a Witch, but it's worth it to get more healing spells and Hexes.
Prestige Classes
- Assassin. Usually a progression for Rogues, but Rangers share many of the required abilities, such as Stealth. Another requirement is an Evil moral alignment.
- Mystic Theurge. A path for Divine spellcasters, a Mystic Theurge acts as a healer and guardian on the battlefield.
- Aldori Swordlord. Some combat experience and skill with Finesse Weapons are required to be an Aldori Swordlord, a natural progression for a Freebooter Ranger.
- Student of War. A Ranger that has combat expertise and points in their Knowledge scores can become a Student of War.
- Hellknight Signifer. If your Ranger has a Lawful alignment and a five in level and world knowledge, they can join the spellcasting army of the fearsome Hellknights.
Examples Of Ranger Builds
The Hidden One
- Party Role: Damage and Crowd Control. This is the type of Ranger that does damage from an unseen vantage point, as a sniper or hiding in the shadows.
- Ideal Race: Gnome or Halfing, since these races have innate abilities that keep them hidden.
- Best Subclass: Espionage Expert
- Important Ability Scores: Dexterity is just as important as Wisdom in this case. The character should also have points in skills like Stealth, Persuasion, and Mobility.
A Fighting Ranger
- Party Role: Damage and Defense. This is as close as a Ranger can get to a tank build.
- Ideal Race: Half-orc, for the additional martial abilities, including extra weapons and combat skills.
- Best Subclass: Demon Slayer
- Important Ability Scores: Buff up your Consitution as much as possible with this build after making sure Ability Scores in Dexterity and Wisdom are already above average.
The Hunting Build
- Party Role: Damage
- Ideal Race: Human or Half-Elf
- Best Subclass: Flamewarden or Storm Walker
- Important Ability Scores: Wisdom governs the Ranger's spellcasting, and Dexterity gives their spells and ranged weapons a better hit rating. Max them out and get as much damage from your casting powers as possible.