Yield Ground - Ranger Utility 2 Encounter * Martial Immediate Reaction * Personal Trigger: An enemy damages you with a melee attack Effect: You can shift a number of squares equal to your Wisdom modifier. Gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until the end of your next turn.
Elven Precision [Elf] Prerequisites: Elf, elven accuracy racial power Benefit: When you use the elven accuracy power, you gain a +2 bonus to the new attack roll.
Notes: Let's see ... the ability to immediately shift 4 squares (current Wisdom modifier) away when hit by a melee attack means getting away from a melee pursuer is hella easier. And Elven Precision is just so good for everyone; maybe a little less so for Fighters since their Daily powers are almost all Reliable, but still...
Cut and Run - Ranger Attack 3 Encounter * Martial, Weapon Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons or a ranged weapon. Target: One or two creatures Attack: Strength vs. AC (melee; main weapon and off-hand weapon) or Dexterity vs. AC (ranged), two attacks Special: After the first or second attack, you can shift a number of squares equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier. Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee) or 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged) per attack.
Notes: Yeah, shoot, shoot, shift 5 squares (current Wisdom modifier + 1) ... or shoot, shift 5 squares, shoot. And being an elf, shifting through difficult terrain is not a problem. This is practically a no-brainer...
Light Step [Elf] Prerequisites: Elf Benefit: For the purpose of hourly or daily travel rates, add 1 to your overland speed and the speed of all allies in your travelling group. - Add 5 to the DC required to find or follow your tracks. If travelling with allies, you can share this benefit with up to five other characters. - You gain a +1 feat bonus to Acrobatics checks and Stealth checks.
Notes: Light step is as useful for the bonus to Acrobatics and Stealth as it is for the speed and anti-tracking benefits.
Splintering Shot - Ranger Attack 5 Daily * Martial, Weapon Standard Action * Ranged weapon Target: One creature Attack: Dexterity vs. AC Hit: 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of the encounter. Miss: Half damage, and the target takes a -1 penalty to attack rolls until the end of the encounter.
Notes: Choices for missile powers at this level were kinda meh. The other option was identical excepting that it weakened the target (save ends) instead of penalizing its attack rolls.
Weave through the Fray - Ranger Utility 6 Encounter * Martial Immediate Interrupt * Personal Trigger: An enemy moves adjacent to you. Effect: You can shift a number of squares equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Far Shot Prerequisites: Dex 13 Benefit: When you use a projectile weapon such as a bow or crossbow, increase both the normal range and the long range by 5 squares.
Notes: Weave through the Fray - now I can shift before they hit me to keep out of danger. Far Shot is another one of those practically automatic feats for an archery ranger build.
Hawk's Talon - Ranger Attack 7 Encounter * Martial, Weapon Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC (melee) or Dexterity vs. AC (ranged). Gain a power bonus to this attack equal to your Wisdom modifier. Ignore any penalties from cover or concealment (but not superior cover or total concealment). Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee), or 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged).
Notes: With a +4 power bonus to hit, this encounter power is good for archery _or_ emergency melee attacks. The ability to ignore cover or concealment is just icing on the cake.
Build Progression - Level 8ironhandJuly 2 2008, 06:28:31 UTC
Level 8 Level Constant: +4 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills) HP: 55 Bloodied: 27 Healing Surge Value: 13 Healing Surges / Day: 07 Attribute Raises: Dex 20 [+5], Wis 20 [+5] Skill Modifications: Acrobatics: +1 (Dex mod increase), Dungeoneering: +1 (Wis mod increase), Heal: +1 (Wis mod increase), Insight: +1 (Wis mod increase), Perception: +1 (Wis mod increase), Stealth: +1 (Dex mod increase), Thievery: +1 (Dex mod increase) Defense Modifications: AC +1 (Dex mod increase), Reflex +1 (Dex mod increase), Will +1 (Wis mod increase)
Weapon Focus (Bows) Prerequisites: - Benefit: Choose a specific weapon group, such as spears or heavy blades. You gain a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls with your chosen weapon group. At 11th level this bonus increases to +2. At 21st level, it increases to +3 Special: You can take this feat more than once. Each time you select the feat, choose another weapon group.
Notes: Dexterity and Wisdom increase have major payoffs; all powers are more accurate and damaging, all Wisdom effects increase
( ... )
Attacks on the Run - Ranger Attack 9 Daily * Martial, Weapon Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon Target: One or two creatures Attack: You can move your speed. At any point during your move, you can make two Strength vs. AC attacks with a melee weapon or two Dexterity vs. AC attacks with a ranged weapon. Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee), or 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged) per attack. Miss: Half damage per attack.
Notes: Move and attack - not quite as good as a shift, but the ability to basically move, attack at any point during the move and keep going - all as a standard action, leaving move and minor actions unused; is quite useful.
Expeditious Stride - Ranger Utility 10 Encounter * Martial Minor Action * Personal Effect: Until the end of your next turn, your speed increases by 4, and when you shift, you can shift 1 additional square.
Fast Runner Prerequisites: Con 13 Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to speed when you charge or run.
Notes: Do I even need to spell out the synergy of Expeditious Stride and my other movement/shift powers? Or the benefits of Fast Runner?
Build Progression - Level 11ironhandJuly 2 2008, 06:48:14 UTC
Level 11 Paragon Tier entered Level Constant: +5 HP: 70 Bloodied: 35 Healing Surge Value: 17 Healing Surges / Day: 08 Attribute Raises: Str 11 [+0], Con 14 [+2], Dex 21 [+5], Int 10 [+0], Wis 21 [+5], Cha 11 [+0] Skill Modifications: Arcana: +1 (Int mod increase), Endurance: +1 (Con mod increase), History: +1 (Int mod increase), Religion: +1 (Int mod increase) Defense Modifications: Fortitude: +1 (Con mod increase)
Paragon Path: Battlefield Archer
New Class Features Archer's Action: You can spend an action point to reroll one ranged attack roll or ranged damage roll, instead of taking an extra action. Battlefield Experience: You can designate more than one creature as your quarry at a time, up to a number equal to your Wisdom modifier. In addition, any attack made against a quarry receives a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
Combined Fire - Battlefield Archer Attack 11 Encounter * Martial, Weapon Immediate Reaction * Ranged weapon Trigger: An ally makes a ranged attack or an area attack Target: One creature attacked by your ally Attack:
( ... )
Archer's Glory - Battlefield Archer Utility 12 Encounter * Martial Free Action * Personal Trigger: One of your ranged attacks drops an enemy to 0 hit points or fewer Effect: You gain an action point that you must spend before the end of your next turn.
Running Shot [Elf] Prerequisites: Elf Benefit: You don't take any attack penalty to ranged attacks after you use the run action.
Notes: Kill enemy = Free action point. Running Shot = Move really fast (11 squares between Speed 7, +2 Fast Runner, +2 Run action), and don't take the -5 to attacks afterward. This is just that good.
Build Progression - Further NotesironhandJuly 2 2008, 07:16:22 UTC
Based on a peek-through of the next power sets, I'd probably develop as follows:
Level 13: No encounter power swap. Nothing there that I like better than what I have.
Level 15: Swap out Splintering Shot (Level 5 Daily) for Confounding Arrows (Level 15 Daily) Confounding Arrows - Ranger Attack 15 Daily * Martial, Weapon Standard Action * Ranged weapon Targets: One, two, or three creaturess Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, three attacks Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier per attack. A target hit once is dazed (save ends). A target hit twice is stunned (save ends). A target hit three times is stunned (save ends) and takes + 2[W] damage. Miss: The target is dazed (save ends)
Level 16: Class Feature - Battle Surge: When you spend an action point to take an extra action or to gain the benefit of your Archer's Action, you also gain a +5 bonus to AC against opportunity attacks until the end of the encounter
( ... )
Level Constant: +1 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 30 Bloodied: 15 Healing Surge Value: 07 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Yield Ground - Ranger Utility 2
Encounter * Martial
Immediate Reaction * Personal
Trigger: An enemy damages you with a melee attack
Effect: You can shift a number of squares equal to your Wisdom modifier. Gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until the end of your next turn.
Elven Precision [Elf]
Prerequisites: Elf, elven accuracy racial power
Benefit: When you use the elven accuracy power, you gain a +2 bonus to the new attack roll.
Notes: Let's see ... the ability to immediately shift 4 squares (current Wisdom modifier) away when hit by a melee attack means getting away from a melee pursuer is hella easier. And Elven Precision is just so good for everyone; maybe a little less so for Fighters since their Daily powers are almost all Reliable, but still...
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Level Constant: +1
HP: 35 Bloodied: 17 Healing Surge Value: 08 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Cut and Run - Ranger Attack 3
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons or a ranged weapon.
Target: One or two creatures
Attack: Strength vs. AC (melee; main weapon and off-hand weapon) or Dexterity vs. AC (ranged), two attacks
Special: After the first or second attack, you can shift a number of squares equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier.
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee) or 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged) per attack.
Notes: Yeah, shoot, shoot, shift 5 squares (current Wisdom modifier + 1) ... or shoot, shift 5 squares, shoot. And being an elf, shifting through difficult terrain is not a problem. This is practically a no-brainer...
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Level Constant: +2 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 35 Bloodied: 17 Healing Surge Value: 08 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Attribute Raises: Dex 19 [+4], Wis 19 [+4]
Skill Modifications: Acrobatics: +1 feat bonus, Stealth: +1 feat bonus
Light Step [Elf]
Prerequisites: Elf
Benefit: For the purpose of hourly or daily travel rates, add 1 to your overland speed and the speed of all allies in your travelling group.
- Add 5 to the DC required to find or follow your tracks. If travelling with allies, you can share this benefit with up to five other characters.
- You gain a +1 feat bonus to Acrobatics checks and Stealth checks.
Notes: Light step is as useful for the bonus to Acrobatics and Stealth as it is for the speed and anti-tracking benefits.
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Level Constant: +2
HP: 40 Bloodied: 20 Healing Surge Value: 10 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Splintering Shot - Ranger Attack 5
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action * Ranged weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of the encounter.
Miss: Half damage, and the target takes a -1 penalty to attack rolls until the end of the encounter.
Notes: Choices for missile powers at this level were kinda meh. The other option was identical excepting that it weakened the target (save ends) instead of penalizing its attack rolls.
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Level Constant: +3 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 45 Bloodied: 22 Healing Surge Value: 11 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Weave through the Fray - Ranger Utility 6
Encounter * Martial
Immediate Interrupt * Personal
Trigger: An enemy moves adjacent to you.
Effect: You can shift a number of squares equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Far Shot
Prerequisites: Dex 13
Benefit: When you use a projectile weapon such as a bow or crossbow, increase both the normal range and the long range by 5 squares.
Notes: Weave through the Fray - now I can shift before they hit me to keep out of danger. Far Shot is another one of those practically automatic feats for an archery ranger build.
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Level Constant: +3
HP: 50 Bloodied: 25 Healing Surge Value: 12 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Hawk's Talon - Ranger Attack 7
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC (melee) or Dexterity vs. AC (ranged). Gain a power bonus to this attack equal to your Wisdom modifier. Ignore any penalties from cover or concealment (but not superior cover or total concealment).
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee), or 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged).
Notes: With a +4 power bonus to hit, this encounter power is good for archery _or_ emergency melee attacks. The ability to ignore cover or concealment is just icing on the cake.
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Level Constant: +4 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 55 Bloodied: 27 Healing Surge Value: 13 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Attribute Raises: Dex 20 [+5], Wis 20 [+5]
Skill Modifications: Acrobatics: +1 (Dex mod increase), Dungeoneering: +1 (Wis mod increase), Heal: +1 (Wis mod increase), Insight: +1 (Wis mod increase), Perception: +1 (Wis mod increase), Stealth: +1 (Dex mod increase), Thievery: +1 (Dex mod increase)
Defense Modifications: AC +1 (Dex mod increase), Reflex +1 (Dex mod increase), Will +1 (Wis mod increase)
Weapon Focus (Bows)
Prerequisites: -
Benefit: Choose a specific weapon group, such as spears or heavy blades. You gain a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls with your chosen weapon group. At 11th level this bonus increases to +2. At 21st level, it increases to +3
Special: You can take this feat more than once. Each time you select the feat, choose another weapon group.
Notes: Dexterity and Wisdom increase have major payoffs; all powers are more accurate and damaging, all Wisdom effects increase ( ... )
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Level Constant: +4
HP: 60 Bloodied: 30 Healing Surge Value: 15 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Attacks on the Run - Ranger Attack 9
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action * Melee or Ranged weapon
Target: One or two creatures
Attack: You can move your speed. At any point during your move, you can make two Strength vs. AC attacks with a melee weapon or two Dexterity vs. AC attacks with a ranged weapon.
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage (melee), or 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage (ranged) per attack.
Miss: Half damage per attack.
Notes: Move and attack - not quite as good as a shift, but the ability to basically move, attack at any point during the move and keep going - all as a standard action, leaving move and minor actions unused; is quite useful.
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Level Constant: +5 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 65 Bloodied: 32 Healing Surge Value: 16 Healing Surges / Day: 07
Expeditious Stride - Ranger Utility 10
Encounter * Martial
Minor Action * Personal
Effect: Until the end of your next turn, your speed increases by 4, and when you shift, you can shift 1 additional square.
Fast Runner
Prerequisites: Con 13
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to speed when you charge or run.
Notes: Do I even need to spell out the synergy of Expeditious Stride and my other movement/shift powers? Or the benefits of Fast Runner?
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Level Constant: +5
HP: 70 Bloodied: 35 Healing Surge Value: 17 Healing Surges / Day: 08
Attribute Raises: Str 11 [+0], Con 14 [+2], Dex 21 [+5], Int 10 [+0], Wis 21 [+5], Cha 11 [+0]
Skill Modifications: Arcana: +1 (Int mod increase), Endurance: +1 (Con mod increase), History: +1 (Int mod increase), Religion: +1 (Int mod increase)
Defense Modifications: Fortitude: +1 (Con mod increase)
Paragon Path: Battlefield Archer
New Class Features
Archer's Action: You can spend an action point to reroll one ranged attack roll or ranged damage roll, instead of taking an extra action.
Battlefield Experience: You can designate more than one creature as your quarry at a time, up to a number equal to your Wisdom modifier. In addition, any attack made against a quarry receives a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
Combined Fire - Battlefield Archer Attack 11
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Immediate Reaction * Ranged weapon
Trigger: An ally makes a ranged attack or an area attack
Target: One creature attacked by your ally
Attack: ( ... )
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Level Constant: +6 (Increases attacks, defenses, initiative & skills)
HP: 75 Bloodied: 37 Healing Surge Value: 18 Healing Surges / Day: 08
Archer's Glory - Battlefield Archer Utility 12
Encounter * Martial
Free Action * Personal
Trigger: One of your ranged attacks drops an enemy to 0 hit points or fewer
Effect: You gain an action point that you must spend before the end of your next turn.
Running Shot [Elf]
Prerequisites: Elf
Benefit: You don't take any attack penalty to ranged attacks after you use the run action.
Notes: Kill enemy = Free action point. Running Shot = Move really fast (11 squares between Speed 7, +2 Fast Runner, +2 Run action), and don't take the -5 to attacks afterward. This is just that good.
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Level 13: No encounter power swap. Nothing there that I like better than what I have.
Level 15: Swap out Splintering Shot (Level 5 Daily) for Confounding Arrows (Level 15 Daily)
Confounding Arrows - Ranger Attack 15
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action * Ranged weapon
Targets: One, two, or three creaturess
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, three attacks
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier per attack. A target hit once is dazed (save ends). A target hit twice is stunned (save ends). A target hit three times is stunned (save ends) and takes + 2[W] damage.
Miss: The target is dazed (save ends)
Level 16: Class Feature - Battle Surge: When you spend an action point to take an extra action or to gain the benefit of your Archer's Action, you also gain a +5 bonus to AC against opportunity attacks until the end of the encounter ( ... )
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