Ranged Rider (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
3e Summary::Wanting to make the ultimate ranger character riding a mount This build inspired me with the creation of the custom PRC Easy Rider. I was looking for a mounted Ranger and couldn't find anything and along with the ideas from Wolf Rider I came up with this PRC and build.
References
- Player HandBook (dah!)
- Dragon Compendium
- Complete Adventurer
- Draconomicon
- Spell Compendium
- Dandwiki (for the custom prc Easy Rider)
Game Rule Components
Spells, Powers, Soulmelds, Stances, etc...
Spells won't be you strong point. Remember to use Arrow Mind so as not to provoke attacks of opportunity while next to your target with your mount.
Items
Use whatever suits you most
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Max dex and str. Some points in wisdom for spellcasting (up to 3rd level Ranger spells you will get)
Race (Templates): You can use 3e Race::any race, human is very good also since it will give you an extra feat
The last level in Ranger (5th) is questionable. You can choose to go 6th level prestige ranger. You loose the 4th favored enemy but you get +1 to ALL saves, 1 level in animal companion (+2HD), improved evasion granted feat in animal companion and an extra feat for the animal companion (most probably greater cleave).
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Feats | Class Features |
Ranger Equivalent Level for Spells |
Caster Level |
Animal Class/HD/LA | Animal Base Attack Bonus |
Animal Saving Throws |
Animal Selected Feats |
Animal Granted Feats |
Animal Level |
Animal Level minus Adjustment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||
| 1st | Ranger 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Mounted Combat | 1st Favored Enemy, Track, Wild Empathy | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | Ranger 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | Rapid Shot | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd | Ranger 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | Mounted Archery | Endurance | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| 4th | Ranger 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | Animal Companion(Wolf) | 4 | 2 | Wolf 2d8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Armor Proficiency (Light) | Link, Share Spells, Track, Weapon Focus (bite) | 2 | 2 |
| 5th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | - | 2nd Favored Enemy | 4 | 2 | Wolf 4d8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Improved Natural Attack | - | 3 | 3 |
| 6th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 1 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1 | Point Blank Shot | Wolf Senses | 4 | 2 | Wolf 4d8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | Evasion | 4 | 4 |
| 7th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 2 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 1 | - | Improved Animal Companion(+1), Strike of loss | 5 | 2 | Wolf 6d8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | Improved Natural Attack | Strike of loss,Devotion | 6 | 6 |
| 8th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 3 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 2 | - | Sneak Strike , Weapon Focus (Ranged), Noncombatant | 6 | 3 | Wolf 6d8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | - | Improved Trip | 7 | 7 |
| 9th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 4 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 2 | Precise Shot | Advance Animal Companion (Dire Wolf),Inspire Beast | 6 | 3 | Dire Wolf 6d8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | (loses Improved Natural Attack/ Evasion, Devotion) | Alertness, Run, Track, Weapon Focus (bite) | 8 | 2 |
| 10th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2 | - | Improved Animal Companion(+2), Mourning of Death | 7 | 3 | Dire Wolf 8d8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Improved Natural Attack | Evasion, Savage, Mourning of Death | 10 | 4 |
| 11th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 3 | - | Keen Wolf Senses,Improved Sneak Strike | 8 | 4 | Dire Wolf 8d8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | - | - | 11 | 5 |
| 12th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 7 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 3 | Dead Eye (Dragon Compendium) | Improved Precise Shot | 8 | 4 | Dire Wolf 10d8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Power Attack | Sweeping Trip,Devotion | 12 | 6 |
| 13th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 8 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 3 | - | Improved Animal Companion(+3), Devastating Revenge | 9 | 4 | Dire Wolf 10d8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | - | Devastating Revenge | 14 | 8 |
| 14th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 9 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 4 | - | Exalted Companion - Advance Animal Companion (Winter Wolf) | 10 | 5 | Winter Wolf 12d10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | Improved Critical Bite | Alertness, Improved Initiative, Track, Multiattack | 15 | 9 |
| 15th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 1 / Easy Rider 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 4 | Improved Critical Ranged | Stunning Arrow,Ultimate Sneak Strike,Raise Companion | 10 | 5 | Winter Wolf 12d10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | - | Monstrous Growth | 16 | 10 |
| 16th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Easy Rider 10 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 4 | - | ManyShot,Woodland Stride | 11 | 5 | Winter Wolf 12d10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | - | - | 17 | 11 |
| 17th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 3 / Easy Rider 10 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 5 | - | Swift Tracker | 11 | 5 | Winter Wolf 14d10 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 4 | Cleave | - | 18 | 12 |
| 18th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 4 / Easy Rider 10 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 5 | Craven | - | 12 | 6 | Winter Wolf 14d10 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 4 | - | - | 19 | 13 |
| 19th | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 5 / Easy Rider 10 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 5 | - | 3rd Favored Enemy | 12 | 6 | Winter Wolf 14d10 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 4 | - | - | 20 | 14 |
| 20th | Ranger 5 / Prestige Ranger 5 / Easy Rider 10 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 5 | - | 4th Favored Enemy | 13 | 6 | Winter Wolf 14d10 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 4 | - | - | 20 | 14 |
| 20th (alt) | Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 6 / Easy Rider 10 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 6 | - | - | 13 | 6 | Winter Wolf 16d10 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 5 | Great Cleave | Improved Evasion | 21 | 15 |
At level 20: 3e Final Class Progression::Ranger 4 / Prestige Ranger 6 / Easy Rider 10
Highlights
Trip is your friend.
Limitations
Will saves will be a great problem.
DM Counters
Enemies that cannot be tripped will create a problem.
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