Decisions, decisions

[athene]

In doctorjekyll's game, my ranger just made 6th level. This means I get another feat. Unfortunatly there are 6 that I am debating. So, I'm going to open it up to y'all for advice.

Here's a bit about my character: She's an elven ranger, good with a bow...very good with a bow actually. She's somewhat of a tomboy. She's also pretty good at ranger things including spot, search, and move silently. Basically there are 3 things that I want to do with her. 1) make her a very good ranger, 2) make it so she has an easy time up in the trees, 3) be a top-notch Legolas type archer.

That being said, here are the feats I'm looking at:

Agile: +2 to balance and escape artist - would help with the whole tree thing

Athletic: +2 to Climb and Swim - would also help with the tree thing

Diehard: Remains conscious at -1 to -9 - always a help, would make her seem tougher, which plays into the strong tomboy thing.

Dodge: +1 dodge bonus to AC - not so wonderful by itself, but if I then took Mobility, I could take Shot on the Run which would allow movement before and after a ranged attack...very useful.

Far Shot: Increases range by 50% - would help with the awesome archer thing, also very useful.

I think I'm leaning towards Agile, Dodge, or Far Shot.

[Poll #587023]

Comments

[queencimmy.livejournal.com]

How do I vote for my sister is a big nerd?

I miss you and will probably call you tomorrow.

[purplegryphon.livejournal.com]

I voted for agile, but I'd also go for dodge. I think you can pick up far shot later, once you've got your more immediate physical stats in place. I like the looks of Dodge, but do you have to wait 'till you level to get Mobility?

Hm, I wish I had a better idea of a non-WoW leveling system. :P

[athene.livejournal.com]

I'd have to wait another 3 levels to get Mobility.

[godspiel.livejournal.com]

I always forget to declare which enemy Dodge effects, so I only take it if I need it for a Prereq later.

Farshot gives a 50% boost, whereas Agile and Athletic probably give you around a 25% boost, assuming you've got the relevant skills at near-maxed level. Diehard just means you're more likely to take damage past -9. It makes more sense for berserkers, and characters that generally like the taste of blood. Not very elvin, in my opinion. Farshot will come in handy whenever you're in ranged combat, which in most games is more frequent than birch-swinging.

dodge a trap, climb a tree, or swim for your life.

[autumnkitten.livejournal.com]

what are your points in dodge?
and do you already have a swim feat?
Or a climb feat?

When i gamed (hendotron, cyclop and section 5 were part of the games), i found that i had only one point in my swim feat, and that saved my life.

hope this helps. so i will now do your poll (oh, i love polls!!)

[wandelrust.livejournal.com]

The general (though sometime sad) rule of D&D: Combat abilities help you level up. Non-combat abilities do not.

Assuming you've been keeping climb and balance at or near max ranks, I'd say the benefit you get from the skill enhancing feats will be relatively small.

The problem with Dodge is it's not really worth a feat by itself. Mobility is marginally more useful, but a high tumble score is just as good in most cases. So you're really paying 3 feats for Shot on the Run. Not that that should discount it, but it's an expensive feat, and not as generally useful as Spring Attack (it's melee counterpart).

Diehard is useful, but it's usefulness decreases as your hit points (and the damage you take) increases.

In general, if I'm playing a ranged character, I always want to take as many of the ranged feats as possible. As a ranger you get Rapid Shot, Manyshot, and Improved Precise Shot for free. I'm going to assume you have Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot already. If not, precise shot is the best feat you can take. Otherwise, my vote will be for Far Shot.

I voted Far Shot

[sylvanstargazer.livejournal.com]

In D&D, at least when I was last playing, there are absolutely *sick* archer feats, and it is easier to up ability or skill scores with magic items (depending on how magic-heavy the campaign is, of course). +1 to AC isn't useless in my experience, and I had a character who reached 12th level with every feat but one that I took giving me +1 to AC, so my second choice would be Dodge.

[darktouch.livejournal.com]

You sold me with Shot on the run. In the game I'm playing now I have that and love it more than anything.. of course my version is teleport-attack-teleport but its the same thing.

[raabrashi.livejournal.com]

Me: Friend of your sister.
You: Character dilema.
Ok, first of all, can you convince your DM to design a feat that would give you a +2 Climb and a +2 Balance? It could be called "Nimble" or something. Even if you were only to get a +1 to climb and a +2 to balance it would still be worth it. I'm a DM myself, and I think that I would allow it. But then again, it's not my game.
though dodge is very useful, you put yourself on a very extensive feat track that will take you thru level 12 (perhaps even 15). Remember, if you get really good at hiding in trees and such, then you've got at least 1/4 cover without much to worry about falling.

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

Dodge is a great feat if you are planning on taking other feats that it leads to, like Spring Attack, Shot On The Run, or (my favorite) Elusive Target. If you want to be tougher, Die Hard is cool, but for a warrior you are better off with Improved Toughness, granting an extra hit point per level.

You might also have a look at the requirements for intriguing prestige classes, like Order of the Bow, Deepwoods Stalker, and such.