the_floyd
Well-known member
Recently TR'd into a Razorclaw Shifter; just because...wanted to try it out. Played around with a couple of builds and did not like any of them (all some type of barbarian build), and then it occurred to me that RS is really more better suited (IMO) to Ranger than anything else.
Here's why I think RS synergizes better with Ranger:
1. Shifter Rage gives you bonus to Strength + Dexterity (penalty to Wisdom) vs. Strength + Constitution (penalty to AC) for Barbarian rage. This gives you some options going Strength based or Dex based ranger...pros and cons for each, more on that later.)
2. Magic Fang: Rangers get it as a spell (vs. spending points for it in racial tree). This works even if you're not using handwraps as long as you're still in animal form (razorclaw is considered an animal).
3. Additional Favored Enemy in RS tree. Rangers get up to 5 favored enemies if you go pure; add another from this tree and Animals from Falconry for 2 measley points and you get +14 damage for a good majority of things you're going to encounter.
4. Second Claw in RS tree provides +10% offhand strike chance + 3% offhand double strike and works for any weapon, not just handwraps. So, theoretically you could have 100% offhand strike chance at level 3 in Tempest (just not with handwraps).
5. At level 14, Rangers get the Animal Growth spell (which applies to Razorclaws, since they are considered animals) and provides a +4 size bonus to Strength + Constitution...this stacks with the Shifter Rage bonuses. Spirit of the Beast in FOTW epic destiny tree doubles this bonus.
So... Strength or Dexterity based Ranger? Pros + cons for each:
Strength based: RS iconic starts with +2 Strength, and according to wiki, RS provides a passive +1 bonus to Strength outside of the active +4 bonus from shifting...not sure exactly how that works, but I'll just assume while shifting it's a +5 to strength. You can pick up +2 in cores from the tree. Animal Growth adds +4 (so potentially an additional +11 total by level 14) and SotB adds another +4 for a total of +15 at level 23. Let's assume you max out Strength on character creation (20), have no tomes, put all level ups into strength (+5 at level 20) and have no + Strength gear. At level 23, this is effectively a +15 to attack / damage / DCs. Downside is no trance, unless you multiclass 3 levels of Dragonlord and you have to remember hit trance before you rage which is a PITA.
Dexterity based: Shifter Rage provides +4; you can pick up +2 from tree, so total of +6. But you can get a Dex trance from Horizon Walker for 13 points...may be an issue for multiple reasons, but let's assume you have that tree and AP is not an issue. Let's further assume you max out Dex at 18 on creation, have no tomes, put all level ups into Dex (+5 at level 20) and have no +Dex gear. Dex score & modifier at level 20 would theoretically be 23 / +6. With trance ( half mod) that's +3 for a total of +9 to damage / DC's.
Obviously gear and choices in enhancement trees are going to impact ability scores / modifiers and bonuses...you may be able to get Strength up to a point where lack of a trance doesn't matter, or get Dex up to a point where it's comparable with a trance. I'm not going that deep into it.
Other thoughts:
1. You could forego handwraps altogether, still pick up a few good things from RS tree and do a traditional Tempest ranger...longsword, scimitars or whatever.
2. Multiclass Ranger and Fighter (Kensei) for handwrap build...14 Ranger / 6 Kensei, going T5 in Kensai for crit range / multiplier. Add that to bonus from RS tree for handwraps and could be decent.
Anyway...just some thoughts / ideas about RS beyond other builds I've seen, and genuinely curious about what other people have done with this race, which everyone seems to hate or ***** about, to make it viable / enjoyable to play as opposed to just grinding it out for a PL.
Thoughts / ideas?
Here's why I think RS synergizes better with Ranger:
1. Shifter Rage gives you bonus to Strength + Dexterity (penalty to Wisdom) vs. Strength + Constitution (penalty to AC) for Barbarian rage. This gives you some options going Strength based or Dex based ranger...pros and cons for each, more on that later.)
2. Magic Fang: Rangers get it as a spell (vs. spending points for it in racial tree). This works even if you're not using handwraps as long as you're still in animal form (razorclaw is considered an animal).
3. Additional Favored Enemy in RS tree. Rangers get up to 5 favored enemies if you go pure; add another from this tree and Animals from Falconry for 2 measley points and you get +14 damage for a good majority of things you're going to encounter.
4. Second Claw in RS tree provides +10% offhand strike chance + 3% offhand double strike and works for any weapon, not just handwraps. So, theoretically you could have 100% offhand strike chance at level 3 in Tempest (just not with handwraps).
5. At level 14, Rangers get the Animal Growth spell (which applies to Razorclaws, since they are considered animals) and provides a +4 size bonus to Strength + Constitution...this stacks with the Shifter Rage bonuses. Spirit of the Beast in FOTW epic destiny tree doubles this bonus.
So... Strength or Dexterity based Ranger? Pros + cons for each:
Strength based: RS iconic starts with +2 Strength, and according to wiki, RS provides a passive +1 bonus to Strength outside of the active +4 bonus from shifting...not sure exactly how that works, but I'll just assume while shifting it's a +5 to strength. You can pick up +2 in cores from the tree. Animal Growth adds +4 (so potentially an additional +11 total by level 14) and SotB adds another +4 for a total of +15 at level 23. Let's assume you max out Strength on character creation (20), have no tomes, put all level ups into strength (+5 at level 20) and have no + Strength gear. At level 23, this is effectively a +15 to attack / damage / DCs. Downside is no trance, unless you multiclass 3 levels of Dragonlord and you have to remember hit trance before you rage which is a PITA.
Dexterity based: Shifter Rage provides +4; you can pick up +2 from tree, so total of +6. But you can get a Dex trance from Horizon Walker for 13 points...may be an issue for multiple reasons, but let's assume you have that tree and AP is not an issue. Let's further assume you max out Dex at 18 on creation, have no tomes, put all level ups into Dex (+5 at level 20) and have no +Dex gear. Dex score & modifier at level 20 would theoretically be 23 / +6. With trance ( half mod) that's +3 for a total of +9 to damage / DC's.
Obviously gear and choices in enhancement trees are going to impact ability scores / modifiers and bonuses...you may be able to get Strength up to a point where lack of a trance doesn't matter, or get Dex up to a point where it's comparable with a trance. I'm not going that deep into it.
Other thoughts:
1. You could forego handwraps altogether, still pick up a few good things from RS tree and do a traditional Tempest ranger...longsword, scimitars or whatever.
2. Multiclass Ranger and Fighter (Kensei) for handwrap build...14 Ranger / 6 Kensei, going T5 in Kensai for crit range / multiplier. Add that to bonus from RS tree for handwraps and could be decent.
Anyway...just some thoughts / ideas about RS beyond other builds I've seen, and genuinely curious about what other people have done with this race, which everyone seems to hate or ***** about, to make it viable / enjoyable to play as opposed to just grinding it out for a PL.
Thoughts / ideas?
