I’m joining a new homebrew campaign starting at Level 7, with a Monster Slayer Ranger. We rolled stats in front of the DM in a discord channel and boy, I rolled the best I ever will: 18, 17, 17, 14, 14, 12. We aren’t using the Tasha’s racial rules, so I’ll be going Wood Elf, and ending with 20 DEX, 18 WIS, 17 CON, 14 INT, 14 STR, 12 CHA.
The DM is giving us a free feat in character creation and I’ll obviously take a feat at Level 4 since my DEX is maxed. Sharpshooter is an obvious one, and right now I’m deciding between Skill Expert and Resilient (CON). Both would allow me to bump my CON to 18. The difference is basically just save proficiency or expertise plus an extra skill.
I’m open to any other feat suggestions though, they don’t have to be super strong mechanically, they can just be cool or narratively fun and feel free to ask any questions!
Resilient (con) is the responsible choice because con saves are important and rangers have plenty of concentration spells they care about. But I think Mobile would be so much more fun. 45 feet of movement is fantastic and even if you are nor primarily melee the disengage will help when you get cornered. You can always take a hand off your bow, draw a sword, attack and retreat. Next round you can sheathe the sword, put your hand back on the bow and fire away.
Yeah, it’s easily the best character stats wise that I’ve ever played. That’s what I’m struggling with regarding the feats. Resilient definitely seems like the responsible choice, but it just isn’t interesting or fun. Like Skill Expert for the expertise still gets me to 18 CON and gives me expertise in Perception, putting my PP at 20. And then I’ll grab another feat at Level 8 so I have this decision all over again.
I would probably grab Resilient (con) at 8 if you don't start with it. Getting it online for 3rd level spells would be strong. Another option I think would be a lot of fun is Wood Elf Magic. Observant is a good one to think about if you're interest in boosting your passive perception. You could go for Skill Expert and Observant to be elven Sherlock Holmes.
Are you allowed Tasha's Ranger options? If so, you will have the option of an expertise. You may want two, but it could also mean skill expert is a lower priority.
Yeah so I have the Tasha’s ranger options. Which yeah, gives me two expertises. They’re in stealth and perception right now, which I really like since they’re both useful on a Ranger. I guess what I keep coming back to is that Resilient isn’t “fun”. Observant at Level 8 would set me at 25 PP which is bonkers. Alert is just always good even though Rangers don’t always need to go first. Fey Touched gives more spells.
Then don't take it. It's not like your build will suddenly become unplayable. And if you're going primarily ranged then your concentration checks will be contested less. Absolutely go for the choices that feel like a more exciting character to you.
I would go simple. Wood Elf Magic. Longstrider and pass without trace once per day. Grab a Druid Cantrip (guidance or druidcraft). Its a racial feat and makes perfect sense why you are starting with it. You have stats good enough that you can kind of ignore half feats and go for more flavor.
On your other options. Resilient isn't as big of a deal since you are going archery. I always recommend Fey Touched for Rangers if you get a first level feat. Take Hunter's Mark and now you get to grab something else with your Ranger spells and have HM and Misty Step at level 1. You are guaranteed to cast HM once per day. Another sneaky choice is Bless. If you plan on going the Sharpshooter route then Bless is generally better than HM since along with the Archery fighting style you make up for your -5 most rounds AND it applies to two other party members.
I love Observant, and 20+ PP is super fun, but with specialization on perception already its really a question of if you want to have perception bulletproof or if you want something else.
Yeah, I’ve been looking at Fey Touched a lot more. Bless or HM for free is really nice. And Observant putting me at 25 PP would obviously be fun, but Skill Expert already gets me 20 PP which seems plenty high enough. I’m starting to really like Alert, almost for not being surprised more than the initiative bonus.
No one mentioned elven accuracy. I'm not a huge fan but alot of optimization groups would have jumped all over it.
I also really like ritual caster druid or wizard on my rangers. I found a way to flavor every wizard spell with bee/bug under tones giving it a ranger feel.
I know you're primarily ranged, but if you're planning on taking a rapier + shield as a backup, might I recommend Mage Slayer? Monster Slayer is especially good at shutting down spellcasters --especially at later levels (7, 11, and 15 are specifically designed to take out magic-users....almost like you're their nemesis or something.) So why not double down on that? You'd need to be able to make melee attacks with it, so I can understand why it wouldn't be attractive for a ranged build, but there are ways to make it work.
Another thing to note is that Monster Slayer's 7th-level feature let's them add a D6 to all saving throws forced on them by their Slayer's Prey target. This includes concentration saving throws.
While Resilient (Con) is still a good and practical feat to take, the above feature does mean that the Monster Slayer needs it a lot less than most other Ranger subclasses. Something to keep in mind.
At 15th, Slayer's Counter is even a better version of this. It allows you to attack the target whenever they'd force you to make a saving throw --any saving throw (including concentration)-- and auto-succeed on a hit. On a miss, you still have the d6 from Supernatural Defense.
So yeah. Don't feel bad about skipping Resilient (Con) on a Monster Slayer. I'd argue is the subclass who least needs it.
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I’m joining a new homebrew campaign starting at Level 7, with a Monster Slayer Ranger. We rolled stats in front of the DM in a discord channel and boy, I rolled the best I ever will: 18, 17, 17, 14, 14, 12. We aren’t using the Tasha’s racial rules, so I’ll be going Wood Elf, and ending with 20 DEX, 18 WIS, 17 CON, 14 INT, 14 STR, 12 CHA.
The DM is giving us a free feat in character creation and I’ll obviously take a feat at Level 4 since my DEX is maxed. Sharpshooter is an obvious one, and right now I’m deciding between Skill Expert and Resilient (CON). Both would allow me to bump my CON to 18. The difference is basically just save proficiency or expertise plus an extra skill.
I’m open to any other feat suggestions though, they don’t have to be super strong mechanically, they can just be cool or narratively fun and feel free to ask any questions!
Damn dude this character is juiced. Love it.
Resilient (con) is the responsible choice because con saves are important and rangers have plenty of concentration spells they care about. But I think Mobile would be so much more fun. 45 feet of movement is fantastic and even if you are nor primarily melee the disengage will help when you get cornered. You can always take a hand off your bow, draw a sword, attack and retreat. Next round you can sheathe the sword, put your hand back on the bow and fire away.
Yeah, it’s easily the best character stats wise that I’ve ever played. That’s what I’m struggling with regarding the feats. Resilient definitely seems like the responsible choice, but it just isn’t interesting or fun. Like Skill Expert for the expertise still gets me to 18 CON and gives me expertise in Perception, putting my PP at 20. And then I’ll grab another feat at Level 8 so I have this decision all over again.
I would probably grab Resilient (con) at 8 if you don't start with it. Getting it online for 3rd level spells would be strong. Another option I think would be a lot of fun is Wood Elf Magic. Observant is a good one to think about if you're interest in boosting your passive perception. You could go for Skill Expert and Observant to be elven Sherlock Holmes.
Are you allowed Tasha's Ranger options? If so, you will have the option of an expertise. You may want two, but it could also mean skill expert is a lower priority.
Yeah so I have the Tasha’s ranger options. Which yeah, gives me two expertises. They’re in stealth and perception right now, which I really like since they’re both useful on a Ranger. I guess what I keep coming back to is that Resilient isn’t “fun”. Observant at Level 8 would set me at 25 PP which is bonkers. Alert is just always good even though Rangers don’t always need to go first. Fey Touched gives more spells.
Then don't take it. It's not like your build will suddenly become unplayable. And if you're going primarily ranged then your concentration checks will be contested less. Absolutely go for the choices that feel like a more exciting character to you.
I would go simple. Wood Elf Magic. Longstrider and pass without trace once per day. Grab a Druid Cantrip (guidance or druidcraft). Its a racial feat and makes perfect sense why you are starting with it. You have stats good enough that you can kind of ignore half feats and go for more flavor.
On your other options. Resilient isn't as big of a deal since you are going archery. I always recommend Fey Touched for Rangers if you get a first level feat. Take Hunter's Mark and now you get to grab something else with your Ranger spells and have HM and Misty Step at level 1. You are guaranteed to cast HM once per day. Another sneaky choice is Bless. If you plan on going the Sharpshooter route then Bless is generally better than HM since along with the Archery fighting style you make up for your -5 most rounds AND it applies to two other party members.
I love Observant, and 20+ PP is super fun, but with specialization on perception already its really a question of if you want to have perception bulletproof or if you want something else.
Yeah, I’ve been looking at Fey Touched a lot more. Bless or HM for free is really nice. And Observant putting me at 25 PP would obviously be fun, but Skill Expert already gets me 20 PP which seems plenty high enough. I’m starting to really like Alert, almost for not being surprised more than the initiative bonus.
No one mentioned elven accuracy. I'm not a huge fan but alot of optimization groups would have jumped all over it.
I also really like ritual caster druid or wizard on my rangers. I found a way to flavor every wizard spell with bee/bug under tones giving it a ranger feel.
I know you're primarily ranged, but if you're planning on taking a rapier + shield as a backup, might I recommend Mage Slayer? Monster Slayer is especially good at shutting down spellcasters --especially at later levels (7, 11, and 15 are specifically designed to take out magic-users....almost like you're their nemesis or something.) So why not double down on that? You'd need to be able to make melee attacks with it, so I can understand why it wouldn't be attractive for a ranged build, but there are ways to make it work.
Another thing to note is that Monster Slayer's 7th-level feature let's them add a D6 to all saving throws forced on them by their Slayer's Prey target. This includes concentration saving throws.
While Resilient (Con) is still a good and practical feat to take, the above feature does mean that the Monster Slayer needs it a lot less than most other Ranger subclasses. Something to keep in mind.
At 15th, Slayer's Counter is even a better version of this. It allows you to attack the target whenever they'd force you to make a saving throw --any saving throw (including concentration)-- and auto-succeed on a hit. On a miss, you still have the d6 from Supernatural Defense.
So yeah. Don't feel bad about skipping Resilient (Con) on a Monster Slayer. I'd argue is the subclass who least needs it.