Hey guys. I have a halfling ranger who has just reached level 4. He carries a +2 dagger short sword and light crossbow. He ends up in combat a lot because he maximises his damage fighting with two weapons. But he has the archery fighting style and I envisage him as a ranged martial character. I was considering piercer as it would take his dex to 18 and bump skills or sharpshooter. I don’t see the value of crossbow expert at the moment. I don’t have a hand crossbow and it wouldn’t bump damage that much.
any advice on best feats. Something I haven’t already thought of?
Well, you'll need Crossbow Expert at level 5, if you want to take advantage of Extra Attack, or switch to a Longbow/Shortbow.
Also, what are your stats? Skills?
My opinion of Piercer is that is is OK, but you're going to be adding something like 1-2 damage on average per attack. Which I honestly consider to be subpar compared to other options.
- Take an ASI for Dex and rounding out something else.
- Grab the Skill Expert Feat for +dex, another skill, and expertise in something (like Stealth, or Perception.) Second Chance is ok for getting a little bit of that extra 'luck.' Lucky is also an option, though getting that Dex up to 18, then 20 on your next ASI is probably the best choice.
Piercer might be good. Since you’re using dagger, short sword and xbow, it will apply in melee and with ranged. And the damage boost isn’t fantastic, but getting dex rounded up is very valuable.
Also, I agree about switching to a bow. For characters with extra attack, a xbow isn’t very useful unless you really focus your build on it.
Also, if you are in melee a lot, you might want to switch your fighting style. And since you can do that only on levels where you get a feat (Optional rule in Tasha’s), now is the time to think about doing it. I know you said you envision him as ranged, but sometimes plans need to change, and party composition forces us to different places.
I’d go for Xbow expert. Two attacks with your heavy now and maybe you score a hand xbow eventually. Three attacks and you can be in melee range.
Not sure of your long term plan but at 6th you can switch to fighter which would allow a 2nd fighting style. At 7th you would have a 1st round of 4 attack actions(xbow), bonus attack, and your gloom stalker attack for 6 shots in that round. All remaining rounds would be 3. At 9th level you can take sharp shooter or get that 18 dex. Take fighter till 11 for another ASI/feat.
you can switch back to Ranger for spells etc or remain fighter for faster feats.
Hey guys. I have a halfling ranger who has just reached level 4. He carries a +2 dagger short sword and light crossbow. He ends up in combat a lot because he maximises his damage fighting with two weapons. But he has the archery fighting style and I envisage him as a ranged martial character. I was considering piercer as it would take his dex to 18 and bump skills or sharpshooter. I don’t see the value of crossbow expert at the moment. I don’t have a hand crossbow and it wouldn’t bump damage that much.
any advice on best feats. Something I haven’t already thought of?
I also should mention he is a gloomstalker.
Well, you'll need Crossbow Expert at level 5, if you want to take advantage of Extra Attack, or switch to a Longbow/Shortbow.
Also, what are your stats? Skills?
My opinion of Piercer is that is is OK, but you're going to be adding something like 1-2 damage on average per attack. Which I honestly consider to be subpar compared to other options.
- Take an ASI for Dex and rounding out something else.
- Grab the Skill Expert Feat for +dex, another skill, and expertise in something (like Stealth, or Perception.) Second Chance is ok for getting a little bit of that extra 'luck.' Lucky is also an option, though getting that Dex up to 18, then 20 on your next ASI is probably the best choice.
2014 5E mostly
3.5 maybe.
I have str 8 dex 17 con 14 int 10 wis 16 cha 8
i have doubled up prof in stealth so + 7, perception +5, and prof in nature survival deception via class and background.
I see the benefit in crossbow expert for level 5 as you say.
what about squat nimbleness or mobile? I considered those.
Both are viable. I would go with whatever feat option gets you to 18dex though. Or the extra attack at level 5.... *or just switch to a bow.*
2014 5E mostly
3.5 maybe.
Piercer might be good. Since you’re using dagger, short sword and xbow, it will apply in melee and with ranged. And the damage boost isn’t fantastic, but getting dex rounded up is very valuable.
Also, I agree about switching to a bow. For characters with extra attack, a xbow isn’t very useful unless you really focus your build on it.
Also, if you are in melee a lot, you might want to switch your fighting style. And since you can do that only on levels where you get a feat (Optional rule in Tasha’s), now is the time to think about doing it. I know you said you envision him as ranged, but sometimes plans need to change, and party composition forces us to different places.
I’d go for Xbow expert. Two attacks with your heavy now and maybe you score a hand xbow eventually. Three attacks and you can be in melee range.
Not sure of your long term plan but at 6th you can switch to fighter which would allow a 2nd fighting style. At 7th you would have a 1st round of 4 attack actions(xbow), bonus attack, and your gloom stalker attack for 6 shots in that round. All remaining rounds would be 3. At 9th level you can take sharp shooter or get that 18 dex. Take fighter till 11 for another ASI/feat.
you can switch back to Ranger for spells etc or remain fighter for faster feats.
OP is a halfling. They can’t use heavy xbows.