DM gave everyone a Dragonmark at the start, so I took "Handling." which gives Druidcraft cantrip, Speak with Animals 1 per long rest, Beast Sense at 5th level and Conjure animals at 9th.
At level 2 I took Hunters Mark and Absorb Elements.
Thoughts? Suggestions for animal companion, future spells? Bear just seems so much stronger than the other options. But wolf pact tactics means Beast Bond isn't needed.
Awesome! Great to see someone else giving this build a go. My Firbolg STR Ranger has a wolf companion and a big ol' maul for his primary weapon I want that wolf to knock down opponents and then my Firbolg to smash it for huge (and non-lethal) damage. I'm reskinning him and his animal friend as desert dwellers, so the wolf will be a coyote, a lovable trickster. I also don't plan to use Beast Bond, but instead picked up ensnaring strike, which is great from an RP perspective (they're here to protect the land, not kill intruders), and mechanically works well for melee rangers, too. Since it's been a couple months since this post happened, I imagine you've had some solid additions to your duo, too. How is everything working out for you?
In my experience, you want a DEX based ranger, especially wood elf. I find the majority of things a ranger would use is DEX: bows, shortswords and stealth.
In my experience, you want a DEX based ranger, especially wood elf. I find the majority of things a ranger would use is DEX: bows, shortswords and stealth.
You're not wrong for that build. But his build is no less effective. It specializes in close range more than long range and with Pole Arms Master, it will have much more versatility at close range than a sharpshooter or elven accuracy ranger would at long range. Your build would be considered the "safer" and "easier" option, which is why most players would use it.
I have a STR ranger player in a campaign I'm in, he uses two weapon fighting and hunters mark to out dps the rogue (at level 3).
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Medium armor. Rolled for stats. Firbolg. I rolled 16, 15, 15, 14, 11, 8. Shield and Staff fighter. At level 4 I am taking PAM.
Stats are (15)16 STR, 14 Dex, 16 Con, (15)17 Wis, 11 Int, 8 Wisdom
Custom Outlander background. Skills profs: Animal Handling, Nature, Perception, Stealth, Survival, Leatherworking Tools. Languages: Common, Sylvan, Elvish, Giant, Dwarven. Favored Enemy: humanoids
DM gave everyone a Dragonmark at the start, so I took "Handling." which gives Druidcraft cantrip, Speak with Animals 1 per long rest, Beast Sense at 5th level and Conjure animals at 9th.
At level 2 I took Hunters Mark and Absorb Elements.
Thoughts? Suggestions for animal companion, future spells? Bear just seems so much stronger than the other options. But wolf pact tactics means Beast Bond isn't needed.
Awesome! Great to see someone else giving this build a go. My Firbolg STR Ranger has a wolf companion and a big ol' maul for his primary weapon I want that wolf to knock down opponents and then my Firbolg to smash it for huge (and non-lethal) damage. I'm reskinning him and his animal friend as desert dwellers, so the wolf will be a coyote, a lovable trickster. I also don't plan to use Beast Bond, but instead picked up ensnaring strike, which is great from an RP perspective (they're here to protect the land, not kill intruders), and mechanically works well for melee rangers, too. Since it's been a couple months since this post happened, I imagine you've had some solid additions to your duo, too. How is everything working out for you?
In my experience, you want a DEX based ranger, especially wood elf. I find the majority of things a ranger would use is DEX: bows, shortswords and stealth.
You're not wrong for that build. But his build is no less effective. It specializes in close range more than long range and with Pole Arms Master, it will have much more versatility at close range than a sharpshooter or elven accuracy ranger would at long range. Your build would be considered the "safer" and "easier" option, which is why most players would use it.
I have a STR ranger player in a campaign I'm in, he uses two weapon fighting and hunters mark to out dps the rogue (at level 3).