Today is my last chance to 'test-drive" a re-speced build for my character in Frostmaiden (I'm level 4 now). I've really enjoyed playing a archery-and-dex-focused Monster Slayer, and was looking forward to the Lvl 11 feature. But now I wonder whether a PHB Hunter build won't work better in combat (Colossus Hunter replaces Slayer's prey, and Favored Foe will stack nicely) and just as well for flavor (track monster on ridiculously laden dogsled, sneak up to shortbow range, kill monster, make grimdark quip).
My Monster Hunter ranger is level 14, and is archery/DEX. The MH abilities do really benefit from having a high WIS, though you can get pretty far without it. Consider though that by the time you're level 11, anybody you're facing who has teleportation type spells will probably be a full caster with the stats to match. With archery builds normally being ranged, I think you'd get more from the MH level 7 choice than the Hunter's 7th level options (which are, y'know, fine, but don't really call out to me). The level 15 MS feature I'm also quite looking forward to -- I have a +13 to hit and quite often have advantage. That gives me much better chance to save rather than using my actual INT mod. The Hunter features look pretty good but honestly personally would give me analysis paralysis and perpetual FOMO. Some of it could be negated if you got lucky with magic items, but that's all after the fact.
And don't forget the other 3rd level features -- no extra magic for the Hunter, and I have to say, Hunter's Sense has been incredibly useful for me. It helps me with scoping someone out for a fight, and it can also help with discovering shady people: I've used it several times to discover someone has or lacks resistances/vulnerabilities that don't match up with who they appear to be.
So I guess both would probably work fairly similarly well, neither would be awful builds, but there's my slightly Monster Hunter favored opinion.
Thanks, I'm leaning towards locking in on MS when I move to lvl 5, but will play this one session as Hunter + Tasha's options. Anyone feel the opposite, and that Tashunter is the clearly superior choice?
Today is my last chance to 'test-drive" a re-speced build for my character in Frostmaiden (I'm level 4 now). I've really enjoyed playing a archery-and-dex-focused Monster Slayer, and was looking forward to the Lvl 11 feature. But now I wonder whether a PHB Hunter build won't work better in combat (Colossus Hunter replaces Slayer's prey, and Favored Foe will stack nicely) and just as well for flavor (track monster on ridiculously laden dogsled, sneak up to shortbow range, kill monster, make grimdark quip).
Just wondering if anyone had any strong opinions.
My Monster Hunter ranger is level 14, and is archery/DEX. The MH abilities do really benefit from having a high WIS, though you can get pretty far without it. Consider though that by the time you're level 11, anybody you're facing who has teleportation type spells will probably be a full caster with the stats to match. With archery builds normally being ranged, I think you'd get more from the MH level 7 choice than the Hunter's 7th level options (which are, y'know, fine, but don't really call out to me). The level 15 MS feature I'm also quite looking forward to -- I have a +13 to hit and quite often have advantage. That gives me much better chance to save rather than using my actual INT mod. The Hunter features look pretty good but honestly personally would give me analysis paralysis and perpetual FOMO. Some of it could be negated if you got lucky with magic items, but that's all after the fact.
And don't forget the other 3rd level features -- no extra magic for the Hunter, and I have to say, Hunter's Sense has been incredibly useful for me. It helps me with scoping someone out for a fight, and it can also help with discovering shady people: I've used it several times to discover someone has or lacks resistances/vulnerabilities that don't match up with who they appear to be.
So I guess both would probably work fairly similarly well, neither would be awful builds, but there's my slightly Monster Hunter favored opinion.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Thanks, I'm leaning towards locking in on MS when I move to lvl 5, but will play this one session as Hunter + Tasha's options. Anyone feel the opposite, and that Tashunter is the clearly superior choice?