New Ranger

[Sinn78]

Just now returning back to Gemstone after about 13 years or so. I have been looking for some training builds and it seems like a lot of the information I have been coming across is out date.
As I've been playing more I'm beginning to think I am following an old build and have a couple questions.
Is brawling necessary and should I be going for CM at all for a ambush sniper?

The build i have been following is
1x armor
2x ranged
2x brawling
2x hide
2x perception
1x ambush
1x Physical Fitness
1x survival
1x dodge
1x Harness Power
.5x climb/swim
1x spells


Would be grateful for any help and please, Be gentle.

[Vorpodu]

You dont need brawl, cause the goal is to fire from hiding. You would find a much greater DS benefit from just doubling in dodge, anyway. Being a ranger you also have the privilege of doubling in PF, which is very recommended. Skinning/foraging bounties are easier for you, so you should 2x survival for that as well. Can make money by pimping yourself out. Which means at least 1x in FA. .5x climb/swim probably isn't necessary. .3x or even .25x will probably do you for a while until you need to bump one to hunt somewhere.

[Sinn78]

Thank you sir! Having a lil trouble getting the 2x dodge but this makes alot more sense.

[DrZaius]

I was going to make a Ranger, but never got around to it.

Sylvan Ranger (Starting stats set for cap)
STR 100
CON 70
DEX P 43
AGL 62
DIS 82
AUR 77
LOG 82
INT S 62
WIS M 62
INF 20

1.5x armor to 30 ranks, 2x ranged, 1x ambush, 1.25x PT, 1x dodge, 2x S&H, 2x Perception, 1x Survival, 0.5x First Aid, 1x-1 HP, 1x Spell, 5 climb/swim/MIU to start. After I get into Brig, goals are to raise PT, back armor off, more climb/swim as needed. This was for GoS, by the way (which is a great society for Rangers).

[Riros]

My Ranger is 31 at the moment, so I may be able to give you a little advice.

I doubled in Armor use until 15 to get into Brig then stopped. My build is heavy with MP's, so this didn't end up being that bad.

Besides that, my plan doesn't have brawl, does have spiritual mana control (24 ranks before stopping), and extra points have been put into combat maneuvers and MIU (I want about 10-20 MIU to use imbeds well).

Dodge is expensive, so unless you drop hiding, I don't know if you can fit in a full 2x.

If you need to make a choice on your training if you find yourself short:

Ambush: adds AS over 40 ranks and helps aiming while hidden
First Aid: improves skinning and round-time when using herbs

Compare that to:

Perception: Adds AS over 40 ranks and helps with aiming 100% of the time (will improve your AS sooner with 2x compared to 1X ambush)
Survival: improved skinning and foraging (less cost than first aid)

First aid and Survival are supposed to improve skinning at even levels. 1x in both for me is a near 100% skin success (mostly high quality) and ~80 end-roll foraging success with the applicable spells up. 2X in one/both would be cool, but I wouldn't weaken yourself if you can't fit it in.

I'm going to see if I can fit 2X PF into my training. This sounds more useful than getting a CM now and then (although I took a few points for some CM defense).

By the way, you will want to 1X spells for life. The benefits for AS and DS are great even after you get all the spells.

The guidance I got for spells: Get 101, go up to 606, then 103, 640, 120, before 600's for life. You will get your animal at 31 (yes, I can now get mine).

[Vorpodu]

perception benefits ranged AS far better than ambush ever could. If you have to choose between doubling one, it is most definately perception for that reason alone. you dont need ambush at all for open aiming and the only thing that determines whether you stay hidden is hiding. It has even been said that you can .5x ambush and be fine, if not drop it altogether until at or near cap.

[BriarFox]

Perception and Ambush add equally to ranged AS, at (Ranks-40)/4.

[Vorpodu]

Yea I guess you're right. My archer is a bard, and bards can only 1x ambush.

[Sinn78]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm on the right track now. May have to change my stats up a lil bit while I still can. Was wondering about which society so good to hear about GoS. Thanks again everyone!

[Sinn78]

Down to my last 24 hours for changing my Stats and putting my self up for one last critique.
Main concern is stats as I think I have a pretty good build for skills
Hunting isnt a problem at all right now but are my stats set up more for short term right now?
Looking to go with this character for the long hall and dont want to regret not changing stats while i could have

Level: 16

Skills:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 82 18
Ranged Weapons.....................| 128 34
Ambush.............................| 78 17
Physical Fitness...................| 128 34
Dodging............................| 78 17
Harness Power......................| 78 17
Survival...........................| 120 30
Stalking and Hiding................| 124 32
Perception.........................| 124 32
Climbing...........................| 40 8
Swimming...........................| 25 5
First Aid..........................| 78 17
Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 3
Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 14

Stats: Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 85 (17) ... 85 (17)
Constitution (CON): 57 (3) ... 57 (3)
Dexterity (DEX): 93 (31) ... 93 (31)
Agility (AGL): 77 (18) ... 77 (18)
Discipline (DIS): 78 (9) ... 78 (9)
Aura (AUR): 75 (17) ... 75 (17)
Logic (LOG): 74 (12) ... 74 (12)
Intuition (INT): 85 (17) ... 85 (17)
Wisdom (WIS): 68 (9) ... 68 (9)
Influence (INF): 31 (-9) ... 31 (-9)

Thanks for everyones help.

[Asha]

Not 2x survival. Never 2x survival.

[Sinn78]

Fixed. Thanks again everyone for all the input and guidance!

[Whirlin]

A bit late to the party, but your stats look alright. You'll probably start to max your stats out around 40-60. It's a good mid-tier balanced growth plan that'll provide the early TP and decent stats that you need. Like so many of us, all that means is that you'll need a fixstats at 100 to make perfect stats... but that's kinda par for the course nowadays.