Is a Ranger build with Charisma viable ?

[NFP Yanninho]

I want to play as a Ranger and I've been looking into some build before the launch. I wonder if I can invest some stats in Charisma because I'd like to roleplay my Ranger to give her a lot of dialogue options.

I know the main stats for a ranger are Dexterity and Wisdom but I need my Charismatic Hero.

I might play a Rogue instead but some perks from the Ranger are really appealing to me like the extra attack or the Beastmaster/Gloomstalker subclass

[fulf]

Wisdom isn't THAT important to have high on a Ranger, they're half-casters (which in BG3 means their highest spell level will be 3) and some of their most important spells like Hunter's Mark don't even have saves associated with them.
Something like 14 WIS and 12-14 CHA shouldn't be a problem at all.

[Yojo0o]

You don't really need much wisdom as a ranger. Wisdom scales their casting, but you're probably not casting offensively like a druid might. Wisdom is always good for saves, but it's not a huge priority. You want dexterity for finesse/ranged weapons, constitution for HP, and strength if you want to wield heavy weaponry, which is uncommon but not unreasonable for rangers.

You could probably do great with a point buy spread of something like 8/15/14/8/12/14, allocating racial stats into dexterity and something else. 14 Charisma, plus some relevant face proficiencies from your background, will probably allow you to be a decent party face, even without being a charisma-based class.

[Gaius]

Hm, I'll be sincere, this will be a completely MAD build and probably not worth it.

I'd just be sure to guarantee buffs with other characters to your speech challenges instead, you sacrifice way less and your ranged keeps being able to hit enemies.

[fulf]

One of the Tiefling subraces (Zariel) also gets Thaumaturgy cantrip which can help with some dialogue rolls as well (advantage on Intimidation and Performance). Not necessary but something to consider if your mind's not made up as far as race goes

[[Heretic]Rivga]

Originally posted by Yanninho:

I want to play as a Ranger and I've been looking into some build before the launch. I wonder if I can invest some stats in Charisma because I'd like to roleplay my Ranger to give her a lot of dialogue options.

I know the main stats for a ranger are Dexterity and Wisdom but I need my Charismatic Hero.

I might play a Rogue instead but some perks from the Ranger are really appealing to me like the extra attack or the Beastmaster/Gloomstalker subclass

Yes you can sacrifice str, and a go con 12 instead of 14 to get higher Chr score. Especially if you are a ranged Ranger, if you play well not many will get close to you.

[Ghiron]

You can go Ranger Knight for Heavy Armor Proficiency and dump your dex down to 8 to give yourself some room to increase Charisma. But then you wouldn't be effective with a bow, so you'll be either melee focused or throwing weapons as those use Strength.

[bm7414]

I'm new to D&D but also want to do a Rnager/Beastmaster build with charisma. Is magic important for thus character? I mainly want to use my bow and animal to do most of my attacks so I can put more points into charisma. Is that feasible?

[ahmannw]

+1 or +2 to a test doesn't matter than much for RP; that's a minmax concern. +1 or +2 to damage matters a lot from a minmax perspective. So don't dump DEX to get CHA. I'd go with an 8/16/16/8/14/12 S/D/C/I/W/C. You'll want WIS if you go Gloomstalker.

[Slightly_Smaug]

With determination and save scumming... Any build is possible.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Most of the good Ranger spells - Longstrider, Spike Growth - don't use your Wisdom bonus anyway.

[μ]

It is viable for sure. You simply have a harder time with DEX rolls.

Just use buff or potions to overcome charisma because it is always better to have your main attack roll the highest as possible.

[NFP Yanninho]

Originally posted by μ:

It is viable for sure. You simply have a harder time with DEX rolls.

Just use buff or potions to overcome charisma because it is always better to have your main attack roll the highest as possible.

I wasn't planning of dumping DEX, more like STR, CON or WIS.

I understand that Wisdom isn't mandatory but if I read that's a nice stat to have for Gloomstalker.

[golfan88]

Rangers are kinda like your "scouting" play style character but if you have Shadowheart in your party, as a cleric, she will have access to Guidance cantrip. This will give you a +d4 to any skill check including social ones. There is also an amulet that you can find that does the same thing so you could wear that and get that same bonus without the party slot filled by the cleric - but who doesn't want healing and support cantrips, ya know?

Either way, if you want to build your Robin Hood character go for it! There isn't an ideal ability score balance but with spellcasters, their spellcasting modifier will always affect spell attack bonus and saving throws.

Rangers have lots of spells that ignore the spellcasting modifier - only ones in Early Access (up to level 5) that would be affected are spells with saves:

• Animal Friendship,
  
• Ensnaring Strike, and
  
• Hail of Thorns.

The only other thing you have to worry about is the Favored Enemy aspect to the ranger at Level 1 where you gain a skill proficiency and a spell. Most if not all of those spells have a Wisdom saving throw.