Pure Ranger Knight

[Aoi]

This is just a fun build I've been putting together that gets the best of being a Knight, an Archer, and doing a bit of both. It certainly isn't the strongest build, but being able to defend myself when an enemy gets too close is quite a boon. I love using this build when adventuring with friends, but it does have some requirements. Like taking the Gloves of Dexterity, or the Elixir of Everlasting Vigour. But so long as your friends don't mind missing out on these two, then you're pretty set! Utilising the Wood Half-Elf for more movement and ability to use Halberds is why I picked this race, but otherwise you can choose whatever fits your fancy. This just ensures whoever wants the Everburn Blade can have it.

STR: 14 [+2 Passive], DEX: 10 [18 w/ Gloves], CON: 15 [+1 Passive], INT: 8, WIS: 10, CHA: 14

Ranger Class
- Urban Tracker and Ranger Knight [Sleight of Hand and Heavy Armour Proficiency]

Outlander Background for Athletics and Survival Proficiency

Grab the Perception, Nature, and Animal Handling Proficiency
- With all this, you'll have a total of 8 Proficiencies :D

Level 2;

Archery Fighting Style
Ensnared Strike and Hunter's Mark

Level 3:

Gloom Stalker Subclass
Enhanced Leap

Level 4:

Feat 1: Alert [+5 Initiative and cannot be surprised]

Level 5: Multi-class into a Fighter, and pick the Great Weapon Fighting style.

Level 6: Fighter Class: Action Surge

Level 7: Fighter Class: Champion [Better Criticals]

Level 8: Fighter Class: Feat 2: Great Weapon Master

Level 9: Fighter Class: Extra Attack

Level 10: Fighter Class: Feat 3: Sharpshooter [Probably forgot this build uses a bow]

Level 11: Fighter Class: Remarkable Athlete

Level 12: Fighter Class: Feat 4: Martial Adept [Feinting Attack and Riposte]

In the end, you still won't do much damage, but it's a fun class in my opinion. So tell me your thoughts! And be as critical as you want :)

[Recjawjind]

Delaying your extra attack by 4 levels, that can't feel good, no shot.
Level 5 is the single worst point to ever begin taking levels in another class.

[psychotron666]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

Delaying your extra attack by 4 levels, that can't feel good, no shot.
Level 5 is the single worst point to ever begin taking levels in another class.

In tabletop I'm currently doing a monk fighter multi class (going echo knight fighter for rp purposes) and delaying my extra attack until level 8, but the idea being my monk bonus action unarmed attack makes up for it in the meantime.

You can also justify it with some caster martial combos using green flame blade as your "second attack" until you get it later.

But yeah op build multi classed at the worst possible level for this combo. Maybe if they're dual wielding they have something for now.

[pirate135246]

you really dont need alert with gloomstalker imo, its a nice to have but early on you dont need the initiative since enemies won't have as much then and you get 3 from gloomstalker, later on in act 3 it can be good to take since there are bosses and enemies with the alert feat themselves. 14 strength is pretty bad for melee early on and even worse later with gwm, I would recommend using strength elixers or taking strength to 16 with asi or 17 with a half feat

[Limesy]

Thematically interesting but trying to dip into two combat styles actually leaves your options very thin because it delays so many essential bonuses. For example you have your extra attack scheduled for level 9 and sharpshooter at level 10, both of these are tremendous power spikes to any attack focused build and you will be getting these in late Act 2 or early Act 3 instead of in Act 1.

Alert seems like overkill if you are taking Gloom Stalker, there aren't actually that many fights that Surprised is an issue for. This can also let you get a damage focused feat since this build will be lacking in damage.
It'd probably be better to start as Fighter to get to level 5 and then branch into Ranger.
Charisma at 14 seems odd as well, it's not adding anything to your combat and it's also low compared to other party face options so I'd probably put stats elsewhere.

[Aoi]

I love the feedback :D

This was purely just a thematic build in the end, and I'm certain there are ways to improve on it. I'm just not that adept at making strong builds. But I love role playing and if sacrificing damage means I can have a fun adventure, then that's what I'll do :3

Though I might take out Alert, and switch around the multi-classing. Missing out on the Extra attack early on is pretty tough. But I can't think of any other feat that would go here, maybe I could multi-class into a War Domain Cleric instead of getting to level 4 Ranger

[victorvnv]

I see no point taking the vastly inferior gloom stalker over Hunter .

I just slaughtered the gith patrol solo on honor mode with Hunter Ranger and will be going with the class all the way til 11.

Hunter is vastly superior than gloom for a Ranger knight especially if you know what you are doing

[Aoi]

Originally posted by Limesy:

Thematically interesting but trying to dip into two combat styles actually leaves your options very thin because it delays so many essential bonuses. For example you have your extra attack scheduled for level 9 and sharpshooter at level 10, both of these are tremendous power spikes to any attack focused build and you will be getting these in late Act 2 or early Act 3 instead of in Act 1.

Alert seems like overkill if you are taking Gloom Stalker, there aren't actually that many fights that Surprised is an issue for. This can also let you get a damage focused feat since this build will be lacking in damage.
It'd probably be better to start as Fighter to get to level 5 and then branch into Ranger.
Charisma at 14 seems odd as well, it's not adding anything to your combat and it's also low compared to other party face options so I'd probably put stats elsewhere.

Made some changes, maybe this is better? Also the Charisma is just for the occasional speech check. I don't like changing characters with higher Charisma for these instances. And adding the War Domain Cleric now gives a bonus to Intimidation and Performance checks :D

STR: 14 [+2 Passive], DEX: 10 [18 w/ Gloves], CON: 15 [+1 Passive], INT: 8, WIS: 10, CHA: 14

Fighter: Great Weapon Fighter
Perception and Animal Handling

Level 2: Action Surge
Level 3: Champion
Level 4: Feat: Great Weapon Master
Level 5: Extra Attack
Level 6: Feat: Sharpshooter
Level 7: Cleric, War Domain. Guidance, Thaumaturgy, Produce Flame
Level 8: Ranger. Nature, Bounty Hunter, and Urban Tracker [Since Fighter start, now longer need to pick Ranger Knight]
Level 9: Ranger, Archery. Ensnared Strike and Hunter's Mark
Level 10: Ranger, Gloom Stalker. Longstrider
Level 11: Fighter, Remarkable Athlete
Level 12: Feat: Martial Adept: Feinting Attack and Riposte

Your thoughts?

[Aoi]

Originally posted by victorvnv:

I see no point taking the vastly inferior gloom stalker over Hunter .

I just slaughtered the gith patrol solo on honor mode with Hunter Ranger and will be going with the class all the way til 11.

Hunter is vastly superior than gloom for a Ranger knight especially if you know what you are doing

Well clearly I don't lol, I just like the idea of making a first hit. But I'll check into hunter on my current playthrough

[Duetzefix]

I wouldn't put anything in STR, just keep it at 10 and give that Elixir to someone else.

Put those points in DEX instead:
- This frees up your gloves-slot for something else than the Gloves of Dexterity.
- It focuses your character on Finesse weapons. You'd have to start out with a Shortsword or Scimitar or two, but in the Underdark you can find Phalar Aluve and from the quartermistress in the creche you could buy Larethian's Wrath, both of which are Longswords with Finesse. You can't dual-wield them without the Dual-Wielder feat, but you could use one of them with a shield, for example.
- There's a Glaive with Finesse that you can buy in Rivington: https://bg3.wiki/wiki/The_Dancing_Breeze
As it's a two-handed weapon you could use Great Weapon Master with it, if you wanted.
- Having high DEX makes the Alert feat far less necessary as you'd already have a very high bonus to Initiative without it.
- You can effectively use those medium armours that let you add your full DEX-bonus to your AC. You can buy two in Act II (one from Quartermaster Talli and one from Roah Moonglow) and two in Act III (one from Dammon and one from Gloomy Fentonson).

With regards to ability scores I would try something like this:
STR 10 DEX 16 CON 16 INT 8 WIS 14 CHA 10

You'd need three feats, two ASIs to get your DEX to 20 and one for GWM. The last one can come pretty late because the weapon to use it is only available in Act III.

Spread this over classes however you like. Hope this helps.