Help me understand "Favored Class"

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Stanley Rexwinkle wrote:

> wouldn't fighter be better than ranger for the bow aspect?

In terms of bow use, I don't see how either class is better. Both start
with martial weapon proficiency, so it's not like a fighter can use a
bow better than a ranger. If you're a fighter until you become an AA,
you get the bonus feats, which is great, but a ranger gets more skill
points per level. I guess it just depends on which class you want to
play, and what your plans are for the character. If you are working
toward a pure AA build, then it doesn't matter too much. If you are
trying to balance AA with the basic class, then you'll have to decide
how you want to play your character.

> if I'm just
> getting them for the bow.

I didn't suggest to pick a ranger just for the bow use. I said if you
chose elf as your race, then your class didn't matter because elves have
proficiency with bows.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

D'Oh! I _knew_ that... must have been some _really_ bad drugs 🙂

Heh, I'm doing yet another 3.5 character sheet in Excel (because the
various free ones I've found in casual browsing don't suit me*) -
here's my formula for determining BAB for bards, rogues, monks,
clerics, and druids (where B4 is the level):

=IF(B4>0,ROUNDUP((B4-1)*0.75,0),"0")

I may have been suffering from anal-cranial inversion last Friday, but
I got it right a few months ago when I started the spreadsheet!

*Because I want it to support multiple classes but still print mostly
on one sheet of paper - and do it without macros/VB

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

D'Oh! I _knew_ that... must have been some _really_ bad drugs 🙂

Heh, I'm doing yet another 3.5 character sheet in Excel (because the
various free ones I've found in casual browsing don't suit me*) -
here's my formula for determining BAB for bards, rogues, monks,
clerics, and druids (where B4 is the level):

=IF(B4>0,ROUNDUP((B4-1)*0.75,0),"0")

I may have been suffering from anal-cranial inversion last Friday, but
I got it right a few months ago when I started the spreadsheet!

*Because I want it to support multiple classes but still print mostly
on one sheet of paper - and do it without macros/VB

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

D'Oh! I _knew_ that... must have been some _really_ bad drugs 🙂

Heh, I'm doing yet another 3.5 character sheet in Excel (because the
various free ones I've found in casual browsing don't suit me*) -
here's my formula for determining BAB for bards, rogues, monks,
clerics, and druids (where B4 is the level):

=IF(B4>0,ROUNDUP((B4-1)*0.75,0),"0")

I may have been suffering from anal-cranial inversion last Friday, but
I got it right a few months ago when I started the spreadsheet!

*Because I want it to support multiple classes but still print mostly
on one sheet of paper - and do it without macros/VB

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Kish <Kish_K@pacbell.net> writes:

> alordofchaos@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> > I don't have NWN in front of me (they frown on that at work) but in PnP
> > 3.0/3.5 DnD rules, rogue/bard progresseion is +1/BAB every two levels.
>
> No. Fighters, rangers, paladins, and barbarians get +1 every
> level. Clerics, druids, rogues, bards, and monks get +2 every three
> levels. Wizards and sorcerers get +1 every other level.

Clerics, druids, rogues, bards and monks get +3 every four levels.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

alordofchaos@yahoo.com wrote:
> D'Oh! I _knew_ that... must have been some _really_ bad drugs 🙂
>
> Heh, I'm doing yet another 3.5 character sheet in Excel (because the
> various free ones I've found in casual browsing don't suit me*) -
> here's my formula for determining BAB for bards, rogues, monks,
> clerics, and druids (where B4 is the level):
>
> =IF(B4>0,ROUNDUP((B4-1)*0.75,0),"0")
>
> I may have been suffering from anal-cranial inversion last Friday, but
> I got it right a few months ago when I started the spreadsheet!
>
> *Because I want it to support multiple classes but still print mostly
> on one sheet of paper - and do it without macros/VB
>
I did a similar exercise for 3.0 but used lookup tables and typed in the
actual tables. Handled multiclass perfectly - never got around to
prestige classes as my party never had any 🙂

Kharsis

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

John Salerno wrote:
> Stanley Rexwinkle wrote:
>
>> wouldn't fighter be better than ranger for the bow aspect?
>
>
> In terms of bow use, I don't see how either class is better. Both start
> with martial weapon proficiency, so it's not like a fighter can use a
> bow better than a ranger. If you're a fighter until you become an AA,
> you get the bonus feats, which is great, but a ranger gets more skill
> points per level. I guess it just depends on which class you want to
> play, and what your plans are for the character. If you are working
> toward a pure AA build, then it doesn't matter too much. If you are
> trying to balance AA with the basic class, then you'll have to decide
> how you want to play your character.
>
> > if I'm just
> > getting them for the bow.
>
> I didn't suggest to pick a ranger just for the bow use. I said if you
> chose elf as your race, then your class didn't matter because elves have
> proficiency with bows.

One advantage to choosing a ranger is that the class skills line up
better with the class skills for an arcane archer.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Brian G. Vaughan wrote:

> One advantage to choosing a ranger is that the class skills line up
> better with the class skills for an arcane archer.

Plus you just get a wider selection of skills with a ranger anyway, so
you have more options.

 

[Dave]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

">>> wouldn't fighter be better than ranger for the bow aspect?
>>
>>
>> In terms of bow use, I don't see how either class is better. Both start
>> with martial weapon proficiency, so it's not like a fighter can use a bow
>> better than a ranger. If you're a fighter until you become an AA, you get
>> the bonus feats, which is great, but a ranger gets more skill points per
>> level. I guess it just depends on which class you want to play, and what
>> your plans are for the character. If you are working toward a pure AA
>> build, then it doesn't matter too much. If you are trying to balance AA
>> with the basic class, then you'll have to decide how you want to play
>> your character.
>>
>> > if I'm just
>> > getting them for the bow.
>>
>> I didn't suggest to pick a ranger just for the bow use. I said if you
>> chose elf as your race, then your class didn't matter because elves have
>> proficiency with bows.
>
> One advantage to choosing a ranger is that the class skills line up better
> with the class skills for an arcane archer.

Some other extras are:-

A ranger has an animal companion.

A ranger has some magic skills.

A ranger is a little bit better with a bow than a fighter with the same
stats.

A ranger has two weapon, ambidex, two hand weapons for free, depending on
level.

A ranger has favoured enemy bonuses that stack when fighting those enemies.

Equipped with speed boots, a good bow and magic arrows, a ranger is
absolutely devastating at long range and with his dual/ambidex skills using,
say, a magic halberd, he can hack and slash his way through a crowd of
enemies like a hot knife through butter.

A ranger does not have heavy armor feat at the start as does the fighter but
the ranger does not really require that.

Keep DEX at about the same level as STR and using some points for WIS, you
can get away with less CON points, compared to a fighter.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Dave wrote:

> A ranger is a little bit better with a bow than a fighter with the same
> stats.

What? No.

>
> A ranger has two weapon, ambidex, two hand weapons for free, depending on
> level.

....which a bow-wielder isn't going to be using--and a fighter gets many
more feats than a ranger, and can actually choose feats that matter to a
bow-wielder.

You also left out "a fighter can take Weapon Specialization with a bow,
and a ranger can't."

>
> A ranger has favoured enemy bonuses that stack when fighting those enemies.
>
> Equipped with speed boots, a good bow and magic arrows, a ranger is
> absolutely devastating at long range and with his dual/ambidex skills using,
> say, a magic halberd,

Since when can a NWN PC race dual-wield a halberd?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Kish wrote:
> Dave wrote:
>
>
>>A ranger is a little bit better with a bow than a fighter with the same
>>stats.
>
>
> What? No.

Yeah, I don't understand this idea of one class being 'better' with a
weapon than another class. RPing-wise, sure; but that's not what we're
talking about here.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

"Brian G. Vaughan" <foolishowl_hates_spam@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
news😛UZOd.8894$oO.4274@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> John Salerno wrote:
>> Stanley Rexwinkle wrote:
>>
>>> wouldn't fighter be better than ranger for the bow aspect?
>>
>>
>> In terms of bow use, I don't see how either class is better. Both start
>> with martial weapon proficiency, so it's not like a fighter can use a bow
>> better than a ranger. If you're a fighter until you become an AA, you get
>> the bonus feats, which is great, but a ranger gets more skill points per
>> level. I guess it just depends on which class you want to play, and what
>> your plans are for the character. If you are working toward a pure AA
>> build, then it doesn't matter too much. If you are trying to balance AA
>> with the basic class, then you'll have to decide how you want to play
>> your character.
>>
>> > if I'm just
>> > getting them for the bow.
>>
>> I didn't suggest to pick a ranger just for the bow use. I said if you
>> chose elf as your race, then your class didn't matter because elves have
>> proficiency with bows.
>
> One advantage to choosing a ranger is that the class skills line up better
> with the class skills for an arcane archer.
>
they do? cool, I'll try the ranger [spells negligible] with the arcane
caster

 

[Dave]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

"Kish" <Kish_K@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:EpGPd.3727$lz5.3453@newssvr24.news.prodigy.net...
> Dave wrote:
>
>> A ranger is a little bit better with a bow than a fighter with the same
>> stats.
>
> What? No.
>
>>
>> A ranger has two weapon, ambidex, two hand weapons for free, depending on
>> level.
>
> ...which a bow-wielder isn't going to be using--and a fighter gets many
> more feats than a ranger, and can actually choose feats that matter to a
> bow-wielder.
>
> You also left out "a fighter can take Weapon Specialization with a bow,
> and a ranger can't."
>
>>
>> A ranger has favoured enemy bonuses that stack when fighting those
>> enemies.
>>
>> Equipped with speed boots, a good bow and magic arrows, a ranger is
>> absolutely devastating at long range and with his dual/ambidex skills
>> using, say, a magic halberd,
>
> Since when can a NWN PC race dual-wield a halberd?

I was actually thinking of a two bladed sword. Dunno why I said halberd. I
read somewhere that some large weapons become two-handed for some races and
have penalties unless the character has ambidex, dual wield, etc. Not 100%
sure if this applies to NWN or some other game.


It really depends on your style of play. I'd rather use a ranger with
animal companion as tank/fodder and stand back and blast away with a bow and
magical arrows until the companion is gone then wade in with a good hand
weapon. I like to use light armour as you loose less dex bonuses and the
high dex makes the ranged weapons shots more accurate. I also like a bit of
a challenge and a high STR, high CON fighter with heavy magic armour didn't
provide me with that.

I am currently playing an elf druid as the elf can use swords and bows and
there are plenty of swords through the OC and expansions but few scimitars.
Since the druid has magic ability, I have been using that instead of
building up weapons skills. It has been interesting so far.

Next I think I will try something a bit more challenging, such as a gnome
barbarian or even a gnome ranger. Should be interesting.

Dave

 

[Dave]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

"John Salerno" <johnjsal@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
news:FrCdnYBrt63yCJLfRVn-3A@rcn.net...
> Kish wrote:
>> Dave wrote:
>>
>>
>>>A ranger is a little bit better with a bow than a fighter with the same
>>>stats.
>>
>>
>> What? No.
>
> Yeah, I don't understand this idea of one class being 'better' with a
> weapon than another class. RPing-wise, sure; but that's not what we're
> talking about here.

It all depends on your character's set-up.

For a fighter you would have high CON and STR and not worry about the other
stats much if you're going to continue through as a fighter.

A ranger has some magic abilities and to be able to use that has to put some
points towards WIS. If you don't get the heavy armour feat then you should
put some points to DEX as well as this helps the dodge and tumble skills.
High DEX also makes shots with ranged weapons more accurate.

The time I made a fighter, I concentrated on the STR and CON stats and did
not worry much about the others and let magical items boost them. At the
time, people said this was the best way to set-up a fighter. With henchman
Linu set to use ranged weapons and add boosts and heal spells the game was
too easy and the fighter just tanked his way through so it was not much of a
challenge. By the time I finished chapter 2 of the OC I was totally bored
with the fighter and restarted the game with a different character. The
fighter was my second time (partially)through the game, i.e. my second
character. Towards the end of chapter 1 I noticed my fighter was a bad shot
with ranged weapons and when my fighter got enough experience I would save
the game, start the level-up procedure and cancel at the end, exit the game
so I could read the PDF manual and see what feats were available and what
the requirements were. I started to notice that I could not get some feats
because my fighter's DEX was too low. My character's DEX score was low to
start with and you only get to boost an ability every 4 or 5 levels so by
the end of chapter 2 I decided to dump the fighter and restart with another,
despite the fighter doing so well.

The first time through was with a high CHA half-elf sorcerer and while he
started off weak and died a lot (and I was learning the game) he ended well.
I kept boosting CHA to get lots of spells and left INT at +2 to get a few
skill points on level-up. The final confrontation was too easy as my
sorcerer was at level 20 in the early part of chapter 4 as I would play part
way through a chapter, save the character and restart the chapter with the
saved character. When I played the fighter I did not even have to do that.

I like the ability to use magic in any class I pick so, for me, the ranger
was a better option than the fighter. It was years ago when I first got the
game and in that version the odds were stacked in favour of the fighter over
the other characters classes.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Dave wrote:

>>Yeah, I don't understand this idea of one class being 'better' with a
>>weapon than another class. RPing-wise, sure; but that's not what we're
>>talking about here.
>
>
> It all depends on your character's set-up.
>
> For a fighter you would have high CON and STR and not worry about the other
> stats much if you're going to continue through as a fighter.

Obviously it all depends on DEX. What I'm saying is, if you choose a
fighter and plan to make him a ranged weapon user, then you will put
more points in DEX and neglect STR a little more than normal. But a
fighter and a ranger, both with a DEX of 18, are exactly the same in
terms of bow use.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

John Salerno wrote:
> Dave wrote:
>
>>> Yeah, I don't understand this idea of one class being 'better' with a
>>> weapon than another class. RPing-wise, sure; but that's not what
>>> we're talking about here.
>>
>>
>>
>> It all depends on your character's set-up.
>>
>> For a fighter you would have high CON and STR and not worry about the
>> other stats much if you're going to continue through as a fighter.
>
>
> Obviously it all depends on DEX. What I'm saying is, if you choose a
> fighter and plan to make him a ranged weapon user, then you will put
> more points in DEX and neglect STR a little more than normal. But a
> fighter and a ranger, both with a DEX of 18, are exactly the same in
> terms of bow use.

Unless the fighter has Feats directed toward bow use that the ranger
doesn't have.

You don't /have/ to focus on Strength and Constitution with a fighter.
Fighters can have as much variety as most classes.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Kish wrote:

> Unless the fighter has Feats directed toward bow use that the ranger
> doesn't have.
>
> You don't /have/ to focus on Strength and Constitution with a fighter.
> Fighters can have as much variety as most classes.

True. Basically I was just making the point that any particular class
isn't better or worse with a weapon than any other, because they all
have the feats available to take, except of course a fighter gets a lot
more, and he also has weapon specialization.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.neverwinter-nights (More info?)

Dave wrote:
> "John Salerno" <johnjsal@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
> news:FrCdnYBrt63yCJLfRVn-3A@rcn.net...
>
>>Kish wrote:
>>
>>>Dave wrote:
>>>
SNIP


> The first time through was with a high CHA half-elf sorcerer and while he
> started off weak and died a lot (and I was learning the game) he ended well.
> I kept boosting CHA to get lots of spells and left INT at +2 to get a few
> skill points on level-up. The final confrontation was too easy as my
> sorcerer was at level 20 in the early part of chapter 4 as I would play part
> way through a chapter, save the character and restart the chapter with the
> saved character. When I played the fighter I did not even have to do that.
>

Its no wonder you found the game easy using that method as you would
receive approx 1.5 times the XP than you would normally.

Kharsis