Ways for cleric to buff ranger?

[aboyd]

My cleric has some specific ways to aid some players. For example, he will cast darkness & ebon eyes on the party rogue, enabling constant sneak attacks. But what can the cleric do to make a TWF ranger more deadly? Do they have any class feature that I can extend or enhance greatly?

 

[frankthedm]

My cleric has some specific ways to aid some players. For example, he will cast darkness & ebon eyes on the party rogue, enabling constant sneak attacks.

Are you playing 3.0 or has the DM house ruled darkness back to being pitch black?

But what can the cleric do to make a TWF ranger more deadly?

Encourage him to multiclass into rogue. Then rinse and repeat the same buffs as the rogue gets.

He gets energy d6's on his +1 weapons, you then use GMW to enhance the weapons. Hell, if the game uses standard advancement rates, a 20th level wand of GMW may have enough charges to make sure everyone has a +5 enhancement in addition to whatever effects their weapons have for a very long time.

IIrC there is a Bane spell in the Spell compendium.

 

[aboyd]

Are you playing 3.0 or has the DM house ruled darkness back to being pitch black?

We are playing 3.5. The DM has made no house rule about the Darkness spell.

 

[pawsplay]

There are two main things to enhance. First, the amount of damage delivered per hit. Second, the accuracy. Things like prayer and such are always good, but definitely keep greater magic weapon, energy weapon, and bull's strength in mind. Cat's grace is good for AC and will help a finesse ranger.

They can probably use some AC help. protection from X is often overlooked in cases where you are dealing with hordes of evil (chaotic, whatever). Shield of faith is a good general defense.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Recitation (4th level, Spell Compendium) is an excellent full-party buff. It provides a luck bonus, so it stacks with nearly everything else. (And it rewards teammates even more when they adhere to the cleric's faith.) This spell alone will offset TWF penalties (and do more).

The cleric also has a spell (righteous wrath of the faithful, 5th level, Spell Compendium) that will, like haste, grant an extra melee attack to all targets, in addition to granting +3 morale bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls.

These are, as I said, buffs for the whole group, but will have a disproportionate benefit (in some respects) for TWFers.

 

[frankthedm]

We are playing 3.5. The DM has made no house rule about the Darkness spell.

Mayhap then I misunderstood what was meant by "constant sneak attack".

 

[aboyd]

Mayhap then I misunderstood what was meant by "constant sneak attack".

Hmm. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so sloppy with my wording. That part of the post was just an example, not the focus, so I didn't care to be precise.

Magical darkness gives the rogue concealment even against those with darkvision, but ebon eyes means nobody has concealment against the rogue. Concealment allows the rogue to execute a hide attempt. So she hurls a flask of Alchemist's Fire, then hides, hurls a flask, hides, etc.

Right?

EDIT: Thanks for Recitation Jeff, I've added it to my list.

 

[frankthedm]

Right?

well, there are issues with the wording of the hide skill and these threads raise other issues, but you were right, those were not the issue at hand.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-3rd-edition-rules/70676-how-long-does-take-throw-splash-weapon.html
http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-3rd-edition-rules/241408-worst-3-5-rule-core-books.html

 

[Mark1733]

What about a archer ranger?

Assuming mid-levels (caster level 6-12) Regardless of fighting style, Cat Grace for sure. Haste for sure. Other general buffs. However, what are thoughts on Enlarge for a two-weapon ranger granting 10-ft reach and all?

What good spells can buff the archer style? Flame arrows and Keen edge from an arcane spellcaster, but what else? I only have the basic 3.5 books, so there is probably more stuff in the expanded books. Are there spells to imbue different energies (but like flame arrow) on projectiles? Cold, electrical, sonic, acid, etc. There is also a feat to change spell energy, correct? This make the same thing happen. It seems like there are magic arrows/bolts, etc, but no real spells to improve missile weapon attacks. Maybe I am wrong on this.

 

[Asha'man]

In addition to the above, which I agree with completely (Jeff and pawsplay in particular give great advice), at high levels I've had significant success with Imbue With Spell Ability to bestow a pair of Divine Favor spells on party fighter-types.