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Neverwinter Nights - Ranger Creation Guide
Version 1.0
by Greg "Xenoku" Bilello, August 17, 2002

GameFAQs Message Board Name: Xenoku
Status: (32) Legend

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This FAQ is property of myself, Greg Bilello. This FAQ should be distributed
freely at all times. If you would like this FAQ on your website, E-Mail or
Instant Message me, and I will most likely allow it. However, full credit must
be given to myself. Do not alter any part of this FAQ, even if it is a mistake.
Do not publish this work as your own. Blah, Blah, you know the deal.

Copyright (c) 2002 by Greg Bilello

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Version History:
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Version 1.0 - First release, probably a couple errors, more updates to come.

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Introduction.

Neverwinter Nights is a really good game. With that being said I feel I can
move on. Never in my life have I played a game with more replay value than
this game. I've been playing it since it came out more than a month ago, and
I'm not bored yet (which is good, I usually get bored of games really quick).
Anyway, I'm pretty sure your familiar with the game if your reading this, so I
don't think I need to go into any more detail about it.

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Contents -
I. Ranger Introduction/Developing your Ranger
II. Ranger Advantages/Disadvantages
III. Ranger Spells
IV. Ranger Feats
V. Conclusion

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I. Ranger Introduction

Bioware Writes the following about Rangers in the Instruction Manual:

Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods.
Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the
latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead the ranger focuses his
skills and training on a specific enemy - a type of creature he bears a
vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the
role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His
skills allow him to move quietyly and stick to the shadows, especially in
natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of
creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can
actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and
like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom
score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can
cast.

- Hit Die: d10
- Proficiencies: All simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor,
and shields
- Skill Points (+4 at 1st level): 4 + Int Modifier

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Basically the above describes Rangers perfectly. They are very good fighters
(not quite as good as a pure fighter), they have Racial Enemies, an Animal
Companion, and can cast some 1st - 4th level druid spells.

Rangers are my favorite class, simply because of their Versatility. If you
make a fighter, he's going to do one thing for you... fight. However, Rangers
can do much more than just fight. Sure you can make them as hard-core fighting
machines, but you can also develop them as more of a rogue type character, with
spot and hide skills; as well as multi-class with a Druid or Cleric for a tough
spell caster.

Also, the Ranger is probably one of the easiest classes to play as in the
single player game. You'll usually have four members in your party (You,
Henchman, Animal Companion, and Summon Creature), which makes the game easy for
newcomers.


What Abilities are Important for Rangers?
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Strength: Definately one of the most important, if not the most important,
ability to a Ranger. Regardless of how you develop your Ranger, he's going to
have to engage in some melee combat, and therefore Strength is Important.

Dexterity: Very Important if you plan to create an Archer-Ranger. It's also
important if you don't. Dexterity is important to add a nice bonus to your AC
if your using light or medium armor, but if your making a Platemail wearing,
Greatsword carrying, Ranger you don't need to put as many points into Dex as
you otherwise would have to.

Constitution: Also Very Important to a Ranger. Constitution determins your Hit
Points and thus is important to all characters, but mostly to melee fighters as
they are the ones who are going to take a beating up close.

Intelligence: Not Important at all, Just pump this up to 10 so you don't talk
like an idiot, and get a little skill point bonus.

Wisdom: Important to cast ranger spells. A Wisdom of 10 + Spell Level is
required to cast all Ranger Spells. So if you want to cast 3st level spells,
you need a Wisdom of 13. Since Rangers only have four spell levels, you don't
need to go any higher than 14 for Wisdom.

Charisma: Like Int, this isn't really important for a Ranger. Just pump it up
to 10 so people don't hate you when you talk to them.


What Races make good Rangers?
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Human: Probably the best race. Gains more feats than any other race, which
helps out alot. Plus, they don't get points taken off of any abilities.

Half-Elf: Second best class in my opinion. Half-Elves, like humans, don't get
points taken off of any skills, and they're immune to sleep and have some
resistances to enchantments. But your sacrificing that for an extra feat if
you pick Human.

Elf: Not a bad class. The +2 to Dex is a welcome addition, but the -2 to Con
is not. Pick this if you want to be more of a Rogue-type Ranger.

Halfling: Not that great, +2 to Dex is good, but -2 to Str is not. And they
can't use large weapons.

Gnome: Gnomes are magic users, not fighters. Still I bet it would be
interesting to be one as a Ranger, they get +2 to Con, and a -2 to Str, and
like Halflings, they can't use large weapons.

Half-Orc: Like Elves, these are not bad to be. +2 to Str is great, but -2 to
Int and Cha is not good, since you probably will only have a maximum of 10
points in both of those abilities, you'll end up with 8 in both so you'll talk
like an idiot, which is not fun. Plus, Half-Orcs are really ugly...

What should my Abilities look like when I create my Ranger?
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Personally I like this build to start out with:

Strength: 16
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 10

With this you have a good attack bonus, a decent dexterity and constitution
bonus, and you can cast all Ranger Spells.

Additionally you will recieve on attribute point to add to what you want every
four levels. I recommend putting two points into strength, two into
constitution, and one into dexterity. Thus, you will end up with the following
stats:

Strength: 18
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 10

This is how I like to build up my Ranger. I like them almost like fighters.
Others might chose to add more points dexterity, but I like to wear heavy
armor, so the AC bonus isn't really needed when I play. If you were to add the
points to dex, you should probably add them like this:

Strength: 16
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 10

Of course, you could add all 5 points into Dex, but I feel throw one into Con,
for a little Hit Point Bonus.

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II. Ranger Advantages/Disadvantes

Ranger Advantages:
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- Versatile: Can be almost everything from Strong Fighters to Sneaky Rogues
- Gains Trackless Step feat for free at 1st level
- Get Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats for free at 1st level
- Gains Improved Two-Weapon Fighting for free at 9th levle
- d10 roll for hit points, the same as regular fighters
- May chose a Racial Enemy at 1st level and again every 5 levels
- Gains an Animal Companion at 6th level
- Can use some 1st - 4th level Druid Spells
- multiclasses well with Rogues, Fighters, Druids, and Paldins

Ranger Disadvantes:
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- Not as combat oriented as a Fighter, Barbarian, or Paladin
- Not as Versatile as Rogues
- Spells aren't that great

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III. Ranger Spells

Rangers have access to some, not all, 1st - 4th level Druid spells. While most
are not really important, some are very good and should be used alot. The
following table shows how many Spells a Ranger gets at a given level.

Ranger Spells per Day:

lvl Base Spells Per Day

1 2 3 4
1 - - - -
2 - - - -
3 - - - -
4 0 - - -
5 0 - - -
6 1 - - -
7 1 - - -
8 1 0 - -
9 1 0 - -
10 1 1 - -
11 1 1 0 -
12 1 1 1 -
13 1 1 1 0
14 2 1 1 0
15 2 1 1 1
16 2 2 1 1
17 2 2 2 1
18 3 2 2 1
19 3 3 3 2
20 3 3 3 3

Rangers gain 1st level spells at level 6, 2nd level spells at level 10, 3rd
level spells at level 12, and 4th level spells at level 15.