TOPIC: Looking for help with a couple of builds

Hey, everyone. I put these two builds together with tokens I had lying around. They will be for my buddy's kids for Gen Con. I would like to buy some more tokens for them, rares, nothing over a couple of dollars, that would improve these builds a bit. Thanks in advance.

Fighter
Ranger

These really aren’t bad for “what I had lying around” builds. What level will you be looking to play? NM? HC?

Bead of Resolve would help with Will saves. For the Fighter, switching to Defender Platemail would give +1 AC and Free Movement, which seems more likely to be useful than no underwater hindrances. Both are inexpensive.

They will probably play NM.

That’s helpful. Getting HP up seems like a good idea. For the Ranger maybe Rum Drinker’s Earcuff? And since it looks like a ranged-focus build, maybe switch to Blessed Wind Gloves? Belt of the Sweetwoods would help with HP for Ranger too. Charm of Farsight is good for ranged builds.

Charm of Health is solid if you don’t have a better option.

Trying to keep all my suggestions to things that only cost a few bucks.

Ranger, things I'd replace:

While I'd give up on meleeing entirely, I'll refrain from suggesting dropping everything melee related.

Stalker's Spectacles -> Goggles of Striking or whatever, Ref saves on a Dex build are low yield

[] -> Rum Drinker's Earcuff, see below for other +1 Con to make this matter

Bead of the Deeper Ones -> Something that matters, Bead of Health for example

Armor of Boarding -> Nether Stout Armor to even off Con

Ring of the Siren's Kiss -> Something that matters, Ring of Roaring for example

[] -> Stalker's Greaves

[] -> Charm of Farsight is good, very important if this was VTD, but it's not. Charm of the Sipquick would fit if don't pull the IS I suggest. Charm of the Sea Snake.

IS Jade Cube -> Merfolk Orb, there's no reason to be pumping saves to only crash them. For HC, it would be fine, but not for NM.

IS Stalker's Prism -> Beryl Prism

[] -> IS Sea Snake Sphere Didn't realize how expensive this is. Faceted Amber or Iridescent Spindle.

I doubt I'd consider that suited to NM, but I'm used to VTD numbers. Could also go with healing bonuses to try not to die.

Fighter, things I'd replace:

[] -> Defender Shield in offhand, costs nothing

Earcuff of Vitality -> Earcuff of the Shanty

Bead Firehold -> Something that matters, like Bead of the Dire Bear

[] -> Bead of Chugging or Resolve

Triton Armor -> Defender Platemail

Greater Holly Ring -> Ring of Fortitude or Iron Will

Stalker's Pants -> Pants of Blisswalk

Greaves of Ice Resistance -> Stalker's Greaves

Shoes of Nethercraft -> Boots of the Bold

Charm of Thorns -> Kind of depends. With odd Str, Sipquick would work, but I'm not sure what would be the priority. Kraken is too expensive.

[] -> As above

In some way, should even off Str. Gauntlets could just be Ogre Power, for instance. Some slot could be the treasure pump. This has kind of less to go than ranger build as it isn't trying to split between melee and missile, but it still has bad saves.

IS Beryl Prism is selling for a bit more than I would have guessed ($7-10) but is one of the best rare +save tokens. I might have 2 I could just loan you for the con so you wouldn’t have to buy them. I’m traveling this weekend but could check in a few days if that is of interest.

For Nightmare, besides HP (especially for the poor squishy Ranger), my second goal would be a bit more to-hit for both if possible.

for Fighter: Sash of Sinew, Bead of the Bull, Stalker’s Bracelets, Lenses of Heimdall Sight or Goggles of Anticipation if you have extras (these seem to not be as cheap as maybe I think they ought to be), plus Venomguard Greaves to mostly mitigate the penalty from your Gauntlets of the Midgard Serpent. I would also consider replacing Greater Holly Ring with Fortitude or Iron Will.

for Ranger: not a couple of dollars, but do you have a way to get this build to level 5? That'll help significantly with HP. Then, in addition to all BeLinda's excellent suggestions, ditch melee-focused wrist and Charm of Fire Newt and IS Stalker's Prism, give the +2 Savage Sword to the Fighter, grab Bracelets of Frail Agility, Goggles of Striking, and pretty much fill in any remaining slots you can with +HP tokens (start with this search and then filter by slot) including e.g. uncommon IS Tsavorite Prism.

FWIW, the way things stand right now, if you only have 1 Shoes of Nethercraft I'd give it to the Ranger instead of the Fighter -- not that Boots of Agility aren't also good for this build if you can find enough HP elsewhere, but 27hp is just not nearly enough for Nightmare.

Ian Lee wrote: Armor of Boarding -> Nether Stout Armor to even off Con

Rangers can't wear this.

Stout Mail instead.

I made some changes to the RANGER and FIGHTER using your suggestions. Need to find +1 Str for the fighter. What do you think?

Ranger is looking a lot better, but I’d love to see the CON get even at 14 for more HP. Also, Gauntlets of Ogre Power aren’t doing anything for this build.

Do you know if there will be a cleric on this run, and if they will have a NM-ready build? 40 HP is way better than 27, but it would still be better if there’s a solid cleric.

Suggestions: Maybe Hat of the Lucky Pirate instead of Stalker’s Headband? I understand wanting the Dex, but the -1 Con is rough. Or maybe the Snake Priest Hat or a Triton Hat.

For hands, Blessed Tempest Gloves if you have them, or Blessed Wind Gloves. Or Gloves of Elven Lords to replace some of the Dex if you switch the head slot.

Finally, as others have said, NM is easier with a fifth level character. Do you have any Folios of Might lying around? How many times will the kids be playing? Might be worth burning the consumable so the ranger’s build is more resilient. (I have some Folios of Might I’d consider trading you for TGs or something if you don’t want to drop $20 for one.)