Forums: Advice: Pathfinder 1e Gestalt Inquisitor Ranger (no dipping) assistance request (2024)

Greetings and good morrow folks,

I have been a part of the same tabletop group for about 7 years and we have a tonne of fun. We have made the tough decision to retire our current level 16 Mythic/Gestalt group. We are creating a brand new crew.

Problem I am having is that in the forty years I have played (and DMd), I have always had groups that focused on character and ROLEplay. This is my first group that really works the min/MAX angle, they certainly roleplay too but the power is to the max first. It caused a fair bit of discomfort on my part the last campaign (fighter cleric does 700 dmg to bad guy - my halfling summoner/cavalier did 88 lol - she did a lot of buffing too, but still not optimized ) so I would like to have a character sheet that does the best for the group I can, but I will be honest, I find all the 'flavour' and get distracted from numbers. So here I am, seeking some 'numbers' folks to give a gal a hand (pretty please).

Stat Array: 18, 18, 16, 14, 14, 12
Level 3
Current characters in group: one undecided, a Kitsune paladin/oracle and a Catfolk psychic/slayer
Sources: pretty much anything not completely broken, so PF1e, D&D or 3rd Party (Our DM is amazing )
Race: I was originally thinking of another Halfling, but that is not set in stone.
Class: Ranger/Inquisitor has synergy and should be fun to story with

Does anyone with the gift for creating the best min/max gifted characters have some time to spare me?

With puppy dog eyes and sincere gratitude,
Deb

Edit: Almost forgot - we are doing a heavily modified Age of Worms campaign

I'd think of this as an Inquisitor/Archer, at least if I understand your build goal. And you'll want that archer to be a full BAB class. So who could that be:

- ranger
- zen archer monk
- paladin
- slayer
- cleric 5/hinterlander 10/cleric 5 (not full BAB, but 9/9 casting!)

Greetings Northern Spotted Owl :)!

Northern Spotted Owl wrote:

I'd think of this as an Inquisitor/Archer, at least if I understand your build goal. And you'll want that archer to be a full BAB class.

I don't think I have ever actually played an archer-focused character but that tends to be the ranger's schtick. Will also use the Scimitar (Deity favoured weapon)

Northern Spotted Owl wrote:

So who could that be:
- ranger
- zen archer monk
- paladin
- slayer

We already have a Paladin and Slayer in the group and I just can't wrap my brain around monk (always think of Cain in Kung Fu), so working on a Ranger seems best.

Northern Spotted Owl wrote:

- cleric 5/hinterlander 10/cleric 5 (not full BAB, but 9/9 casting!)

Our DM is very tolerant (almost encouraging of) creating characters that are unique and appeal to us. He is, however ADAMANT none of this 'dipping' stuff. Thinking from a medievalesque world point of view - finding mentors for each of those classes, especially if you let slip you are only using them for X skill :D, is going to be tough.

So Ranger/Inquisitor is the goal.

I haven't seen any archetypes that seem worth the trade offs. Is it at all possible to have a good ranger without being a focused archer?

I do very much thank you for your reply :) - I am giving myself a headache on something that should be fun.

With a smile,
Deb

So, after checking out a few guides, I think Switch Hitter Ranger is the way to go and I have started working through creating her (still welcome any suggestions for optimization)

Also think I'm going to switch her to Human.

Will keep updating as I struggle through

With a smile,
Deb

Is your deity set in stone? If you choose one with the Luck domain you can get 100% uptime on its "roll every d20 twice" effect.
(Edit: during combat)

Also, halfling is definitely a more ROLEplay over minmax option. Lower dmg dice, str penalty, cha bonus you don't need.

While there is some synergy between ranger and inquisitor there is also a lot of overlap. If the campaign is going to be focusing a single type of creature it should work ok.

A Zen Archer Monk/Inquisitor actually has incredible synergy. Once you get past third level WIS does just about everything. At 5th level you get Flurry of Bane (Adding Bane to each shot while using flurry with a bow). If you really want to min/max play a dwarf, for the WIS, CON and bonus to saves. Having sky high saves and both evasion and stalwart means anything that allows a save has almost no chance of affecting you. Your high touch AC will also make it difficult to be affected by magic. Since you still have the unarmed combat of a monk you don’t have to worry about switch hitting. This also allows you to threaten the squares around you while using the bow.

DreamQuestin wrote:

So, after checking out a few guides, I think Switch Hitter Ranger is the way to go and I have started working through creating her (still welcome any suggestions for optimization)

Also think I'm going to switch her to Human.

Will keep updating as I struggle through

With a smile,
Deb

so if you really want a switch hitter, that can deal some damage, a Fighter Bow/TWF build is pretty dang awesome, but just stick to the base fighter, no archtypes.

Even without Gestalt, you should be pumping out over 100 damage by level 10.

with Rapid shot, Many shot, a haste item and the fighter BAB, you should be firing 6 arrows by level 11.

you can pair it with any of the Eldritch archer type classes, to get a free spell/archer attack on top of that.

Be sure go max dex and pick up Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, greater Weapon Focus, and Greater Weapon specialization and Deadly aim.

right around levels 10-12 you should be done with your archery feats and can then switch to TWF feats, use the same weapon in both hands (a short sword is perfect, but you can do longswords if you buy Effortless lace).
You should already have all the dex you need for the TWF feats, but be sure to pick up Piranha Strike.

By 20th level you should be dealing significant damage.

If you don't want to do the Eldritch/arcane archer, then I suggest Inquisitor as you can custom boost your weapon for the situation at hand.

I am not sure trading away the rangers spells are a good idea. Inquisitors are spontaneous casters so have limited number of spells. As a prepared divine caster a ranger know every spell on their list and have a decent number of utility and combat spells. Most of the spell casters in the party are also spontaneous casters. The Paladin is a prepared divine caster, but their list focus more on combat and healing.

The ranger list also has some very useful spells. Gravity Bow is going to significantly increase the damage of any archer. Spells like alarm, ant haul, endure elements, keep watch, nature’s path, and pass without trace are all useful 1st level ranger spells. When you get 3rd level spells instant enemy is great for getting your highest favored enemy bonus on and creature.

DreamQuestin wrote:

Northern Spotted Owl wrote:

- cleric 5/hinterlander 10/cleric 5 (not full BAB, but 9/9 casting!)

Our DM is very tolerant (almost encouraging of) creating characters that are unique and appeal to us. He is, however ADAMANT none of this 'dipping' stuff. Thinking from a medievalesque world point of view - finding mentors for each of those classes, especially if you let slip you are only using them for X skill :D, is going to be tough.

Hinterlander is a prestige class that's meant to be taken after 5 levels, and it only offers 10 levels. Now if your DM doesn't want prestige classes in a gestalt campaign, that's fair enough. But I wouldn't call cleric/hinterlander "dipping".

Of your options, I think that:

inquisitor/zen archer -- best damage, ridiculous saves & AC
inquisitor/ranger -- still a solid damage dealer and adds ranger spells
inquisitor/cleric+hinterlander -- still solid archery (though not full BAB), but now with a 9/9 caster

You really don't need to give yourself a headache :)

Inquisitor/Ranger is a phenomenally deadly ranged attacker build. And inquisitor is one of the absolute best long-duration buffers.

A few suggestions:
-Point Blank Master as your 6th-level ranger bonus feat.
-If you really focus on buffing, Improved Hunter's Bond and Greater Hunter's Bond from Ultimate Wilderness are quite helpful.
-Shared Training is yet another great teambuilder.
-Black Powder Inquisition can add a lot of damage potential

Nirmathi irregular may be a good archetype for the ranger side, get extra spell slot and can prepare one druid spell per day for extra versatility. Eventually get instant enemy and terrain bond spells to cover for the single favored enemy and terrain limit.

Freebooter alternatively gives you flexible support to allies against a single enemy, along with additional flanking bonus. If you want an animal companion, you can grab that through Sacred huntmaster instead, for a better one than the ranger gets. Loses judgements for it though.

Can also play Beastmaster/Monster tactician if you want to fill the battlefield with minions and the screams of your allies' players as you exponentially increase the time your turn takes.

Heresy or clandestine (especially with a sanctified slayer) tend to be the inquisitions I look at. Although, best choice depends on deity and actual build.

Mysterious Stranger wrote:

While there is some synergy between ranger and inquisitor there is also a lot of overlap. If the campaign is going to be focusing a single type of creature it should work ok.

A Zen Archer Monk/Inquisitor actually has incredible synergy. Once you get past third level WIS does just about everything. At 5th level you get Flurry of Bane (Adding Bane to each shot while using flurry with a bow). If you really want to min/max play a dwarf, for the WIS, CON and bonus to saves. Having sky high saves and both evasion and stalwart means anything that allows a save has almost no chance of affecting you. Your high touch AC will also make it difficult to be affected by magic. Since you still have the unarmed combat of a monk you don’t have to worry about switch hitting. This also allows you to threaten the squares around you while using the bow.

Thank you Mysterious Stranger! There are some interesting thoughts with dwarf and with the monk. I do wish I could wrap my brain around the monk class, but alas so far I haven't :(.

I appreciated your time and will file this away in my memory banks.

With a smile,
Deb