Multiclassing Barbarians

[Wids]

So I assume that the rules stated in this topic are still in effect.

Regarding Barbarians, my latest character is something like an African bush hunter, or a huntress who sneaks up on some animal, pops up to loose an arrow into the creature and either field dresses the creature right then and there or sneaks away before the creature's pack surrounds her, to reclaim the kill later.  Three Classes would have served this concept: Barbarian, Ranger or Rogue (since Rogues aren't always about picking locks and breaking traps, you know; sometimes, it's all about the stealth skills and/or the social skills).  But I only wanted to pick two Classes, since I'm not a fan of watered-down triple-Class builds.  So I went with Barbarian/Ranger...no Sneak Attacks, alas, but I'll make do with Favored Enemy: Animals and such.

So if I'm reading that rule right, then her Ranger levels can never match her Barbarian levels.  I was hoping to keep the two about equal, but does that mean that my character must progress like Barbarian 2/Ranger 1, Barbarian 5/Ranger 4, Barbarian 10/Ranger 9 and so on?  And not Barbarian 10/Ranger 10 on reaching Level 20, lest she be able to advance in Barbarian levels after reaching the Epic Levels?

Thanks in advance.  

[justicedragon]

From how it's worded, I believe at 20 you'd be looking at 11 Barb, 9 Ranger and then 21 would allow you 10 into Ranger.
Levels:
1: Barb
2: Barb (2)
3: Rang
4: Barb (3)
5: Rang (2)
6: Barb (4)
7: Rang (3)
8: Barb (5)
9: Rang (4)
10: Barb (6)
11: Rang (5)
12: Barb (7)
13: Rang (6)
14: Barb (8)
15: Rang (7)
16: Barb (9)
17: Rang (8)
18: Barb (10
19: Rang (9)
20: Barb (11)
21: Rang (10)

Granted, that's only if you wish to keep taking levels into Barbarian (That's what the rule on Barbarians appears to say) If at any time you no longer wish to take further levels in barbarian, you should be fine to go straight Ranger (Which does get HiPS at 17th level)

[Wids]

Good point there, good point. I do like Barbarian as much as I like Ranger (perhaps even a little more so), but perhaps keeping the two Class Levels equal (more or less) wouldn't be the best fit for the character concept, and I suppose that HIPS might fit the character concept more than Greater Rage would. And picking up another Favored Enemy or two along the way wouldn't hurt (and if she's the big-game-hunting type, I might go with Beasts, Magical Beasts or Monstrous for those).

I'll think on this a bit more. Thank you.

[kalbaern]

You might consider 3 levels of Barbarian and then simply going Ranger form there on. You'd just be stuck taking only ranger levels from there out (once you had 3 levels in ranger) or possibly taking a third class or PrC down the road.

[Wids]

I was leaning that way (seeing as Ashanti is Barbarian 3/Ranger 1 right now), but I'm still a bit torn; Barbarians get another Rage use at Level 4, and Rage is good for getting out of tight spots. On the other hand, Ranger and all its stealthy perks are good for not getting into those tight spots in the first place....  

Uncanny Dodge is another incentive for taking Barbarian levels, as it's another nice "Get out of the way!" ability.  But after Barbarian 2, you already have what you need for keeping sneaky enemies from getting the drop on you; the rest of the progression is just jumping away from traps.  And Fast Movement is essential for Ashanti's bushman-style "Hit and run" archer attacks, and she already got that at Barbarian 1.  Furthermore, Rangers have the extra Favored Enemy (and its increasing bonuses) every five Levels, and there's also Improved Two-Weapon Fighting at Level 9 (for when it's time to close in on your arrow-riddled quarry and finish them off).

I guess I could forego that extra Rage and go Ranger from here on out, as Ranger fits Ashanti's vibe better than Barbarian and all its Rages do.  Ashanti doesn't have the Wisdom to cast spells, unfortunately, but perhaps she'll make up for that lack with the rest of her Abilities (which are all above average at the very least).  My old Level 17 Cleric of Umberlee on the old Pirate Isles server never got her Wisdom up to 19 (and thus could never cast 9th Level spells), but that didn't stop her and her high Dexterity from becoming an unholy terror once she and her Rapier of the High Road got into stabby-stabby distance.  Ranger spells are a tiny bit gimpy anyway, I suppose, and they're not exactly the biggest incentive for playing a Ranger anyway.

Or I can focus on bumping her Wisdom a few times over the next twelve Levels or so.  There's that option too.  But bumping Dexterity would help her with her ranged attacks and with her light-armor-induced lower Armor Class (though as luck has it, she has that Barbarian-conferred Uncanny Dodge to help shore up her piddly AC during those flatfooted moments).

Decisions, decisions.

Thanks!