Hey, RudeDawg, I still applaud your attempts to RolePlay instead of PowerGame. And I am interested in your Solo Ranger attempts. A couple of general thoughts:
1) The Range Weapon. Yes, early they do kinda suck. I usually use the Magic stuff instead. I have a party with two magic users and a Paladin and 2 regular fighters (still need the correct requirements to level up) and a lowly thief. You want to talk roleplaying, I took the first roll given to me for my characters. Some of 'em really sucked, but I'm sticking with it. I figure they will be pushed up eventually.
2) Solo with Ranger only. Should be interesting to see if possible. I understand your passion for Rangers. I have the same for Paladins. But With this game, I don't think it was meant to go straight through soloing with only one class used. Think of it this way: in 3rd Edition DnD rules, you can level up bouncing back and forth accross the PC types, right? So your Ranger, through his/her travels, has met a Magic user who takes him in and shows him some simple incantations to help him get through the populated areas easier. He being a Ranger and not having as much knowledge of cities, is grateful for the help and learns quickly. Soon, you have a 5 level Ranger, first level Magic User. Then you find a lock in the forest (say a door or a chest) that you need to open, but it has secrets behind that only a Ranger should know. So you find a person who is a locksmith and he teaches you how to open a lock without forcing it, looking for traps ect. Now you have a Ranger with knowledge of Magic and Locks, or a 5 lvl Ranger, 1 lvl Mage, l lvl thief. So there is a Roleplaying part that allows this.
3. I agree with certain races only using certain weapons. Elfs use bows and long swords. I had a friend who tried to play an elf cleric with a sling and I laughed at him.
Dwarfs also like Hammers and Axes.
4. There is no four, I just hate ending with a prime odd number.
Good Luck, and when I get my PC in two weeks, we will talk more.
BK
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