Returning player after quite a while gone, was lookin for some help! In his "InEffect Builds for You" thread, InEffect put together a sword and board ranger build I'm in interested in but had questions about.

Basically it amounts to 4 things:

1. Has anything changed in the intervening time since it was posted to make it something that isn't viable for for Hard?
2. He mentions going Scimitar and Bear AnC as a better option, does that change anything with the build?
3. Any way to work in more Cha for RP reasons? I quite enjoy persuasions checks.
4. Is it worth working in Sacred Huntmaster for the AnC teamwork stuff? I know it's considered strong.

Bonus question: If InEffect is still out there and willing to chime in, if all bets were off on restrictions, how would you best make a SnB Ranger?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me! I've attached the build below:

"s/b ranger/human/2 classes max/CG for pinto10

Race: Human
Alignment: CG as requested.
Pet: Smilodon

Stats:
Str: 19 > 24
Dex: 14
Con: 14
Int: 13
Wis: 13
Cha: 7
// You can toss 14 as you like. Int is a bit more skill-points, Dex would allow to make the most out of Heart of valor with just +6 dex item.

Main skills: Mobility 3, Perception, Stealth
Suggested secondary skills: Whatever you feel like.

Final Build: Ranger 16 / Alchemist(Vivisectionist) 4

Detailed leveling breakdown:
Lvl 1: Ranger - Dodge // Combat Expertise
Lvl 2: Alchemist - Magical beasts
Lvl 3: Ranger - Shield Bash // Two-Weapon Fighting Style > TWF
Lvl 4: Ranger - Underground
Lvl 5: Ranger - Boon Companion
Lvl 6: Alchemist - Combat Trick > Outflank
Lvl 7: Ranger - Accomplished Sneak Attacker // Fey / Fey
Lvl 8: Ranger - Improved TWF
Lvl 9: Ranger - Shield Focus
Lvl 10: Ranger - First World
Lvl 11: Ranger - Trip
Lvl 12: Ranger - Undead / Fey / Greater TWF
Lvl 13: Ranger - Shield Master
Lvl 14: Ranger
Lvl 15: Ranger - Greater Trip // Forest
Lvl 16: Alchemist
Lvl 17: Alchemist - Improved Critical: Longsword // Combat Trick > Bashing Finish
Lvl 18: Ranger - Double Slice
Lvl 19: Ranger - Fury’s Fall // Outsiders / Fey
Lvl 20: Ranger

Important Alchemist Spells: Reduce Person, Enlarge Person, Expeditious Retreat, True Strike, Restoration(Lesser), Cure Wounds spells.
Important Ranger Spells: Lead Blades, Acid Maw, Barkskin, Sense Vitals, Instant Enemy, Magic Fang(Greater), Aspect of the Wolf.

Gear: Whatever best 1h weapon you can find till very late. Might as well be longsword if you are adamant about using those. Best longsword would be Perfection or Redeemer Depending on what you can get your hands on.
Heart of Valor Breastplate. Singing Steel Breastplate late. Helmet of Battlefield Clarity(sold in town) till lvl 15
Ideal Late-game gear: Hat of mental perfection(crown will do as well, the difference is marginal), Gyronna’s Amulet, Cloak of the Chosen, Greater Ring of Ultimate Protection, Ring of circumstances(+Str+AC), Belt of physical perfection +8, Forest Kight’s Bracers, Alkali Gloves, Opportunist’s Boots, Ravena’s Oath.
Use Light Shield till lvl 13. Because you don’t want the penalties.

Should be fine. Gotta say it’s a huge missed opportunity to make use of the Scimitar of the Bear God(with a bear pet). It would just mesh better and bashing finish would profit a lot too. Oh well...

Combat expertise will help with AC early on. Once you finally let go of the Helmet of Battlefield Clarity - turn it off for good and only turn back on if you lack AC. Same With fighting defensively - only turn it on if the situation is dire.

Don’t forget to right-click Aspect of the wolf: Trip after you cast it so it auto-trips every round. Only use regular trips is you really need a bit of control and are out of aspects."

Well... there are new better armors out there with the 3rd DLC for starters.
I also can't vouch how good the thing will do on hard. The touch AC is pretty much non-existent and it sacrifices too much for the trip gimmicks.
There is a slayer build in the main thread. That's a better s/b character.
As to the build itself, I would probably drop accomplished and shield focus along with crit and bashing finish for crane style line. That'd at least be some AC... and moved shield bash bit later because of it - you'd have shield spell from alch anyways. Same with trip that would be moved in favor of wing/riposte.
Bear god scimitar is ok too, but idk where one would find a spare feat for imp crit to use it efficiently. That and most everything in the game has a bit of lightning resist, so it's a bit of a mixed bag. Kinda thematic, though, and it's not so bad even though I much prefer allslayer for shield builds. Dropping crit/bashing finish and going for perfection is probably the safest bet overall.
It's ok as far as melee rangers are concerned and it does have auto-trip at least, so 1v1 won't be as bad.

It would help more if you outlined what you want. Chances are I already made something like that.

About Cha - you can always shift the stats a bit. 1AB is just about 10-20% damage, won't make or break the build. Drop Str by 1... shave a bit off con if need be. something like 18(+4)/14/12/13/13(+1@20)/12 maybe.

Thanks for the quick response! I really appreciate it.

Basically, I've been browsing the two different build threads you've had going looking for something I liked thematically and seemed like it may be fun. I read the bit about the MC slotting well into the tank role, and off I went looking for tank builds. Stumbled onto that Ranger SB build, and the bit about a lightning bear of death seemed like it was worth checking out. I have no problem accepting that it may be subpar.

As for what I'm looking for, basically decent Cha, Heavy armor, some interesting aesthetics, and I've always really enjoyed tanks that retaliate passively. Doesnt matter if it's auto trips, or attacks of opportunity, free counter attacks, etc.

I'm gathering that unarmored seems to be the better tanking option, but I think your Aldori Investigator build might fit the bill pretty well. Not quite as spicy as a thunder bear, but I think I can cope. Unless there's any way to get all of that a different way with some of the more fantastical shenanigans present in the game.

Edit: I did check out the slayer build as well, anyway to salvage some charisma there?

Awesome, I think I'll give the slayer build a whirl.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out! And, thanks for all the other guides as well, I really appreciate all this effort..