Chronicles of a Sleepy Rabite

I don’t talk about Dragon Quest: Voyages much, mainly because I’m not even sure if anyone’s interested… but I need to put these musings on (e-)paper, somehow, because I need to figure where I’m going with this.

For those of you who haven’t read any of my posts about it, DQ:V is a D&D 4e game that Sky’s running for me (solo, but I play two characters and he’s got three NPCs) that’s extremely loosely based on the Zenithian trilogy from the Dragon Quest series (so DQIV, V and VI). It revolves around Mark, a Zenithian who fell from the floating continent when he was a child (I maintain that SE has a spy satellite on me and stole the idea for DQIX) and who was raised on the surface without a clue about his heritage.

Well, he sure as hell has a clue now, seeing as he got his memories back (which is good, because this was really testing my IC/OOC knowledge segregation)… but he also found out that he’s the Foretold Hero that Zenithia’s been keeping their hopes up about.

Yeah.

Now here’s the thing: we’re trying to stay true to form to the series, so, as the legendary hero (oh God why), I’ll eventually have access to the Zenithian Sword, Shield, and Armour… along with other bits, since D&D isn’t constrained by having four equip slots. (I already have the Helm, and I’m shaking my fist at the GM because putting on caused the bad guys to figure out that I exist, and where I am. STOP GRINNING, DEAR.)

Here’s the problem… I’m a Ranger. Specifically, a Ranger with a Skirmisher build, with a complete focus on ranged attacks. And since it’s a Zenithian Sword and Shield, and not a Zenithan Bow… I think I need to class change.

But to what?

Historically, the Zenithian heroes in DQIV, V and VI have high attack and actual magic (some healing, some offensive). I have magic… but my Wis score sucks, and I can manage a whopping 1d8+4 on my Zap spell. (Just as comparison, I can do 1d10+7 on a regular ranged attack.)

The Seeker class intrigues me, and it’d definitely work for how things seem to be progressing (given how my powers seem to be coming from Blessings given by elemental whispers), but I’m wondering how to justify completely changing my power set. I realize that this is a D&D game based off a video game, but while I want to keep things true to form, I want things to be realistic, too. I mean, why would he just plain stop using a bow when he’s used one for the last six years? (Apart from the fact that yes, he knows he better learn how to use that sword, and quick)

Ideally, I’d love to find a template for 4E with the exact same powers I need, but the chances of finding that are slim to none.

Any ideas? Am I thinking too hard?