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Archer character ( URGENT HELP NEEDED )
- Thread starter demajen
- Start date
Hayhay! Through a freak chance I managed to find a copy of Sword and Fist in the most unlikely of places (hidden in a corner in the local bookstore) so I now have access to the Order of the Bow Initiate prestige class. Its got some pretty neat skills. Now I need to now how it weighs up against the Deepwood Sniper. Anyone help me out here, since apparently WotC/Hasbro have buggered up shipping to Britain and we're not gonna get Masters of the Wild till at least halfway through next month (grrrr!).
I've heard from various posts that the DSniper is about long-ranged attacks rather than the more close-ranged OotBI. This stands to reason considering the name (!). The question is, can I take two prestige classes (can't remember anything saying I can't, but one can't be sure...) and if so, what would be the best balance of the two.
As Andarcal stands, I'm probably gonna make him a Psychic Warrior 6/Order of the Bow Initiate 6 (PW6 is the minimum level he can be to qualify for the OotBI I believe, since he has to have Weapon Specialisation in one of the forms of bow). This makes him a fairly mean level 12. I don't want to push him any higher than 14 (too powerful characters are a bore to write about), but I don't want him to get his ass kicked in every fight.
Therefore, I turn to you - the gaming public - for advice and help once again. How should I balance him out class-wise, and why do you think I should follow your idea? (It'd help me out immensely if I knew your reasons why).
Once, again...thanks in advance...
I've heard from various posts that the DSniper is about long-ranged attacks rather than the more close-ranged OotBI. This stands to reason considering the name (!). The question is, can I take two prestige classes (can't remember anything saying I can't, but one can't be sure...) and if so, what would be the best balance of the two.
As Andarcal stands, I'm probably gonna make him a Psychic Warrior 6/Order of the Bow Initiate 6 (PW6 is the minimum level he can be to qualify for the OotBI I believe, since he has to have Weapon Specialisation in one of the forms of bow). This makes him a fairly mean level 12. I don't want to push him any higher than 14 (too powerful characters are a bore to write about), but I don't want him to get his ass kicked in every fight.
Therefore, I turn to you - the gaming public - for advice and help once again. How should I balance him out class-wise, and why do you think I should follow your idea? (It'd help me out immensely if I knew your reasons why).
Once, again...thanks in advance...
Mal Malenkirk
First Post
demajen said:
Leaving any personal bias at the door (I'm not a big fan of either class as writen from a balance PoV):
The sniper is, well, a sniper. He behaves pretty much like sniper tacticwise.
The order of the bow initiate works better in close combat. Sneak attack and specialisation only works under 30 feet, after all. And he has class features that allows him to take it up close and personal with the opposition.
The deep wood sniper generally ends up with something like a 200 ft range increment 17-20/x5 arrows.
The initiate generally ends up with, well, you've got the class. He's got great sneak attack damage, can get the occasionally AofO, and can shoot in melee without provoking AofO's himself.
I personally prefer the sniper. While he can work as a sniper, his bonuses apply to every shot, not just ones within 30'. But in a book setting, I suppose it will be more frequent that a character will be shooting at someone within 30'. In D&D, if you've got a bow and you encounter someone hostile, you generally want to start shooting long before 30'. At 30' it's too late as they are now right on you, or at least within range of a charge. And the last thing you want is your bow sundered.
The initiate generally ends up with, well, you've got the class. He's got great sneak attack damage, can get the occasionally AofO, and can shoot in melee without provoking AofO's himself.
I personally prefer the sniper. While he can work as a sniper, his bonuses apply to every shot, not just ones within 30'. But in a book setting, I suppose it will be more frequent that a character will be shooting at someone within 30'. In D&D, if you've got a bow and you encounter someone hostile, you generally want to start shooting long before 30'. At 30' it's too late as they are now right on you, or at least within range of a charge. And the last thing you want is your bow sundered.
Chun-tzu
First Post
Psychic Warrior 10/Deepwood Sniper 10 is a nice combination, because at level 10, the Psychic Warrior gains access to 4th level psionics, including Dimension Door. Any sniper would kill for this power, because it lets them get into sniper position with ease. Attack from a distance, and if the enemy closes in, just teleport 500 ft away and repeat sniping. At level 10, a psychic warrior gets 33 power points, and dimension door costs 7 points, meaning he can dimension door 4 times a day, not counting any bonus power points or crystal capacitors. Compared to a fighter or ranger, you lose +3 on your BAB, but considering the powers you get, that's not bad.
Of course, a non-psychic sniper can do this with magic items like the Cape of the Mountebank (but the cape only works 1/day).
Also, remember that bards and clerics can be minmaxed for archery (both have access to a lot of great enhancement spells, and are comparable in combat ability to the psychic warrior).
Of course, a non-psychic sniper can do this with magic items like the Cape of the Mountebank (but the cape only works 1/day).
Also, remember that bards and clerics can be minmaxed for archery (both have access to a lot of great enhancement spells, and are comparable in combat ability to the psychic warrior).
extra extra read all about it
Here is a provisional stat block for Andarcal, made using the nifty PCGen.
Andarcal, M Human Psychic Warrior8 Order Of The Bow Initiate4 Deepwood Sniper2 CR 14; Size:M Type Humanoid; HD (8d8)+(4d10)+(2d8)+28; hp 87; Init +5 (+5 Dex, +0 Misc); Spd Walk 30'; AC 15 (flatfooted 10, touch 15), / ( /x ) or ; SA: Ego Whip,Thought Shield,Mind Thrust,Mental Barrier,Ranged Sneak Attack +2d6,Close Combat Shot,Keen Arrows,Concealment Reduction 10pct, Magic Weapon,Projectile Improved Critical +1, Range Increment +20ft; Vision: Normal AL: CG; Sv: Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +10; Str 13, Dex 20, Con 15, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 15
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Diplomacy +4, Disguise +4, Hide +13, Intimidate +4, Jump +7, Knowledge (Religion) +4, Move Silently +14, Spot +10, Stabilize Self +8, Wilderness Lore +12; Armor Proficiency (Heavy),Armor Proficiency (Light),Armor Proficiency (Medium),Dodge,Martial Weapon Proficiency,Mental Leap (1x),Point Blank Shot,Precise Shot,Psionic Charge,Psionic Shot,Rapid Shot,Shield Proficiency,Simple Weapon Proficiency,Speed of Thought (1x),Superior Weapon Focus (Longbow (Composite)),Up The Walls,Weapon Focus (Longbow (Composite)),Weapon Specialization PsyWar (Longbow (Composite))
Possessions: ,
Spells: Psychic Warrior: (0 /0 /0 /0 ) 0-Bolt (Psionic), Elfsight (Psionic), Thrust (Psionic) 1-Call Weaponry (Psionic), Expanded Vision (Psionic), Hustle (Psionic) 2-Animal Affinity (Psionic), Body Equilibrium (Psionic), Darkvision (Psionic) 3-Psychokinetic Blast (Psionic)
There are a few things missing, obviously, and i'm not sure of all the details (and what half of them do - but hey, there's fun in discovering) and I know he doesn't have any weapons yet. I've got to write that up myself. As it is, he may be a little higher level than i wanted, but i just had to have certain feats so thats the way it goes. I still want to add Ranged Pin to that list, but he doesn't have room at the moment. Maybe after his first story he'll go up a level, but that will depend on what it entails...
Anyway, tell me what you think...
Here is a provisional stat block for Andarcal, made using the nifty PCGen.
Andarcal, M Human Psychic Warrior8 Order Of The Bow Initiate4 Deepwood Sniper2 CR 14; Size:M Type Humanoid; HD (8d8)+(4d10)+(2d8)+28; hp 87; Init +5 (+5 Dex, +0 Misc); Spd Walk 30'; AC 15 (flatfooted 10, touch 15), / ( /x ) or ; SA: Ego Whip,Thought Shield,Mind Thrust,Mental Barrier,Ranged Sneak Attack +2d6,Close Combat Shot,Keen Arrows,Concealment Reduction 10pct, Magic Weapon,Projectile Improved Critical +1, Range Increment +20ft; Vision: Normal AL: CG; Sv: Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +10; Str 13, Dex 20, Con 15, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 15
Skills and Feats: Concentration +6, Diplomacy +4, Disguise +4, Hide +13, Intimidate +4, Jump +7, Knowledge (Religion) +4, Move Silently +14, Spot +10, Stabilize Self +8, Wilderness Lore +12; Armor Proficiency (Heavy),Armor Proficiency (Light),Armor Proficiency (Medium),Dodge,Martial Weapon Proficiency,Mental Leap (1x),Point Blank Shot,Precise Shot,Psionic Charge,Psionic Shot,Rapid Shot,Shield Proficiency,Simple Weapon Proficiency,Speed of Thought (1x),Superior Weapon Focus (Longbow (Composite)),Up The Walls,Weapon Focus (Longbow (Composite)),Weapon Specialization PsyWar (Longbow (Composite))
Possessions: ,
Spells: Psychic Warrior: (0 /0 /0 /0 ) 0-Bolt (Psionic), Elfsight (Psionic), Thrust (Psionic) 1-Call Weaponry (Psionic), Expanded Vision (Psionic), Hustle (Psionic) 2-Animal Affinity (Psionic), Body Equilibrium (Psionic), Darkvision (Psionic) 3-Psychokinetic Blast (Psionic)
There are a few things missing, obviously, and i'm not sure of all the details (and what half of them do - but hey, there's fun in discovering) and I know he doesn't have any weapons yet. I've got to write that up myself. As it is, he may be a little higher level than i wanted, but i just had to have certain feats so thats the way it goes. I still want to add Ranged Pin to that list, but he doesn't have room at the moment. Maybe after his first story he'll go up a level, but that will depend on what it entails...
Anyway, tell me what you think...
Here goes nothing
Well, here's a little bit of the story I've started. Thanks to everyone who has given me ideas. Hope you find this interesting. If not, tell me why and I'll try and fix stuff.
Click Me To Read
Well, here's a little bit of the story I've started. Thanks to everyone who has given me ideas. Hope you find this interesting. If not, tell me why and I'll try and fix stuff.
Click Me To Read
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