Arrow Demon + Feats = 17 Attacks???

[Muaythaidaddy]

Alright, I've got a question about a NPC I've been playing around with and I need the rules-sages and number crunchers of the ENWorld Forums to graciously help me out, if they can.

The NPC in question is an arrow demon, from Monster Manual 3. I've given him eight levels of Fighter and the following feats: Greater Weapon Focus (longbow), Improved Precise Shot, Manyshot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow) and Weapon Specialization (longbow), in addition to a few others that are not relevant to the equation.

Now, the arrow demon has an ability called "symmetrical archery" that the SRD defines as:

Symmetrical Archery (Ex): The arrow demon has an amazing ability to wield two bows at once in unison. Any time the arrow demon could make a single attack with a bow, it can attack with both of its bows, at -2 on all its attack rolls that round. For example, when making an attack action, an arrow demon can fire one arrow from each bow at its normal attack bonus minus 2, and when making a full-attack action, it can fire one arrow from each bow for each of its normal iterative attacks (two arrows from each bow, each shaft at a -2 penalty). The statistics block above already includes these bonuses. The arrow demon takes no additional penalties for using multiple weapons as long as it is using only bows.

Now, my question is this: Exactly how many attacks can the arrow demon, using the feats listed, get off in one round. I'm looking for the most attcks possible here. One rules authority had it at a whopping 17 attacks at one round, using symmetrical archery, rapid shot and the maximum allowed manyshot. Before I spring this on my players, I want to make sure that I'm not dicking them over and I've got the rules right.

If none of this will work, what is the best way to wring the maximum number of attacks out of an arrow demon with 8-10 levels of fighter? HELP!!!

One final question - if the feat Quicken Spell-Like Ability is taken for the arrow demon's dimension door ability, can the arrow demon use all of it's attacks and still use the dimension door as a free action, to - say - escape or move to a different location?

Thanks in advance to everyone who answers this thread.

 

[Crothian]

Many shots is a standard action, Rapid shot is part of a full round action so they cannot be used together. So, I don't think 17 is going to be legal unless I'm missing something.

So, he can manyshot twice, and have a move action left.

He can take his normal attacks (I don't know how many he normally gets) Plus 2 more with rapid shot.

 

[Muaythaidaddy]

Manyshot says "For every five points of base attack bonus you have above +6, you may add one additional arrow to this attack, to a maximum of four arrows at a base attack bonus of +16." It also says that this is a standard action.

An arrow demon with 8 levels of fighter has a base attack of +18, allowing him to use the maximum of four arrows.

However...... is it better to ignore manshot and just use symetrical archery with rapid shot, because of the differences in standard and full actions?

Let's check the demon's description again: "when making a full-attack action, it can fire one arrow from each bow for each of its normal iterative attacks".

The bonus attack from Rapid Shot is not one of its "normal iterative attacks". However, for the moment, let's say Rapid Shot can be affected by Symetrical Archery. Four iterative attacks, plus one extra Rapid Shot attack = 5 attacks, x2 for symetrical archery - 10 attacks with the full-attack action, with all arrows taking a -4 penalty. (-2 for Rapid Shot, -2 for Symetrical Archery).

Is this right?

I am confused here, but I don't want to dick over my players on this one........

 

[Crothian]

With the phrasing of the description for normal iterative attacks, I think rapid shot would only get it one extra shot. It also sounds like manyshot is a waste since that is not a "normal iterative attack".

So, it sounds like he can get up to 9 attacks that way. If you have a hast ability like from boots or a bow of speed that can potentially give him a tenth attack.

 

[Muaythaidaddy]

Yes, I think 9 or 10 attacks is right.

This little guy also has the quickened template from the Book of Templates: Deluxe Edition added to him.

 

[Crothian]

Yes, I think 9 or 10 attacks is right.

This little guy also has the quickened template from the Book of Templates: Deluxe Edition added to him.

nice combination, what's the final CR on this bad boy?

 

[Zoatebix]

Yeah, do tell!

I love that book of templates. I should take my PDF to staples for printing and binding...

 

[Crothian]

Yeah, do tell!

I love that book of templates. I should take my PDF to staples for printing and binding...

they have a print version of the deluxe book of templates 3.5 now

 

[Muaythaidaddy]

The final CR was 16 - Arrow Demon +7, Fighter +8, Template +1. The idea was to make a sickenly fast NPC demon who served a lich in my campaign (who - as of the moment - serves as the main villain for my players). The players have been having a bit of an "easy" time here lately, having learned to work together with uncanny precision, which is great. However, I don't want things to be too easy on them..... LOL.

The way the write-up exists, this NPC can make 10 lightning-fast attacks and then use dimension door to gain a new position (using the his quickened spell-like ability feat). I know that this will only work a few times, but until they catch on, it'll be alot of fun. He's actually part of a larger group of NPC villains that the PCs will be facing, probably all at once in kind of a "group showdown".

Here's the write-up for him.......

Nethrak "of the Black Arrows"
Quickened Arrow Demon Male (Medium Outsider; Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar, Tanar'ri)
8th level Fighter
Chaotic Evil

St 19 (+4)
Dx 27 (31 w/bracers of dexterity +4) (+10)
In 14 (+2)
Ws 16 (+3)
Co 29 (+9)
Ch 12 (+1)

Hit Points: 247 (10D8+8D10+162 HD)
Armor Class: 25 (dexterity (+10 dexterity) natural (+5 natural); touch 20, flat footed 15)
Fort. Save +22
Ref. Save +22
Will Save +12

Speed: 60 feet
Size: M (6 feet, 6 inches)
Initiative: +16 (dexterity, feats)
Melee Attack: +22
Ranged Attack: +28
Most Common Attack is 2 large unholy splitting composite longbows +1 (+4 strength bonus; +31/+31/+26/+26 ranged; 2D6+4+1+2, crit 19-20, X3 or 2D6+4+1+2+2D6 against good-aligned creatures, crit 19-20, X3 or +27/+27/+27/+27/+27/+27/+22/+22/+22/+22 ranged; 2D6+4+1+2, crit 19-20, X3 when using rapid shot feat, 10 arrows total or 20 arrows total with splitting weapon ability)

Skills: Balance +23, Bluff +14, Climb +29, Concentration +21, Hide +34, Jump +22, Listen +16, Move Silently +34, Sense Motive +16, Spot +27

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Greater Weapon Focus (longbow), Improved Critical (longbow), Improved Initiative, Improved Precise Shot, Lightning Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (dimension door), Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow), Weapon Specialization (longbow)

Possessions: 2 Large Unholy Splitting Composite Longbows +1 (+5 strength bonus), Bracers of Dexterity +4, 100 adamantine arrows.

Special Qualities: DR 5/cold iron and good, SR 18, immunity to electricity and poison, resistance to acid, cold and fire 10, close combat shot, oversized weapons, quickened dimension door at will, summon tanar'ri, symmetrical archery, telepathy 100 feet, darkvision 60 feet, quickening 2/day

CR: 16

 

[Crothian]

I'd drop a feat and get Iron Will if you can. That low will save could be a nasty weakness for him.