Charop: Half-elf Bard Archer

[Danceofmasks]

Stuff in a thrown weapons thread got me thinking about optimising a ranged attack bard.
Since this is the only shooter I've tried to build that isn't a ranger .. any tips would be handy.

So here goes. (assuming paragon levels)

Lots of charisma (duh)
Virtue of Valor
Warchanter PP (PH2)
Improved Valor (PH2)
Weapon of choice: superior crossbow (AV)
Dilettante power: Twin Strike
Steady Shooter
Versatile Master (PH2)
Lasting Frost
Combat Virtuoso (AP)
Weapon-based feats (expertise, focus, proficiency)
Frost superior crossbow
Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (EPG)


The idea is to be a temp hp battery, granting yourself temp hp at the same time as an ally (when they bloody/drop a foe).
On the same round, to bloody/drop a foe yourself with twin strike, and grant temp hp to another ally.

Twin strike is an at-will due to versatile master, and uses charisma due to combat virtuoso.
I'm expecting modest damage in early-paragon ... approximately 35 (on 2 hits) vs a foe not already cold vulnerable.

Not amazing, but then it's primarily meant to be a diplomat and temp hp battery.

Damroll at level 13 or so:
+3 (enhancement), +2 (bracers archery), +3 (steady shooter), +2 (weapon focus), +3 (shard)
D10+13 on a hit, average 18.5, +5 if cold vulnerable
Average 42 damage on 2 hits.

Hmm .. might go with 18/13/13/10/10/8 array ..
23 cha, 18 con at level 13.
+4 con mod on a warchanter is solid enough .. since with judicious timing of Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade, granting allies only a +4 hit/dam with an AP is still a very reliable nova trigger.

Edit1:
Added Steady Shooter

Edit2:
Added basic damage calculations (ignoring hitrolls)
Added possible stat array

 

[UngeheuerLich]

what do you put your second 13 on? I expect dexterity?

Maybe a multiclass feat into ranger would not be the worst idea and even getting a good daily. (although your dex to damage won´t do much)

 

[Danceofmasks]

Haven't decided, but dexterity looks useless actually.
Bards have decent ranged dailies already, and spending 2 feats to get a slightly better daily doesn't seem like the best idea.

I was actually considering strength ... and spending feats on armour proficiencies, but if I'm dumping dex to 8, intelligence looks tempting too.

It looks like the build is already stretching to find feats as it is .. there are so many good ones to take, especially for static bonuses.
Such as human racial feats, or wintertouched, or chain specialization ... heck, even jack of all trades looks good for a bard.

So, not sure about the multiclass route, but if I were to do so strength is still looking the most tempting.
That gives access to berserker's fury - +2 to all damage rolls for an entire encounter is as awesome as any daily for a twin strike monkey..
Strength also gives access to Fighter MC, for Avenging Spirit (paragon fighter feat, MP) ... since warchanter has some nice AP cheese, getting extra AP could turn the tide.
Especially if it goes like, "I majestic word to get you back up, I AP to give everybody +4 hit/dam, then I double twin strike to deal 100 damage to that guy"
I mean really ... being able to spend 2 AP per encounter would be awesome if I have 2 AP per encounter, no?

 

[Danceofmasks]

*smacks head*

I was just told Avenging Spirit is also a warlord feat.
I didn't think of that 'cos I dismiss warlords as teh suck out of hand ... but seriously the MC warlord feats (any of them) are better than fighter in this case.

 

[Herschel]

I still prefer the Prescient Bard from Arcane Power. The biggest drawback is primary and seconday boost the same defense but that encounter shield power is pretty nice. I dumped Dex also. If I want to use Twin Strike I can use the feat that bases all my multi-class attacks off of Charisma. I like a 13 Int for Wizard or Swordmage multi-class options (Thunderwave can be nice to get you out of a jam since you'll have a good Wis already). Burning Spray from the Sorcerer collection can be nice for baddies that get in your grill too but doesn't have a push effect like Thunderwave does.

I like Warlords, especially the Tactical Warlord multi-class that lets action point users get an attack bonus.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I did look at prescient, but it didn't seem to synergy well.

The class feature is an encounter power which requires a semi-hefty investment in wisdom to be effective.
Compared to the virtue of valor, which even with a low constitution, ends up preventing more damage per combat than negating one attack.

Similarly, the number of powers that get an increased effect based on wisdom isn't significant.
My favourite, Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade, already imposes a -4 ... 3+wis mod is very nice if wisdom is heavily invested in, but once again, encounter power.

Conversely, constitution grants access to chain specialization, steady shooter, war chanter (which is by far the most awesome bard pp) ...
Once all that kicks in, being able to grant 29+ temporary hp every round seems to overshadow the prescient bard by a fair margin.

I'll look at it again, though.
I reckon it suffers from being a build that comes from left field, using powers and stats that don't mesh well with existing bard stuff ... thereby being less streamlined.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Maybe charisma 16 before racial is sufficient and you can do dex and strength high enough that you can take scale armor specialization and berserkers fury (and maybe upgrade to plate later on...)

It gives a nice boost to reflex, one point higher constituion, better initiative (well worth hitting 5% less often)

But i guess you really can´t do wrong with either build. There is so much goodness in it

Berserkers fury is a really good multiclass feat. My goliath bard also has taken it