Sniper
Abilities: Dexterity is very important to a sniper, increasing his ranged
attack, and eventually damage, rolls in addition to providing extra protection
for the lightly armored sniper. Dexterity also improves the DC against the
sniper’s Draining Shot and increases many of his skills. Intelligence provides
extra skill points, which can be useful for the skillful sniper. A high Constitution
also helps to outset the low hit point total from the d6 Hit Die.
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: d6
Class Skills: The sniper’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are:
Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha),
Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha),
Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Search (Int),
Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex)
Skill Points: 6 + Intelligence modifier
Weapon/Armor Proficiency: Snipers are proficient with all simple weapons, and
all categories of bows and crossbows. Snipers are proficient with light armor,
but not with shields.
Class
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 +0 +0 +2 +0 Snipe Shot +1d6
2 +1 +0 +3 +0 Weapon Style
3 +2 +1 +3 +1 Snipe Shot +2d6
4 +3 +1 +4 +1 Draining Shot (1d3)
5 +3 +1 +4 +1 Snipe Shot +3d6, Shot From Nowhere (+5)
6 +4 +2 +5 +2 Improved Weapon Style
7 +5 +2 +5 +2 Snipe Shot +4d6, Draining Shot (1d4)
8 +6/+1 +2 +6 +2 Evasion
9 +6/+1 +3 +6 +3 Snipe Shot +5d6
10 +7/+2 +3 +7 +3 Draining Shot (1d6), Shot From Nowhere (+10)
11 +8/+3 +3 +7 +3 Snipe Shot +6d6,
12 +9/+4 +4 +8 +4 Dextrous Sniper
13 +9/+4 +4 +8 +4 Snipe Shot +7d6, Draining Shot (1d8)
14 +10/+5 +4 +9 +4 Weapon Specialization
15 +11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +5 Snipe Shot +8d6, Shot From Nowhere (+15)
16 +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +5 Draining Shot (1d10)
17 +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +5 Snipe Shot +9d6,
18 +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +6 Improved Evasion
19 +14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +6 Snipe Shot +10d6, Draining Shot (1d12)
20 +15/+10/+5 +6 +12 +6 Master Sniper, Shot From Nowhere (+20)
Snipe Shot (Ex) - When using a ranged weapon against a foe that is
denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, a sniper may inflict extra damage. When
calculating damage for such an attack, the sniper may add 1d6 at first level and
an additional 1d6 at every odd level thereafter (+2d6 at 3rd, +3d6 at 5th, etc).
The sniper may not inflict non-lethal damage with this attack. A Snipe Shot can
only work if the target is within 60 ft of the sniper, or the maximum range of the
weapon being used, whichever is a shorter distance.
Weapon Style (Ex) - At 2nd level, a sniper must select one of two weapon
styles to pursue: bows or crossbows. This choice affects the character’s class
features but does not restrict his selection of feats or special abilities in any way.
If the sniper selects bows, he is treated as having the Rapid Shot feat,
even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for this feat.
If the sniper selects crossbows, he is treated as having the Rapid Reload
feat.
The benefits of the sniper’s chosen style apply only when he is wearing
light or no armor. He loses all benefits of his weapon style when wearing medium or
heavy armor.
Draining Shot (Ex)- If a 4th level sniper studies his victim for 3 rounds and
then takes a full-round action to make a snipe shot that successfully deals damage,
the snipe shot has the additional effect of draining the life out of the target. While
studying the victim, the sniper can undertake other actions so long as his attention
stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the sniper. If the victim
of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + one-half the sniper’s class level
+ the sniper’s Dex modifier) against the draining effect, she receives 1d3 Constitution
damage in addition to the normal snipe shot damage. This damage goes up with levels,
becoming 1d4 at 7th level, 1d6 at 10th, 1d8 at 13th, 1d10 at 16th, and 1d12 at 19th.
If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once
the sniper has completed his 3 rounds of study, he must make the draining shot within
3 rounds. If a draining shot is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the
sniper does not launch the draining shot within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new
rounds of study are required before he can attempt another draining shot.
Shot From Nowhere (Ex)- At 5th level, a sniper who has hidden at least 10
feet away from his target can make one or more ranged attacks, then immediately hide
as a free action with a +5 bonus. The sniper still suffers from the effects of the -20 to
Hide checks as a result of attacking, so the +5 makes it essentially a -15. At 10th level
this increases to a +10 (making it -10). At 15th level it is again increased to +15
(creating a -5 penalty). At 20th level, the sniper gains a +20 to these Hide checks,
effectively negating the -20 for attacking.
Improved Weapon Style (Ex)- At 6th level, a sniper’s aptitude in his chosen
weapon style (bows or crossbows) improves. If he selected bows at 2nd level, he is
treated as having the Manyshot feat, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites
for that feat.
If the sniper selected crossbows at 2nd level, he is treated as having the
Deadeye feat (See page 78 of the Player‘s Handbook II), even if he does not have
the normal prerequisites for that feat.
As before, the benefits of the sniper’s chosen style apply only when he
wears light or no armor. He loses all benefits of his weapon style when wearing medium
or heavy armor.
Evasion (Ex)- At 8th level and higher, a sniper can avoid even magical and
unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against
an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no
damage. Evasion can be used only if the sniper is wearing light armor or no armor. A
helpless sniper does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Dextrous Sniping (Ex)- At 12th level, a sniper has learned how to aim well
enough to inflict a graver wound, even against moving opponents. He may add his
Dexterity bonus (if any) to his damage rolls with ranged weapons as well as his
attack rolls. Strength bonuses to composite longbows or thrown weapons do not
stack with this Dex bonus.
Weapon Specialization (Ex)- At 14th level, a sniper gains the feat Weapon
Specialization (Any bow or crossbow) as a bonus feat. (The sniper must choose one
bow or crossbow type for the feat.)
Improved Evasion- At 18th level, the sniper gains Improved Evasion. This
ability works like evasion, except that while the sniper still takes no damage on a
successful Reflex saving throw against attacks henceforth he takes only half damage
on a failed save. A helpless sniper does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Master Sniper- At 20th level, the sniper becomes a Master Sniper, and can
hide in any area that can provide cover or concealment even while being observed
as a free action.
