FRCS: Character Concepts. Help!

[Cedric]

Be a kid from a small town...I mean tiny.

Memorize the names of the largest cities (waterdeep, baldur's gate, etc) and memorize a few other notable things...like evil npc organizations and good ones.

Red Wizards of Thay...Zhentarim...Harpers...etc

Now that you have the names down...you don't really have to know much about them. Because the only thing you heard in the small town were wive's tales and stories. Make up stuff...

"I've heard that a man can start walking a dawn in Waterdeep and it'll be three full days before he sees the other wall."

You know...be a naive kid that "thinks" he knows what things are like...

Cedric

 

[RogueJK]

Be a kid from a small town...I mean tiny.

Memorize the names of the largest cities (waterdeep, baldur's gate, etc) and memorize a few other notable things...like evil npc organizations and good ones.

Now that you have the names down...you don't really have to know much about them. Because the only thing you heard in the small town were wive's tales and stories. Make up stuff...

You know...be a naive kid that "thinks" he knows what things are like...

Cedric

Normally, I would agree with this. but in this case, he is starting at 10th level. It would be pretty hard to have a 10th level "naive kid" who has never left his tiny village. Even many of the older people in the smaller villages would tend to be 3rd level at most.

It is, however, quite possible to have a 10th level character who has come from an isolated area, such as Halruaa or Evermeet. Even the suggestion about the Dalelands archer who has spent his whole life in the Dalelands would work.

 

[Tetsuwan]

Thank you and you and you and YOU!

A big thanks to everyone for their comments and ideas, you've certainly made it a whole lot easier on me to work this out.

I have to say the Halruua and Nimbral spellcaster concept was very very tempting too. I also read over the Wizard's of Thay. Now they are a bunch of scarey guys......unfortunately for me, there is to be no evil alignments in the game.

I've decided on sticking with my archer concept and coming from the Dalelands (thanks Hong). I'm now down to deciding on feats (blooded is a VERY nice feat) and a prestige class, any suggestions?

 

[RogueJK]

Re: Thank you and you and you and YOU!

I've decided on sticking with my archer concept and coming from the Dalelands (thanks Hong). I'm now down to deciding on feats (blooded is a VERY nice feat) and a prestige class, any suggestions?

Well, as far as PrC go, you really only have 3 choices...
Arcane Archer: Good for the magical arrows, but most of the other abilities aren't that useful. Plus, you have to be elven or half-elven, and have at least one level of Wizard or Sorceror.

Order of the Bow Initiate: Good for fighting in close quarters with a bow. Some of the other abilities, like Ranged Sneak Attack, are pretty nice, too.

Deepwood Sniper: Overall, a powerful prestige class. It increases your range and crit ability, plus it grants a few other abilities that come in handy.

You'll probably want to specialize in the Composite Longbow. Quick Draw is good for drawing a weapon when enemies get too close. Two levels of OotBI will partially help with that problem, too.

My advice? Take 2 or 3 levels of Rogue, then 4 levels of Fighter. After that, take 2 - 4 levels of Order of the Bow Initiate. Then, take 10 levels as a Deepwood Sniper. Be sure to take your first level as a Rogue to get the most skill points.

Feat-wise, this means that you'll need Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot. You'll also probably want to take Shot on the Run.

For a 10th level character, try something like this:
Human Rogue3/Fighter4/OotBi3
Rogue 1: Blooded, Point Blank Shot (Sneak Attack +1d6)
Fighter 1: Weapon Focus - Comp. Longbow
Fighter 2: Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
Fighter 3
Fighter 4: Weapon Specialization - Comp. Longbow
Rogue 2: Far Shot (Evasion)
Rogue 3: (Uncanny Dodge, Sneak Attack +2d6)
OotBI 1 (Ranged Sneak Attack +1d6)
OotBI 2 Quick Draw (Close Combat Shot)
OotBI 3: (Ranged Sneak Attack +2d6)

This nets you +4d6 Sneak Attack, Evasion, some decent skill points, Uncanny Dodge (Dex bonus to AC), and the ability to fire a bow in a threatened area without provoking AoOs. Use the Rogue levels to help raise your Hide, Move Silently, Spot, Tumble, and Listen skills. After this, take Deepwood Sniper levels from 11-20. You'll probably want to take Improved Critical at 12th level.

 

[Daebryn Bladestorm]

How about the Arcane Archer PrC? It covers both of the criteria that has been discussed above. You get to be an archer but also gain some minor spellcasting abilities. Plus you get magical arrows. Of course you would have to be elven or half elven (which covers yet another character type that was discussed )

 

[bret]

Ten levels, huh?

How about Spellblade with a Bow?

Fighter 1/ Wizard 6 / Spellblade 3

d10 + 6d4 + 3d8 hp
BAB +6
Fort +5 Ref + 3 Will +7

Caster level 7. Can cast a 1st level spell through your weapon once a day as a free action.

Arcane Failure -15%.

You can wear Studded Leather and cast spells with no chance of spell failure. You get +1 caster level with Spellblade every even level.

 

[Tetsuwan]

Spellblade.....

Talk about thinking outside the square Bret. I didn't think that a spellblade could use a bow, but looking at the rules there is no reason for me not to.

Considering I have just been told that the DM has banned Order of the Bow Initiate and a few others.

Now this is a prestige class that would suit me down to the ground, I get a bit of spellcasting, whilst being an ok shot with a bow.

Thanks..........