Friend's Factotum help.

[xigbar]

I'm DMing a friend who wants to emulate Han Solo, and intends to do so with a focus on close range archery, and high ranks in social skills (bluff, diplomacy, etc.), so some sort of a skill monkey. So I thought the Factotum would be nice. Most importantly, he wants his character to make him look cool to the other player, a girl, completely overlooking the fact that he's trying to impress a girl by playing D&D. I showed him the Diplototum from the Factotum handbook, but he doesn't want to be that socially focused, and would like to be balanced between Close Range Archery and Social Skills. The girl is playing a Cleric, and I will be running a Half-Ogre Barbarian, using War Hulk's massive swing w/ Spiked Chain, and such. Advice on how to make the factotum fit the concept, and still be cool?

 

[Dandu]

Take Manyshot, Improved Manyshot, Font of Inspiration, and gain a lot of standard actions?

 

[xigbar]

Take Manyshot, Improved Manyshot, Font of Inspiration, and gain a lot of standard actions?

Sounds good. What's the book with that Close Combat Archery feat, or whatever it's called? And, multiple takes of Font of Inspiration?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Honestly...it sounds more like a Rogue. Or a Scout, but they lack social skills. I know nothing about Han Solo, though, so all I have to go on is the close range archery.

But I like the idea of a dual crossbow user. If you're a Rogue, you get hand crossbow proficiency and can take Hand Crossbow Focus from drow of the underdark. Combines Weapon Focus and Rapid Reload in one, saving a feat in return for...using crappy hand crossbows. You can then qualify for crossbow sniper (PHb 2) to sneak attack up to 60 ft away and get half dex to damage.

The build is feat heavy (you want the TWF chain and Point Blank / Precise / Rapid Shot), so dipping Fighter 1 or 2 helps. Make it Hit and Run Fighter (also from DotU) and he loses his heavy armor that he'd never use for +2 initiative and full dex to damage on melee and ranged (up to 30 ft; flatfooted foes only).

The only problem beyond that is the two-hands for reloading. Gloves of storing are expensive but will do the trick. There's a +1 property in MIC (I think) to give the crossbows an extradimensioal cartridge that can load up to 100 bolts, but that in time ends up being more expensive. I'm toying with rules for juggling crossbows so you can reload and fire two simultaneously using Perform (juggling) or Sleight of Hand, if your DM was open to houserules.

Point is...few things are as badass as dual wielding crossbows on full-auto.

 

[Dandu]

Honestly...it sounds more like a Rogue. Or a Scout, but they lack social skills. I know nothing about Han Solo, though, so all I have to go on is the close range archery.

eh is a cool guy who shoot first and doesn't afraid of anything

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

So Craven feat would not be thematically appropriate, then?

 

[Dandu]

Luke: So. You got your reward and you're just leaving, then?
Han Solo: That's right, yeah. Got some old debts I gotta pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you.
Luke: Come on. Why don't you take a look around. You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you, you're turning your back on them.
Han Solo: What good is a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station is not my idea of courage. It's more like, suicide.
Luke: [angry] Okay. Take care of yourself Han. I guess that's what you're best at isn't it?
Han Solo: [as Luke walks away] Hey, Luke. May the Force be with you.
[to Chewbacca]
Han Solo: What're you lookin' at? I know what I'm doin'.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Playing D&D to impress a girl....
...He is setting himself up for disappointment.

Ok, so:
1) Short range archery
2) Social skills
3) Skillmonkey
4) Look cool

Rogue, Factotum or even Swordsage might be good builds for accomplishing this.

Rogue can do all 4.
Factotum can do all 4.
Swordsage can't do the short range archery as well (still decently), but can accomplish coolness better than the other two choices with a good Maneuver selection. All the neat Shadow Hand sneakyness, maybe a few Desert Wind fire range attacks, and some White Raven parry support/diplomacy leadery stuff.

Font of Inspiration feat is a Factotum specific feat that you can take as many times as you have your Int. modifier. It adds Inspiration points, and the more you take it, the more IP it provides each time. +1 IP the first time, and additional +2 IP the next time, +3 the third time (Meaning you have +6 taking the feat 3 times), etc.

 

[xigbar]

Honestly...it sounds more like a Rogue. Or a Scout, but they lack social skills. I know nothing about Han Solo, though, so all I have to go on is the close range archery.

But I like the idea of a dual crossbow user. If you're a Rogue, you get hand crossbow proficiency and can take Hand Crossbow Focus from drow of the underdark. Combines Weapon Focus and Rapid Reload in one, saving a feat in return for...using crappy hand crossbows. You can then qualify for crossbow sniper (PHb 2) to sneak attack up to 60 ft away and get half dex to damage.

The build is feat heavy (you want the TWF chain and Point Blank / Precise / Rapid Shot), so dipping Fighter 1 or 2 helps. Make it Hit and Run Fighter (also from DotU) and he loses his heavy armor that he'd never use for +2 initiative and full dex to damage on melee and ranged (up to 30 ft; flatfooted foes only).

The only problem beyond that is the two-hands for reloading. Gloves of storing are expensive but will do the trick. There's a +1 property in MIC (I think) to give the crossbows an extradimensioal cartridge that can load up to 100 bolts, but that in time ends up being more expensive. I'm toying with rules for juggling crossbows so you can reload and fire two simultaneously using Perform (juggling) or Sleight of Hand, if your DM was open to houserules.

Point is...few things are as badass as dual wielding crossbows on full-auto.

I've made a build for dual hand-crossbows before, but I don't want him to to Rogue, because he'll be underpowered, where as Factotum gives him more versatility.

 

[xigbar]

Playing D&D to impress a girl....
...He is setting himself up for disappointment.

Ok, so:
1) Short range archery
2) Social skills
3) Skillmonkey
4) Look cool

Rogue, Factotum or even Swordsage might be good builds for accomplishing this.

Rogue can do all 4.
Factotum can do all 4.
Swordsage can't do the short range archery as well (still decently), but can accomplish coolness better than the other two choices with a good Maneuver selection. All the neat Shadow Hand sneakyness, maybe a few Desert Wind fire range attacks, and some White Raven parry support/diplomacy leadery stuff.

Font of Inspiration feat is a Factotum specific feat that you can take as many times as you have your Int. modifier. It adds Inspiration points, and the more you take it, the more IP it provides each time. +1 IP the first time, and additional +2 IP the next time, +3 the third time (Meaning you have +6 taking the feat 3 times), etc.

I know how FoI works, but I was wondering how many times I should take it. The Factotum can look as cool as a Swordsage, since it can have at least *some* say in any situation, where as a Swordsage will be hindered in situations that require a spell to solve. (That would be msot of them.)