Half-elf paragons: worth it for an archer?

[ainbimagh]

As an alternative archer build this is something you might want to try out..

halfling cleric
war, strength domains

get +2 to hit from halfling goodness, and with strength domain you can hit nice and hard with huge str bonuses which work with slings.
magic stone = easy way to get low level magical ammo and the obvious divine power/divine might.

halflings > elfs

 

[Legildur]

The Duskblade spell list is at the end of the Duskblade class description section -- after the sample character. Very poor layout IMHO.

Page 24 in fact.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm. IMHO the only strong thing about the halfelf paragon class is the possibility of getting two attribute increases with adding human or elf paragon class levels as well. Increasing str by a +4 is not bad IMHO.

Big problem of any archer is to get damage for your arrows. There are some possibilities:
- sneak attack or favored enemy: depend on the enemy and the situation.
- weapon specialisation or str: helps all the time but is expensive or difficult to get
- magic enhancements: Expensive and not always available.
Buffs like bard song work as well.

What about playing a druid archer? IME they rock. They can shoot pretty well, cast devastating spells if more is needed and can summon hordes of monsters that block the enemies. And if you don't want to be a main caster, use the 6 paragon class levels to get the abovementioned attribute increases for bigger archery ohmpf.

 

[Felnar]

halflings > elfs

and more hitpoints too!

 

[ainbimagh]

More specifics on the cleric halfling build
Level 4 Cleric/Level 2 Fighter

I would build stats as such.. after modifers
str 14
dex 18
con --dump
int --dump
wis 18
cha 12

feats
1 PBS *fighter
2 Rapid Shot *fighter
3 Precise Shot
4 Ranged Utility skills (pin/trip/disarm)
5 Improved Initiative

Free feats
WF: Slings
Turn undead
Tower shield(meh?)
Heavy Armor
Martial Weapons
Divine Spellcasting Love

Possibilites with a non-magical sling
Hitroll [ 17 ] +4 (dex) +2 (size/race) +2(divine favor) +1 (magic stoooones!) +1 (aid/bless) +5 (bab) +1 (PBS) +1 (WF)
Damage [ 10-16 ] 1d6+1 (magic stone) +1 (enhancement) +4 (str/bulls strength) +2 (divine favor) +1 (PBS)

Attacks: 15/15/10

Hes not too bad Could lose the Fighter levels and some of the feats, but I like 'em.

 

[ivocaliban]

Okay, so how about Human Ranger 2/ Fighter X, moving into OotBI and Exotic Weapon Master? That close-quarters ranged combat ability is very attractive for the encounters I'm expecting (caverns we discovered branching off of the mine, dense forests, and other tight spaces).

1. Maybe I missed it, but...what exotic weapon will you be mastering? Some exotic bow or are bows considered exotic in your game?

2. Order of the Bow Initiate gives you Close combat shot (Ex): "At 2nd level, an initiate can attack with a ranged weapon while in a threatened square and not provoke an attack of opportunity."

With five levels of fighter, ranger, or fighter/ranger you should be able to qualify for the Order of the Bow Initiate PrC and by the time you reach level 7 you've got Close combat shot.

 

[Nifft]

Slings kinda suck (if you use them by the book):

Sling

Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

Not much point in taking Rapid Shot.

Cheers, -- N

 

[ainbimagh]

Oh wow, we never played with such a rule.

 

[Nifft]

Oh wow, we never played with such a rule.

Well now you know why the English Longsling didn't dominate the Battle of Avignon...
-- N

 

[Seeten]

What about making a charisma based rogue? Rogues make great faces, have good dmg potential, and great interaction skills.