Hammer Hunter

[kaomera]

So I'm taking a break from DMing while work is being all crazy-like, and I've been fooling around with several possible characters for an interim game one of the others in the group is going to DM. One of the ideas I had was to try a hunter, and I ended up deciding to see what I'd end up with if I made it a Dwarf.

So far it looks like the game is going to be running from levels 8 to 10, and is going to be essentials-only for races and classes, but not for powers or feats. And one of the first things I thought was: hey, I can take dwarven weapon training... (Because, hey, my Dwarf invoker had the feat...) And this led me to realize that DWT makes the throwing hammer actually pretty decent.

So I'm currently toying with this concept, and I've noted the following issues that I need to address:

Ability Scores: Dex is the default primary ability score for a hunter, but with a heavy thrown weapon (and then a craghammer for melee) I'd want strength for everything but disruptive shot. Now, I could take precision throw, but I could also either do an 18 / 14 or 16 / 14 split between DEX and STR (before racial mod). Obviously I could go with a 16 / 16 as well, but I think if my DEX is going to end up a 16, then I'm counting on weapon mastery and DWT to make up for lower scores... At level 8 I'm seeing a +14 attack bonus with a starting score of 16, including expertise and inherent bonuses. (I'm not sure we're using inherent bonuses, but I'm using it as a placeholder while I don't know how magic items will be handled.) And there are several aspects that can boost attack beyond that. Beyond that I prefer at least a 13 CON (pretty trivial for a Dwarf), and would put anything left into WIS, dumping CHA to 8. Wisdom is supposed to be secondary for hunters, but I don't think it's really crucial for this build.

Weapon: Craghammer / throwing hammer would be base. If I can get a dwarven thrower or crashing weapon I could then just use the craghammer and maybe pick up a shield. Alternately I could get a mordenkrad, but I think I'd rather go with the shield. (Then again, the shield would eat up feats...)

Feats: DWT, expertise (bludgeon?), shield proficiency is a possibility. I like quick steps, but might want to try stone step spirits instead. Spirits of stone looks cool, but might be redundant (wait, is +2 attack ever redundant???). World serpent's grasp could be fun...

So this looks crazy enough that I want to give it a spin, anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Mentat55]

Maybe Precision Throw + Melee Training (Dexterity) instead? Then you can put more points into Constitution and Wisdom.

 

[kaomera]

Maybe Precision Throw + Melee Training (Dexterity) instead? Then you can put more points into Constitution and Wisdom.

Good thought! I'm also thinking of a feat to generate CA (hidden sniper, distant advantage, does cunning stalker work at range?), but I think I'm running out of feat slots, lol...

I'm going to be slowing / immobilizing off of both clever shot & disruptive shot, but I think (aside from an AP) it might be better to have an ally with world serpent's grasp than take it myself. I guess it's going to make a difference if I'm going to be trying to isolate a target or pile on with other characters (which will depend on what everyone else is playing).

Chainmail proficiency also looks much better than shield. Dunno why I didn't see that immediately.

 

[Gryph]

I'm going to be slowing / immobilizing off of both clever shot & disruptive shot, but I think (aside from an AP) it might be better to have an ally with world serpent's grasp than take it myself. I guess it's going to make a difference if I'm going to be trying to isolate a target or pile on with other characters (which will depend on what everyone else is playing).

I trained out of World Serpent's Grasp on my hunter. I found it works best if someone else in your party can also slow or immobilize. Having someone else take it to maximize your Disrupting and Clever shots is a much better idea.