Help creating legolas like character

[redwing]

I was looking to create a legolas type character for my next campaing (in a week...so i have a little time to think). I feel archers in D&D kinda get the shaft due to slow rate of fire and low damage. (basically only 1 arrow a round that can do only 1d8 damage)

as far as character goes it's going to be an elf (wow, what a suprise...).

what attributes need to be higher? of course dex. Maybe int or cha?

When using a mighty longbow that allows for str. modifiers for dam, can you use the feat weapon finesse to use dex mod instead?

theres a lot of archery feats to get. which ones should i start out with?

I was thinking about a pure class fighter. Any other ideas? (multi-classing/prestige classes---I've found archer PrC's to be a little weak compared to others.....well just by looking over them anyway, not actual gaming experiance.)

skills?

anything else?

 

[orbitalfreak]

I was looking to create a legolas type character for my next campaing (in a week...so i have a little time to think). I feel archers in D&D kinda get the shaft due to slow rate of fire and low damage. (basically only 1 arrow a round that can do only 1d8 damage)

You fire one arrow per attack granted by your Base Attack Bonus, and maybe more if you have Rapid Shot.

When using a mighty longbow that allows for str. modifiers for dam, can you use the feat weapon finesse to use dex mod instead?

For *all* ranged attacks, including bows (and their Mighty versions), you use your Dexterity modifier for the attack roll. You add your Strength modifier to damage rolls from thrown weapons (not applicable in your example, just a FYI). You add your Strength penalty (not bonus) to damage rolls from bows. However, if you have a Mighty bow (as you do), you are allowed to add your Strength bonus to damage (not attack rolls), up to the maximum allowed by the bow.

Weapon finesse is not necessary for use with a bow.

theres a lot of archery feats to get. which ones should i start out with?

I was thinking about a pure class fighter. Any other ideas? (multi-classing/prestige classes---I've found archer PrC's to be a little weak compared to others.....well just by looking over them anyway, not actual gaming experiance.)

skills?

anything else?

Fighter is a nice class if you want a lot of options and customizability in feat selection and combat style. You will likely have extra feats, so you can use a melee weapon as a backup and still apply some feats to it.

Feats: Point-Blank shot, Far Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus/Specialization, maybe Shot on the Run. Take Improved Critical, and I would suggest Improved Initiative as well.

PrC's: Order of the Bow Initiate and Deepwood Sniper are both nice.

Skills: For distance fighting, Spot is nice. Catch a glimpse of the enemy from several hundred feet off, and send a hail of arrows onto them as they close in on you.

 

[paulewaug]

I agree with the above statements and with regards to Stats/Attributes:
(ALL IMHO of course! )

Str. 14-16. A good strength is necessary for the use of that Mighty Bow, and you want to be able to squeeze as much of it out as possible. So anything over +4 would be wasted.

Re: Dex.
You want it nice and high, especially if you are going to try to “Be” Legolas, not wearing much in the way of armor, no shield; get the highest stat based bonus to your Bow Shots.

You’ll want at least a little bit of a CON bonus; an extra hit point per level helps.
By way of Intelligence and Wisdom I can see having some bonuses but certainly it is just more important to avoid having a penalty on either of these. The Wisdom helps with Listen and Spot checks. Also doesn’t seem to be weak willed or unintelligent. A few extra skill points are no big deal though.

He should have some kind of a Charisma bonus; Legolas is as much about Charisma as he is about Dexterity. Unfortunately in 3.0 there is not much reason for a PC to have much CHA if he is not a Cleric or a Paladin or a Sorcerer…Although you could have your Legolas” wannabe” take a level or more of one of these. I could see him having “True Strike” to make those “right between my teammate’s heads shots!” Just remember to avoid any “obvious magic” i.e. Magic Missile, etc.


I don’t know if you are using a “point buy” or rolling stats but hopefully this gives you some ideas.
Also…PCs take on a life of their own so don’t try to hard for your PC to “be” Legolas, just try to be “Like” him. It’ll be more fun!

 

[redwing]

I'm really sorry, I may be thick headed or something, but I just don't quite comprehend this.....

However, if you have a Mighty bow (as you do), you are allowed to add your Strength bonus to damage (not attack rolls), up to the maximum allowed by the bow.

from my feat cheat sheet (a comprehensive list of feats and a short description.....I don't have my PHB here in front of me) but for the entry Weapon Finesse:

Weapon Finesse PHB 86 SW 98

+1 Base Attack

Fighters may take this feat as one of their bonus feats.
You can take this feat multiple times (each with a different weapon).
A spellcaster may choose Touch Spells as a weapon type.
You may use your DEX bonus instead of your STR bonus on your
attack roll with one weapon.

So I just don't understand why, If I buy a Mighty Composite Bow with +4 str (and lets say my character has str. 10 -- +0 and dex 17 -- +4) why can't I take Weapon Finesse and use my dex mod of +4 to add to damage instead of my str. mod?


AND thanky you for your further explanations. Everything seems a bit clearer now. I like the idea of taking one class or sorceror or so and maybe just going with the prestige class Arcane Archer.

 

[arwink]

If you look at the feat description, you'll notice that it only talks about the attack roll, not the damage roll.

normally, with a hand to hand weapon, you add your strength bonus to the attack. With Weapon Finesse, you use your Dex bonus instead.

Basically, Weapon Finesse on the hitting part of the equasion, not on damage.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I'm going to point at the Fierce weapon special ability from A&EG and say "Oooooooh, pwetty..."

-Hyp.