Help with a crossbow build tips

[Binho]

Hi, everyone.
I'm thinking about how would be a gestalt build based on crossbows and poisons.
First I though about two weapon fighting with two light crossbows, then discard them after shoot and draw a repeating heavy crossbow. My intend is to every bolt have poison in it. The flavor comes with it.
But then, I realize that this kind of build doesn't have WotC's love. Don't you guys have any tip about feats, prestige classes, internet handbooks or any tips that handle crossbow users?
I realize that this kind of build can be underotimized (besides starved for feats) and a bow would be far better option, but I want to see how good a crossbow build can be.

 

[Wyvernhand]

There is the Poisoner's Handbook.

I'd say your best bet is to go with something Psionic. You can use Psionic Minor Creation to create hundreds of gold worth of plant based poisons with a single manifestation. Now, that's a LOT too much, and it might make your DM scream, but you could voluntarily tone it back to say...1d6 doses per manifestation or something.

I'd say PsiRogue is your best chassis. PsiRogues do NOT get Psionic Minor Creation, but luckily you can poach it early with either Hidden Talent or Expanded Knowledge. Definitely worthwhile. PsiRogue also has tons of fun powers like Compression and Scout/Mobility/Info Gathering powers.

You'll WANT Crossbow Sniper (PHBII, IIRC) as a feat. That'll let you SA out to 60', and give you dex to damage, IIRC. Works well with Compression, since even though your damage goes down, your Dex goes up to compensate.

For a weapon, you'll probably want either the Great Crossbow for the awesome threat range (double that dex to damage), or the Hand Crossbow for the awesome Hand Crossbow Focus feat in DotU. It's Rapid Reload and Weapon Focus all rolled into one feat, which I suppose is a bit of a wash since you have to pay for EWP to use it. Still, Hand Crossbows are smexy and kinda gangsta.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Wyvern, it says right in the proficiencies that rogues are proficient with hand crossbows.

If Dragon material is available, I'd say take Dead Eye. And of course Crossbow Sniper. There's also a fighter variant in Dragon 310 called Targetteer, which gets dex to damage and an improved version of Rapid Shot.

Those options alone will get you 2.5x dex to damage and plenty of attacks. If you go Targetteer on one side and PsiRogue on the other you're pretty well set.

 

[Sekhmet]

Targetteer is a fantastic class, if Dragon Mags are allowed.

 

[Dozen]

For a melee backup, you might want to consider bayonets from Complete Scoundrel. A Cb with a sword bayonet doubles as a non-throwable spear. I'd also drop the attack penalty on'em(bluntly put, it's nonsense), though a -2 is something you can handle.

 

[radja]

alternatively, for a melee weapon you can use armour spikes. sure, damage may be a bit low at 1d6, but you can 'wield' them at all times without dropping your crossbow and they're hard to disarm.

 

[Dozen]

Not that I've seen much people without Defending Armor Spikes in the last decade, but this build won't be all that high on Strength. Let's say spikes and a bayonet.

 

[Nezkrul]

except that if he fires his xbow the armor spikes are nearly worthless, the bayonet isn't. Defending Armor spikes are just an easy +5 ac for 25,350gp.

I like this idea a little better: go PsiRogue all the way on one side and on the other do a Swift Hunter build, make sure one of your feats is Crossbow Sniper, and Swift Hunter, and you're golden. You'll get favored enemies, skirmish, AND sneak attack damage bonuses, along with 60 foot range for sneak/skirmish.

PsiRogue 1 - 20 /// Scout 3 / Ranger 3 - 17

 

[Grogg of the North]

Craft Poison (CAdv) could be done to create your own poisons. Make them from plants and flowers or what not.

If you're going to be using poison, just remember that there's a 5% flat chance that you'll accidentally poison yourself somehow. Assassin, Ninja and probably a few other classes give you Poison Use so you don't have to worry about it.

If you're going with Crossbows, then rapid reload is going to be your friend. A light crossbow with rapid reload will let you fire all you want without having to spend a round to load a new clip into the repeating crossbow.

Depending on how many feats you want, Precise and Quick Loading weapon enhancements (MIC) will give you precise shot and Rapid Reload.

For melee backup, there's a Bladed Crossbow in MIC (I think it was also in A&EG) that lets your crossbow act as a battleaxe too.

For classes, I'd probably do something like Fighter/Rogue or Assassin.

 

[xigbar]

Also remember the Splitting Enhancement, +3. Champions of Ruin, doubles how many attacks you get.