how easy is it?

[jaelis]

Warforged with an armbow is a decent way to go. Gets you away from the two-hand problem.

 

[Jack Simth]

How easy would it be to make a crossbow- focused char.

I'm thinking for power, goliath with a great x-bow (3d8) does the most damage, specially if you're allowed to pay for it to be repeating.

from my knowledge it seems bows are favored and better to go with.


Can x-bows be as good?

thanks

At low levels? It's not too hard for them to be useful:

The 3rd level Two Weapon Fighting Rogue with two Hand Crossbows and Quickdraw can fire them both in the first round, drop them, and draw his shortswords. After battle's over, he retrieves and reloads them. This remains useful up until the point where he qualifies for multiple attacks on a proper bow.

The 1st level (non elven) Wizard or Sorcerer who runs out of spells switches over to a Light Crossbow - because the Wizard or Sorcerer gets the proficiency for free.

If you've got a strength penalty, then a Crossbow will usually work out a little better than a proper bow - because a crossbow ignores your strength bonus/penalty.

For the most part, though? Bows are superior to crossbows in D&D past around level 5 or 6 - and before then, for most builds.

 

[Shin Okada]

Warforged with an armbow is a decent way to go. Gets you away from the two-hand problem.

Armbow says "completely covering the hand". Doesn't that mean the hand cannot be used for other purpose?

 

[jaelis]

Armbow says "completely covering the hand". Doesn't that mean the hand cannot be used for other purpose?

Yes, but you don't need to load it with the other hand. So you could use two of them, or carry a melee weapon too.

 

[nittanytbone]

The ninja class has a little noticed high level ability to poison a weapon as a move action instead of a standard. Could be some synergy with an Xbow wielder, who may have a spare move action each round. Although I'm not sure its worth that many ninja levels...

I'd say to go with something that gives you bonus damage on each shot (bard song, ranger favored enemy, cleric's divine favor, rogue's sneak attack, etc) and do a standard Rapid Shot build. It'll cost you an extra feat (Rapid Reload) but works well with small, low STR races when a bow might not. A halfling, gnome, kobold, or goblin could be effective which such a build.