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Making a Crossbow Expert
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<blockquote data-quote="kenobi65" data-source="post: 3025495" data-attributes="member: 1515"><p>You're probably going to need to go with a light crossbow. With a light crossbow and the Rapid Reload feat, you can get your iterative attacks (as well as use Rapid Shot), since RR makes reloading a light crossbow into a free action. This is the only way you're going to be able to keep up with your peers on damage output; without Rapid Reload, or with a heavy crossbow, you'll never be able to shoot more than once a round.</p><p></p><p>Going with Ranger as a class would give you some archery feats for free: at your level, specifically, you'll get Rapid Shot and Manyshot. Rapid Shot works just fine with a crossbow, assuming Rapid Reload. Manyshot, alas, won't do you any good, as the feat description specifically mentions arrows (as opposed to bolts). At 11th level, you'll get Improved Precise Shot for free, which can be a very nice feat. Since you're getting an important feat (or two) for free, you can focus your feat slots on some of the other important ones, which others have mentioned. OTOH, fighter gets so many bonus feats (as well as allowing you to qualify for Weapon Specialization)...I think I just talked myself out of ranger for this build. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>As frankthedm notes, the disadvantage you'll have (compared to using a "pull" bow) is that there's no crossbow equivalent to a "strength-rated" composite bow, so you'll be doing (at least a bit) less damage -- though, with your proposed build, you're only sacrificing 1 point per shot, as you'd only be able to use a Str+1 composite bow.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="kenobi65, post: 3025495, member: 1515"] You're probably going to need to go with a light crossbow. With a light crossbow and the Rapid Reload feat, you can get your iterative attacks (as well as use Rapid Shot), since RR makes reloading a light crossbow into a free action. This is the only way you're going to be able to keep up with your peers on damage output; without Rapid Reload, or with a heavy crossbow, you'll never be able to shoot more than once a round. Going with Ranger as a class would give you some archery feats for free: at your level, specifically, you'll get Rapid Shot and Manyshot. Rapid Shot works just fine with a crossbow, assuming Rapid Reload. Manyshot, alas, won't do you any good, as the feat description specifically mentions arrows (as opposed to bolts). At 11th level, you'll get Improved Precise Shot for free, which can be a very nice feat. Since you're getting an important feat (or two) for free, you can focus your feat slots on some of the other important ones, which others have mentioned. OTOH, fighter gets so many bonus feats (as well as allowing you to qualify for Weapon Specialization)...I think I just talked myself out of ranger for this build. :) As frankthedm notes, the disadvantage you'll have (compared to using a "pull" bow) is that there's no crossbow equivalent to a "strength-rated" composite bow, so you'll be doing (at least a bit) less damage -- though, with your proposed build, you're only sacrificing 1 point per shot, as you'd only be able to use a Str+1 composite bow. [/QUOTE]
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