D&D 3E/3.5 Need help with 3.5 stealthy Sniper

[-Vortex-]

This is the first time posting so i apologize for any noobish behavior on my part.

So I'm getting into a new campaign with only 2 other players so we are making gestalt characters. In this campaign we are doing a primarily a stealth based game and I chose to make a sniper character that uses a long range crossbow.

I need help deciding what classes, races, feats, equipment, and enchantments would best benefit this build.

Any help, advise, and suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

This is the first time posting so i apologize for any noobish behavior on my part.

So I'm getting into a new campaign with only 2 other players so we are making gestalt characters. In this campaign we are doing a primarily a stealth based game and I chose to make a sniper character that uses a long range crossbow.

I need help deciding what classes, races, feats, equipment, and enchantments would best benefit this build.

Any help, advise, and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Can you tell us specifically what you envision your character doing? When you say "Sniper", what do you have in mind? Ranged attacker moving across the battlefield within 30' of enemies, Picking off enemies from over 100' away while buried in foliage?

When you say Long Range Crossbow, I don't know which weapon you are referring to. The Light Crossbow has a range of 80', the Hand Crossbow has a range of 30' and the Heavy Crossbow has a range of 120'. However, none of these weapons are very efficient due to the reload times. I'd be inclined to dissuade you from that particular weapon, but if you're set on it, which one are you referring to so we can best advise?

What books/material do you have access to when we consider suggestions? For example, Psionic Shot, Greater Psionic Shot and Fell Shot are all awesome ranged attack feats, but exist in Expanded Psionics Handbook.

If you were looking for a non-gestalt sniper build that could use a crossbow, I'd suggest the Swift Hunter build. Choosing that as one side and lining up the other side with something that supports the build may be nifty.

Another very different nifty Sniper is the Warlock. level 1 Eldritch Spear gives you a 250' range with no range penalty on your Eldritch Blasts. Load up the other side of the gestalt with something that will add to your damage. This will not, however, grant you any skill with a crossbow, you'll be blasting with raw arcane energy instead! This is just one of the many possible thinking-out-of-the-box builds that could be offered here if we know how open to tweaking your idea you might be.

Do you know what the other 2 players are building so we may suggest a build that may be complimentary to your allies?

 

[-Vortex-]

Well like you said i want him to pick off enemies from over 100' away while buried in foliage, and it doesn't matter if he uses a bow or a crossbow I just thought a crossbow would be more along the flavor of sniper, but any other suggestions would be nice.

As to my book list, its quite extensive so you can name anything and i probably have the book to get it from.

I did go over the warlock sniper idea but i decided it was too flashy for what we were going for.

I believe that one of the players is making a monk/fighter and the other one is making a ninja/rouge, but they are still in the process of character design so they may or may not make changes.

 

[Spatula]

3.5 isn't great at making long-range one-hit-kill snipers. Generally one pumps up the damage through sneak attack (which only works at close range) or skirmish damage from the scout class (which requires constant movement) or lots of attacks (which you can't do with a crossbow). You could maybe invest in a repeating crossbow, although really from a mechanical point of view, there isn't much point to using a crossbow over a bow (you can't use a bow while prone, but the stealth rules aren't really that exact).

As for classes, you could go straight ranger, or a mix of ranger/fighter, if you wanted to hold to the original concept.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hmmmm...snipers:

Arcanists with MM who go into Force Missile Adept or Argent Savant.

The Soulknife opens up the kineticist & soulbow PrCls, which are pretty nifty for snipers, and the Class acts from Dragon #341 has nifty mind blade shaping feats that can get you things like shields or lots of throwable "knives".

There are reserve feats that grant nifty weapon related force effects or actual ranged attacks.

There are variant Wizards with alternative class features that could work...not to mention simply being an orb/ray specialist.

Elves have bonuses with longbows, halflings with thrown weapons. Githzerai and some of the anthro races have Dex bonuses of +6 or more.

 

[-Vortex-]

Thats one of the problems i run into is that crossbows come with attachments but in combat is kinda inferior to the bows prowess.

the skirmish and sneak attack problem isn't my top concern since i can increase the range of them using the crossbow sniper feat which increases it to 60 ft away. (If i decide to use a crossbow.)

 

[Dandu]

The Archery Handbook should cover sniping. Going to warn you, some character concepts are an uphill struggle because 3.5 just doesn't handle them well.

 

[emoplato]

Thats one of the problems i run into is that crossbows come with attachments but in combat is kinda inferior to the bows prowess.

the skirmish and sneak attack problem isn't my top concern since i can increase the range of them using the crossbow sniper feat which increases it to 60 ft away. (If i decide to use a crossbow.)

Well, first there are a few tricks get some good base damage rolling as well as being actually able to consistently fire. These are the 2 main issues with crossbows. If you allow Dragon Magazine a fighter variant called a Targetteer that specializes in ranged attacks. You can automatically select two exotic ranged weapons. I would suggest hand and great crossbows. This seems redundant but very useful. As soon as you can get Hand crossbow focus unlike rapid reload this can be used multiple times a round but still is treated like the feat but only for the hand crossbow. Then get yourself an aptitude great crossbow, this enhancement allows you to transfer effects of weapon specific feats to this weapon. The Targetteer also can give more dexterity to damage. Later down the road to further fit the idea of a sniper Deadeye shot allows you to ready attacks so when others attack them they are flat footed to you.

 

[HoboGod]

First of all, Crossbows are for those that don't specialize in range combat. The reload time and inability to add your strength to damage makes the best crossbows only viable to combatants that don't wish to invest much into them and would only use them once per encounter. I'd suggest using a Composite Longbow or Composite Greatbow (Complete Warrior). If using a crossbow is essential to your character concept, ignore this advice completely, of course.

Most feats should be pretty obvious: Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Precise Shot, Able Sniper, Far Shot, and so forth. Outside the obvious, I'd suggest taking Martial Study from Tome of Battle and take the Cloak of Deception maneuver so you can shortly turn invisible as to hide when you fail your sniping attempt. Though to avoid failing your sniping, always try to hide as far away from your enemy as possible as to add the maximum penalty to their spot modifier.

Equipment-wise, I'd recommend a bow made of Deep Crystal, it's a great material enchantment that requires power points, but it's pretty much one of the only ways a ranged combatant can keep up with melee juggernauts and spellcasters. Boots of Speed are also a must. Strongarm Bracers (Magic Item Compendium) will increase the size of the bow you can wield. And when you can afford it, a the Splitting enchantment (Champions of Ruin) will complete any archer build. Also, don't forget to stock up on enchanted arrows.

In terms of classes, Ranger, Fighter, and Psychic Warrior are your best choices, but I'd recommend a 2 level dip in Ardent, mostly for the power points, but also to take the Conflict Mantle for a free Weapon Focus feat, Light and Darkness Mantle for darkvision, and the Mental Power Mantle for extra power points. As for Prestige Classes, many people will recommend Cragtop Archer for it's extended range, but boosting one's spot check to see farther than 195ft away (the first range increment of a Composite Greatbow with the Far Shot feat) is pretty outrageous to me and makes this Prestige Class all but worthless. My recommendation is Kensai, the ability to spend experience points instead of gold to enchant your bow means you can spend more gold on items that boost your dexterity and strength, not to mention more enchanted arrows.

 

[-Vortex-]

I like the Soulbow idea but is there a way i can get around the throw mind blade requirment?