Order of the Bow Initiate - quick question

[Jdvn1]

Color coding?

Or perhaps he has a quiver with the properties of a handy haversack.

Or Ehlonna's Quiver?

 

[atom crash]

Ehlonna's quiver -- or efficient quiver in the SRD -- doesn't have the ability to produce just what you're looking for, does it? You still have to pull it out, just as if from a regular quiver or scabbard.

Though IMC the bag of holding and quiver of Ehlonna both have that additional quality of a handy haversack. I believe that's how they functioned in earlier editions of the game.

Efficient Quiver: This appears to be a typical arrow container capable of holding about twenty arrows. It has three distinct portions, each with a nondimensional space allowing it to store far more than would normally be possible. The first and smallest one can contain up to sixty objects of the same general size and shape as an arrow. The second slightly longer compartment holds up to eighteen objects of the same general size and shape as a javelin. The third and longest portion of the case contains as many as six objects of the same general size and shape as a bow (spears, staffs, or the like). Once the owner has filled it, the quiver can produce any item she wishes, as if from a regular quiver or scabbard. The efficient quiver weighs the same no matter what’s placed inside it.

Handy Haversack: A backpack of this sort appears to be well made, well used, and quite ordinary. It is constructed of finely tanned leather, and the straps have brass hardware and buckles. It has two side pouches, each of which appears large enough to hold about a quart of material. In fact, each is like a bag of holding and can actually hold material of as much as 2 cubic feet in volume or 20 pounds in weight. The large central portion of the pack can contain up to 8 cubic feet or 80 pounds of material. Even when so filled, the backpack always weighs only 5 pounds.

While such storage is useful enough, the pack has an even greater power in addition. When the wearer reaches into it for a specific item, that item is always on top. Thus, no digging around and fumbling is ever necessary to find what a haversack contains. Retrieving any specific item from a haversack is a move action, but it does not provoke the attacks of opportunity that retrieving a stored item usually does.

 

[Ketjak]

Also it is a standard action to use it, so it can't be used with Shot on the Run. And its a single shot, so obviously it can't be used with Manyshot either.

Unless you're playing a 3.0 game, and using the old version of the PrC, it's definitely not overpowered.

Hmm, are we sure about that? It seems like Ranged Precision is considered an attack by the wording, and Shot/Run may allow that. Of course, I could be confusing Ranged Precison fluff with rules...

SHOT ON THE RUN [GENERAL]
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, Point Blank Shot, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: When using the attack action with a ranged weapon, you can move both before and after the attack,
provided that your total distance moved is not greater than your speed.

Ranged Precision (Ex): As a standard action, an initiate may make a single precisely aimed attack with a ranged weapon, dealing an extra 1d8 points of damage if the attack hits.

Grr. I guess I'm just trying to rationalize so I don't have to house rule an exception.

I wonder if that was the intent. The OOTBI is pretty clearly intended to be a mobile archer.

- Ket

 

[MoonZar]

This is a somewhat vague question... but one of my players is asking me via email if he can take a level in this PrC, but I'm not familiar with it. He's currently a 5th level fighter (can a 5th level fighter qualify for this PrC?), twinked out for archery. Already his damage potential per round is getting scary compared to the other players, who aren't really min-maxers at all.

So tell me about the Order of the Bow Initiate. Is it generally considered overpowered? How much will levels in OotBI increase his damage potential per round, as compared to if he just kept taking levels of fighter? Are there cool and interesting special features I should be aware of?

I wouldn't normally permit a PrC I've never read, but I also insist they have their new character sheet ready before the game, so I don't want to deal with this before the game starts next time. He just got the book that has this PrC in it, and it seems to fit his original character concept...

Hello,

Well the OOTBI in 3.5 is not as strong at the old one in 3.0 i think, but this still dangerous for an archer. If you say he's already scary if you compare to the other PC, why would you allow him to use something that will unbalance your campaign ?

Also does this order exist in your campaign world ? What he have to sacrifice to join ? What kind of responsability the order will ask him ?

 

[Arc]

Fighter > OotBI is hardly overpowered, if he goes straight through. If he's just in it for the two level dip, and plans to go into another ranged class (Such as Peerless Archer from Silver Marches, a more powerful PrC), then you might want to worry. Two levels with full BAB is a somewhat low investement for an ability that's equivilant to an epic feat (though the feat is rather underpowered). As it is, the class is very well balanced for a PrC (rare indeed).

To tell the truth, it sounds like your problem isn't the player or his character choices, but the reluctance of the rest of your group to optimize their characters. If making a combat ready character isn't their thing, they shouldn't be punished for it, but you might want to start guiding them towards beneficial choices. There are plenty of ways to take advantage of prestige classes and good feat combinations without changing the way you roleplay a character, and as the DM, you might want to start pointing this out to them.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Ranged Precision is one particular standard action (just like Manyshot).

The [Single] Attack action is another particular standard action.

The two cannot be used at the same time.

 

[MoonZar]

Ranged Precision is one particular standard action (just like Manyshot).

The [Single] Attack action is another particular standard action.

The two cannot be used at the same time.

Ranged precision prevent you from doing the full round action and fire all the attack you have so this not always so useful if you already have a good build.

 

[MoonZar]

Fighter > OotBI is hardly overpowered, if he goes straight through. If he's just in it for the two level dip, and plans to go into another ranged class (Such as Peerless Archer from Silver Marches, a more powerful PrC), then you might want to worry. Two levels with full BAB is a somewhat low investement for an ability that's equivilant to an epic feat (though the feat is rather underpowered). As it is, the class is very well balanced for a PrC (rare indeed).

To tell the truth, it sounds like your problem isn't the player or his character choices, but the reluctance of the rest of your group to optimize their characters. If making a combat ready character isn't their thing, they shouldn't be punished for it, but you might want to start guiding them towards beneficial choices. There are plenty of ways to take advantage of prestige classes and good feat combinations without changing the way you roleplay a character, and as the DM, you might want to start pointing this out to them.

Hello,

I don't really agree with this, i see thing completly the reverse. I don't think this a good idea to push people toward the prestige class. As the DMG say, we should discourage people to take too much prestige class in particular when they take only two level in a prestige class and change to another one just because this make the character stronger...