Psychic Warrior -- Longbow Specialist
- Thread starter Ogre Mage
- Start date
Gez
First Post
Well, as far as feats are concerned, the same as for any bow specialist: point blank shot, precise shot, rapid shot, weapon focus and weapon specialisation (c. longbow) are a must, far shot not bad at least. It you often meet opponents who use arrows, than the psionic feet which lets you catch and return arrows is cool, too (forgot the name).
If you rather want to be cool, then try combinating "shot on the run" and "up the walls". Then you can run up the wall, shoot your enemy from above and run back down again.
Prestigeclassing after you got weeapon spec into either Slayer for the BAB or Soulblade because it's cool are definitely an option. Pyro isn't interesting because the only ability you could use is weapon afire on a single arrow, and it prevents you from shooting more than one - just hiring normal arrows with rapid shot is far more damaging.
You could invest scores of points into tumble to leave a meele without AoOs and get into range combat again.
As far as powers are concerned: Thrust is a must, levitate is interesting. Animal affinity is a must for every Psi-User. If you have a generous DM, talk hin into allowing "cast missiles" from athas.org for you campain. It's balanced and the coolest lvl-0-power at the same time.
If you rather want to be cool, then try combinating "shot on the run" and "up the walls". Then you can run up the wall, shoot your enemy from above and run back down again.
Prestigeclassing after you got weeapon spec into either Slayer for the BAB or Soulblade because it's cool are definitely an option. Pyro isn't interesting because the only ability you could use is weapon afire on a single arrow, and it prevents you from shooting more than one - just hiring normal arrows with rapid shot is far more damaging.
You could invest scores of points into tumble to leave a meele without AoOs and get into range combat again.
As far as powers are concerned: Thrust is a must, levitate is interesting. Animal affinity is a must for every Psi-User. If you have a generous DM, talk hin into allowing "cast missiles" from athas.org for you campain. It's balanced and the coolest lvl-0-power at the same time.
Gez
First Post
OK. It's a dishonnest joke. I'm not Harzerkatze, the above post is not from me.
But I just founded it funny to have two similar discussion with two different peoples on two different forums, since Marid/Ogre Mage don't have the same name on both.
For "cast missile", I guess it's an equivalent power to Launch Bolt from Magic of Faerûn.
Launch Bolt
Launches a crossbow bolt up to medium range.
Transmutation; Sor/Wiz 0; V, S; 1 action; Medium range; Affect one crossbow bolt in your possession; Instantaneous duration; No save, no SR
You cast this spell on a crossbow bolt, causing it to fly at a target of your choice as if you had fired it from a light crossbow. Any properties of the bolt (such as magical abilities, masterwork quality, and so on) or feats you possess (such as Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (light crossbow), and so on) apply.
If it isn't more powerful than this, the DM should accept to put it in the psychic warrior list.
I don't think the Soulknife class would be interesting, since I believe the weapon of choice must be a melee weapon. Don't multiclass, or multiclass in fighter, weapon master, or initiate of the order of the bow. don't multiclass in a psionic prestige class, they suck (unless you use the revised, continuing psionic PrC).
But I just founded it funny to have two similar discussion with two different peoples on two different forums, since Marid/Ogre Mage don't have the same name on both.
For "cast missile", I guess it's an equivalent power to Launch Bolt from Magic of Faerûn.
Launch Bolt
Launches a crossbow bolt up to medium range.
Transmutation; Sor/Wiz 0; V, S; 1 action; Medium range; Affect one crossbow bolt in your possession; Instantaneous duration; No save, no SR
You cast this spell on a crossbow bolt, causing it to fly at a target of your choice as if you had fired it from a light crossbow. Any properties of the bolt (such as magical abilities, masterwork quality, and so on) or feats you possess (such as Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (light crossbow), and so on) apply.
If it isn't more powerful than this, the DM should accept to put it in the psychic warrior list.
I don't think the Soulknife class would be interesting, since I believe the weapon of choice must be a melee weapon. Don't multiclass, or multiclass in fighter, weapon master, or initiate of the order of the bow. don't multiclass in a psionic prestige class, they suck (unless you use the revised, continuing psionic PrC).
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<is playing a longbow specialist>
Feats:
Cosmopolitan: Spot
Point Blank Shot
Weapon Focus: Composite Longbow
Far Shot
Rapid Shot
Power Attack
Weapon Specialization
Powers:
Burst - Just 10 more feet to get you outta range of them melee fighters
Valor - If you've got the PP's, you can have a +1 to saves anytime you need it. As long as you remember to use it. Stupid Bodaks.
Combat Precognition - Why not? Hour/Level duration.
Animal Affinity - For Dex and Str if you are using a mighty bow, for Wis too if you are spot focused like Arteri Moonflow is (+35 to spot with a good AA roll, take 10 for 45 spot check, who do you think is on watch?)
Metaphysical Weapon - +6 to hit and damage with your arrows, no brainer.
Biofeedback - Good precaution.
Skate - Just 15 more feet to get you outta range of them melee fighters.
Combat Prescience - Have your eyes develop a heads-up display that gives you +2 more on attack for accuracy at long range or power attack.
Displacement - No matter how good your AC is (or bad) knowing your foe will miss you 50% of the time on top of your AC is a good feeling.
Catfall - Useful.
Float - Saved my butt. How many of your characters have enough skill points to toss around that they won't have to abandon all their gear if chucked in a river?
Feel Light - Just in case you get blinded. +1 more to spot.
Feats:
Cosmopolitan: Spot
Point Blank Shot
Weapon Focus: Composite Longbow
Far Shot
Rapid Shot
Power Attack
Weapon Specialization
Powers:
Burst - Just 10 more feet to get you outta range of them melee fighters
Valor - If you've got the PP's, you can have a +1 to saves anytime you need it. As long as you remember to use it. Stupid Bodaks.
Combat Precognition - Why not? Hour/Level duration.
Animal Affinity - For Dex and Str if you are using a mighty bow, for Wis too if you are spot focused like Arteri Moonflow is (+35 to spot with a good AA roll, take 10 for 45 spot check, who do you think is on watch?)
Metaphysical Weapon - +6 to hit and damage with your arrows, no brainer.
Biofeedback - Good precaution.
Skate - Just 15 more feet to get you outta range of them melee fighters.
Combat Prescience - Have your eyes develop a heads-up display that gives you +2 more on attack for accuracy at long range or power attack.
Displacement - No matter how good your AC is (or bad) knowing your foe will miss you 50% of the time on top of your AC is a good feeling.
Catfall - Useful.
Float - Saved my butt. How many of your characters have enough skill points to toss around that they won't have to abandon all their gear if chucked in a river?
Feel Light - Just in case you get blinded. +1 more to spot.
Roland Delacroix
First Post
hey, don't forget Fell Shot. For 5 PP you will be hitting Great Wyrms on a roll of 1+. Psionic Arrow (or whatever its called, friend has my PsiHB) is very important too since ranged attacks are more difficut to get the damage up, no Power Attack etc. Specialize and make sure you utilize the doube stacking of magic bow and magic arrows, +10 to hit and damage baby!
Zhure
First Post
Good Feats: Point-blank shot, Precise Shot, Far Shot, Rapid Shot, Shot on the Run, Weapon Focus. Specialization is free at 6th level, so make sure you take Weapon Focus in your chosen bow.
Good Psionic Feats: Fell Shot (makes ranged attack into a touch attack for 5 PP), Psionic Shot (adds 1d4 non-elemental damage to your arrow for 1 PP), Return Shot (Reflex save as Deflect Arrows plus can return fire an arrow as a move-equivalent action -- read the whole feat, with Deflect Arrows, your return attack bonus is equal to your total attack bonus plus your foe's total attack bonus!),
Other useful Feats: Speed of Thought, Psionic Charge, Up the Walls, Mental Leap, Sharpshooter (from S&F, gives +2 to hit any target with some cover; essentially takes 2 points of cover bonus away from target), Extend Power (making buffs last twice as long). Most of these are movement related, a must for good archers.
Powers:
0- Bolt, creates arrows
0- Burst, gain +10 move as free action
1- Call Weaponry, summon bows (up to +4!) and arrows
1- Lesser Metaphysical Weapon, grants +1 to weapon (not as useful at higher levels, but necessary at low levels)
1- Skate, not on the PsyWar power list, but it is listed as such in the power description. +0-30 move.
2- Animal Affinity, boost DEX like Cat's Grace
2- Combat Prescience, +2 insight bonus to all attacks
2- Vigilance, see even in magical darkness, albeit 10' limit
3- Metaphysical Weapon, +3 bow, +3 arrows
5- Graft Weapon, +1 unnamed bonus to hit and damage
Taking a few or all of these powers will make the PsyWar archer the equivalent of almost any other archer combination. While he has only a 2/3 BAB progression, he can more than compensate with his buffs and bonus feats. As an additional advantage, at 20th level, he can be dropped buck-naked into an encounter and in a few rounds generate his own weapons and ammunition, all at +3 or better.
Since the PsyWar can't afford all the suggested Feats, he should concentrate his powers on making up for lack of movement (Skate, Burst, Dimension Door, Levitation).
Hope that helps,
Greg
edit- I forgot Craft Psionic Arms & Armor. As a full-level caster (like a Bard, but unlike a Paladin or Ranger), he can make psionic weapons and armor, too. The above list of powers will cover most of the really cool ranged weapon enhancements.
Good Psionic Feats: Fell Shot (makes ranged attack into a touch attack for 5 PP), Psionic Shot (adds 1d4 non-elemental damage to your arrow for 1 PP), Return Shot (Reflex save as Deflect Arrows plus can return fire an arrow as a move-equivalent action -- read the whole feat, with Deflect Arrows, your return attack bonus is equal to your total attack bonus plus your foe's total attack bonus!),
Other useful Feats: Speed of Thought, Psionic Charge, Up the Walls, Mental Leap, Sharpshooter (from S&F, gives +2 to hit any target with some cover; essentially takes 2 points of cover bonus away from target), Extend Power (making buffs last twice as long). Most of these are movement related, a must for good archers.
Powers:
0- Bolt, creates arrows
0- Burst, gain +10 move as free action
1- Call Weaponry, summon bows (up to +4!) and arrows
1- Lesser Metaphysical Weapon, grants +1 to weapon (not as useful at higher levels, but necessary at low levels)
1- Skate, not on the PsyWar power list, but it is listed as such in the power description. +0-30 move.
2- Animal Affinity, boost DEX like Cat's Grace
2- Combat Prescience, +2 insight bonus to all attacks
2- Vigilance, see even in magical darkness, albeit 10' limit
3- Metaphysical Weapon, +3 bow, +3 arrows
5- Graft Weapon, +1 unnamed bonus to hit and damage
Taking a few or all of these powers will make the PsyWar archer the equivalent of almost any other archer combination. While he has only a 2/3 BAB progression, he can more than compensate with his buffs and bonus feats. As an additional advantage, at 20th level, he can be dropped buck-naked into an encounter and in a few rounds generate his own weapons and ammunition, all at +3 or better.
Since the PsyWar can't afford all the suggested Feats, he should concentrate his powers on making up for lack of movement (Skate, Burst, Dimension Door, Levitation).
Hope that helps,
Greg
edit- I forgot Craft Psionic Arms & Armor. As a full-level caster (like a Bard, but unlike a Paladin or Ranger), he can make psionic weapons and armor, too. The above list of powers will cover most of the really cool ranged weapon enhancements.
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Red Baron
First Post
All good advice above. One other thing you might consider is asking your DM if he/she'll let you modify the arcane archer class into a "psionic archer." Might give some other cool options once you're up a number of levels. Order of the Bow Initiate is always good too, though.
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Roland Delacroix said:
Believe me, I haven't. I just haven't got enough feats for it yet. But now that I got the sniper prereq's outta the way I can bounce back and forth between those classes as desired.
And because of the -1 to spot/10 ft range, and because of my +35 spot check I figure I'll have at that point, I'll actually be able to see what I'm shooting at when I snipe.
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