"Fixing" Order of the Bow Initiate [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Fixing" Order of the Bow Initiate [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ralp
06-25-07, 06:56 PM Order of the Bow Initiate, from Complete Warrior, is regarded as a poor prestige class on these boards. The criticism comes mainly from the fact that the primary class feature, Ranged Precision, can only be used as a standard action, so it can synergize with neither iterative attacks, nor Rapid Shot (which is a prequisite feat), nor many of the other otherwise appealing archery feats.

So, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to modify this class to be what it was apparently meant to be -- a solid, martial archery class.

The most obvious fix, to change Ranged Precision to an attack action, seems to be overcompensating. This would be a strictly better ranged sneak attack, with no flanking or flatfooted requirement.

Perhaps changing Ranged Precision an attack action, limited to once a round? Or in the same vein, an attack action that requires a swift action first to aim?

How about keeping Ranged Precision the way it is, and just upping the damage? For instance, +1d8 two of every three levels, instead of every other level.

Going in a completely different direction, what do you think of adding, say, a 5/10 spellcasting progression? (and leaving Ranged Precision alone) This would certainly limit the application of the class from "solid, martial archery" to something more restricted, but if it's not overpowered it would serve my purposes well.

I'm interested to hear your ideas, as well as your thoughts on the balance of these brainstorms. This is primarily for an NPC in my game, so it's actually not as important that the changes make the class all that interesting, but that would certainly be nice too. :)
deviknyte
06-25-07, 08:35 PM Ranged Precision is a standard action because it's just as if you used the many shot feat, so people don't need to complain that they aren't dealing 5d8 per arrow, because that's dumb. Ranged Precision is still usless though because Greater Many Shot is much better!
Ralp
06-25-07, 08:56 PM Ranged Precision is a standard action because it's just as if you used the many shot feat, so people don't need to complain that they aren't dealing 5d8 per arrow, because that's dumb. Ranged Precision is still usless though because Greater Many Shot is much better!

Right, and although I've never played one, that argument makes sense to me. What I'm looking for is a middle ground between "+5d8 as a standard action" and "+5d8 on every arrow".
deviknyte
06-25-07, 09:00 PM Sneak attack is d6's for special requirements. So if you want ranged precision (which works all the time I believe) downing it to d4's might be acceptable.
Chemus
06-25-07, 09:19 PM Why not use an integer? Like the swashbuckler, except that it's not predicated on an ability, but on your class level (+1 each class level, or otherwise). Alternatively, add extra damage dice, but at a slower rate (1/3 or so) ending up with +3d6 damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ralp 06-25-07, 06:56 PM	Order of the Bow Initiate, from Complete Warrior, is regarded as a poor prestige class on these boards. The criticism comes mainly from the fact that the primary class feature, Ranged Precision, can only be used as a standard action, so it can synergize with neither iterative attacks, nor Rapid Shot (which is a prequisite feat), nor many of the other otherwise appealing archery feats. So, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to modify this class to be what it was apparently meant to be -- a solid, martial archery class. The most obvious fix, to change Ranged Precision to an attack action, seems to be overcompensating. This would be a strictly better ranged sneak attack, with no flanking or flatfooted requirement. Perhaps changing Ranged Precision an attack action, limited to once a round? Or in the same vein, an attack action that requires a swift action first to aim? How about keeping Ranged Precision the way it is, and just upping the damage? For instance, +1d8 two of every three levels, instead of every other level. Going in a completely different direction, what do you think of adding, say, a 5/10 spellcasting progression? (and leaving Ranged Precision alone) This would certainly limit the application of the class from "solid, martial archery" to something more restricted, but if it's not overpowered it would serve my purposes well. I'm interested to hear your ideas, as well as your thoughts on the balance of these brainstorms. This is primarily for an NPC in my game, so it's actually not as important that the changes make the class all that interesting, but that would certainly be nice too. :)
deviknyte 06-25-07, 08:35 PM	Ranged Precision is a standard action because it's just as if you used the many shot feat, so people don't need to complain that they aren't dealing 5d8 per arrow, because that's dumb. Ranged Precision is still usless though because Greater Many Shot is much better!
Ralp 06-25-07, 08:56 PM	Ranged Precision is a standard action because it's just as if you used the many shot feat, so people don't need to complain that they aren't dealing 5d8 per arrow, because that's dumb. Ranged Precision is still usless though because Greater Many Shot is much better! Right, and although I've never played one, that argument makes sense to me. What I'm looking for is a middle ground between "+5d8 as a standard action" and "+5d8 on every arrow".
deviknyte 06-25-07, 09:00 PM	Sneak attack is d6's for special requirements. So if you want ranged precision (which works all the time I believe) downing it to d4's might be acceptable.
Chemus 06-25-07, 09:19 PM	Why not use an integer? Like the swashbuckler, except that it's not predicated on an ability, but on your class level (+1 each class level, or otherwise). Alternatively, add extra damage dice, but at a slower rate (1/3 or so) ending up with +3d6 damage.