Cleric/Archer build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cleric/Archer build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
scottaeb13
10-02-06, 04:55 AM One of my players has a cleric who fights with a bow. He is looking to add classes or prestige classes to help him become a better archer without sacrificing his growth as a cleric. What are some good ways for him to build his character. He is currently a 9th level cleric, but has some advancement to do. Thank you for your help.
runestar
10-02-06, 07:53 AM Go straight cleric20. :)

What is your race/domain choices etc?

I recall an elf cleric archer build. It chose elf for access to the war and elf domains, netting point blank shot and weapon focus: bow as bonus feats, and to qualify for the otherworldly regional feat, which makes you a native outsider, letting you polymorph into an arrow demon.:) Divine power makes up for your 3/4 bab.
frasmage
10-02-06, 09:27 AM My suggestion -> go straight cleric (or any cleric PrC), but take the zen archery feat (CW), which lets you apply your wis to ranged attacks, rather than dex. That way you can maximize your stats and get the most out of heavy armor
The_Shaman
10-02-06, 01:27 PM Hm, prestige ranger is fun, but he'd lose at least 4-5 caster levels, iirc. Seeker of the Misty Isle won't do either, since you also lose a few levels here and there (although bonus domains and the other abilities are fun as well), although you could take the first 4 levels if you can meet the prerequisites: you lose little, and gain a few abilities and quite a few skill points. Anyway, if you can find something to give him 4+ levels of full BAB with no or little loss in caster levels, he can get to BAB of 16+ - meaning 1 more attack per round. Oh, and do try to include improved rapid shot in the game... it's quite fun. I don't know if any divine spell will give you the extra attacks, I suppose not. Then again, it's your call.

If you have a friend that has every book in existance, or is a master of making PrCs, you should check if there are any specialist priest PrCs like those in Faiths and Pantheons I mean, they have specialists of Lloth and Eilistraee, so it shouldn't be impossible... Heck, they even have a specialty priest of a dead god, Myrkul. Unfortunately, I've seen no classes tied to the elven archery god, Solonor, or to Shevarash (the other elven deity with a bow as a typical weapon), and classes dedicated to Corellon tend towards the sword.

On a side note, does anyone else find it strangely how few classes offer full BAB and divine spell progression? There are actually more than a few that mix arcane magic and combat, but divine casters are apparently considered strong enough that they shouldn't get anything more without sacrificing spellcasting. The best I can come up is the dragonslayer - in 5 levels you lose "only" two spellcasting levels, gain immunity to fear (like the paladin's aura) and some energy resistance.
Seerow
10-02-06, 01:29 PM First two posters got it. Your spells will do more for Archery than just about any prestige class you can get into. Zen Archery fixes the problem of not having the points for Dex as a cleric.

Personally, I prefer Travel domain over Elf. But that's because I see having Fly, Teleport, etc as far more useful than Point Blank Shot.
TrajanCavalous
10-02-06, 02:38 PM go straight cleric (or any cleric PrC), but take the zen archery feat (CW),

I'll add another affirmation for that build. A fantastic character to play. Extremely powerful and versatile.

The only other class potentially worth taking is if you go Exotic Weapon Prof Great Bow and then 1 level of Exotic Weapon Master for the Close Combat Shot trick. If you are in dungeons a lot or other close quarters and you have a smaller party it is worth it.

And at level 8 or higher make sure you have a +1 bow with as many enhancements as you can afford (Holy is very good to start with) and then use Greater Magic Weapon. GMW should let you end up with an insane bow by level 20.
scottaeb13
10-09-06, 04:06 AM Thank you all for the suggestions. I will bring these to his attention.
Elemental_Master
10-09-06, 12:45 PM Considering they've already started the build i'm pretty sure Zen archery won't help as the Dex is probably pretty high already.
Mr_Spicoli
10-16-06, 09:37 AM What book is the elf domain located in?

What books are Solonor, or Shevarash (the other elven deity with a bow as a typical weapon) located in.

What book is Zen archery located in?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
scottaeb13 10-02-06, 04:55 AM	One of my players has a cleric who fights with a bow. He is looking to add classes or prestige classes to help him become a better archer without sacrificing his growth as a cleric. What are some good ways for him to build his character. He is currently a 9th level cleric, but has some advancement to do. Thank you for your help.
runestar 10-02-06, 07:53 AM	Go straight cleric20. :) What is your race/domain choices etc? I recall an elf cleric archer build. It chose elf for access to the war and elf domains, netting point blank shot and weapon focus: bow as bonus feats, and to qualify for the otherworldly regional feat, which makes you a native outsider, letting you polymorph into an arrow demon.:) Divine power makes up for your 3/4 bab.
frasmage 10-02-06, 09:27 AM	My suggestion -> go straight cleric (or any cleric PrC), but take the zen archery feat (CW), which lets you apply your wis to ranged attacks, rather than dex. That way you can maximize your stats and get the most out of heavy armor
The_Shaman 10-02-06, 01:27 PM	Hm, prestige ranger is fun, but he'd lose at least 4-5 caster levels, iirc. Seeker of the Misty Isle won't do either, since you also lose a few levels here and there (although bonus domains and the other abilities are fun as well), although you could take the first 4 levels if you can meet the prerequisites: you lose little, and gain a few abilities and quite a few skill points. Anyway, if you can find something to give him 4+ levels of full BAB with no or little loss in caster levels, he can get to BAB of 16+ - meaning 1 more attack per round. Oh, and do try to include improved rapid shot in the game... it's quite fun. I don't know if any divine spell will give you the extra attacks, I suppose not. Then again, it's your call. If you have a friend that has every book in existance, or is a master of making PrCs, you should check if there are any specialist priest PrCs like those in Faiths and Pantheons I mean, they have specialists of Lloth and Eilistraee, so it shouldn't be impossible... Heck, they even have a specialty priest of a dead god, Myrkul. Unfortunately, I've seen no classes tied to the elven archery god, Solonor, or to Shevarash (the other elven deity with a bow as a typical weapon), and classes dedicated to Corellon tend towards the sword. On a side note, does anyone else find it strangely how few classes offer full BAB and divine spell progression? There are actually more than a few that mix arcane magic and combat, but divine casters are apparently considered strong enough that they shouldn't get anything more without sacrificing spellcasting. The best I can come up is the dragonslayer - in 5 levels you lose "only" two spellcasting levels, gain immunity to fear (like the paladin's aura) and some energy resistance.
Seerow 10-02-06, 01:29 PM	First two posters got it. Your spells will do more for Archery than just about any prestige class you can get into. Zen Archery fixes the problem of not having the points for Dex as a cleric. Personally, I prefer Travel domain over Elf. But that's because I see having Fly, Teleport, etc as far more useful than Point Blank Shot.
TrajanCavalous 10-02-06, 02:38 PM	go straight cleric (or any cleric PrC), but take the zen archery feat (CW), I'll add another affirmation for that build. A fantastic character to play. Extremely powerful and versatile. The only other class potentially worth taking is if you go Exotic Weapon Prof Great Bow and then 1 level of Exotic Weapon Master for the Close Combat Shot trick. If you are in dungeons a lot or other close quarters and you have a smaller party it is worth it. And at level 8 or higher make sure you have a +1 bow with as many enhancements as you can afford (Holy is very good to start with) and then use Greater Magic Weapon. GMW should let you end up with an insane bow by level 20.
scottaeb13 10-09-06, 04:06 AM	Thank you all for the suggestions. I will bring these to his attention.
Elemental_Master 10-09-06, 12:45 PM	Considering they've already started the build i'm pretty sure Zen archery won't help as the Dex is probably pretty high already.
Mr_Spicoli 10-16-06, 09:37 AM	What book is the elf domain located in? What books are Solonor, or Shevarash (the other elven deity with a bow as a typical weapon) located in. What book is Zen archery located in?