Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nachatial 08-02-06, 11:13 AM	People, for an upcoming game, I get the rare opportunity to play a non-WotC (self build) prestige class. But since this game is fairly high-powered (no Pun-Puns or Cheaters of Mystra...but the ususal charge optimized Frenzied Berserkers and Ur-Priests), I will have to squeeze every ounce of cheese out of this class. Books allowed: All WotC+Legend of the Five Rings+ (maybe) Dragon Compendium. Race: I wanted to play a halfling....but this isn't set into stone Alignment: Try to be any non-evil...but if evil is the only way... The PrC's: Crossbow Marksman Bows are the deadliest ranged weapons in existence. Their supierior rate of fire and the possibility to build composite bows that are fitted for the strentgh of their wielders, easily compensate for the required training. Crossbows are not made for archers, they are easy to use ranged weapons for spellcasters and other unprofessional users. For the Crossbow Marksman, nothing could be farther away from the truth. The Crossbow Marksman approaches a different path in archery. Instead of focussing on barrage attacks, he improves his sharp eye, steady hand and knowledge about the anatomy of his enemies to launch a single, but deadly, shot from his crossbow. A masterful attack like this needs preparation and an unexpecting target, so every crossbow marksman is also a master in concealing himself. These requirements favor rogues and ninjas, so nearly all crossbow marksman have at least some levels in these classes. Also, an alarming number of crossbow marksman choose to advance in the assassin prestige class. Prereqs: Feat: Crossbow Sniper, Weapon Focus (any crossbow) Ability: Sneak Attack +1d6 Skills: Hide 8 ranks, Spot 4 ranks, Move Silently 4 ranks HD: d6 Bab: full Saves: Good Ref Skills: 4+Int Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex). 1 +1d6 sneak, Far Sneak 2 Sniper Shot: Distracting 3 +2d6 sneak 4 Sniper Shot: Accurate 5 +3d6 sneak Sniper Shot: Deadly Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A crossbow marksman gains no new weapon or armor proficiency. Far Sneak (Ex): At 1st level, a crossbow marksman's use of the sneak attack and sudden strike ability is no longer dependend on range. When using a crossbow, he can use these abilities against targets more than 30ft. away. Sniper Shot (Ex): At 2nd level, as standard action, a crossbow marksman can perform a Sniper Shot. A Sniper Shot is a normal ranged attack with a crossbow, that is enhanced by one or more abilities according to the classlevel of the crossbow marksman. All abilities only function against a target that is denied his dexterity bonus to armor class against this attack. In addition, the crossbow marksman needs a steady brace for his crossbow. Therefore he must lie prone while performing a sniper shot. Distracting: At 2nd level, every sniper shot performed by the crossbow marksman tricks the visual senses of its target. If the crossbow marksman uses his hide skill's sniping option while performing the sniper shot, his target suffers a -10 penalty to spot checks, made to spot the crossbow marksman, for one round. Only the target of the attack suffers this penalty. Accurate: At 4th level, every sniper shot performed by the crossbow marksman is placed with such precision, that the target looses any form of concealment or cover (except full cover) against it. Deadly: At 5th level, every sniper shot performed by the crossbow marksman is extremly deadly. If the attack is a successful sneak attack, the number of sneak attack damage dice is increased by the dexterity bonus of the crossbow marksman (at least 1). For instance, a rogue5/crossbow marksman 5 with dexterity 18 would deal 10d6 bonus damage with this attack (6d6 from class levels and 4d6 from his dexterity bonus). Build idea: rog3/ninja2/x-bow marksman 5/ninja1/bayushi deciever3/ninja6 Feats: Craven (+1dmg/Hd on sneak) Deadly Precision (reroll sneak attack 1's) Crossbow Sniper (preq. +1/2 dex on damage) Weapon Focus (preq. light crossbow) Improved Ini (preq) Equipment: Anything Dex boosting, Crossbow +1 and bolts +1 with as much abilities as I can tack onto them. This guy doesn't fire often, so the bolts can be expensive. Abilities of note: Sneak +7d6 Sudden Strike +5d6 Sniper Shot (all) Ghost step (invisible) Int to Initiative Evasion Any suggestions?
Pinky's brain 08-02-06, 01:14 PM	Nice PrC ... for a 1 level dip :) Can you use Champion's of Ruin?
Iron Klaw Merc 08-02-06, 02:21 PM	I think far sneak is a little to powerful, double the distance of sneak attack with a ranged attack to 60ft, but unlimited is to powerful. Plus I would put far sneak in the 5th level of the prc, otherwise its a one dip wonder type of Prc.
OGS-Remix 08-02-06, 02:27 PM	Nice PrC ... for a 1 level dip :) I agree with Pinky's brain. The class is good for a 1 level dip, and not much else. Being forced to use a Standard Action, which means 1 shot a round is really bad. Then throw in the Prone requirement and that just kills it. Optimized range attackers focus on either adding sneak/skirmish dice and getting as many shots as possible; or go with single massive criticals from Hunter's Mercy or Deepwood Sniper (3.0). I see that you have Craven as a feat, so you can use Champions of Ruin. Look for the Splitting enhancement as well. Also if you go Halfling, take the Halfing Rogue racial substitution level so you get extra ranged sneak dice.
Nachatial 08-02-06, 04:56 PM	Thank you for these initial thoughts. Although the Far Sneak ability is nice, it doesn't make a crossbow archer competitive. The PrC's is written as is and can't be changed (for good or worse). I can use any book named above and this includes 3.0 material. The longer I look into the possibilities the x-bow provides compared to other ranged weapons, the bleaker it looks: :weep: ....still we should try it! -Slow rate of fire (until you take rapid reload) -Hunters mercy can't be used with a crossbow. -The halfling rogue substitution is only for thrown weapons and slings ...but I also found some things that look less sad: -peerless archer abilities work with x-bow (although the class requires a bow proficiency tsts..) -deepwood sniper too (Kudos OGS-Remix) -the surprise round (!!!) Lets assume we can make this halfling very unassuming (sneaky)....he should be able to scout ahead and get a surprise round. During this surprise he has a standard action => a deadly,accurate and distracting sniper shot. During this surprise round he outperforms nearly any other archer (except maybe the deepwood sniper with hunters mercy). In the following combat, the halfling should change his tactic and go with barrage attacks...except against highly armored and/or highly concealed targets. For this strategy, I suggest this build: rog3/ninja2/x-bow marksman 5/peerless archer 4/deepwood sniper 2/ninja1/? 3 A nice sideeffect of this build are the various damage boni (from the crossbow sniper feat and from power shot) which are multiplied on a critical hit(17-20 x3) Feats: Abilities: sneak +5d6 ranged sneak +2d6 sudden strike +2d6 Sniper Shot (all) Ghost step (invisible) Power shot Keen x-bow/ x3crit Evasion For weapon enhancements, I will go with the splitting and exit wound special abilities. Any other suggestions?