Post/Author/DateTime	Post
krunchyfrogg 07-29-03, 09:45 PM	Question: In 3.0, using only the PHB, can an Elven Cleric of Fharlanghn make a decent Cleric Archer? Again, no splatbooks, no add-ons, just the PHB & DMG. I can't get Cat's Grace, nor can I get the Persistant Spell feat, but I'm thinking the character will probably still work (of course, not as well as the builds in the FRCS, but what can ya do?). The character starts being proficient in the Longbow still, I can wear heavy armor, and take the travel and luck domains (my two personal favorite domains). I guess I'd start with the Point Blank Shot feat, and possibly gear my skillpoints towards the loremaster PrC (I figure I can live with the lower HP, since I don't plan on entering melee). I might make the elf a wood elf, because I don't care as much about my INT as I do my STR. Please leave any input you can. Thanks!
krunchyfrogg 07-30-03, 08:56 PM	I'm starting to think the Loremaster PrC is a crappy idea. Has anybody attempted to play a Cleric Archer without the Elf domain? How'd it work?
Hammerhand 07-30-03, 10:12 PM	I would always take an elf for this type of toon.:behold:
krunchyfrogg 07-30-03, 10:34 PM	I'm asking if the class will "work" without access to the "Elf Domain," not the race "Elf."
PhaedrusXY 07-31-03, 12:40 AM	What do you mean will it "work"? Of course you can make a cleric archer without FR material. You could even make an effective cleric archer without FR material. But if you mean, "can you make a cleric archer AS effective without FR material as with it?" the answer is no. In 3.0 you're better off doing so than in 3.5, because the enhancement bonuses to arrows and bows still stacks. So with GMW you can get +10 to attack and damage just from two castings of that spell alone at higher levels (or not so high if you load up on things to increase your effective caster level). You'll also have a couple more feats to play with, since you won't be getting Persistant Spell, and Extended Spell is no longer absolutely required. Getting into a PrC would be easier because of this, but I'm not sure what you'd pick with only access to the PHB and DMG... I wouldn't go into Loremaster, because you're BAB would suck and that's one of the things you're going to be hurting for anyway with no Persistant Divine Power. I'd probably just go straight cleric. I think Travel is a good choice for one Domain, because it makes it easier to stay out of melee range and use your bow. Another good one might be Trickery so that you have Hide on your skill list (for sniping). Of course, you'd have to be a cleric who doesn't worship a particular deity to get both of those. If you're set on Fharlanghn, then I'd go Luck and Travel. If not, but you still want/have to pick a deity, I'd say Boccob would be a good one, for Magic and Trickery. Then you can use wizard items to get that Cat's Grace buff and alot of other stuff.
krunchyfrogg 07-31-03, 01:18 AM	Originally posted by PhaedrusXY What do you mean will it "work"? Of course you can make a cleric archer without FR material. You could even make an effective cleric archer without FR material. That's what I mean. I've already decided that I will be playing a cleric with feats geared towards archery, I just want to know if the character will be an effective one. I happen to think that he'll end up being a bit better off than a melee cleric, but I'm also selecting the archery idea because 2 out the other 3 party members are primarily melee types. Originally posted by PhaedrusXY I think Travel is a good choice for one Domain, because it makes it easier to stay out of melee range and use your bow. Another good one might be Trickery so that you have Hide on your skill list (for sniping). Of course, you'd have to be a cleric who doesn't worship a particular deity to get both of those. If you're set on Fharlanghn, then I'd go Luck and Travel. If not, but you still want/have to pick a deity, I'd say Boccob would be a good one, for Magic and Trickery. Then you can use wizard items to get that Cat's Grace buff and alot of other stuff. The DM will make me choose a Deity, and I agree with his ruling that a "godless cleric" is just silly. Thank you for the suggestion on Boccob -- I'll consider it.
Fawkes 07-31-03, 01:22 AM	krunch, I think with the limitation we have on our options, you'll need to evaluate what your party needs and go from there. The role of my character in our party is missile support, and secondary healer. I therefore needed to take the option that allowed the PC to do the most damage within his concept, as early as possible. If your party has another cleric, you might want to propose that you take one level of fighter first so you can get all three of the key archer feats in one fell swoop. You can then forget about improving the archery side and go straight Cleric the rest of the way. Otherwise, you'll be stuck investing your Cleric Feats in the archer feats, leaving none for other key things like metamagic.
Endarire 07-31-03, 02:16 AM	I recommend God of Travel for Travel and Luck domains. -EE