Post/Author/DateTime	Post
michael_noah 08-19-04, 12:21 PM	Here are my current thoughts on a character that would primarily act as a scout, using a bow when fighting occured. I really dig the Horizon Walker's DD ability, and he also gets great bonuses to necessary scout skills, as well as a good skill list, so that's really the core of this build. I've read over kbssnowowl's stuff, and like a lot of it. I want to stay away from Hunter's Mercy, because, though I agree that it works by the RAW, I can't see my DM allowing it. There's also a possibility that I won't be allowed any FR, so Peerless Archer may be out (and it has crap for skills anyway). Because of this, I'm a little worried about finding ways to do damage with a bow (no power shot). I've considered Swashbuckler, but I don't know where to fit it. Anyway... Human Ranger 6/Horizon Walker 6/Knight of the Middle Circle 1/Dark Hunter 4/Deepwood Sniper 3 1 Ranger - Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot 2 Ranger 3 Ranger - Precise Shot 4 Ranger 5 Ranger 6 Ranger - Far Shot 7 Horizon Walker 8 HW 9 HW - Weapon Focus Composite Longbow 10 HW 11 HW 12 HW - feat 13 KotMC 14 DH 15 DH - Improved Precise Shot 16 DH 17 DH 18 DwS - feat 19 DwS 20 DwS You end up with: 1d6 Sneak attack 2 favored enemies Rapid Shot and Many Shot for free A couple of Spells Blind Fighting for free +2 to hit 1 opponent in combat Crit Multipliers +1 for projectiles Keen Arrows Poison Use Range Increment +30 feet And for scouting goodness: Dimension Door 1/d4 rounds +4 Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently 120 ft. Darkvision (underground terrain + Dark Hunter) Stonecunning +10 to hide, and Hide in Plain Sight when next to an earth or stone wall Track (and maxed Survival) So, does anyone have any revisions that would make this a little more viable in combat, any suggestions for the remaining feats, or anything I'm missing?
michael_noah 08-20-04, 03:31 PM	Perhaps I should be a Whisper Gnome?
SolitudeSeraph 08-20-04, 04:53 PM	Urban Ranger 2/Fighter 2/Ninja 1 (Anything that gives +1 BAB will work but ninja works best because of the will bonus and sa)/Order of the Bow Initiate 2/Peerless Archer 8/Deepwood Sniper 2/Order of the Bow Initiate 3 Best Archer Build in my opinion Peerless Archer can be converted (with some begging)..and it's abilities are great..power shot AND at level 8 you can threaten so it works great with all the sneak attack you have.... OotBI is good too because you get close combat shot... Urban Ranger is really good if you tend to be in more urban campaigns (duh) but in reality I like it because it allows you to use wands of invisibility (and other tiny goodies)
Lakom 08-20-04, 05:18 PM	A good scout IMO needs at least 4+int skill points (hide, move silently, spot, listen, survival) for the majority of levels. So I would suggest human rngr3/fight2/dws2/pa3/Ootb2/dws8 with hunter's mercy and greater multishot you'll be a killing machine. PS Sorry should have read more carefully your wishes! Whitout powershot form peerles arhcer I would sugest shiba to get wis to attack and damage...you can go rgr1/pw5/shiba1/dws3/IS10...6 levels of crappy skill points but at least damage is awesome...fell shot+greater manyshot plus with hussle and DD you can DD in take a greater manyshot with fell shot and DD out...that is IMO the strongest combo an archer can make in 3.5
michael_noah 08-23-04, 09:20 AM	I'll have to take a gander at the Urban Ranger (is this in UA?). Peerless Archer is pretty obviously the best archer (Power Shot), but I just can't live with more than, say, 3 levels of less than 4+Int skills. Ninja could also work, though my DM is often loathe to except it. Psychic Warrior is something I haven't thought of. My group doesn't generally use psionics, but something might be arranged.