Best route for caster/archer? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best route for caster/archer? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheMoor
08-17-04, 02:32 AM What might be the best way to play a 3.0 caster/archer? I posted a thread in "What's a player to do" to help me decide on a good character. I finally decided on a sort of archery build but I'm not sure which type.

-Rogue/Wiz/ArcaneTrickster
-Fighter/Wiz/Spellsword(Spellbow)
-Fighter/Ranger/ArcheryPrC
-Cleric

Or another option I haven't considered?

1) I could be an Arcane Trickster focused heavily on magic(illusion and buffs for instance) This build would be very weak the first few levels though. It would be very versatile though.

2) I could be a semi serious caster with Spellsword. A higher BaB but I'd fall behind in the casting department compared to Arcane Trickster. Kinda mediocre at both fighting and casting.

3) I could take a traditional archery PrC w/ full BaB and just use ranger wands (Though I'm not sure how lenient the DM will be with wands and such. I wouldn't really be a caster in this case so I'll likely write this option off)

4) I could take the easy route and be an elf cleric. Not sure how much I like the flavor for this though. The cleric spell list seems inferior to the wizard spell list.

Thoughts? I feel like I'm comparing everything to the Arcane Trickster. It seems like it could be the most interesting/powerful at later levels, but incredibly weak early on. It would be pretty helpless if it got it's buffs dispelled too.

Please help me make up my mind! I'm looking for something fun from a mechanical and flavor perspective. Post any gaming experiences you've had with these combinations or any powergaming thoughts you have.

Thanks a bunch!
Sakris
08-17-04, 02:38 AM Arcane Archer or Cleric Archer or quite good...
TheMoor
08-18-04, 02:47 AM *bump*
PhaedrusXY
08-18-04, 03:16 AM Elf cleric. If you want to be "woodsy", look at the Master of the Yuirwood prestige class in the Unapproachable East. It also goes well with a sorcerer/archer.
PhaedrusXY
08-18-04, 03:17 AM Edit: Stupid boards are acting up. I almost never double post.
TheMoor
08-18-04, 03:20 AM Originally posted by PhaedrusXY
Elf cleric. If you want to be "woodsy", look at the Master of the Yuirwood prestige class in the Unapproachable East. It also goes well with a sorcerer/archer.

Do ya think full out caster level would be necessary? It looks like most good cleric spells(for an archer) are semi low level. Would you advise maybe splashing levels of fighter, ranger, or maybe deepwood sniper?

Master of the Yuirwood seems very campaign specific...know of any other woodsy classes that advance in caster level?

Thanks!
PhaedrusXY
08-18-04, 03:24 AM A compilation of build ideas for skilled clerics (Compiled at: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3267688#post3267688) .

Edit: What the heck... worked last time I used that link.

Oh well, I hate reposting the same stuff but when the links don't work...

Archers: Half-elf or Wood Elf

rng2/clr4/WindWalker10/MotY4 would be the best probably. That would get you 18th caster level, BAB +18, Uncanny Dodge and good skills

Rng2/Clr8/MotY10 Domains: Travel and Elf
BAB 15, caster level 18, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, Cha bonus to saves
Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature

Rng2/Clr8/MotY8/Contemplative2
BAB 14, caster level 18, HD 15d8 +5d6, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, PrC Domain, Immune to all Diseases, can reroll failed saves vs. enchantments.
Prereqs: Alertness, Survival 10, Know: Nature 5, Spot 8, Search 4, Know: Religion 13

Rng2/Clr8/WitchHunter2/MotY8 Domains: Travel and Elf
BAB 16, caster level 17, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Detect Evil, Smite, Kami's Grace, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot
Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Know: Arcane and Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature

Rng2/Clr8/MotY9/HolyLiberator1
BAB 16, Caster level 17, HD 19d8 +1d10, Speak with animals at will, Detect Evil at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, +2 vs. Enchantments, 1st level HolyLib Spells, Cha bonus to saves
Prereqs: Alertness, Iron Will, 10 ranks Survival, Know: Nature 5 and Diplomacy 5

Melee

Clr8/WitchHunter5/MotY7 Domains: Travel and Plant (or Animal), must be Half-elf or elf
BAB 16, caster level 17, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Detect Evil, Smite, Kami's Grace, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, Free Power Attack feat, Aura of Courage
Prereqs: Track, Alertness, 10 ranks Know: Arcane and Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature

Clr8/WitchHunter10/DivineDisciple2 Domains: Any 3
BAB 17, caster level 15, HD 20d8 (avg 93), 3 domains, SR 30 (28 at level 15), can use Divine Might feat, Detect Evil, Smite, Aura of Courage, Kami's Grace, Great Cleave feat chain, need good wis and cha
Prereqs: Track, Know: Arcane 10, Diplomacy 5, Know: Rel 8

Clr16/WitchHunter4
BAB 16, Caster level 17
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +14
Prereq: Track, Know Arcane 10
Special Abilities: Turn Undead (Divine Might), Detect Evil at will, Kami's grace, Smite Evil, Aura of Courage, Bonus Feat: Power Att

Rng2/Shuj6/WitchHunter10/DivineDisciple2
BAB 16, caster level 13, HD 6d4+14d8 (avg 79), PrDomain, SR 30 (28 at level 16), Detect Evil, Smite, Aura of Courage, Kami's Grace, Great Cleave feat chain, cha main stat, free Rapid Shot
Prereqs: Know: Arcane 10, Diplomacy 5, Know: Rel 8

Rogue Substitute

Rogue1/Ranger2/Cleric6/MotY9 BAB +14, Caster level 17
Domains: Magic and Spell, Patron: Mystra, Race: Half-elf
MotY has 4 skill points/level and Search, Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently and Survival as class skills. With Anyspell, you can cast Knock to open locks. With a high Search skill and a level of Rogue, you can find traps. You'll have to come up with some ingeneous way to bypass or disable them though. :) The only feat you'll need to purchase is Alertness, and no Cross-class skill points need to be spent if you pick up one level of ranger in the beginning and the second one right before MotY. I'm playing a cleric archer right now with a similar build to this and having a blast. It's nice to have good skills and still be able to cast powerful spells. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheMoor 08-17-04, 02:32 AM	What might be the best way to play a 3.0 caster/archer? I posted a thread in "What's a player to do" to help me decide on a good character. I finally decided on a sort of archery build but I'm not sure which type. -Rogue/Wiz/ArcaneTrickster -Fighter/Wiz/Spellsword(Spellbow) -Fighter/Ranger/ArcheryPrC -Cleric Or another option I haven't considered? 1) I could be an Arcane Trickster focused heavily on magic(illusion and buffs for instance) This build would be very weak the first few levels though. It would be very versatile though. 2) I could be a semi serious caster with Spellsword. A higher BaB but I'd fall behind in the casting department compared to Arcane Trickster. Kinda mediocre at both fighting and casting. 3) I could take a traditional archery PrC w/ full BaB and just use ranger wands (Though I'm not sure how lenient the DM will be with wands and such. I wouldn't really be a caster in this case so I'll likely write this option off) 4) I could take the easy route and be an elf cleric. Not sure how much I like the flavor for this though. The cleric spell list seems inferior to the wizard spell list. Thoughts? I feel like I'm comparing everything to the Arcane Trickster. It seems like it could be the most interesting/powerful at later levels, but incredibly weak early on. It would be pretty helpless if it got it's buffs dispelled too. Please help me make up my mind! I'm looking for something fun from a mechanical and flavor perspective. Post any gaming experiences you've had with these combinations or any powergaming thoughts you have. Thanks a bunch!
Sakris 08-17-04, 02:38 AM	Arcane Archer or Cleric Archer or quite good...
TheMoor 08-18-04, 02:47 AM	bump
PhaedrusXY 08-18-04, 03:16 AM	Elf cleric. If you want to be "woodsy", look at the Master of the Yuirwood prestige class in the Unapproachable East. It also goes well with a sorcerer/archer.
PhaedrusXY 08-18-04, 03:17 AM	Edit: Stupid boards are acting up. I almost never double post.
TheMoor 08-18-04, 03:20 AM	Originally posted by PhaedrusXY Elf cleric. If you want to be "woodsy", look at the Master of the Yuirwood prestige class in the Unapproachable East. It also goes well with a sorcerer/archer. Do ya think full out caster level would be necessary? It looks like most good cleric spells(for an archer) are semi low level. Would you advise maybe splashing levels of fighter, ranger, or maybe deepwood sniper? Master of the Yuirwood seems very campaign specific...know of any other woodsy classes that advance in caster level? Thanks!
PhaedrusXY 08-18-04, 03:24 AM	A compilation of build ideas for skilled clerics (Compiled at: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3267688#post3267688) . Edit: What the heck... worked last time I used that link. Oh well, I hate reposting the same stuff but when the links don't work... Archers: Half-elf or Wood Elf rng2/clr4/WindWalker10/MotY4 would be the best probably. That would get you 18th caster level, BAB +18, Uncanny Dodge and good skills Rng2/Clr8/MotY10 Domains: Travel and Elf BAB 15, caster level 18, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, Cha bonus to saves Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature Rng2/Clr8/MotY8/Contemplative2 BAB 14, caster level 18, HD 15d8 +5d6, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, PrC Domain, Immune to all Diseases, can reroll failed saves vs. enchantments. Prereqs: Alertness, Survival 10, Know: Nature 5, Spot 8, Search 4, Know: Religion 13 Rng2/Clr8/WitchHunter2/MotY8 Domains: Travel and Elf BAB 16, caster level 17, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Detect Evil, Smite, Kami's Grace, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Know: Arcane and Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature Rng2/Clr8/MotY9/HolyLiberator1 BAB 16, Caster level 17, HD 19d8 +1d10, Speak with animals at will, Detect Evil at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, +2 vs. Enchantments, 1st level HolyLib Spells, Cha bonus to saves Prereqs: Alertness, Iron Will, 10 ranks Survival, Know: Nature 5 and Diplomacy 5 Melee Clr8/WitchHunter5/MotY7 Domains: Travel and Plant (or Animal), must be Half-elf or elf BAB 16, caster level 17, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Detect Evil, Smite, Kami's Grace, Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, Free Power Attack feat, Aura of Courage Prereqs: Track, Alertness, 10 ranks Know: Arcane and Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature Clr8/WitchHunter10/DivineDisciple2 Domains: Any 3 BAB 17, caster level 15, HD 20d8 (avg 93), 3 domains, SR 30 (28 at level 15), can use Divine Might feat, Detect Evil, Smite, Aura of Courage, Kami's Grace, Great Cleave feat chain, need good wis and cha Prereqs: Track, Know: Arcane 10, Diplomacy 5, Know: Rel 8 Clr16/WitchHunter4 BAB 16, Caster level 17 Saves: Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +14 Prereq: Track, Know Arcane 10 Special Abilities: Turn Undead (Divine Might), Detect Evil at will, Kami's grace, Smite Evil, Aura of Courage, Bonus Feat: Power Att Rng2/Shuj6/WitchHunter10/DivineDisciple2 BAB 16, caster level 13, HD 6d4+14d8 (avg 79), PrDomain, SR 30 (28 at level 16), Detect Evil, Smite, Aura of Courage, Kami's Grace, Great Cleave feat chain, cha main stat, free Rapid Shot Prereqs: Know: Arcane 10, Diplomacy 5, Know: Rel 8 Rogue Substitute Rogue1/Ranger2/Cleric6/MotY9 BAB +14, Caster level 17 Domains: Magic and Spell, Patron: Mystra, Race: Half-elf MotY has 4 skill points/level and Search, Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently and Survival as class skills. With Anyspell, you can cast Knock to open locks. With a high Search skill and a level of Rogue, you can find traps. You'll have to come up with some ingeneous way to bypass or disable them though. :) The only feat you'll need to purchase is Alertness, and no Cross-class skill points need to be spent if you pick up one level of ranger in the beginning and the second one right before MotY. I'm playing a cleric archer right now with a similar build to this and having a blast. It's nice to have good skills and still be able to cast powerful spells. :)