Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gborogent 05-04-07, 08:19 PM	Another of my 'one-stat wonder' builds. Archer/cleric using Zen Archery. Not really sure where to take this one after I get it started. But I like the idea. I'd like to take it towards Order of Bow Initiate, but the archer feat pre-reqs require high dex. The beauty of this build is that it supplants the need for dex with wisdom. You can wear really nice, heavy, dex restricting armor and still be an awesome archer. I'd also love it if there were a diety with both a bow as a preferred weapon, and War as an available domain. It would go with the 'flavor' of the char, and get me that WF feat for free. so, critique the build concept, and/or tell me where you would take it from here. Human Str 10: Dex 10: Con 12: Int 10: Wis 18: Cha: 10 1) Fighter 1 Zen Archery, PBS, Precise Shot 2) Cleric 1 - Cuthbert, Domains: Destruction, Healing 3) Cleric 2 - WF (longbow)
Nerax 05-04-07, 09:05 PM	I'd also love it if there were a diety with both a bow as a preferred weapon, and War as an available domain. It would go with the 'flavor' of the char, and get me that WF feat for free. Solonor Thelandria CG Elven Deity of Hunting and Archery He doesn't really help your build though.... :D
gborogent 05-04-07, 10:20 PM	I am not playing this char yet, so any suggestion can help. If I went with an elven build tho i lose the trifecta of feats that make this thing effective from day 1. Also i have to keep up with fighter or pay xp penalty. As-is i can use it as an intro class and leave it be if i want. Besides I do think I found a diety that suits me better phaulkon, is worshiped by the Suel, favored wepons is the longbow and has the war domain So it becomes Human-Suel Str 10: Dex 10: Con 12: Int 10: Wis 18: Cha: 10 1) Fighter 1 Zen Archery, PBS, Precise Shot 2) Cleric 1 - Phaulkon War and Sky domains
copper_wyrmling 05-04-07, 10:42 PM	I am not playing this char yet, so any suggestion can help. If I went with an elven build tho i lose the trifecta of feats that make this thing effective from day 1. Also i have to keep up with fighter or pay xp penalty. As-is i can use it as an intro class and leave it be if i want. Besides I do think I found a diety that suits me better phaulkon, is worshiped by the Suel, favored wepons is the longbow and has the war domain So it becomes Human-Suel Str 10: Dex 10: Con 12: Int 10: Wis 18: Cha: 10 1) Fighter 1 Zen Archery, PBS, Precise Shot 2) Cleric 1 - Phaulkon War and Sky domains Unfortunately, I don't think you can possibly call yourself an "awesome archer" without rapid shot and with only 1d8+1 damage / shot (when within 30ft). You'll hit really well with ranged touch attacks, but your arrows just won't do enough damage to matter past the lowest levels. I'd definitely take some points from Wisdom and invest in Strength, and maybe Charisma. A good Charisma would allow the Divine Might feat at higher levels, which is nice on an archer (add Cha bonus to damage on all attacks for a round). Similarly, you'll want high Str to augment your bow damage. Dropping Wis down to 15 would let you put both Str and Cha to 14, or you could do Wis 15 Cha 8 Str 16 (divine might is a bit feat-expensive for a cleric archer). No Rapid Shot is pretty painful though :(
Dr.Cornelius 05-04-07, 11:56 PM	There was an interesting Cleric Archer build in one of the Archer posts recently - I think it was something like "What's new for Archers", but I cannot locate the thread. Look around - its probably still out there. Other comments: 1)Wood Elf might work, and Solnor Thelanria is a very good diety for Cleric/Archer. 2)You need at least 14 STR. 3) Since you are not planning on casting many spells that require saves, you really don't need to max out WIS. Start with 15-16 and keep up with spell levels by purchasing the Periapt of Wisdom.
Nerax 05-05-07, 11:29 AM	I have a Cleric Archer: Wood Elf of Solonor War/Celerity Str 14 Dex 16 Con 10 Wis 15 Cha 8 1 Ranger, PBS, Track 2 Cleric, WF Longbow 3 Cleric, PS 4 Cleric, +1 Wis 5 Ranger, Rapid Shot 6 Cleric, Augment Healing 7 Cleric 8 Cleric, +1 Wis.....(This is were I am at right now) 9 Seeker of the Misty Isle (Yay, I finally got access!), Feat??? (Craft Arms and Armor or Praticed Spellcaster) 10 SotMI 11 SotMI 12 SotMI, Magic of the Land???, +1 Wis 13 SotMI 14 SotMI 15 SotMI, Quicken :D
ragecage79 05-05-07, 12:36 PM	Another of my 'one-stat wonder' builds. Archer/cleric using Zen Archery. Not really sure where to take this one after I get it started. But I like the idea. I'd like to take it towards Order of Bow Initiate, but the archer feat pre-reqs require high dex. The beauty of this build is that it supplants the need for dex with wisdom. You can wear really nice, heavy, dex restricting armor and still be an awesome archer. I'd also love it if there were a diety with both a bow as a preferred weapon, and War as an available domain. It would go with the 'flavor' of the char, and get me that WF feat for free. so, critique the build concept, and/or tell me where you would take it from here. Human Str 10: Dex 10: Con 12: Int 10: Wis 18: Cha: 10 1) Fighter 1 Zen Archery, PBS, Precise Shot 2) Cleric 1 - Cuthbert, Domains: Destruction, Healing 3) Cleric 2 - WF (longbow) I have a cleric archer of Phaulkon Ftr2/Clr 4 so far. PBS, Precise, Rapid Shot, Zen Archery, Practiced SpC. War and Air domains. I haven't yet decided if it would be worth taking two more levels of fighter to get Weapon Spec. and Ranged Weapon Mastery or to go full caster level out. I have access to Ruathar, so that will probably happen. He's a very viable build up to this point. So far the key for me has been to focus on using my bow with the spells supplementing my attacks. However, as he's coming into the range to be more useful as a caster, I'm drifting away from the archer side. You will come to a point where you have to choose. I am also having a difficult time choosing if I want quicken (to allow for full attack actions and casting) or smiting spell (to deliver inflicts and such via bow). Both of these, I would assume, would hinge on whether or not I pursue Ranged Weapon Mastery.
MatteBlack 05-05-07, 02:43 PM	I played a plate wearing half-elf cleric of Solonor in 3.0 and the combo played really well. It's harder to pull off now in LG and 3.5 changed some of the real goodness of it. Unfortunately, LG does not allow the elf domain that really helped make the concept work. It's still a sound concept though. If you can keep full casting levels and take the archery feats as they come slowly, you always have something to do. Cast or take a full attack action with numerous arrows from wearever you are. But, it does basically require 4, possibly 5, feats. Lee
Dr.Cornelius 05-05-07, 04:29 PM	I have a Cleric Archer: Wood Elf of Solonor War/Celerity Str 14 Dex 16 Con 10 Wis 15 Cha 8 1 Ranger, PBS, Track 2 Cleric, WF Longbow 3 Cleric, PS 4 Cleric, +1 Wis 5 Ranger, Rapid Shot 6 Cleric, Augment Healing 7 Cleric 8 Cleric, +1 Wis.....(This is were I am at right now) 9 Seeker of the Misty Isle (Yay, I finally got access!), Feat??? (Craft Arms and Armor or Praticed Spellcaster) 10 SotMI 11 SotMI 12 SotMI, Magic of the Land???, +1 Wis 13 SotMI 14 SotMI 15 SotMI, Quicken :DArchers are starved for Feats and I don't think Augment Healing is worth it at 6th level. Think of your character as a Archer who can cast some Cleric spells, rather than a Cleric. In combat you should be shooting, not healing. Outside combat you can cast some utility spells and after combat you can heal a bit. Augment Healing is more useful with a full-progression Cleric/Favored Soul/Healer, but your character is down two levels in spellcasting. Leave the heavy healing to the primary healer in the party. Ragecage79 - I would not recommend falling more than one level behind full spellcasting progression. The danger in splitting classes is that the total does not add up. For example, Ranger 2/Fighter 2/Cleric 4 has 8 levels but overall is nowhere near as strong as a Ranger/Ftr 8 or Cleric 8. The 4/4 mix is probably about as effective as a 7th level character. I saw a strong Archer build with full Cleric levels a while back. IIRC it skipped some of the usual feats out of necessity but made up for it with strong spells. Maybe the author will reprint here.
Nerax 05-05-07, 04:49 PM	Archers are starved for Feats and I don't think Augment Healing is worth it at 6th level. I agree with you...but (see below) Think of your character as a Archer who can cast some Cleric spells, rather than a Cleric. In combat you should be shooting, not healing. Outside combat you can cast some utility spells and after combat you can heal a bit. This is what I normally did and still do....but Augment Healing is more useful with a full-progression Cleric/Favored Soul/Healer, but your character is down two levels in spellcasting. Leave the heavy healing to the primary healer in the party. I am the primary healer in our current party configuration and unfortunately it wont be changing much this year as he is in RHoD. I needed a little more umph for when the s?!$ hits the fan. Our other party healers are: Cleric/Fighter/Pious Templer (Tank) (primary healing recipient) Character with a couple of Bard levels Paladin/Ranger...(just lay-on-hands) After RHoD I am probablly going to retrain out of it. :D
Dr.Cornelius 05-05-07, 05:02 PM	I see - your party is trying to make due with 1/2 a Cleric. A party will always be stronger with a dedicated Buff/Heal character, but not enough people are interested in that role. So 1/2 Cleric and a few misc heals will have to do. Another option is to have a high-charisma character take Leadership and get a Cleric cohort. Not as good as a PC Cleric, but better than nothing.
mowaca 05-08-07, 08:58 PM	Wood Elf of Rillifane Rallathill Travel/Celerity Finish with 4 domains, only lose one caster level. Str 14 Dex 16 Con 10 Int 10 Wis 16 Cha 8 1 Cleric, PBS 2 Cleric 3 Cleric, Rapid Shot 4 Cleric, +1 Wis 5 Cleric, 6 SotMI, CWI 7 SotMI, Retrain Travel for Mysticism (not sure if this works) 8 SotMI, +1 Wis 9 SotMI, Zen Archery 10 SotMI 11 SotMI 12 SotMI, Quicken Spell, +1 Wis 13 SotMI 14 SotMI 15 SotMI, ?
paigeoliver 05-09-07, 07:52 AM	Ok, A cleric archer is NOT going to be casting in combat. You are for out of combat healing. Try this Human STR 14 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 8 CHA 14 Every level 1-12 is favored soul. Don't take any spells with savings throws, as your DCs will be low. Take the cure spell of every level and buff/utility spells. Bump dex at 4 and 8, bump charisma at 12, that combined with a cloak +2 will mean you can cast 7th level spells. 1. Point blank shot, precise shot. 3. Rapid shot, weapon focus. 6. Craft magic arms and armor (or something else). 9. Woodland archer. 12. Weapon Specialization, Ranged Weapon Mastery piercing. 15. Improved Precise Shot. The craft arms and armor is because archers usually spend a huge amount of their gold on a bow, and being able to craft your own can really make for one MONSTER bow.
Lupo 05-10-07, 03:47 AM	Ok, A cleric archer is NOT going to be casting in combat. You are for out of combat healing. Try this Human STR 14 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 8 CHA 14 Every level 1-12 is favored soul. Don't take any spells with savings throws, as your DCs will be low. Take the cure spell of every level and buff/utility spells. Bump dex at 4 and 8, bump charisma at 12, that combined with a cloak +2 will mean you can cast 7th level spells. 1. Point blank shot, precise shot. 3. Rapid shot, weapon focus. 6. Craft magic arms and armor (or something else). 9. Woodland archer. 12. Weapon Specialization, Ranged Weapon Mastery piercing. 15. Improved Precise Shot. The craft arms and armor is because archers usually spend a huge amount of their gold on a bow, and being able to craft your own can really make for one MONSTER bow. switch around str and dex, DAMAGE is the weak spot with archers most of the time, seldom hitting ;) stat boosts into str as well, giving you a +4 str bow at level 8, the time when you finally have the money and hopefully access to the nice weapon enchantments :) all that is missing now is a prestige class with full caster progression and near to no prerequisites :D. ciao martin m.
paigeoliver 05-10-07, 07:43 AM	Normally I would suggest higher str than dex but an archer with 3/4 progression doesn't have the hit bonus that a full bab archer does. The fact that they will easily be sitting on a +5 equivalent bow around 8th - 10th level should cover the damage just fine.
Mithrus 05-10-07, 08:14 AM	1. Point blank shot, precise shot. 3. Rapid shot, weapon focus. 6. Craft magic arms and armor (or something else). 9. Woodland archer. 12. Weapon Specialization, Ranged Weapon Mastery piercing. 15. Improved Precise Shot. The craft arms and armor is because archers usually spend a huge amount of their gold on a bow, and being able to craft your own can really make for one MONSTER bow. My main is an archer, and I can tell you straight up that crafting, while great in theory, isn't worth the feat slot for this character. If you can qualify for it (I don't have RotW handy), getting woodland archer at 6th would work much better for you. As for what to take at 9th, Ranged Pin can work wonders. It's unfortunate you have to wait until 15th for IPS, but that BAB req forces the issue :(
katrick 05-14-07, 02:15 PM	I agree with you...but (see below) This is what I normally did and still do....but I am the primary healer in our current party configuration and unfortunately it wont be changing much this year as he is in RHoD. I needed a little more umph for when the s?!$ hits the fan. Our other party healers are: Cleric/Fighter/Pious Templer (Tank) (primary healing recipient) Character with a couple of Bard levels Paladin/Ranger...(just lay-on-hands) After RHoD I am probablly going to retrain out of it. :D I hope everyone in your party has a Wand???? Katrick