Occult Slayer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Occult Slayer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nagareth
05-13-07, 03:56 PM I'm looking into building an Occult slayer in Living Greyhawk. Right now the builds that I have are:

Half-Orc Barbarian 2/ Fighter 8/ Occult Slayer 5

Starting stats

Str 18
Dex 14 (16 by level 8)
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 10
Cha 6

The weapon I bond with will be a composite Longbow so I can get casters from afar.

Human Barbarian 2/ Fighter 8/ Occult Slayer 5

Starting stats

Str 16
Dex 14 (16 by level 8)
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 8

If you have any ideas on Occult slayer builds that would optimize the bow vs. a caster and a greatsword for basic fights please share your advice.

Thank you :)
nobodez
05-13-07, 08:12 PM I actually recommend a level or two of Hexblade. Sure you won't be able to use the Curse (since it's DC will be much too low), but the Will saves, the save bonus, and Mettle are all very good.

I've got a Ranger 2/Hexblade 3 that's headed for Rgr 2/Hex 3/OS 5/xx 5.
Timlagor
05-13-07, 10:59 PM Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf?
Lomiat
05-14-07, 12:32 AM Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf?

I thought about that one, too, but it seems he wanted 2 levels of Barbarian for rage and uncanny dodge, then many levels of Fighter for the feats and Weapon Specialization/Weapon Mastery (supposedly). Wood-elf would leave him with an XP and GP hit unless he went Barb3/Fighter4/PrCsX (which isn't a bad route, btw, especially with Wildrunner and Occult Slayer available to wrap up the final levels).

Wood-elf would certainly afford some nice advantages and would be worth considering if you're not too set on Barb2/FighterX/Occult Slayer.

As someone else pointed out Hexblade, another good route to consider would be Rgr2/Fighter4/Hex3/Occult Slayer5/Something Else1. Get the Mettle, the bonus to Will saves and saves against magic, and still get the Weapon Spec/Weapon Mastery.
_metz_
05-14-07, 04:12 AM Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf?

I think a more prudent qustion is: Is there a reason this isn't on the character build board :P

Also you really should be taking levels of Ranger if you are building an Archer...

I would suggest Wood Elf and take at least two levels of Ranger, and then take 1 Barbarian and 2 Fighter, then the rest occult slayer up to level 10, and then Wildrunner/Some other PrC.

Just an Idea.
awroe
05-14-07, 04:22 AM Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels?

*ducks and runs for cover*
boolean
05-14-07, 04:42 AM As someone else pointed out Hexblade, another good route to consider would be Rgr2/Fighter4/Hex3/Occult Slayer5/Something Else1. Get the Mettle, the bonus to Will saves and saves against magic, and still get the Weapon Spec/Weapon Mastery.

The other advantage is that hexblade has both spellcraft and knowledge (arcana) as class skills, making it easier to qualify for OS.
Haro
05-14-07, 05:56 AM Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels?

*ducks and runs for cover*

You'd better run boy! ;)
Timlagor
05-14-07, 06:17 AM Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels?

*ducks and runs for cover*

Why aren't you building a CLERIC?!?
jstorrie
05-15-07, 12:23 AM I don't think it's super wise to rely on your Rage strength boost to use your mighty+x weapon with an Occult Slayer, as you lose your weapon bond when you have to switch back to your 'non-rage-bow.'

I'd probably do Wood Elf or Human and start with Ranger 2 instead for the skills. Ranger 4 is pretty good for the Complete Adventurer spells, too.
Dr.Cornelius
05-15-07, 01:29 AM Hexblade is OK, but I am not convinced that it is better than a Cleric dip. Cleric has good Will save, Spellcraft, Know(Arcana) and also decent domain abilities. Go for a Diety with the War domain and favored weapon Longbow.

Solonor Thelandria comes to mind for Elves and there is a human diety also - check the LG diety pdf.

Barbarian is a great class, but it does not work particularly well with bows. A couple levels of Ranger is the way to go for an archer. If you go Barbarian stick with Greatsword or Glaive or even consider Spiked Cheese.
dragon2007
05-15-07, 01:39 AM Hello,

I was wondering if people had suggestions for a melee Occult Slayer build for a Baklunish human? I'd greatly appreciate any help as my last two characters turned out, how to put this politely, less than optimal.
Thanks!
Timlagor
05-15-07, 08:18 AM "D E I T Y" -thank you.
Lupo
05-15-07, 08:31 AM Hello,

I was wondering if people had suggestions for a melee Occult Slayer build for a Baklunish human? I'd greatly appreciate any help as my last two characters turned out, how to put this politely, less than optimal.
Thanks!

uhps, i moved this over to the character discussion forum ;) title is:

Baklunish Occult Slayer
Iswald
05-15-07, 10:08 AM I don't think it's super wise to rely on your Rage strength boost to use your mighty+x weapon with an Occult Slayer, as you lose your weapon bond when you have to switch back to your 'non-rage-bow.'

You wouldn't lose the bond, you'd just lose the damage bonus from the bond until you are using that weapon again.
boolean
05-16-07, 01:09 AM Hexblade is OK, but I am not convinced that it is better than a Cleric dip. Cleric has good Will save, Spellcraft, Know(Arcana) and also decent domain abilities. Go for a Diety with the War domain and favored weapon Longbow.
Speaking in general, the advantage to Hexblade is base attack. Hexblade has a good BAB, which makes it easier to qualify for Occult Slayer (which has a +5 BAB requirement).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nagareth 05-13-07, 03:56 PM	I'm looking into building an Occult slayer in Living Greyhawk. Right now the builds that I have are: Half-Orc Barbarian 2/ Fighter 8/ Occult Slayer 5 Starting stats Str 18 Dex 14 (16 by level 8) Con 14 Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 6 The weapon I bond with will be a composite Longbow so I can get casters from afar. Human Barbarian 2/ Fighter 8/ Occult Slayer 5 Starting stats Str 16 Dex 14 (16 by level 8) Con 14 Int 10 Wis 12 Cha 8 If you have any ideas on Occult slayer builds that would optimize the bow vs. a caster and a greatsword for basic fights please share your advice. Thank you :)
nobodez 05-13-07, 08:12 PM	I actually recommend a level or two of Hexblade. Sure you won't be able to use the Curse (since it's DC will be much too low), but the Will saves, the save bonus, and Mettle are all very good. I've got a Ranger 2/Hexblade 3 that's headed for Rgr 2/Hex 3/OS 5/xx 5.
Timlagor 05-13-07, 10:59 PM	Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf?
Lomiat 05-14-07, 12:32 AM	Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf? I thought about that one, too, but it seems he wanted 2 levels of Barbarian for rage and uncanny dodge, then many levels of Fighter for the feats and Weapon Specialization/Weapon Mastery (supposedly). Wood-elf would leave him with an XP and GP hit unless he went Barb3/Fighter4/PrCsX (which isn't a bad route, btw, especially with Wildrunner and Occult Slayer available to wrap up the final levels). Wood-elf would certainly afford some nice advantages and would be worth considering if you're not too set on Barb2/FighterX/Occult Slayer. As someone else pointed out Hexblade, another good route to consider would be Rgr2/Fighter4/Hex3/Occult Slayer5/Something Else1. Get the Mettle, the bonus to Will saves and saves against magic, and still get the Weapon Spec/Weapon Mastery.
_metz_ 05-14-07, 04:12 AM	Is there some reason this isn't a woodelf? I think a more prudent qustion is: Is there a reason this isn't on the character build board :P Also you really should be taking levels of Ranger if you are building an Archer... I would suggest Wood Elf and take at least two levels of Ranger, and then take 1 Barbarian and 2 Fighter, then the rest occult slayer up to level 10, and then Wildrunner/Some other PrC. Just an Idea.
awroe 05-14-07, 04:22 AM	Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels? ducks and runs for cover
boolean 05-14-07, 04:42 AM	As someone else pointed out Hexblade, another good route to consider would be Rgr2/Fighter4/Hex3/Occult Slayer5/Something Else1. Get the Mettle, the bonus to Will saves and saves against magic, and still get the Weapon Spec/Weapon Mastery. The other advantage is that hexblade has both spellcraft and knowledge (arcana) as class skills, making it easier to qualify for OS.
Haro 05-14-07, 05:56 AM	Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels? ducks and runs for cover You'd better run boy! ;)
Timlagor 05-14-07, 06:17 AM	Is there a reason you don't have any wizard levels? ducks and runs for cover Why aren't you building a CLERIC?!?
jstorrie 05-15-07, 12:23 AM	I don't think it's super wise to rely on your Rage strength boost to use your mighty+x weapon with an Occult Slayer, as you lose your weapon bond when you have to switch back to your 'non-rage-bow.' I'd probably do Wood Elf or Human and start with Ranger 2 instead for the skills. Ranger 4 is pretty good for the Complete Adventurer spells, too.
Dr.Cornelius 05-15-07, 01:29 AM	Hexblade is OK, but I am not convinced that it is better than a Cleric dip. Cleric has good Will save, Spellcraft, Know(Arcana) and also decent domain abilities. Go for a Diety with the War domain and favored weapon Longbow. Solonor Thelandria comes to mind for Elves and there is a human diety also - check the LG diety pdf. Barbarian is a great class, but it does not work particularly well with bows. A couple levels of Ranger is the way to go for an archer. If you go Barbarian stick with Greatsword or Glaive or even consider Spiked Cheese.
dragon2007 05-15-07, 01:39 AM	Hello, I was wondering if people had suggestions for a melee Occult Slayer build for a Baklunish human? I'd greatly appreciate any help as my last two characters turned out, how to put this politely, less than optimal. Thanks!
Timlagor 05-15-07, 08:18 AM	"D E I T Y" -thank you.
Lupo 05-15-07, 08:31 AM	Hello, I was wondering if people had suggestions for a melee Occult Slayer build for a Baklunish human? I'd greatly appreciate any help as my last two characters turned out, how to put this politely, less than optimal. Thanks! uhps, i moved this over to the character discussion forum ;) title is: Baklunish Occult Slayer
Iswald 05-15-07, 10:08 AM	I don't think it's super wise to rely on your Rage strength boost to use your mighty+x weapon with an Occult Slayer, as you lose your weapon bond when you have to switch back to your 'non-rage-bow.' You wouldn't lose the bond, you'd just lose the damage bonus from the bond until you are using that weapon again.
boolean 05-16-07, 01:09 AM	Hexblade is OK, but I am not convinced that it is better than a Cleric dip. Cleric has good Will save, Spellcraft, Know(Arcana) and also decent domain abilities. Go for a Diety with the War domain and favored weapon Longbow. Speaking in general, the advantage to Hexblade is base attack. Hexblade has a good BAB, which makes it easier to qualify for Occult Slayer (which has a +5 BAB requirement).