help with ranged psychic warrior build [Archive] - Wizards Community

help with ranged psychic warrior build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ppaladin123
03-26-08, 04:06 AM I am trying to build an archer out of a psychic warrior...great powers but lousy skill choices. (no spot!) Would you help me with my build? How does this look?

Human Psychic Warrior 20

Stats: (32-pt buy) Str 14, Dex 16 Con 12, Wis 16, Int 10, Cha 6 (after adjustment)

1 point blank shot, precise shot, rapid
2 mantled warrior (freedom)
3 pisonic meditation
4
5 psionic shot
6 speed of thought
7
8 greater psionic shot
9 fell shot
10
11 manyshot
12 linked power
13
14 improved rapid shot
15 improved precise shot
16
17 ???
18 ??
19
20 ??

powers: 1. skate, 2. precognition, offensive, 3. extend range 4. hustle, 5. dissolving weapon, 6. perfect archery 7. strength of my enemy 8. concealing amaphora, greater 9.stygian erasure, 10. freedom of movement, psionic, 11. dimension door, 12. psionic fly (freedom) 13. living arrow, 14. teleport, psionic (freedom) 15. energy adaptation, 16 mind blank, personal 17. inconstant location 18. form of doom 19, dispelling buffer, 20.
???

Living arrow will hopefully make up for the lack of improved precise shot until 15th level.
TheKeyofE
03-26-08, 08:25 AM You might try Zen Archery from Complete Warrior. It lets you use Wis instead of Dex for ranged attack rolls. This would let you drop Dex to 13 and wear heavy armor. What's your race?

EDIT: Fell Shot requires BAB +5, so you can't get it at 6th level. You'll have to shuffle your feats around a little, maybe moving Speed of Thought to 6 and Fell Shot to 8 or 9.
The_Mess
03-26-08, 09:46 AM What are you taking Maximize Power for? I'm not seeing that you've taken any powers that you could use it on. And if I'm missing something, (Stygian Erasure? Don't have ComPsi handy and don't remember it), Empower Power is usually a better option if you work out the math.

Obligate reference to Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press for a psionic archer option and for some powers that might be handy for the build.
ppaladin123
03-26-08, 02:02 PM Ok I switched fell shot with speed of thought to make it work. I also noted that I am human and I switched maximize power to what I actually meant...linked power (not sure why I wrote maximize).

Does zen archery replace dexterity as a prerequisite for the various archery feats like improved rapid shot? If it doesn't I don't see how it helps much.

Thanks for the help so far.
The_Mess
03-26-08, 02:58 PM If you're planning on manifesting Living Arrow a lot, then Metapower can reduce the cost of effects you Linked Power it with. Mind you, some DMs consider Metapower broken, especially when used with Linked Power and a level 1 manifestation (which it essentially grants you for free).
ppaladin123
03-26-08, 05:13 PM do you think I'll be outclassed as an archer by a ranger? I'd do the standard ranger/psychic warrior 4/slayer 9/ sanctified mind 6 build for extra BAB but I'd miss the feats and actually I don't like either class much given their focus on fighting aberrations. I'm hoping my powers can make up for the 15 BAB.
MaverickWolf
03-26-08, 05:45 PM Here's my quickest bit of advice: Get your hands on Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press and play one. I'm using that as advice instead of just a mere reference.

That aside, I'm not sure where Mantled Warrior is, and I'm curious as to where I can find it.
Fireclave
03-26-08, 05:47 PM Does zen archery replace dexterity as a prerequisite for the various archery feats like improved rapid shot? If it doesn't I don't see how it helps much.

Basically, Zen Archery allows you to focus on one stat instead of two. Specifically, it allows you to focus on Wis, which can greatly increase a psywar's limited PP pool.

Psywars already need a decent Wis, so that's not going to change. But with Zen Archery, you don't need to focus on dexterity. You just need your dexterity high enough to qualify for feat prereqs (dex 13, 14 if you want that extra point of ac and ref save), allowing you to put the extra points during character creation into something more useful, like Con for more HP or Wis for more PP.

A psywar archer doesn't really need dexterity for much else besides reflex saves. Since psywar can wear any armor or simply manifest Inertial Armor, they aren't hurting for AC. And a monk's belt remedies any concern over touch AC. You will need fewer magic items. A single wis boosting item will boost your PP, save DCs, and attack rolls, as oppose to the more costly endeavor of maintaining two item to boost dex and wis. And you will also come out ahead when you gain stat increases every four levels.

Not saying that you absolutely need it, but it is pretty useful.
ppaladin123
03-27-08, 01:34 AM Basically, Zen Archery allows you to focus on one stat instead of two. Specifically, it allows you to focus on Wis, which can greatly increase a psywar's limited PP pool.

Psywars already need a decent Wis, so that's not going to change. But with Zen Archery, you don't need to focus on dexterity. You just need your dexterity high enough to qualify for feat prereqs (dex 13, 14 if you want that extra point of ac and ref save), allowing you to put the extra points during character creation into something more useful, like Con for more HP or Wis for more PP.

A psywar archer doesn't really need dexterity for much else besides reflex saves. Since psywar can wear any armor or simply manifest Inertial Armor, they aren't hurting for AC. And a monk's belt remedies any concern over touch AC. You will need fewer magic items. A single wis boosting item will boost your PP, save DCs, and attack rolls, as oppose to the more costly endeavor of maintaining two item to boost dex and wis. And you will also come out ahead when you gain stat increases every four levels.

Not saying that you absolutely need it, but it is pretty useful.

I am pretty sure that some of the feats I took require a dexterity of 17 or higher so I don't know if I could really focus on wisdom as you say. Still I have seen it in cleric builds so I suppose it is useful.

Here's my quickest bit of advice: Get your hands on Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press and play one. I'm using that as advice instead of just a mere reference.

That aside, I'm not sure where Mantled Warrior is, and I'm curious as to where I can find it.

Mantled warrior is an alternate class feature for the psychic warrior that came out a mind's eye article. You give up your second level feat for access to the powers and abilities of a single ardent mantle. Freedom is an obvious choice but mental power is nice too for the extra power points. This also offers access to tap/don mantle so I suppose it could be used to create some interesting power combinations.

I'll look into the complete marksman. Basically I am looking to play a psionic ranger...they have a pschic rogue...I wish WoTC would have offered us an alternate ranger as well.
Fireclave
03-27-08, 02:46 AM I am pretty sure that some of the feats I took require a dexterity of 17 or higher so I don't know if I could really focus on wisdom as you say. Still I have seen it in cleric builds so I suppose it is useful.
Completely overlooked the dex requirements for some of those feats. Sorry about that.
MaverickWolf
03-27-08, 06:34 AM Mantled warrior is an alternate class feature for the psychic warrior that came out a mind's eye article. You give up your second level feat for access to the powers and abilities of a single ardent mantle. Freedom is an obvious choice but mental power is nice too for the extra power points. This also offers access to tap/don mantle so I suppose it could be used to create some interesting power combinations.

I'll look into the complete marksman. Basically I am looking to play a psionic ranger...they have a pschic rogue...I wish WoTC would have offered us an alternate ranger as well.

Thanks for the clear-up. I hadn't thought about that, and was just looking for feats. But the marksman is your psionic ranger, effectively, so you definitely want to have a look
ppaladin123
03-27-08, 11:47 AM Thanks for the clear-up. I hadn't thought about that, and was just looking for feats. But the marksman is your psionic ranger, effectively, so you definitely want to have a look

Ok I just purchased the class (4 bucks is really reasonable) and you are right...this is exactly what I was looking for. Nice feats, nice class features, good power selection. marksman 4/ slayer 9/ marksman 7 or just straight marksman 20 would kick serious butt.

Thanks for the tip.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ppaladin123 03-26-08, 04:06 AM	I am trying to build an archer out of a psychic warrior...great powers but lousy skill choices. (no spot!) Would you help me with my build? How does this look? Human Psychic Warrior 20 Stats: (32-pt buy) Str 14, Dex 16 Con 12, Wis 16, Int 10, Cha 6 (after adjustment) 1 point blank shot, precise shot, rapid 2 mantled warrior (freedom) 3 pisonic meditation 4 5 psionic shot 6 speed of thought 7 8 greater psionic shot 9 fell shot 10 11 manyshot 12 linked power 13 14 improved rapid shot 15 improved precise shot 16 17 ??? 18 ?? 19 20 ?? powers: 1. skate, 2. precognition, offensive, 3. extend range 4. hustle, 5. dissolving weapon, 6. perfect archery 7. strength of my enemy 8. concealing amaphora, greater 9.stygian erasure, 10. freedom of movement, psionic, 11. dimension door, 12. psionic fly (freedom) 13. living arrow, 14. teleport, psionic (freedom) 15. energy adaptation, 16 mind blank, personal 17. inconstant location 18. form of doom 19, dispelling buffer, 20. ??? Living arrow will hopefully make up for the lack of improved precise shot until 15th level.
TheKeyofE 03-26-08, 08:25 AM	You might try Zen Archery from Complete Warrior. It lets you use Wis instead of Dex for ranged attack rolls. This would let you drop Dex to 13 and wear heavy armor. What's your race? EDIT: Fell Shot requires BAB +5, so you can't get it at 6th level. You'll have to shuffle your feats around a little, maybe moving Speed of Thought to 6 and Fell Shot to 8 or 9.
The_Mess 03-26-08, 09:46 AM	What are you taking Maximize Power for? I'm not seeing that you've taken any powers that you could use it on. And if I'm missing something, (Stygian Erasure? Don't have ComPsi handy and don't remember it), Empower Power is usually a better option if you work out the math. Obligate reference to Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press for a psionic archer option and for some powers that might be handy for the build.
ppaladin123 03-26-08, 02:02 PM	Ok I switched fell shot with speed of thought to make it work. I also noted that I am human and I switched maximize power to what I actually meant...linked power (not sure why I wrote maximize). Does zen archery replace dexterity as a prerequisite for the various archery feats like improved rapid shot? If it doesn't I don't see how it helps much. Thanks for the help so far.
The_Mess 03-26-08, 02:58 PM	If you're planning on manifesting Living Arrow a lot, then Metapower can reduce the cost of effects you Linked Power it with. Mind you, some DMs consider Metapower broken, especially when used with Linked Power and a level 1 manifestation (which it essentially grants you for free).
ppaladin123 03-26-08, 05:13 PM	do you think I'll be outclassed as an archer by a ranger? I'd do the standard ranger/psychic warrior 4/slayer 9/ sanctified mind 6 build for extra BAB but I'd miss the feats and actually I don't like either class much given their focus on fighting aberrations. I'm hoping my powers can make up for the 15 BAB.
MaverickWolf 03-26-08, 05:45 PM	Here's my quickest bit of advice: Get your hands on Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press and play one. I'm using that as advice instead of just a mere reference. That aside, I'm not sure where Mantled Warrior is, and I'm curious as to where I can find it.
Fireclave 03-26-08, 05:47 PM	Does zen archery replace dexterity as a prerequisite for the various archery feats like improved rapid shot? If it doesn't I don't see how it helps much. Basically, Zen Archery allows you to focus on one stat instead of two. Specifically, it allows you to focus on Wis, which can greatly increase a psywar's limited PP pool. Psywars already need a decent Wis, so that's not going to change. But with Zen Archery, you don't need to focus on dexterity. You just need your dexterity high enough to qualify for feat prereqs (dex 13, 14 if you want that extra point of ac and ref save), allowing you to put the extra points during character creation into something more useful, like Con for more HP or Wis for more PP. A psywar archer doesn't really need dexterity for much else besides reflex saves. Since psywar can wear any armor or simply manifest Inertial Armor, they aren't hurting for AC. And a monk's belt remedies any concern over touch AC. You will need fewer magic items. A single wis boosting item will boost your PP, save DCs, and attack rolls, as oppose to the more costly endeavor of maintaining two item to boost dex and wis. And you will also come out ahead when you gain stat increases every four levels. Not saying that you absolutely need it, but it is pretty useful.
ppaladin123 03-27-08, 01:34 AM	Basically, Zen Archery allows you to focus on one stat instead of two. Specifically, it allows you to focus on Wis, which can greatly increase a psywar's limited PP pool. Psywars already need a decent Wis, so that's not going to change. But with Zen Archery, you don't need to focus on dexterity. You just need your dexterity high enough to qualify for feat prereqs (dex 13, 14 if you want that extra point of ac and ref save), allowing you to put the extra points during character creation into something more useful, like Con for more HP or Wis for more PP. A psywar archer doesn't really need dexterity for much else besides reflex saves. Since psywar can wear any armor or simply manifest Inertial Armor, they aren't hurting for AC. And a monk's belt remedies any concern over touch AC. You will need fewer magic items. A single wis boosting item will boost your PP, save DCs, and attack rolls, as oppose to the more costly endeavor of maintaining two item to boost dex and wis. And you will also come out ahead when you gain stat increases every four levels. Not saying that you absolutely need it, but it is pretty useful. I am pretty sure that some of the feats I took require a dexterity of 17 or higher so I don't know if I could really focus on wisdom as you say. Still I have seen it in cleric builds so I suppose it is useful. Here's my quickest bit of advice: Get your hands on Complete Marksman from Dreamscarred Press and play one. I'm using that as advice instead of just a mere reference. That aside, I'm not sure where Mantled Warrior is, and I'm curious as to where I can find it. Mantled warrior is an alternate class feature for the psychic warrior that came out a mind's eye article. You give up your second level feat for access to the powers and abilities of a single ardent mantle. Freedom is an obvious choice but mental power is nice too for the extra power points. This also offers access to tap/don mantle so I suppose it could be used to create some interesting power combinations. I'll look into the complete marksman. Basically I am looking to play a psionic ranger...they have a pschic rogue...I wish WoTC would have offered us an alternate ranger as well.
Fireclave 03-27-08, 02:46 AM	I am pretty sure that some of the feats I took require a dexterity of 17 or higher so I don't know if I could really focus on wisdom as you say. Still I have seen it in cleric builds so I suppose it is useful. Completely overlooked the dex requirements for some of those feats. Sorry about that.
MaverickWolf 03-27-08, 06:34 AM	Mantled warrior is an alternate class feature for the psychic warrior that came out a mind's eye article. You give up your second level feat for access to the powers and abilities of a single ardent mantle. Freedom is an obvious choice but mental power is nice too for the extra power points. This also offers access to tap/don mantle so I suppose it could be used to create some interesting power combinations. I'll look into the complete marksman. Basically I am looking to play a psionic ranger...they have a pschic rogue...I wish WoTC would have offered us an alternate ranger as well. Thanks for the clear-up. I hadn't thought about that, and was just looking for feats. But the marksman is your psionic ranger, effectively, so you definitely want to have a look
ppaladin123 03-27-08, 11:47 AM	Thanks for the clear-up. I hadn't thought about that, and was just looking for feats. But the marksman is your psionic ranger, effectively, so you definitely want to have a look Ok I just purchased the class (4 bucks is really reasonable) and you are right...this is exactly what I was looking for. Nice feats, nice class features, good power selection. marksman 4/ slayer 9/ marksman 7 or just straight marksman 20 would kick serious butt. Thanks for the tip.