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| #1pukunuiSep 10, 2014 15:57:20 | Hi folks,
New character idea: I'm thinking of something similar to the demon hunter from Diablo III but focused on undead instead.
Skulker and Sharpshooter are necessary feats. Crossbow Expert would also be necessary if I were to get an extra attack from somewhere (eg. 5 levels in fighter or ranger). Alert could potentially be useful too.
At least four levels in rogue for +2d6 sneak attack, assassin, and a feat. Could go to 5 levels for uncanny dodge.
I'll also have to multiclass into either fighter or ranger to get the archery fighting style. Not sure which would be better. The ranger's Favored Enemy could potentially be good for the bonuses vs undead. Not sure Natural Explorer is all that relevant, though. The monk's Way of the Shadow path could also be good.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance, Jonathan
p.s. I'm not looking to make as faithful a copy of the demon hunter as possible; I'm mainly just using it as inspiration. I know I won't be able to use a crossbow like a machine gun or make turrets that firing homing missiles. The general feel of the demon hunter should be doable with a mix of rogue, ranger, and monk, I reckon. |
| #2Angel7Sep 10, 2014 23:49:34 | I posted an Undead Hunter thread not that long ago and it's interesting to see that you are approaching it as a fighter/rogue type character. When I think of an undead hunter archetype, my mind goes immediately to the cleric/paladin classes. It also doesn't help when your mind is ingrained with the older edition rules where rogues could not sneak attack undead, making them the absolute least effective class. Wish I had better advice but I'm definitely interested in seeing how your concept develops. I wish the paladin could destroy undead, but alas that remains the clerics specialty. |
| #3pukunuiSep 12, 2014 17:38:43 | I didn't see yours. Yeah, normally I'd say an undead hunter would be cleric/paladin, but in this case I was going for a reflavored "demon hunter" with undead swapped in for the demons as it better suits the campaign I'm in (Age of Worms). The "demon hunter" is all about stealth, speed, shadows, and rapid fire crossbows. They can also do turrets, rockets and grenades, and they can even have a familiar. But just like with a D&D character, you can't have everything, so I've chosen to focus on a few aspects of the demon hunter I like best, and I think rogue/ranger, possibly with some shadow monk thrown in later on, will do the trick.
I got super-lucky on my stat roll: 8 10 15 16 16 17. I chose half-elf as my race, and the DM let me sacrifice the +2 Cha for a feat. I used the +1s to bump up Str and Dex. I also made a few other substitutions (like swapping out the Assassin's bonus proficiencies for the Thief's Second-Story Work; more maneuverability fits the concept better than disguises and poison, which doesn't work on undead anyway).
She gets a total of 9 skill proficiencies: 2 for being a half-elf, 2 from her background, 4 from starting as a rogue, and 1 for multiclassing into ranger. Whew! I chose the sage background for her, and I swapped out History for Arcana. (Greg Bilsland said undead monster knowledge was a mix of Arcana and Religion depending on type.)
Without further ado, here's my undead hunter:
Natalya Helder Medium humanoid (half-elf) rogue 4 / ranger 5, neutral
AC 16 (studded leather) HP 80 Prof +4 Init +4 ---- STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 15 (+3) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) ---- Saves Dex +8, Int +6 Skills Acrobatics +8, Arcana +6, Athletics +3, Insight +7, Investigation +6, Perception +7, Religion +6, Stealth +12, Survival +7 Senses Darkvision 120 ft; passive Perception 17 Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Elvish, Thieves' Cant, Undercommon ---- Fey Ancestry
Sneak Attack +2d6 Cunning Action Assassinate Second-Story Work
Favored Enemy (Undead) Favored Terrain (Grassland) Fighting Style: Archery
Spellcasting (DC 15) 1st (4/day): cure wounds, hail of thorns, hunter's mark 2nd (2/day): pass without trace
---- Multiattack. Natalya can make two attacks with a weapon. Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 120', one creature. Hit: 1d6+4 piercing damage. Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5', one creature. Hit: 1d6+4 slashing damage.
Equipment: studded leather armor, hand crossbow x2, scimitar, dagger x5, goggles of night, thieves' tools, scholar's pack, holy water flask x4, silk rope w/ grappling hook, waterskin, bag of caltrops, steel mirror, bedroll.
We're playing through the Age of Worms campaign and are planning on going all the way (up to level 20). One of the other PCs is a shadow monk, and I'm intending to have Natalya learn the Way of the Shadow from that PC. Ranger and Monk synergize well, and I'm looking forward to the idea of having a higher AC without any armor. In addition to the Diablo demon hunter concept, I'm also giving her a slightly Matrix look ~ she wears dark glasses, for instance ~ and so I thought giving her some kung fu would be good, plus the Way of the Shadow has some very demon hunter-ish abilities. So that's where I'll be going with her.
Her backstory involves her father, a village priest of Delleb (the Greyhawk deity of reason, intellect, and study) instilling in her a lifelong love of learning from a young age. When she was a teenager, her village was set upon by a horde of ghouls and zombies. Her father and brothers were killed, but she and her mother were able to escape, partly because of her mother's elvish immunity to a ghoul's paralyzing touch. They fled to Greyhawk, where Natalya threw herself into study, learning as much as she could about undead and how to combat them. She trained tirelessly, and as she reached adulthood, started heading out into the wilds to hunt undead and learn how to survive. She's an intellectual/bookworm who also knows how to survive in the wilderness. Ha!
Her aspects are: Traits: I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer. Also, I always strive to remain cautious and calm despite my burning desire for revenge. Ideal: Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. "Knowing is half the battle." Bond: I will bring down terrible wrath on the undead forces that destroyed my village and took my family away from me. Flaw: I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.
What do you think? |