Decent Scores for a Bounty Hunter - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Decent Scores for a Bounty Hunter

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
maeglin_dubh
Mar 30, 2008 21:08:02 d6 Results: 6, 3, 3 (Total = 12)
d6 Results: 4, 3, 3 (Total = 10)
d6 Results: 4, 6, 4 (Total = 14)
d6 Results: 5, 3, 5 (Total = 13)
d6 Results: 3, 5, 3 (Total = 11)
d6 Results: 6, 6, 2 (Total = 14)

With that roll to work with, building for level 3, eventually wanting to be a bounty hunter (Perhaps Bloodhound PrC).

Looking for non-lethal weapons. Truncheon has the advantage of being martial, but melee. Bolo is ranged, subdual, and tripping, but exotic.

I'm thinking maybe a Rogue with a sap or truncheon, maybe a Ranger using the Bear-Wrestling combat style, or even just a Monk (their unarmed strikes can be non-lethal, right?)

Open sources are anything -but- Psionics and ToB.
#2
stickboy2323
Mar 31, 2008 0:37:36 Maybe some kind of Ranger/Rogue build into Bloodhound and then into Justiciar. Also, take the Subduing Strike feat from BoED. It will allow you to use any weapon to deal subdual damage without penalty and to be able to add SA dice to subdual damage.
#3
x-codes
Mar 31, 2008 0:45:02 Swift Hunter. Use one of the following for subdual damage:

Subduing Strike (BoED): Non-Exalted feat despite the source, supposed to make VoPers viable in the damage department, but is a very niche feat. Melee only. Also makes your Skirmish damage subdual.

Blunt Arrows (RotW): 1 gp for 20 blunt arrows. Also makes your Skirmish damage subdual. Short range, but you need to be up close for Swift Hunter anyway.

Big benefit of these two is that you get to choose between lethal and non-lethal as opposed to merciful weapons, saps, and truncheons.

As for the stats, when you get average rolls you should go with a non-human race and combine stat mods to bump it up over 15. In this case, high dex is good, so go with Wild Elf, Wood Elf, Tiefling... lots of options, especially if you can swap FC: Rogue for FC: Scout.
#4
maeglin_dubh
Mar 31, 2008 8:31:03 For Swift Hunter, which class should I put the levels in?

I'm thinking Ranger, for Animal Companion, BAB, and spellcasting.
#5
maeglin_dubh
Mar 31, 2008 21:16:46 Ok, build here.

Any suggestions as to what I should do with my remaining gold?
#6
x-codes
Apr 01, 2008 1:32:02 Have you even read the Swift Hunter's guide? Strength is irrelevant.

Get a better Con score and Dex 16. Wild Elf gives +2 Dex, -2 Int for 16 Dex, 14 Con, 10 Int. Not great, but perfectly acceptable considering the roll.

Ranger animal companion sucks, but their Spellcasting is generally superior as it gives much the same mobility options as Scout levels and also includes some useful Archery buffs.
#7
maeglin_dubh
Apr 01, 2008 1:50:15 I did read it. It said that Strength was important for ranged builds for damage, thus the Mighty longbow.

I suppose having an additional +2 HP per level is probably better, though.
#8
x-codes
Apr 01, 2008 2:32:34
I did read it. It said that Strength was important for ranged builds for damage, thus the Mighty longbow.

I suppose having an additional +2 HP per level is probably better, though.

...seriously!? I suppose Strength could come in third priority-wise on a Swift Hunter build if you felt a couple more points of damage was more important than a couple more skill points per level or a couple more spells per day, but I strongly disagree with that idea when you're already pumping out some 8d8+10 a shot depending on where your buffs are at. Furthermore, because of Swift Hunter you don't have to worry about your damage against crit-immunes.
#9
maeglin_dubh
Apr 01, 2008 3:45:18 Alterations made, and more leftover money to play with.

I'm not tremendously familiar with magical items, so any thoughts on what a bounty-hunter/scout type would be interested in? I'm thinking of working towards the Bloodhound PrC, so in light of a Swift Hunter/Bloodhound, doubling as a forward scout, what might be useful?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 maeglin_dubh Mar 30, 2008 21:08:02	d6 Results: 6, 3, 3 (Total = 12) d6 Results: 4, 3, 3 (Total = 10) d6 Results: 4, 6, 4 (Total = 14) d6 Results: 5, 3, 5 (Total = 13) d6 Results: 3, 5, 3 (Total = 11) d6 Results: 6, 6, 2 (Total = 14) With that roll to work with, building for level 3, eventually wanting to be a bounty hunter (Perhaps Bloodhound PrC). Looking for non-lethal weapons. Truncheon has the advantage of being martial, but melee. Bolo is ranged, subdual, and tripping, but exotic. I'm thinking maybe a Rogue with a sap or truncheon, maybe a Ranger using the Bear-Wrestling combat style, or even just a Monk (their unarmed strikes can be non-lethal, right?) Open sources are anything -but- Psionics and ToB.
#2 stickboy2323 Mar 31, 2008 0:37:36	Maybe some kind of Ranger/Rogue build into Bloodhound and then into Justiciar. Also, take the Subduing Strike feat from BoED. It will allow you to use any weapon to deal subdual damage without penalty and to be able to add SA dice to subdual damage.
#3 x-codes Mar 31, 2008 0:45:02	Swift Hunter. Use one of the following for subdual damage: Subduing Strike (BoED): Non-Exalted feat despite the source, supposed to make VoPers viable in the damage department, but is a very niche feat. Melee only. Also makes your Skirmish damage subdual. Blunt Arrows (RotW): 1 gp for 20 blunt arrows. Also makes your Skirmish damage subdual. Short range, but you need to be up close for Swift Hunter anyway. Big benefit of these two is that you get to choose between lethal and non-lethal as opposed to merciful weapons, saps, and truncheons. As for the stats, when you get average rolls you should go with a non-human race and combine stat mods to bump it up over 15. In this case, high dex is good, so go with Wild Elf, Wood Elf, Tiefling... lots of options, especially if you can swap FC: Rogue for FC: Scout.
#4 maeglin_dubh Mar 31, 2008 8:31:03	For Swift Hunter, which class should I put the levels in? I'm thinking Ranger, for Animal Companion, BAB, and spellcasting.
#5 maeglin_dubh Mar 31, 2008 21:16:46	Ok, build here. Any suggestions as to what I should do with my remaining gold?
#6 x-codes Apr 01, 2008 1:32:02	Have you even read the Swift Hunter's guide? Strength is irrelevant. Get a better Con score and Dex 16. Wild Elf gives +2 Dex, -2 Int for 16 Dex, 14 Con, 10 Int. Not great, but perfectly acceptable considering the roll. Ranger animal companion sucks, but their Spellcasting is generally superior as it gives much the same mobility options as Scout levels and also includes some useful Archery buffs.
#7 maeglin_dubh Apr 01, 2008 1:50:15	I did read it. It said that Strength was important for ranged builds for damage, thus the Mighty longbow. I suppose having an additional +2 HP per level is probably better, though.
#8 x-codes Apr 01, 2008 2:32:34	I did read it. It said that Strength was important for ranged builds for damage, thus the Mighty longbow. I suppose having an additional +2 HP per level is probably better, though. ...seriously!? I suppose Strength could come in third priority-wise on a Swift Hunter build if you felt a couple more points of damage was more important than a couple more skill points per level or a couple more spells per day, but I strongly disagree with that idea when you're already pumping out some 8d8+10 a shot depending on where your buffs are at. Furthermore, because of Swift Hunter you don't have to worry about your damage against crit-immunes.
#9 maeglin_dubh Apr 01, 2008 3:45:18	Alterations made, and more leftover money to play with. I'm not tremendously familiar with magical items, so any thoughts on what a bounty-hunter/scout type would be interested in? I'm thinking of working towards the Bloodhound PrC, so in light of a Swift Hunter/Bloodhound, doubling as a forward scout, what might be useful?