Due to a series of bad luck and 2 of the players having to leave the group for personal reasons, our most recent campaign ended very short. Now I need to come up with a new character for our dm's new "gritty urban campaign based in Sharn". So to that end; and inspired by all the archer talk on the boards, I want to play a ranged character. The problem I am having is picking a build concept and then finalizing it. So I come her to the boards to looking for advice.
Build Needs
I'm looking for a character with at least most level having 4+int for skills with able learner if possible. The character should stay at range in combat, and actualy be a threat. Also I like to have some spell casting when I can fit it into the build. I also don't mind taking a hit to early level playablity if there is a nice pay of at the end. I'm trying to steer clear of cleric archers due to the DM allowing DMM (Presist Spell), but thinking it is cheesy.
The Rules
Books allowed are any non Faerun. Books I have access to: Core, Complete (any), Races of (any), all the Ebberron books, Spell Compendium, Dungeonscape, Unearthed Arcana, Libris Mortis, Tome of Battle, Magic of Incarnum, Expanded Psionics, PHB 2, Heroes of Horror, Dragon Compendium and anything I can find online.
32 point buy for stats. Characters will start at 6th level. Knowing our group I expected the character to retire just before he reaches level 20 or just after.
Starting money is 19,500 or 1.5 standard for level
Party Composition
Halfling Thief-Type aka Sneaky Trapmonkey
Orc Street Thug aka Melee Character
Gnome Street Preformer aka Spellcaster using Illisions
Will have more info when they decide on where they want go with builds.
The Fluff
I see the character as an freelance Inquistive working in Sharn just trying to make ends meet and catch a break.
Build Ideas
The below builds are some builds I had in my build library that fit the character so any suggestion on how to improve them; or which one is better, would be appreciated
Here is an idea I have been playing around with for awhile but haven't played
A Rogue 2/Fighter 4/Ranger 2/EWP Master 2/Chameleon 10 focusing on hand crossbows.
Race: Human
Build Progression:
lvl Class Feats
1) Feat Rogue 1: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Able Learner
2) Feat Rogue 2: Weapon Focus (Hand Crossbow)
3) Urban Ranger 1: Urban Tracking, Crossbow Sniper
4) Fighter 1: Hand Crossbow Focus
5) Ranger 2: Rapid Shot
6) Exotic Weapons Master 1:Two-weapon Fighting
7) Fighter 2: Improved Two-weapon Fighting
8) Fighter 3:
9) Fighter 4: Weapon Spec (Hand Crossbow), Ranged Weapon Mastery
10) Chameleon 1:
11) Chameleon 2 Chameleon Feat
12) Chameleon 3: Farshot
13) Chameleon 4:
14) Chameleon 5:
15) Chameleon 6: Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
16) Chameleon 7:
17) Chameleon 8:
18) Chameleon 9: Dead Eye
19) Chameleon 10:
20) Exotic Weapons Master 2:
Notes:
The character is designed to focus on crossbows. To that end the main points of the character are as follow:
• When shoting the a crossbow at targets within 30ft gets 1.5 dex bonus to damage
• With martial focus character gets +9 to hit and +9 to damage with in 30 ft
• Character gets 8/shots per round
• Character can use Divine focus to gain use divIne spell for buffs
• Character has strong skills using a large skill list and able learner
• Character is dependent only on dex for combat
• Character can fire with out provoking
• Bab 16
Downside:
• Character is extremely item dependent requiring one of the below methods of reloading his handbows
• Character is only an average archer until much later in his career
• While the character can fire at longer ranges, but is most effective at close range
Equipment should at least include:
• 1 Spare Arm or 2 Gloves of Storing (These should allow you to reload 2 crossbows at the same time)
• 2 +5 Hand Crossbows
• +6 Dex item
So what does this get us assuming starting stats with 32 point buy Str 10 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 10 Chr 14. Now Dex at level 20 should be 16 + 5 (Levels) + 5 (Tome) + 6 (Item) + 6 (Aptitude focus) = 38. So our attack routine against targets within 30 ft is +41/+41/+41/+36/+36/+21/+21/+16 each shot doing (1d4 + 35). Now this is only with the equipment listed and with out any buffs from spells.
Variant
By replacing the 2 rogue levels and the 2 ranger levels with 4 levels of artificer I gain some item creation feats and some useful infusions. The down side is I lose some skill points, I also lose 4 feats
Race: Human
Build Progression:
lvl Class Feats
1) Feat Rogue 1: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Able Learner
2) Feat Rogue 2: Weapon Focus (Hand Crossbow)
3) Urban Ranger 1: Urban Tracking, Crossbow Sniper
4) Fighter 1: Hand Crossbow Focus
5) Ranger 2: Rapid Shot
6) Exotic Weapons Master 1:Two-weapon Fighting
7) Fighter 2: Improved Two-weapon Fighting
8) Fighter 3:
9) Fighter 4: Weapon Spec (Hand Crossbow), Ranged Weapon Mastery
10) Chameleon 1:
11) Chameleon 2 Chameleon Feat
12) Chameleon 3: Farshot
13) Chameleon 4:
14) Chameleon 5:
15) Chameleon 6: Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
16) Chameleon 7:
17) Chameleon 8:
18) Chameleon 9: Dead Eye
19) Chameleon 10:
20) Exotic Weapons Master 2:
Notes:
The character is designed to focus on crossbows. To that end the main points of the character are as follow:
• When shoting the a crossbow at targets within 30ft gets 1.5 dex bonus to damage
• With martial focus character gets +9 to hit and +9 to damage with in 30 ft
• Character gets 8/shots per round
• Character can use Divine focus to gain use divIne spell for buffs
• Character has strong skills using a large skill list and able learner
• Character is dependent only on dex for combat
• Character can fire with out provoking
• Bab 16
Downside:
• Character is extremely item dependent requiring one of the below methods of reloading his handbows
• Character is only an average archer until much later in his career
• While the character can fire at longer ranges, but is most effective at close range
Equipment should at least include:
• 1 Spare Arm or 2 Gloves of Storing (These should allow you to reload 2 crossbows at the same time)
• 2 +5 Hand Crossbows
• +6 Dex item
So what does this get us assuming starting stats with 32 point buy Str 10 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 10 Chr 14. Now Dex at level 20 should be 16 + 5 (Levels) + 5 (Tome) + 6 (Item) + 6 (Aptitude focus) = 38. So our attack routine against targets within 30 ft is +41/+41/+41/+36/+36/+21/+21/+16 each shot doing (1d4 + 35). Now this is only with the equipment listed and with out any buffs from spells.
Variant
By replacing the 2 rogue levels and the 2 ranger levels with 4 levels of artificer I gain some item creation feats and some useful infusions. The down side is I lose some skill points, I also lose 4 feats
What about good 'ole Mindspy/Cabinet Trickster?
O great, another fun and interesting choice
.But, seriously I forgot about that build when I find my Build stub for it will post it above for Consideration.
If you're going for a bow-based character, you need a splitting bow. +3 enhancement, every arrow/bolt you far splits into two mid-flight, for double the damage output.
Why do you need quick reloading crossbows for the first build? Hand Crossbow Focus lets you reload as a free action.
It is a carry over from when the build used rapid reload and then retrained it later will edit.