Errant Mercenary |
Building a thrower with a specific concept in mind. Starting at level 8, he's mostly a backup character.
This guy is pretty much throws anything he finds, and carries heaps of weapons, throwing axes mainly.
The aim is building a thrower that can be flexible at range and decent at meele.
The GM has graced us with 1 feat per level, but also peppers us with pretty tough stuff. Magnificent boon, so better use it. Since throwers are regarded as lackluster and feat intensive, this had to be the perfect chance. Even without the extra feats it could still work.
I have researched the forums and taken advice from the thrower threads, as well as read all those "entertaining" monk threads, so while I'm sort of new to the pathfinder system I'm aware of the state of monks.
Number crunch - no items included
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Figther 2
Monk of Empty Hand X
Treats normal weapons as improvised, can change damage type and do unarmed damage with ki/swift actions.
Can increment the range of thrown weapons by 20 for 1 round with ki.
-- BAB
1 --1 Quick Draw/PointBlankShot
2 --2 Rapid Shot/PreciseShot
3 --2 Catch off-guard/Throw anything
4 --3 Clustered Shots/Distance Thrower
5 --4 Deadly Aim
6 --5 Weapon Focus: thrown axes
7 --5 Close Combat THrower
8 --6 Hammer the Gap/ ?
9 --7 ?
STATS
Str 20
Wis 18
Cant remember other stats, but there were decent enough 11ish.., 13, 16, 14
WIth Thrown Weapons:
Number of Attacks
FOB: 3, Ki: 1, Rshot: 1
= 5
To Hit/Flurry of blows lvl 8
Bab Fighter: 2, BAB Monk: 6, Str: 5, PBlank: 1, RShot: -2, Deadly Aim: -2
= 10, 10, 5, 10, 10
Damage/Flurry of Blows lvl 8
Str: 5, PBlank:1, DA:4
= +10x5 + hammer the gap (+0,+1,+2,+3,+4=10 for 5 hits)
With Ki for unarmed damage, potential of 5d8 +50 + 10 (HammerGap)
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I'm interested in your opinions about how well this works as a thrower, what key feats have I missed, what Fighter archetype might suit the build or just general shortcomings.
Material available is all Paizo main books. Stuff from Paizo publishing is usable if the GM agrees specifically.
Exploring archetypes I came up with 2 possibilities. Either a Monk 2 zen archer/ Fighter X or a Fighter 2/Monk X, trying to maximise the feats. The first option had zen archer to benefit from the extra feat selection.
I think most elegant the latter, allowing for a few tricks that the monks can do. I preffer my characters to have some fun dynamics or tactical options. FoB eliminates the need for TWF and more feats.
EDIT: I am aware that archers will excel this guy and so will melee combatants. He's mostly for fun and something different, being able to be maleable to the situation :)
blackbloodtroll |
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Focus on throwing arrows. You can draw them as a free action, and they can be made of special materials.
Two levels in ranger will allow you to get Weapon Focus(arrow), and then you can go in to Breaker Barbarian.
Carry Large and Gargantuan sized Durable arrows for one and two handed back up weapons.
Errant Mercenary |
Hi again,
That's an interesting concept too. Way to forget about Quick Draw and to build a thrower in a different way.
I think I will be going Sohei/Hurler barbarian 1 instead. I like the concept of an axe thrower, even if with the Empty hand monk you can be throwing bananas to chop up dragons.
Thanks for the advice :)
DirkTyrant |
You didn't mention the character's Dex. With Throwing being a Ranged attk... he won't hit unless you have a high Dex. I suppose there is a Feat... like... Brutal Throw? that uses Str to hit with... but it was not included in your list of Feats. Also... no mention of a "returning" axe. By level 8... you should have one of those.
Errant Mercenary |
You didn't mention the character's Dex. With Throwing being a Ranged attk... he won't hit unless you have a high Dex. I suppose there is a Feat... like... Brutal Throw? that uses Str to hit with... but it was not included in your list of Feats. Also... no mention of a "returning" axe. By level 8... you should have one of those.
Wooops well spotted, I've been using strength instead of dex, overlooked on my part :) This makes it a little mader or needing Agile weapons, but higher AC.
On the Returning quality; as discussed in other threads about throwers, there really needs to be a bandolier/bracers that work as expendable-ever-conjuring-of-axes or such that can be enchanted as if for 2 weapons. Otherwise, it will need to be shurikens/arrows and perhaps Empty Hand monk and throwanything/catch off guard set.
Vuvu Improvised Weapon Mastery is definately a must take down the line if going the "im going to pelt you with your own furniture" line :)