| Snickering Southerner |
So, with the new update taking Aasimar off the playable list, that effectively retires what has been my main PFS character (a Garuda-blooded Aasimar Freebooter) until I can clarify whether that makes current characters unplayable or not.
Anyway, I'd been intending to start a new character anyway. I enjoy the Ranger class. I like having skills, and being a capable martial character, and a little bit of spell access (especially for using certain wands) to back it up just makes the class feel like a really well-rounded place for my playstyle.
I've seen how powerful Archery is, but I wanted to make something akin to a Switch Hitter with a stronger archery focus than Treantmonk's. I've read the guide by Treantmonk and the Archer guide, but don't necessarily agree with them on a few things.
Quick Draw: Seems only useful for two things; getting your bow out in the first round so you can start using full attack/rapidshot/manyshot from the beginning of combat, or (when enemies close to melee) getting your full-attack with your melee weapon. Since I intend to use Gravity Bow excessively, I don't mind using a move action to pull my bow and delaying my attacks until the second turn. And early in the game, you won't have second attacks in melee anyway (unless you're doing TWF, which I'm not planning on) and later there's another option to consider that might be better than spending a feat on Quick Draw - Vital Strike! I'm aware some see it as a "trap" feat line, but it's useful for those times you HAVE to move and can't full-attack anyway, and it still allows you to pull your melee weapon and hit hard at your highest attack bonus despite not getting your full-attack action.
Snap Shot/Improved Snap Shot; 15' threat range... not as big a deal as it sounds, due to my plan for how to handle melee. Can get the same benefits without spending 2 extra feats.
Point Blank Mastery: I considered this. I really did. But... nah. It makes you a pure archer, which is totally fine, because you absolutely NEVER need to not use your bow. Even when something is in your face. But it still requires Weapon Focus (not a bad feat) as a pre-requisite, making it a 2-feat cost.
For ranged damage output, I figured I'd need:
Manyshot
Rapid Shot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
Deadly Aim
Point Blank Shot (just because it's a pre-requisite).
For melee damage, while I feel it's actually possible to build a viable switch hitter using TWF, it's just easier (and less expensive) to do it with two handed fighting. Therefore, the feats I think are important there are:
Power Attack
Furious Focus
Combat Reflexes
Yep, that's it. "But what about Step-Up" or "What about Lunge?"
See, I'm planning to always carry a potion or two of Enlarge Person. When something is getting into melee range, it's time to chug a potion and use Lead Blades, then whapping them over the head with a big honking Greatsword (or maybe Falchion?) taking advantage of the Reach of being Large. Or at least, that was my initial plan until I realized something. I never NOT have a spiked gauntlet. Never. To the extent that it's become the "main weapon" of some of my characters (that unfortunately never seem to get the opportunity to pull the weapon that's SUPPOSED to be their main). What about skipping the Falchion or Greatsword and getting some kind of Polearm like a Lucerne Hammer with Reach of 15 feet (same as you'd have had through Snap Shot/Improved Snap Shot)? Smack them around before they can get close enough to hit anyone, and thanks to the Spiked Gauntlet you can still smack them around if they get within your range! (and with both enlarge and lead blades, it'll be hitting for 1d8 itself)
This is the character I'm planning to play until he goes to 20, if I can find the adventures to do so in Society.
So here's my current plan:
Human
Strength 16 (5 points, +2 Bonus Points)
Dexterity 16 (10 points, will be putting all but one of the bonus points here)
Constitution 13 (3 points, will be putting first bonus point here)
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 12 (2 points, I don't like relying on equipment to be able to cast the lowest level spells)
Charisma 10
I'm aware I could dump Charisma and up Constitution or Intelligence (if I want more Skill Points).
Starting Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Planned Progression
Level 1-6: Beastmaster
Level 7: Delver Prestige Class
Level 8+: Rest in Beastmaster
The prestige class is mostly to get its class skills and trapfinding. I'm aware I could get trapfinding and most of the class skills with a level of rogue (and do so earlier) but I like the benefits of the Delver PrC.
Planned Feats:
1: Point Blank Shot
Human: Precise Shot
Ranger 2: Rapid Shot
* I picked these early instead of Power Attack, because I sort of want to rush to get that early "machine-gun" build started.
3: Power Attack
5: *On another Ranger Build, I'd put Boon Companion here, but not with the Beastmaster. Combat Reflexes OR Furious Focus.
7: Manyshot
9: Deadly Aim
Ranger 10(at level 11): Improved Precise Shot
11: Vital Strike
13: Furious Focus
That's what I have right now. Things I'm considering: Taking Deadly Aim at 5 instead of 9 (but early on is when those penalties to hit hurt the most on Ranged), when to take Combat Reflexes and Furious Focus .
I'm aware that dropping Strength to bump Dex to 18 is an option, but I'm not sure if it's actually going to reap as great a reward as I'd like if I do that.
I want the skills and trapfinding from Delver, so I'm pretty set on that, though what level to take it at is flexible.
I've got a GM XP credit applied to the character for its first PFS XP point, and will be playing it for the first time this Friday. I'd love to hear peoples thoughts and advice before then.
The idea differs from TreantMonk's "Switch Hitter" build in that you are first, primarily, an archer but not SOLELY an archer. You're an archer who can also get into melee and mix it up, and at the high end you'll have as high or better AC than a normal "Switch Hitter". (Celestial Armor, 20 Dex, +6 Dex from a belt = 27 AC before Barkskin + Rings + other stuff, compared to a Mithral Full Plate with a +3 capped Dex, which would be a lot more expensive and even a +5 version would still only get you a 27 AC before barkskin, rings, etc.)
I'm curious on peoples' thoughts of Quick Draw vs. Vital Strike, after I outlined the choice above, and on what other feats would go well with this build. I'm planning on the Wolf companion early on (trip, trip, trip the bad guy!) or the Constrictor (grab!), and switching to the Roc later on when it gets Large size. (Side note: I'm thinking of getting the Roc early and keeping a few potions of Reduce person, so I can hop on it and fly out of reach of enemies and pelt them with arrows from above if necessary) I'll probably keep a 1 level extra non-combat companion for spying/scouting eventually, too. And, well, just curious in general what people think of the build and tactics presented.
I think it, for the most part, offers most of the same benefits of the Switch Hitter AND the "ranger archer" build, it just goes about some of them differently, while also giving you access to the full druid animal companion list. The downside to doing it this way, of course, being that the animal companion won't be at your level until you hit Ranger level 12, since you won't be bothering with Boon Companion.
I'm also aware some people may say that taking so many of the archery feats as normal feats instead of bonus feats is "sub-optimal." I'm not saying it isn't, but I AM saying that "mechanically optimal" does not necessarily mean "optimal IN PLAY." I don't want to wait until level 15 to start becoming an effective combatant. Instead, as of level 2, I intend to be able to pump multiple arrows per round, and contribute significantly to the group instead of having to be carried until the "mechanically optimal" build becomes playable.
Planned equipment: Belt of Physical Might (Str & Dex), Bracers of Falcon's Aim, Headband of Inspired Wisdom (+? only need a +2 to use all spells), Feather Step Slippers, Eyes of Keen Sight, Celestial Armor, Efficient Quiver, Handy Haversack.
Thanks in advance everyone for your input!