For a possible all dwarf party I think about building a switch hitter using the arcane bloodragerwith the untouchable and primalist archetypes.
The idea is to get an adaptive bow as soon as possible to benefit from rage at range, use the first bloodline feats for quickdraw and improved initiative.
In melee use a dwarven battleaxe and buckler, at range a comp bow.
The level 1 power will be of little use but is nice to have. The level 4 and 8 ones work great at both melee and range and offset some of the drawback of SR.
The level 12 power will be traded for rage powers (not yet sure which).
Do you think this is a viable concept?
Sounds good.
I'd trade the 1st level power as well as the 12th, just personal preference as I would find 2 rage powers worth more than +2 to casting defensively. Especially things like the Power Attack to AC instead of to hit or going for Superstitious/Witch Hunter which I think is much better against casters than +2 to DC for DC.
I'd actually definitely go Superstition and Witch Hunter, it fits the idea of a wall against magic. Check to make sure that your DM doesn't rule that Superstition doesn't prevent your abilities from working, that would be hella dumb.
Adaptive Bow is necessary, and so is Quickdraw honestly...if you can afford to wait until level 6 for that then more power to you.
You are going to want Power attack and Raging Vitality, but unlike a ranger you lack the normal feats to back up your ranged combat style along with your melee hits.
Do you simply plan to never fire at targets in cover or in melee combat? Or will you simply swap into melee at that point?
Anyway, it works well. Though to be honest so would a normal Barbarian, the self-buffs are nice but without casting this is just a variation on a theme of a switch hitter barbarian.
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The concept is sound imo, but I would probably go with the melee weapon as a Dwarven Longhammer and aspire for the following feats: combat reflexes, power attack, pushing assault (forgoes power attack damage but pushes opponents back 5 ft/10 ft if crit), lunge, and furious focus (reach build) if you have at least a 12 Dex optimally a 14+. Lots of attack of opportunities and nice when used with a readied action to attack the first opponent that comes in range. Hit the opponent with the readied action and if he continues to move in he provokes an attack of opportunity.
Grab some armor spikes and gauntlets if they get to close and push them back 5 ft again with Pushing Assault. :D
A buckler is relatively useless for a bloodrager or barbarian IMO since you should mainly rely on heavy hitting weapons with +str and 1/2 mod for the high str and the fact that you will probably never have the greatest AC. The shield spell or wand would be better than a buckler and it frees both hands while retaining the full benefit of a shield bonus.
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Oh yeh if you did still choose to use the buckler still I may would sac a feat to get Exotic Weapon Prof (Falcata) which is not to bad of a weapon (one handed- 1d8 damage 19-20x3 crit) and then take the Taldan Duelist Trait which would effectively negate the penalty to AC when bloodraging and using the buck/falcata AND it provides I think a +1 or +2 (cant remember 100%) bonus to Acrobatics when wielding a Falcata and Buckler.
I want to set my focus more on range over melee. At least once I have the feats l need.
Because of that I plan on taking the ranged feats and rely on my rage to carry me through the times when I have to switch.
1st point blank shot
3rd precise shot
5th rapid shot
6th bonus quickdraw
So 7th level is the earliest I might take some melee feats.
@shroudedinlight: You cant trade away the first level bloodline power. The ability to trade only comes online at level 4.
Sounds good.
I'd trade the 1st level power as well as the 12th, just personal preference as I would find 2 rage powers worth more than +2 to casting defensively. Especially things like the Power Attack to AC instead of to hit or going for Superstitious/Witch Hunter which I think is much better against casters than +2 to DC for DC.
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Primalist dosent allow you to Trade the 1st level power.
Oh, whoops. Guess I sped read that bit, TC talked like it was an option so I went with it.