(PFS character) half elf wizard with arcane bond repeating heavy crossbow


Advice

Dark Archive

What's interesting about this character is his arcane bond.

We run a home-PFS campaign BTW.

AFAICS, since a heavy repeating crossbow can be fired with one hand, it takes away any issues about having a hand free to cast a spell whilst still "wielding" your arcane bond.

The arcane bond item is rather expensive but seems quite legal, especially since as a half-elf I can use Ancestral Arms to give myself proficiency with the thing (oddly missing from the hero lab listing below).

Half-drow seemed to make sense for him, and the traits are one for his carry capacity (which is pretty poor otherwise) and one a sort of last-resort save-your-skin thing.

Gravity Bow turns his shots into 2d8. Not worried about the reload after 5 rounds since at low levels combat rarely lasts longer and at high levels it's likely to be just one of many things he can do. The feat-plan is Precise-Shot, Focused Shot ... Bullseye shot, Vital Strike.

Not sure what to choose for Spell Focus but sticking Enchantment in there for now.

From 5th level onwards I can enchant the crossbow for half price, +1 plus abilities, using greater magic weapon from 8th level on for the ordinary plusses.

Seems like a good build to me - wondering if anyone has any comments.

Here's the Hero Lab output:

Pancho
Half-elf (half drow) wizard 1
CG Medium humanoid (elf, human)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +4
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Defense
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AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10 (+3 Dex)
hp 8 (1d6+2)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune sleep
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Ranged mwk repeating heavy crossbow +4 (1d10/19-20)
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st—gravity bow[APG], gravity bow[APG] (2)
. . 0 (at will)—daze (DC 15), disrupt undead, ray of frost
. . Opposition Schools Divination, Illusion
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Statistics
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Str 7, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 11
Feats Point-blank Shot, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Traits muscle of the society, oregent desperation
Skills Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge (local) +8, Knowledge (nature) +8, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Knowledge (planes) +8, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +4; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Varisian
SQ arcane bond (masterwork repeating heavy crossbow), augment, elf blood, physical enhancement (+1)
Combat Gear cold iron repeating crossbow bolts (10), silver repeating crossbow bolts (10); Other Gear mwk repeating heavy crossbow, repeating crossbow bolts (50), 118 gp
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Special Abilities
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Arcane Bond (Masterwork repeating heavy crossbow) (1/day) (Sp) Use object to cast any spell in your spellbook. Without it, Concentration required to cast spells (DC20 + spell level).
Augment (+2 ability or +1 AC, 1 rds, 7/day) (Sp) Grant either +2 to an ability score or +1 natural armor by touch.
Divination You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Divination school.
Elf Blood Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Enhancement Associated School: Transmutation
Illusion You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Illusion school.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Muscle of the Society +2 bonus to strength checks to break doors or lift portcullises.
Oregent Desperation (1/day) 1/day, improve from dying to disabled but take 4 Int damage.
Physical Enhancement +1 (Constitution) (Su) When preparing spells, chosen physical attribute gains enhancement bonus.
Point-Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Spell Focus (Enchantment) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.

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Dark Archive

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Low levels. its great, its always fun to see a crossbow wizard. however half BaB and mediocre dex, you aren't going to be hitting anything higher levels. i would suggest level dip or 2 into lore warden fighter and then prestige class eldrigth knight. changes it to 3/4ths bab and spell progression.loss of 3 CL though >.>


Or you can go into skill focus knowledge (anything) and eldritch heratige arcane and push your concept into another class.


At upper levels, would bolts of lightning or similar AoE bolts be an option? Some thing that only requires targeting a square rather than a creature, making the Low AB not an issue.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the repeating crossbow an exotic weapon? Remember that weapon arcane bonds aren't the issue that people have been making them out to be, because unlike a magus, you can only Shoot/Swing OR cast in the same round, not both.


I hope he likes the way that crossbow looks, because while it would be a waste of time to use it the higher he levels, he is still going to have to have it in one hand every time he casts a spell.

And depending on how metamagic rods are interpreted, he may not be able to use one.

And if he is ever disarmed or his crossbow stolen...

Most people avoid this kind of bond and get a familiar I think. Or if they do go for the item bond, it is a ring or amulet or something you don't have to wield and is a little more discreet and not easily stolen.

Scarab Sages

Also, half-drow is not PFS legal.

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