A new member is joining our party, and he wants to play a half-elf Slayer. He'll start at lvl 9 and I'm trying to help build his character, but I've never played as a Slayer before.
I'm thinking:
Lvl1: Point Blank Shot
Lvl2: Ranger Combat Style: Precise Shot
Lvl3: Deadly Aim
Lvl4: Trapfinding
Lvl5: Far Shot
Lvl6: RCS: Point Blank Master
Lvl7: Many Shot
Lvl8: Combat Trick: Clustered Shots
Lvl9: Rapid Shot
Lvl10: RCS: Pinpoint Targeting
Lvl11: Improved Precise Shot
Lvl12: RCS: Shot on the Run
Dex 16 Str 16
Starting with a +3 str to dmg Composite Long Bow
What changes should I make to this build if any? What traits/items would work best for a half-elf who wants to be super sneaky and really good at hunting?
Looks pretty good, I'd say you should check some things though:
1. You are taking RCS one more time than allowed.
2. You should probably look into the Sniper archetype.
3. Accomplished Sneak Attacker feat is probably more useful than Shot on the Run.
4. Far Shot rarely comes useful as most combat happens in close quarters usually.
What if he dropped RCS: shot on the run and Far Shot for Combat Reflexes and Snap Shot?
He could go Snap Shot lvl 5, then Combat Reflexes lvl11, and Imp Precise Shot at 13?
I don't think Sniper will work with his playstyle. He wants to be an uber tracker/hunter
depending on your campaign seething hatred could be very good!
I don't see Point Blank Master on the list of available RCS feats. Did I miss it? If I'm right, I'd move Improved Precise Shot to the choice at level 6.
Point Blank Master (Combat)
Point Blank Master
You are adept at firing ranged weapons in close quarters.
Prerequisite: Weapon Specialization with selected ranged weapon.
Benefit: Choose one type of ranged weapon. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when firing the selected weapon while threatened.
Normal: Using a ranged weapon while you are threatened provokes attacks of opportunity.
Special: Starting at 6th level, a ranger with the archery combat style may select Point Blank Master as a combat style feat, but he must have Weapon Focus instead of Weapon Specialization in the selected weapon.
I'd move IPS to 6 regardless
Can't take Improved Precise Shot at 6th level, it has to be 10th level or above, as that's when the choice becomes available. Point Blank Master is actually better since it allows him to fire into melee without getting himself killed for it, and it's coming online at the level where Combat Reflexes and such are commonplace.
"Archery
The character can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat:
Far Shot, Focused Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot.
•At 6th level, he adds Crossbow Mastery, Improved Precise Shot, Parting Shot, Point Blank Master and Manyshot to the list.
•At 10th level, he adds Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list."
Using Ranger Combat Style, Slayers can gain any of these feats without qualifying for the prerequisites normally.
A new member is joining our party, and he wants to play a half-elf Slayer. He'll start at lvl 9 and I'm trying to help build his character, but I've never played as a Slayer before.
I'm thinking:
Lvl1: Point Blank Shot
Lvl2: Ranger Combat Style: Precise Shot
Lvl3: Deadly Aim
Lvl4: Trapfinding
Lvl5: Far Shot
Lvl6: RCS: Point Blank Master
Lvl7: Many Shot
Lvl8: Combat Trick: Clustered Shots
Lvl9: Rapid Shot
Lvl10: RCS: Pinpoint Targeting
Lvl11: Improved Precise Shot
Lvl12: RCS: Shot on the RunDex 16 Str 16
Starting with a +3 str to dmg Composite Long Bow
What changes should I make to this build if any? What traits/items would work best for a half-elf who wants to be super sneaky and really good at hunting?
Let me fix this feat chain for you.
Lvl1: Point Blank Shot
Lvl2: Ranger Combat Style: Precise Shot
Lvl3: Rapid Shot
Lvl4: Weapon Training: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Lvl5: Deadly Aim
Lvl6: RCS: Point Blank Master
Lvl7: Many Shot
Lvl8: Trapfinding
Lvl9: Clustered Shots
Lvl10: RCS: Improved Precise Shot
Lvl11: Snap Shot
Lvl12: Combat Trick: Improved Snap Shot
Lvl13: Combat Reflexes
So, the biggest change is that I dumped Trapfinding to 8th level for the Weapon Training talent. This isn't because I think Trapfinding is bad, but this is primarily because the RCS doesn't let you ignore every pre-requisite for Point Blank Master, it says you can take it for a ranger combat feat as long as you have Weapon Focus, which you wouldn't fulfill until after 6th level, when you originally take PBM. I delayed the Combat Trick because you can still fulfill the basic feats you need in appropriate time intervals.
Magical traps will be rare in the lower levels, and if you do come across them, their DCs will most likely be too high to disable anyway (the base DCs are somewhere in the 25s, and even at 4th level when you normally get the option to disable, you're looking at +10, making it a 25% chance to succeed, and a 75% chance to fail (with an overall 50% chance of setting it off anyway). For such obstacles, it's best to use your ingenuity to try and circumvent it instead, since in a lot of cases, disabling the trap is very risky. As such, delaying it to a more affordable level isn't the end of the world. It's still worthwhile to put ranks into it as you level, since you can still disable basic traps with Masterwork Thieve's Tools (that give a +2 to your check).
I switched Rapid Shot to be earlier, since getting an extra attack at your highest BAB is much more valuable than the Deadly Aim damage bonus in the earlier levels, where AC isn't fully fledged quite yet and damage dice are still fairly powerful. 5th level is the level where DR starts becoming commonplace and static modifiers begin to take over. I'd want to take Clustered Shots sooner, but the other feats and options are too important to ignore, and if you're good enough, the Deadly Aim damage bonus should be good enough.
The Snap Shot feats are really only for utility/self-defense purposes, since Point Blank Master gives a fail-safe option to deal with melee creatures without having to rely on your range to save you. As such, I delayed them to the end of the feat chain. Sure, you may only get one attack with them, but consider investing in utility arrows (such as Trip Arrows or similar projectiles) for those moments where an enemy is attempting to close the gap on you.
For traits, consider things that will shore up your weaknesses or add to your strengths. Indomitable Faith gives a +1 to your lower Will Saves. Since you're Half-Elf, the Dual Minded Racial Trait is extremely valuable, especially since Slayers have poor Will Saves. Conversely, taking traits like Reactionary to let you act sooner is a solid choice as well.
For items, make sure you get both Adaptive and Cyclonic on your Longbow ASAP. The first lets you use it regardless of your Strength score (and without penalty), and only costs 1,000 gold. The second is a +2 property, which is expensive, but the ability to outright ignore effects relating to wind, water, and grease. Grease spells, being in or shooting underwater, and spells like Wind Wall, all made useless against you, is perhaps the biggest way to keep yourself relevant in all combats. The latter can be gotten later down the road, after you add a couple enhancements to your bow, but when enemies start casting level 3+ spells, you can be guaranteed that spells like Wind Wall will show up and absolutely wreck your day.
Add your level up attributes to Dexterity. While Strength determines your damage, your to-hit is more important, since bows are all about stacking hits onto an enemy to deal all of their damage.
"Archery
The character can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat:
Far Shot, Focused Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot.
•At 6th level, he adds Crossbow Mastery, Improved Precise Shot, Parting Shot, Point Blank Master and Manyshot to the list.
•At 10th level, he adds Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list."Using Ranger Combat Style, Slayers can gain any of these feats without qualifying for the prerequisites normally.
Re-read the special regarding Point Blank Master again:
Special: Starting at 6th level, a ranger with the archery combat style may select Point Blank Master as a combat style feat, but he must have Weapon Focus instead of Weapon Specialization in the selected weapon.
Weapon Focus is required in order to select it as a combat style feat, which makes the Weapon Training talent required.
Rangers/slayers do get the option of improved precise shot at 6th level not 10th though.
A new member is joining our party, and he wants to play a half-elf Slayer. He'll start at lvl 9 and I'm trying to help build his character, but I've never played as a Slayer before.
I'm thinking:
Lvl1: Point Blank Shot
Lvl2: Ranger Combat Style: Precise Shot
Lvl3: Deadly Aim
Lvl4: Trapfinding
Lvl5: Far Shot
Lvl6: RCS: Point Blank Master
Lvl7: Many Shot
Lvl8: Combat Trick: Clustered Shots
Lvl9: Rapid Shot
Lvl10: RCS: Pinpoint Targeting
Lvl11: Improved Precise Shot
Lvl12: RCS: Shot on the RunDex 16 Str 16
Starting with a +3 str to dmg Composite Long Bow
What changes should I make to this build if any? What traits/items would work best for a half-elf who wants to be super sneaky and really good at hunting?
Let me fix this feat chain for you.
Lvl1: Point Blank Shot
Lvl2: Ranger Combat Style: Precise Shot
Lvl3: Rapid Shot
Lvl4: Weapon Training: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Lvl5: Deadly Aim
Lvl6: RCS: Point Blank Master
Lvl7: Many Shot
Lvl8: Trapfinding
Lvl9: Clustered Shots
Lvl10: RCS: Improved Precise Shot
Lvl11: Snap Shot
Lvl12: Combat Trick: Improved Snap Shot
Lvl13: Combat ReflexesSo, the biggest change is that I dumped Trapfinding to 8th level for the Weapon Training talent. This isn't because I think Trapfinding is bad, but this is primarily because the RCS doesn't let you ignore every pre-requisite for Point Blank Master, it says you can take it for a ranger combat feat as long as you have Weapon Focus, which you wouldn't fulfill until after 6th level, when you originally take PBM. I delayed the Combat Trick because you can still fulfill the basic feats you need in appropriate time intervals.
Magical traps will be rare in the lower levels, and if you do come across them, their DCs will most likely be too high to disable anyway (the base DCs are somewhere in the 25s, and even at 4th level when you normally get the option to disable, you're looking at +10, making it a 25% chance to...
Good stuff man :) I like that build order :)