What about for a unicorn? :P
Speaking of dragons I hope our DM is still with us.
I hope he is alright
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That it did, but it’s good to be back
Gazul, you are a wealth of knowledge. If you ever to decide to run a game on the boards, Grumbaki, let me know. I want in. :D Truly, thank you. If I ever have the courage to do so, you’ll have a spot.
Personally I think two archers is just fine. It’s common enough to see archers. Two of them just means a barrage of arrows to fight under. Plus the GM chose two rangers built as archers. But if there is a fear of overlap…a throwing build could work? It functions as a switch hitter. A throwing build I used before and really enjoyed:
Startoss Style is my personal favorite. It makes daggers the equivalent of bows for damage. By lvl 7… Trait: River Rat (+1 damage with daggers) Elephant in the Room: Weapon Finesse, Deadly Aim, Power Attack
Lvl 1: 1d4 + 2 (Str) +2 (Power Attack) + 1 (Trait) = 1d4+5 By lvl 7, with Str14 and deadly aim…that’s 1d4+2 (Str) + 4 (Deadly Aim) + 1 (Trait) + 6 (Feats) = 1d4+13 damage. It takes a few levels to “turn on.” But there is something that feels iconic about someone who is deadly with a dagger. It would make 3 warriors. 1 melee, 1 ranged, and 1 who can move between the two.
Thanks for reminding me about elephant in the room! It actually changes my advice significantly. It removes point blank shot as a feat entirely. Meaning, I highly recommend any archer to start with the lvl 1 feat precise shot. It also gives Deadly Aim for free. Lvl 1: Precise Shot (no -4 shooting into combat!)
Id recommend everyone take a look at what elephant in the room gives you
Always a pleasure! But for favored enemy...in general you can't go wrong with: Favored Enemy Humans: One of the most common enemies faced
If I was playing a ranger? I'd personally go Human and then Dragon. Can't go wrong with that.
Deadeye Bowman
While Erastil is LG, you don't need to be within one alignment step to worship him. So you should be good to go on that. The reason why this trait is so good is... Gazul is facing Enemy X. You are standing behind Gazul. Because you are shooting past the dwarf, you would have a -4 penalty to hit. With this trait, you aim a wee bit higher, and don't take the penalty. That's huge. Especially before you get precise shot. If you don't have either one? That is -8 to hit! ------------ As for what to shop for? With Str14, what you need ASAP is a composite longbow with a +2 strength modifier. That's 300 gold right there, as it will give you +2 damage. For 600 gold you can (and should) make it masterwork. Now, with 2 traits? Deadeye Bowman is a religion trait. You could take Rich Parents to make your starting gold 900. That would get you the bow you need off the bat, though longterm is falls behind as 900 gold is only worth it at lvl 1. I'd personally advise just buying the bow when you get the gold. But I have seen people take this because they don't like being stuck at 1d8 damage for all of lvl 1. ----------- A second trait that I would often advise for longbow builds... Weapon Training
+1 damage is amazing. It's 1/2 of weapon specialization! However, it is Ulfen only. Which is a shame for most characters. ------------ For feats...I would suggest: Lvl 1: Weapon focus is fine
By lvl 6 this would get you every archery feat you need. Usually I'd recommend Improved Precise Shot...but Deadeye more or less covers that. Point Blank Master is nice to have (can shoot when in melee) but a 5ft step is usually all you need for that anyways. ------------ If you are going favored enemy orcs, then you might want to swap weapon focus (push it back to lvl 7) and take exotic weapon proficiency instead. So you can use a orc hornbow instead. Only 80ft range, but it does 2d6 instead of 1d8 damage. That's a great damage increase before you can get a composite bow and deadly aim. And it is flavorful if your character has specialized in hunting orcs. If you aren't an orc killing specialist? Then I'd advise against the hornbow as thematically it would make less sense.
Hello one and all!
Gazul might have Cha 6...but he has +4 diplomacy and +2 intimidate. That's...okay, fine. It isn't a face. But at least it isn't as bad as it otherwise could have been. ;)
While the stool is nice, I adore her background. I’d love to see the moment in a campaign where she finds Sturmstriek. Especially if it is in the lair of a certain wounded dragon….
Grumbaki here. Not going to lie, somewhat jealous with a free of these 40+ rolls! But I think that I’ve got a solid character made. Background: Gazul Ironfist hails from Janderhoff, a dwarven city renowned for its masterful smiths and artisans. From a young age, he apprenticed under his father, learning to shape steel and forge weapons. But Janderhoff is a city of fierce competition, where even the most skilled smiths must fight for recognition and livelihood. Unable to secure a permanent workshop of his own, Gazul turned to the road, offering his services to caravans that crisscross the Five Kings Mountains. It was his hope that he could earn the coin needed to one day return home and open his own workshop. And perhaps by then he would have honed his skills enough to deserve it. Life has made Gazul practical, disciplined, and watchful. Physically powerful from countless hours at the forge, he is no less sturdy mentally. For while he is by no means warm or friendly, he is unfailingly polite and honest in his dealings. Subterfuge and underhanded dealings are despised traits. The collapse of Belhaim’s ancient tower and rumors of dragons stir both curiosity and caution in him, and he cannot help but wonder if this quiet town might offer both challenge and opportunity for a smith and warrior of his skill.
Do what you need to do for yourself. That takes priority. We'll be here for when you come back.
Gazul stood in the back, eying the fey warily. It was ridiculous, to be sure, that something so small would threaten them so. But was it any more ridiculous for a dwarf to fight a giant? And yet history was replete with heroes who did just that. There was nothing to say that this was not a similar case. He did not want to fall prey to the folly that so many of his people's ancestral foes were laid low by.
Gazul shook his head as he saw Orthos and Cheshire fall. Luckily Sarya's magic seemed to have mitigated the worst of the fall and Kasana had acted quickly to provide a way up. Given his own stout stature and armor, he figured that the best he could do was to not add to the group's woes...
Seeing Orthos make his way across, Gazul held up a rope and motioned for the cleric to take his own rope and secure it. It would be *much* easier for everyone else to follow him with something sturdy to hold onto. It would further save them from a nasty fall.
”I’m nay one to turn down a drink.” Gazul said. ”But we be here for supplies and to find out what happened to the rangers, aye? Let’s avoid a fight if we can.” Gazul said. ”Would rather they pass out so we can sneak by than risk lives for the sake of human brewed alcohol.”
"Jus' keep it a secret about us here. We'll look around this fortress and if we find the good booze, we'll bring it back here. But if the korreds find out that we're here, ye know that they'll demand it all for themselves."
Caught off guard by Sarya's cheerfulness, it took Gazul a moment to collect himself. But once he did so, in Sylvan Gazul added "We come in peace and mean no harm." He figured that it was worth to be polite before any blood was shed.
"I'll believe it when I see it." Gazul muttered. "Now let's get out of the crapper, aye?"
"Aye. Cutting wires when we don't know what it does seems like a bad idea." He looked around with clear suspicion. "And be careful. Who knows what kind of fey might be lurkin' here? Might be smaller, more crafty kinds than the ones drunk outside."
"Seeing what they did to the hobgoblins, I'm in a mind to agree. With any luck they'll drink themselves into a stupor soon enough."
”Spores.” Gazul muttered as he hacked the plant in twain. ”Bloody fookin’ spores.” He have it a good kick for good measure as he turned to look at his afflicted companions. ”They’ll get over it soon now that the flow has been stopped.”
Gazul coughed as spores filled the air, but he kept his bearing. With the plant standing still to unleash it’s attack, it was a much easier target for the dwarf. His axe bit deep as it impacted squarely with the ferocious vegetation. In doing so he ignored Cheshire, as he was getting used to the gnome’s wild magic.
Gazul moved around the plant, getting behind it so that others could move in. As he did so, he waited for his opening and struck. Unfortunately the moving plant shifted in it's attack, and his axe sailed harmlessly through the air.
While Sarya hesitated, Gazul did not. The dwarf surged forward, axe in hand. The plant did not look in any way friendly, and he was not about to wait to become plant food. "Come on gnome!" He said. "Time to bring some fire!"
Curious as to what Sarya was doing, Gazul likewise put his ear to the wall. After a moment he pulled back and gave her a quizzical look. Because, just as he thought, stone couldn't talk.
”Place is sacked. I’m up for just doing the door. While it isn’t what I was hoping to see, at least we will be able to sleep with a roof over our heads.” He offered.
"Open door means that rangers are probably dead. Also means that whomever did it isn't fortifying the place." Gazul mused. "Aye. Circle it, see if we can figure out what's inside. While hobgoblins could have taken the fort, if the door is open then something else might have moved in after they were done."
"Fookin' great. So we could be in the first world now?" Gazul asked. "This somethin' yer seein' with that third eye?" He followed up, feeling concerned with their prospects of survival if this was the case.
Shocked that the small fey was still able to fight, Gazul quickly fired another arrow at it. An arrow that vanished into the forest as it missed it's mark.
Seeing the fey so far away, and noticing that it relied completely on it's bow, Gazul dropped his axe and shield. In one fluid motion he pulled out his bow and an arrow and sent it flying towards the small creature.
By fate or luck the arrow hit true. Gazul's bushy eyebrows were raised in surprise at his fortune.
Gazul swung his axe...into thin air. It turned out that hitting something you couldn't see was as difficult as it sounded! Somewhat reluctantly he did as he was bid, and sought cover.
With axe in hand Gazul burst through the underbrush. Moving with alacrity, the dwarf easily went through the thick terrain, stepping with unerring accuracy so that he was not hindered by the foliage. His axe lashed out, the first blow clearing the way through the fey's cover and the second nicking the small creature. He didn't say a word as he attacked, in part because the spores on it did not look like they'd be good to inhale.
For his part, Gazul held axe and shield in hand, as he kept his eyes out for any incoming threats. He had walked in silence, aware of how his recent actions involving their last prisoner had caused something of a rift between him and his comrades. But now that they appeared to be in danger once again, all such thoughts fled as his mind as he focused on the moment.
Speaking in Sylvan, Gazul said "That is a mighty fair offer ye've got there. But if I may? The ones who did this damage are out there, aye? They be our enemies too. If we be stuck here, then they'll be spreading more fires. More fires which will cause far more damage than we can ever hope to fix. Would it not be better for the forest all around if we continue hunting down the perpetrators of this mess?"
With the others speaking eloquently in their defense, Gazul stood still with his hand off his axe and in the air where it could be seen.
Gazul held up his hands and called out ”We’rnt us! Hobgoblins did this to your forest, just as they did to our town.”
Gazul watched Kasana leave in silence. He understood her frustration. But such was the price of honor. Looking down at the body he reflected that it was only right that the burden of disposing it would fall on to him. He worried that the day would come when this would become easy.
Gazul cleaned his axe and said ”Wasn't going to give me word that he’d live. That was his deal and I turned it down.”
Gazul walked forward, getting within distance to strike. He didn't trust any information that the hobgoblin had. He didn't want to feel honor-bound to let the enemy go free. He didn't want to have any more of these discussions. He reflected that this was why Torag instruction his children to not allow the enemy to surrender, except when strategy dictated. He didn't trust the hobgoblin to tell the truth, or at least the entire truth. "Enough." He said. Unless someone stops him:
His axe flashed out, striking the unarmed hobgoblin. It didn't feel right, killing like this. He knew how much Sarya disliked it. Not for the first time he reflected on how much he hated war. He hated the dreams that would inevitably follow. He hated the quiet. But he knew, in his heart, that it was the only correct option. That letting the hobgoblin go would mean putting the refugees at risk. It would mean that it would be one more blade conquering the lands. It would mean more death. So he took it upon himself to do what he knew had to be done. He just wished that the hobgoblin would have had the decency of dying in the ambush, like they had planned. At least then he could have felt heroic.
Gazul kept quiet, as the others did the talking. He hoped that none promised that the hobgoblin would go free, because he had no intention of letting that happen. Torag was quite clear about what was to be done with the enemies of his people.
Not trusting himself to catch fleeing hobgoblins, Gazul advanced forward and fired an arrow at the wounded soldier.
Gazul rose from cover, fired off one last arrow, and moved forward. Exchanging the weapon for axe and shield, he was ready for the battle to move into the next phase. He didn’t expect to catch any fleeing hobgoblins, as they could outpace him, so he hoped that they would charge...
Gazul stuck his tongue out in concentration as he pulled the bowstring back. He wasn't an archer by any means, but he didn't have to be. Not when he had both luck, and a foe who couldn't move, making the battle go smoother than it otherwise should have. He let loose and an arrow flew down range, hitting the hobgoblin captain square in the chest.
Hit Captain: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Hit Captain: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Assuming that the Hobgoblins fall for that very well made trap!:
Gazul grinned. The gnome had done it! The hobgoblins had chased him right into their trap. He watied in hiding until they were within reach. Then, with a cry of "Khazukan Khazukit-Ha!" he rose from where he was hiding, bow in hand, and fired upon the hobgoblins. y
Two arrows flew down range in quick succession. The first one hit a tree, but the second took the hobgoblin captain in the thigh. It wasn't enough to kill him, to be sure, but it still got through the armor and drew blood. With a smile on his face, he reached for another arrow.
"If it works for ye, then it does for me. Just be careful not to get filled with arrows. Hobgoblins aren't idiotic orcs. They're trained soldiers, who've bloodied us on more than one occasion. We shouldn't underestimate them." Gazul said.
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