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Hello all

So we're a bit into the first campaign that I've gotten the chance to join and my PC has become a bit more fleshed out. I've stepped away from switch-hitting somewhat but in a way that it is still a posibility at the moment.

The idea here is to make one very powerful hit which breaks my stealth but is helpful in intimidating any mobs close by. For this I'm using a vital strike build with an impact butchering axe. If there is a need for ranged attacks I still have a composite longbow which can use vital strike as well.

There was a chance at including the sap adept and appropriate feats as well but that is more for later in the game as it is a bit too feat intensive for right now.

Ideally I'd like to incorporate 'lunge' or something that gives me reach into the build. Having to rely on my party for that right now.
Any suggestions on what I can do to make it a little better?

I am a 10th lvl half-elf, a stygian slayer stacked with the sniper archetype. And have the following ability scores:
- Str: 20
- Dex: 16
- Con: 14
- Int: 12
- Wis: 11
- Cha: 10
*no modifier for charisma skills is detrimental for a build that uses intimidation but the feat martial dominance allows me to use my BAB instead of charisma.

With the following racials/feats
· SKILL FOCUS: PERCEPTION (level 1)
· POWER ATTACK (level 1)
· RCS gory finish (level 2)
· FURIOUS FOCUS (level 3)
· MARTIAL dominance (level 5)
· QUICK DRAW (level 6) (possible to switch for 'lunge')
· RCS shatter defenses (level 6)
· VITAL STRIKE (level 7)
· Cornugon smash (level 9)
· IMPROVED VITAL STRIKE (level 11)
· Devastating strike (level 12)
· HURTFUL (level 13)

Chosen talents so far:
- lvl 2 Ranger combat style: Menacing
- lvl 6 Ranger combat style:
- lvl 6 Human racial bonus extra talent: rogue talent: combat trick
- lvl 8 Blood reader

Currently looking into reworking the build as the DM does offer us this option once.

The rework would involve a dip into the monk: zen archer class

Either dipping in 2 or 3 lvls with the rest going into slayer.
With the slayer levels you can choose the ranger combat style of two-weapon fighting. Gaining some more attacks/prowess in a melee fight.

While the dip gives access to a few archery and monk feats and a flurry of blows for your bow which grants an additional attack. At third lvl point blank mastery is also awarded.

The main point would be a switch hitter that can handle both ranged and melee combat. Snipers goggles for the ranged sneak attack and either a wand of invisibility or the stygian slayer archetype for the melee attacks.

Edit: This mostly all comes down to archery being a feat hungry play style. Being a switch hitter usually still means you focus on archery, but you keep a big two handed weapon around for when archery isn't ideal.

Edit2: Are you more interested in being a melee fighter who can shoot a bow a little. Or an archer who can go into combat sometimes. To not get too overshadowed by your party, you're going to have to pick one or the other to specialize more in.

The rest of this was before Edit2, when I hadn't considered what you might really be wanting to do.
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*Power attack won't help you enough compared to what else you are trying to do.

*You should have had rapid shot by level 3.

*Dodge is also an odd pick in my opinion. Are you working towards some other feat with that?

*You can't choose multiple styles with Ranger Combat Style. You could try to retrain that if you want to step away from archery.

*If continuing archery, you should grab improved precise shot at level 6. You can wait till 7 to grab Manyshot with a regular feat.

*Blood reader is a hard pick. It's super useful, but at the same time doesn't do anything for your own output. It's a very support ability. If you like being support it can be great.

The feats that I already have at the moment were rolled for during character creation. So no choice in them. The talent precise shot is the only one I've gotten to choose so far.

During the combats that we've been in so far I have mainly stuck to archery while going close if and when it was needed. I think that I want to continue playing in that way if it is viable enough in combination with sneak attacks.

Honey, I made a guide for this.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Iu-XQ18JqInx7b90QP_biwCjkLviiMou4oSFEp fQYM/edit#heading=h.fc65bivujegw

Hey, I have your guide bookmarked. Thanks for the hard work in making it, it was one of the first things I found when starting to search months ago.

Nevertheless I was looking for some situation specific advices or if there was more that I've missed.

Hello

I've started my first campaign (1e) and have done so with a stygian slayer build.
However I'm having a bit of difficulty in seeing the forest through the trees in regards to the options available in making this build better or the optimal ways in which I can use it. There are a few min/maxers in the campaign and I'm feeling a little underbuilt.

We'll be going up a lvl in one of the following sessions, currently at 5.
I wanted to play a character that can flit in and out of battle when needed to either deal damage or help protect the party. To that end I was looking to do some archery as range seems good and some melee to take proper advantage of sneak attack. My stealth and perception are quite good as I am currently one of the sneakiest characters in the campaign.

Are there certain things I should do or take to that end?
Is there a multi class option that would be good for dipping a lvl or 2?

I am a half-elf with the following ability scores:
- Str: 18
- Dex: 18
- Con: 13
- Int: 12
- Wis: 11
- Cha: 10

With the following racials/feats
- Skill focus: perception
- Power attack
- Dodge
- Point blank shot

Chosen talents so far:
- Ranger combat style: Archery
Precise shot

Following talents are what I was looking at for lvl 6 and 8:
- Trap spotting: Rogue talent where I need to roll perception if I come into 10 feet of a trap
- Blood reader: know the hp of a studied target
- Ranger combat style: two weapon fighting
(currently only have one weapon)