So, I'm working on a Zen Archer Monk build, and I'm trying to evaluate the worth of Rapid/Manyshot feats, since Zen Archer already has the ability to use Flurry of Blows with his bow, and Rapid & Many cannot be used while he Flurries.
Looking at Rapid Shot: Full Attack action nets +1 attack, all attacks get a -2 penalty. Since it also doesn't get Flurry's Level=BAB bonus, it besically functions as gimped Flurry of Blows?
Likewise, Manyshot: First attack in Full Attack action fires 2 arrows. No to-hit penalty, following attacks as normal, available to Monk at 6th level. At that level, his Flurry to hit is same as his BAB (+4) but gives him 3 attacks (+4/+4/-1). So, I get 2 chances to hit at my full BAB (instead of one with Manyshot), and also additional 3rd attack.
Can anyone give me a reason to even consider these 2 feats?
Additionally, while trying to number-crunch the comparison, I ran into another question:
Flurry of Blows assumes BAB = Monk's Level; it adds assumed TWF on top of it, resulting in actual Flurry to hit mods lagging behind behind monk's level by 2 (-1 at 1st level, 1 at 3rd etc). Since shooting a bow isn't actually a two-weapon attack, would my Flurry to-hit mod lose that -2 TWP penalty, or (as I assume) would the penalty stuck since Monk is offloading arrows like mad?
rapid shot and multi shot are bad for the zen archer.
While Flurrying you would have the following:
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses (shot one)
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses (shot two)
At level 8 it would be:
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses
Monk level -7 + all other bonuses
Monk level -7 + all other bonuses
At level 14 it would be:
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses
Monk level -2 + all other bonuses
Monk level -7 + all other bonuses
Monk level -7 + all other bonuses
Monk level -12 + all other bonuses
Monk level -12 + all other bonuses
-Snip-Snip-
That's what it looks like to me as well, Abe, I'm just trying to find out if there's some secret reason why I should find those two feats appealing.
-Snip-Snip-That's what it looks like to me as well, Abe, I'm just trying to find out if there's some secret reason why I should find those two feats appealing.
Just for sake of number crunching tables for future Zen Archers, this is what I got:
Lvl Flurry ---- Rapid -- Many (Double Damage on 1st attack)
1 - -1/-1 ----- -2/-2 -- +0
2 - +0/+0 ----- -1/-1 -- +1
3 - +1/+1 ----- +0/+0 -- +2
4 - +2/+2 ----- +1/+1 -- +3
5 - +3/+3 ----- +1/+1 -- +3
6 - +4/+4/-1 -- +2/+2 -- +4
7 - +5/+5/+0 -- +3/+3 -- +5
8 - +6/+6/+1/+1 +4/+4/-1 +6/+1
9 - +7/+7/+2/+2 +4/+4/-1 +6/+1
etc
Even assuming Rapid Shot and Manyshot stack - and I do not believe they do - all it'd result in is Rapid Shot to-hit table with first attack doubling in damage - nowhere nearly enough to make up for lower to-hit numbers and fewer actual attacks.
Even assuming Rapid Shot and Manyshot stack - and I do not believe they do - all it'd result in is Rapid Shot to-hit table with first attack doubling in damage - nowhere nearly enough to make up for lower to-hit numbers and fewer actual attacks.
They do stack and of course they aren't appealing -- there is no reason for a zen archer to take them.
Instead you should look at precise shot at first level, dodge at second, improved precise shot at 6th and improved critical at 10th.