Crossbowman

[maouse]

There is a feat in the PRD that allows for reloading ANY crossbow as fast as a regular bow. Combine that with a MINITAUR CROSSBOW and a Rogue/Ranger type with Precise Shot (ignores partial cover for crits) and a few grouping/flanking feats and you can make a decent archtype sneak attack damage dealer.

Also you can combine feats that add damage from either INT bonus, DEX bonus or what have you to get extra damage on EACH d8 of the beastly weapon (essentially at level 20 you can concievably do 5 shots, two bolts each, for 1d8 + mods, plus crit damage). Have a friend enlarge your size and its a base 2d6 per bolt (4d6 per attack). So you deal 20d6, plus 10d6 per sneak attack, or 60d6 + mods on a full round sneak attack round. I think that keeps up with any other "bow" class... (it may be 16+40, 56d6, not 100% sure about the rapid shot ability combined with the feat that lets you fire as fast as bows, think it said you could combine it with that)

In any event, Snap Shotting with this weapon gives a rogue a base of 2d8 + mods + xd6 sneak attack. Which makes up for not being a bow (you will be struggling at lower levels, but when you get up there, you will be the "death from the shadows" you want to be).

[Silent Saturn]

I'm wondering: when the OP said he wanted to make "a crossbowman", did he mean the Fighter archetype in the APG or just "a character that wields a crossbow"?

Does the ranger's Archery style include Rapid Reload? If so, then a ranger would make a good crossbowman. Really, though, rogues are probably the best at it. The main advantage of the crossbow is that it's the only ranged weapon that doesn't apply your Strength bonus OR PENALTY to damage, making it the weapon of choice for characters with 8 strength. I'd say a Halfling rogue who put all his points in Dex and dumped Str would love a crossbow.

Or better yet, a halfling fighter-- weapon training and weapon specializationw ill give you the extra bonus damage your strength won't, and you'll qualify for Point Blank Master, which will basically let you use the crossbow as your melee weapon.

[Alex_UNLIMITED]

1) If i friend alter your size, your bolt deal the normal damage, because the bolt leaves your space.
2) The minotaur crossbow is senseless and stupid, and is stupid and senseless use all handbooks, such has the handbook with the minotaur crossbow. The true double crossbow is the APG's double crossbow.