i suggest forget your str for now. it's too low.
human zen archer +2 to dex.
half orc crossbow inquisitor +2 to wis
scimitar-wielding half-elf dervish dancer bard +2 to cha
dwarf finesse monk, save for amulet of agile mighty fists.
Go Gunslinger, you can pretty much ignore your low strength and after 5th level bonus damage will go on dexterity anyway (as far as raw damage is concerned) though your CMD and encumbrance values are going to suck! You also have an extremely high wisdom, also a required stat for this class.
You could play a solid gunslinger with those scores.
Inquisitor. You have high wis for the spells and they get automatic crossbows for free. pretty sweet.
I rolled: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 17, Cha 13
The plan is to somehow turn this into a ranged combatant, but the low Str feels prohibitive for bows since the base damage will be 1D8-1. Crossbows won't be penalized for low Str but cost a lot of feats and still don't seem to ever get close to bows.
What classes or archetypes could save this character? Should I just go with Orc and play a Str 12 bow user?
Negative strength only affects a composite longbow. Use a regular one and strength bonus won't affect damage at all.
Support cleric if you can move the Dex, if you can't do that then go with a rogue or ninja. You have a high number of skill points so the low Int doesn't hurt much, high Dex, decent Con, the higher Wis to help shore up your low will save. Another option is the Empyreal blaster sorcerer that uses rays. Like the rogue idea and the sorcerer idea? Arcane trickster.
I'd be happy to come up with a sample build if you like any of these.
Negative strength only affects a composite longbow. Use a regular one and strength bonus won't affect damage at all.I rolled: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 17, Cha 13
The plan is to somehow turn this into a ranged combatant, but the low Str feels prohibitive for bows since the base damage will be 1D8-1. Crossbows won't be penalized for low Str but cost a lot of feats and still don't seem to ever get close to bows.
What classes or archetypes could save this character? Should I just go with Orc and play a Str 12 bow user?
Not exactly true.
Description: You need two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. A longbow is too unwieldy to use while you are mounted. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a longbow. If you have a Strength bonus, you can apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite longbow (see below), but not when you use a regular longbow.
Negative strength only affects a composite longbow. Use a regular one and strength bonus won't affect damage at all.I rolled: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 17, Cha 13
The plan is to somehow turn this into a ranged combatant, but the low Str feels prohibitive for bows since the base damage will be 1D8-1. Crossbows won't be penalized for low Str but cost a lot of feats and still don't seem to ever get close to bows.
What classes or archetypes could save this character? Should I just go with Orc and play a Str 12 bow user?
Not exactly true.
Description: You need two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. A longbow is too unwieldy to use while you are mounted. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a longbow. If you have a Strength bonus, you can apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite longbow (see below), but not when you use a regular longbow.
Ah. Sorry. However, the penalty on damage is easily mitigated by either increasing the characters strength score through race or a magic item, and through various feats (PBS, Deadly aim, etc.).
Cleric or Oracle, focused on dodging and spells, not weapons.
gunslinger or zen archer with guided bow.
Commit hari-kari and roll up a new character.
Master Arminas
Support cleric if you can move the Dex, if you can't do that then go with a rogue or ninja. You have a high number of skill points so the low Int doesn't hurt much, high Dex, decent Con, the higher Wis to help shore up your low will save. Another option is the Empyreal blaster sorcerer that uses rays. Like the rogue idea and the sorcerer idea? Arcane trickster.
I'd be happy to come up with a sample build if you like any of these.
It's an evil campaign, so if I go Cleric it'll probably be an offensive role rather than as support. Channel Smite is pretty cool but only works on melee weapons sadly.
I'm playing rogue in another campaign and it's really bothering me how weak it is. Haven't played Ninja but it doesn't look amazing tbh. Empyreal Sorcerer could work, basically taking the same feats as the other ranged options I'm guessing.
Yes, but the nice part is it is all touch attacks so its pretty easy to hit (same deal with gunslinger most of the time). For a sorcerer I would say that Precise shot is the only one that you must have.
An evil campaign? Blight Druid!
These are all good suggestions. I initially built it as an Inquisitor, but looking down the line it seems that crossbows are a trap choice.
Crossbows are a trap choice. Repeating Crossbows (especially that delicious heavy repeating) which you have free proficiency in, only miss out on manyshot. OK, there might be an issue with the 5 bolt clip size, but that isn't too hard to overcome.
Since you said Orc, are you allowed to play something like let's say... Oread? not only will you balance your Str, but you'll get a whopping 19 Wis.
And "Evil" doesn't mean you have to think you're the star of the show. Evil characters are often quite willing to empower others to get their evil deeds done for them, tenting their fingers and muttering "yessss". You could be a support cleric if you wanted.
I rolled: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 17, Cha 13
The plan is to somehow turn this into a ranged combatant, but the low Str feels prohibitive for bows since the base damage will be 1D8-1. Crossbows won't be penalized for low Str but cost a lot of feats and still don't seem to ever get close to bows.
What classes or archetypes could save this character? Should I just go with Orc and play a Str 12 bow user?
With those stats you can a lot of stuff:
- Ranged combatant. Either eat the penalty with a longbow or pick light crossbows. You can get the quick reload feat later so you can utilize all of your attacks, and the strength bonus will not affect it negatively.
- Possibly with ranged: Use a medium BAB arcane caster such as bard or magus. Bard would be the best one for this: Arcane strike coupled with inspire courage and deadly aim will make your damage output quite substantial, and you can increase the charisma as you level up (or pick a race that gives bonuses to that).
- Ranged barbarian. Kind of weird IMO, but should work
- Inquisitor should work well enough with bane, judgement and deadly aim as ranged character
- Cleric, sorcerer (empyreal), druid, ranger... Lots of choices here if other classes would be acceptable
I recommend bard or a full bab martial. Both bows or crossbows would be fine.
|
Gunslinger/ Ninja - AKA Special Ops Assasin. May even consider Assasin or Red Mantis Assasin at later levels.
1 Gunslinger - Human - Point blank, Deadly Aim
2 Ninja - sneak attack
3 Ninja - Ninja Trick Vanish, Precise Shot
4 Gunslinger
5 Gunslinger
6 Gunslinger
7 Gunslinger
Whatever you want after this. Consider going further levels in ninja for more of an assasin back ground. Flatfooted touch attacks for the win.
|
|
Gunslinger with Musket, deadly aim and gun training - 1d12+4(dex)+4(deadly aim)+1 point blank shot + 1d6 sneak attack. Within 30ft it counst as a touch attack. Reload is a move action with alchemical bullets.
Alternatively, Pick up two wpn fighting, rapid shot & 2 pepperbox Pistols, Go All out Gunslinger, and take Improve 2 wpn Fighting @7th lvl.
+ 7/+2 base attack, +4 dex + 1(assumed at this point you've got at least MW)= +13/+8
Activate 2 wpn fighting, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim - 6
Attacks +7/+7/+7/+2/+2 - Touch Attacks
Damage for each is minimum of 1d6+9 + enchanment bonuses. Damage is 5d6+45.
@ 9th level pick up cluster shot. DR is no longer a problem. Next round - free action/swift action - swap guns from hand to hand. Repeat. With a Alchemical bullet, loading a bullet is a swift action. This means after your first volley - which many things should be dead by then - you can load upto 3 bullets a round. This isn't great, but
at this point, most of your targets are dead anyway.