This is for PFS play, so it will be for levels 1 through 12, with 20 point buy, no 3pp, won't always be able to just pick magic I want from a shop (except low level stuff).
I want to make a dwarf that primarily uses a crossbow and I want to get as much out of that as I can. Without totally gimping him at everything else. I'm not going to dump all the mental stats to 7 for instance.
I know that the crossbow is not the best weapon for damage per round but darn it, dwarves should use crossbows not little twinkie fairie bows!
(Don't get me started on the whole "It should be hammers and picks not axes" thing!) I want to see if I can still get a pretty decent hit rate and damage output with the xbow.
I'm thinking first decision is: Light Crossbow with Rapid Reload or Repeating Heavy Crossbow with the exotic weapon proficiency? At first I was thinking the repeating xbow but that means every 2nd or 3rd round I have to take a full round to replace the box of bolts. So I'm not even sure about that.
Any thoughts at all?
You can get the repeating navy xbox proficiency for free if you go inquisitor.
or you can go with the deep walker ranger archetype
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---rang er-archetypes/deep-walker
Doesn't give you much but gets your Dwarf out of the "twinkie faeirie forest" and will help w the feat tax if you take the crossbow fighting style.
And I must know why no dwarf w a hammer?
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I suggest a light Crossbow with Rapid Reload, so you can reload as a free action. This means you can take your iteratives and whatnot just fine. Also, take Rapid Shot (once you have Rapid Reload, of course).
If you want to keep your damage output up, take Human as your favored enemy. PFS is very human-heavy. Second favored enemy would then be undead, and put the boost into human.
Also take Deadly Aim (once you have Rapid Shot).
Basically, you'll be like any elf archer, except without the STR to damage that comes with a composite bow.
Don't waste a feat on the repeating, Rapid Reload on the light is sufficient. Later on you can get Crossbow Mastery and move up to a Heavy xbow if you want more damage.
You basically want to go Ranger or Fighter. I would not use the crossbowman fighter archetype. Main benefit of ranger is Improved Precise Shot at 6 and some wis synergy for your racial bonus. Fighter makes the feat burden much easier and does more damage. They also can easily get Point Blank Master, but reloading a crossbow also provokes, so that feels pretty super pointless. (Ranger has the option of getting PBM at 6, but he'd be a fool not to take IPS instead, so he can't get PBM till 10, and by RAW you'd need the archer style to get it, not crossbow, but I consider that just an oversight)
also you can rapid reload the repeating xbow and reload as a standard. And that really won't be a big deal early on I would guess
... And I must know why no dwarf w a hammer?
AARRRGGGHHH, You got me started ! ! !
It SHOULD be hammers and picks. That is what is similar to what you would use in mines, underground, for digging.
Axes are vikings and foresters.
The whole dwarves with axes thing is a legacy from Tolkien. And my understanding is that the reason he said axes in his books is because a lot of the museums in his area have beaked or clawed battle hammers and picks with a little card in front of them that says 'battle axe'.
So now every campaign has armies of dwarves battling in the underdark well prepared to chop down a forest that isn't there.
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Errr... a crossbow? If you're looking for flavor, maybe a dwarven gunslinger? The issue with the crossbow is it is strictly worse than standard bows; made for those who are not as proficient in complex weapons. So you'd want to have some other aspect. It does not suffer Str damage (or bonus); so you can Str dump. But it's hard to get damage up, and even a 2nd shot requires rapid reload as a feat.
Ah. I misread you.
Also w the Deep Walker if you don't want to be casting you can go with the Skirmisher, who gets neat tricks instead of magic, or the trapper who gets...wait for it...traps at 5th level. Both can work with the other archetype. Also you can have your companions be your animal companion and not have to have a critter trailing you around.
The more I think about it the more I like the idea of going ranger.
I say do it and post so I can see what you did. I am all about the non optimized but still effective and fun characters
Ok, we're looking at:
Deep walker ranger archtype - doesn't gain anything for xbow, but is very thematically appropriate.
Light crossbow and rapid reload.
Feats at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: Rapid reload, point blank shot, rapid shot, crossbow mastery, weapon focus: heavy crossbow, many shot.
Ranger feats at 2, 6, and 10: Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, and many shot
Are prone shooter or the snap shot chain worth it?
(Vuvu not ignoring you, just don't know much about the inquisitor. I will have to readup on that.)
Prone Shooter literally does nothing. It exists as an IQ Test. Taking it = you fail the test. :p
I don't know about low levels, but at high levels, Deadly Aim is crucial. My kobold fighter was pretty worthless for damage until he got Deadly Aim.
What class or Role are you, I as because if you're a cleric you can find a deity w/ xbow as the favored weapon and get guided hand.
I don't think I can get enough feats to make xbow as primary attack to really work. If I was making a cleric with xbow as the backup, that seems like a good option.
Six levels of ranger at first is a good choice. The benefits of Improved Precise Shot cannot be overstated.
If you're willing to have to reload periodically, the repeating hvy crossbow isn't an entire waste. Start out using a lt crossbow at 1st level, and when you can access 1,500gp items pick up a cracked opalescent white pyramid ioun stone keyed to the repeating hvy xbow. Voila, it's now a martial weapon for you with no feats wasted.
Speaking of feats, it may be good to try and avoid feat taxes while still getting the most mileage out of being a ranged attacker. Something like:
1 - deadly aim
2 - (B) precise shot
3 - point blank shot
5 - rapid shot
6 - (B) improved precise shot
I'd pick up deadly aim before rapid shot any day of the week. At early levels before IPS, most ranged attackers with a mixed PFS adventuring group are moving frequently enough to avoid soft cover to limit full attacks. Taking a standard action to shoot into melee while avoiding soft cover for +0/+3 atk/dmg (deadly, PBS) is a much better option than taking a full-attack action to fire two shots at -5/+1 (rapid, PBS, translating soft cover AC bonus as atk penalty).
... when you can access 1,500gp items pick up a cracked opalescent white pyramid ioun stone keyed to the repeating hvy xbow. Voila, it's now a martial weapon for you with no feats wasted...
How easy is that to get in PFS? I've only started playing.
How easy is that to get in PFS? I've only started playing.
You need a Fame of 9+ to purchase items worth 1,500gp that are not on the always-purchasable list. If you manage to earn all your prestige, you could pick it up after 5 scenarios (just before 3rd level).
Ok, we're looking at:
Deep walker ranger archtype - doesn't gain anything for xbow, but is very thematically appropriate.
Light crossbow and rapid reload.
Feats at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: Rapid reload, point blank shot, rapid shot, crossbow mastery, weapon focus: heavy crossbow, many shot.
Ranger feats at 2, 6, and 10: Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, and many shotAre prone shooter or the snap shot chain worth it?
(Vuvu not ignoring you, just don't know much about the inquisitor. I will have to readup on that.)
Point blank master is ok and only requires Weapon spec.
Snap Shot is just better in my opinion, but requires weapon focus, rapid shot and 6BAB.If you have a Int of at least 14 I would take Focused shot.
So for feats: weapon focus, Focused shot, precise shot, IPS, Crossbow mastery, rapid reload, rapidshot, manyshot,
1: deadly Aim
2R: Precise shot
3: Rapid reload
5: X
6R: IPS
7:SnapShot
9:X
11:X
fill in x's with what you want.