... for roleplay purposes, in a Jade Regent campaign. Is there any way to do it that isn't completely nerfing?
If I have to, I'll just roleplay it, and take skills in Profession: Geisha (I can make a mean cup of tea?), and Performance: Samisen. But I thought I'd give the brilliant minds on these boards a challenge. Pretend that you *had* to do a ZA/ (Geisha or Lotus Geisha)/ Arcane Archer. What's the best build you can come up with?
What I have so far at first level:
Female Aasimar (+2 Cha and Wis)
Rolled and got Wings- Fly 20'! instead of Daylight spell. Great trade!
We rolled for stats and the dice were still with me:
18, 16, 16, 14, 11, 10.
Nice, huh? So I did:
S 16
D 16
Cn 14
W 18 +2 =20
I 10
Cha 11 +2 =13
(Thought I'd give Cha the +1 at 4th level)
Feats so far:
The given--
Improved Unarmed Strike
Flurry of Blows
Perfect Strike
And chosen--
Point Blank Shot
Precise Strike
Traits:
Childhood Crush: Sandru: +1 to all saves if make Cha check with him each day.
Toxophilite (Garuda Aasimar): +2 to confirm crits with a bow.
5 Skill points I put in:
Acrobatics, Fly, Perception, Profession:Geisha, and Perform:Samisen
(The last 2 are clearly for background and not because they are optimum).
I have had great luck with the dice so far. How do I not mess that all up with bad choices?
Many thanks for your ideas.
Are you looking for a specific level for this build or just a general outline of how to go about it level by level?
Are you looking for a specific level for this build or just a general outline of how to go about it level by level?
Let's just do a build of where she'd be by 20th level.
How many levels each of ZA, Geisha, and AA?And which feats, spells, and abilities to go for.
I think its a great character concept with a number of intriguing possibilities... we use a point buy system though and that looks a little M.A.D.
I think its a great character concept with a number of intriguing possibilities... we use a point buy system though and that looks a little M.A.D.
Could you give me some examples of what you'd do, if it had been, say, a 25 point build aasimar? (I know the rolls were insanely good, but I did actually roll them. But lets presume otherwise, just cuz I'd like some feedback.)
Gaurda Aasimar +2 Wis, +2 DexS 14
D 14+2=16
C 14
W 14+2=16
I 10
Ch 14
Just as a baseline... could you give me some ideas from there?
I think the tea ceremony falls under knowledge nobility for what its worth.
Are you absolutely committed to Zen Archer? If you can swap the stats a bit you could be fully awesome as either Fighter 2/Lotus Geisha 6/Arcane Archer X or just Lotus Geisha 8/Arcane Archer X (or maybe Paladin 2/etc.)
STR 16, DEX 18, CON 14, WIS 11+2, INT 10, CHA 16+2
1: Point Blank Shot B: Precise Shot
2: B: Deadly Aim
3: Weapon Focus (Longbow) B: SF (Enchantment)
5: Rapid Shot
7: Manyshot B: GSF (Enchantment)
9: Clustered Shots
or
1: Point Blank Shot B: SF (Enchantment)
3: Precise Shot
5: Deadly Aim
7: Weapon Focus (shortbow) B: GSF (Enchantment)
9: Rapid Shot
But if you don't dip your ranged damage will kind of lag.
Are you absolutely committed to Zen Archer? If you can swap the stats a bit you could be fully awesome as either Fighter 2/Lotus Geisha 6/Arcane Archer X or just Lotus Geisha 8/Arcane Archer X (or maybe Paladin 2/etc.)
STR 16, DEX 18, CON 14, WIS 11+2, INT 10, CHA 16+2
1: Point Blank Shot B: Precise Shot
2: B: Deadly Aim
3: Weapon Focus (Longbow) B: SF (Enchantment)
5: Rapid Shot
7: Manyshot B: GSF (Enchantment)
9: Clustered Shotsor
1: Point Blank Shot B: SF (Enchantment)
3: Precise Shot
5: Deadly Aim
7: Weapon Focus (shortbow) B: GSF (Enchantment)
9: Rapid ShotBut if you don't dip your ranged damage will kind of lag.
HHmmmm... I hadn't really thought about it, since I'd started out as a zen archer with geisha fluff.
It's hard to imagine topping the ZA's bonus feats:
At first level she already has:
*AC 18- without armor
*Improved Unarmed Strike-- D6+3 with feet, while still holding bow, no AoO
*Flurry of Blows (replaces rapid shot, currently 2 shots per round, goes up to 6-- I think)
*Precise Shot
*Perfect Strike
*Point Blank Shot
That's at first level!
But... I've never tried to build a fighter/archer before. So if you can explain how the damage gets better, I'm open.
Many thanks.
My version has similar damage, but it has better spellcasting/bardic performance. Now that I look at it I'd do Fighter 2/Lotus Geisha 7/Arcane Archer X. Advantages:
- More rounds of performance.
- Performance as a move action.
- Inspire Courage +2
- Gets suggestion as a performance, which has synergy with enrapturing performance and seems to fit really well for a geisha.
- 3 more caster levels.
- More spells to imbue onto arrows (do bards have anything useful besides silence?)
- +4-6 to save DCs, makes offensive spells not useless.
- AC 17 or 18 (for 25gp or 100gp) at level 1
- Higher attack bonus at low levels, equal from level 4.
- 1 more attack after level 9 (Manyshot)
You could go with ZA 4/Bard 4/A.Archer X though, having more attacks early on is nice, but flurry of blows will only ever give you one extra attack if you want to multiclass. Advantages:
- Better Will saves
- No AoOs from shooting (but don't you have wings?)
- Faster movement on the ground
- AC pumpable with Mage Armor if that's available.
- Can buy a Belt of CON or STR
- Perfect Strike, works out to a +3.5 bonus 4-5/day.
- Ki pool, has some very nice stuff.
- Extra feat slots at levels 1, 5, 7 but Deadly Aim delayed to 3.
- 1 more attack until level 4
(Unarmed Strike isn't a great example because a fighter/bard can use Armor Spikes in a similar fashion.)
In terms of damage, I think fighter wins at 1-2, Monk at 3-6, even at 7-8 and then Fighter at 9-16. So Fighter/Bard gives you more attacks at high levels, more and better performances, more spells, and makes offensive bard spells viable. Zen Archer/Bard gives you more defensive abilities, ground movement speed and extra feats. You might be able to parley your extra feats into more damage, but I think the fighter/bard will win because he gets an extra attack.
I think the biggest reason to go fighter/bard is because it makes your Geisha-like bardiness more salient.
Wow, that was a long post, but I would play the shit out of that character.
Ok
So here is
Attacks By Level:
Lv|__F/B___M/B
01|___1_____2 (Flurry of Blows)
02|___1_____2
03|___1_____2
04|___1_____2
05|___2_____2 (Rapid Shot)
06|___2_____2
07|___2_____2
08|___3_____3 (Iterative)
09|___4_____3 (Manyshot)
10|___4_____3
11|___4_____3
12|___4_____3
13|___5_____4 (Iterative)
14|___5_____4
15|___5_____4
16|___5_____4
Wow, that's a great workup. Thanks so much TB. Gives me a lot to think about.