Looking for critique on Boreal Bloodline Zen Archer Build
Concept is archer build the beats enemies to the punch with high initiative (exile trait, reactionary trait, dex build, improved initiative) and as damaging as possible arrows (UMD - gravity bow, Boreal Bloodline (cold steel), improve critical, critical focus, +1 shocking burst weapon, deadly aim).
Qinggong Monk Replacement Powers are included. Monk Choosen Feats bolded at 1,2,6 and 10th level. Other bolded feats are level selected feats.
Feats/Abilities: Traits) Reactionary and Exile;
1) Point Blank Shot (human), Focused Study: Skill Focus (Survival), Precise Shot, Flurry of Blows (with bows), Unarmed Strike (2d6), Weapon Proficiency with all bows, Normal Monk Proficiencies, Perfect Strike (9 attempts/day) (bows), Monk AC (+8);
2) Dodge, Weapon Focus (Longbow Comp);
3) Zen Archery, Speed +50ft, Point Blank Mastery, Eldritch Heritage: Boreal Bloodline (Cold Steel);
4) Barkskin (1 Ki) (Replaces Slow Fall), Ki Pool (9 points);
5) Ki Arrows, Deadly Aim, Feather Step (1 Ki) (Replaces High Jump);
6) Improve Precise Shot, Weapon Specialization (Longbow Comp);
7) Gaseous Form (1 Ki) (Replaces Wholeness of Body), Improved Initiative;
8) Focused Study: Skill Focus (Use Magic Device);
9) Reflexive Shot, Clustered Shots;
10) Improved Critical (Longbow Comp);
11) Trick Shot, Eldritch Heritage: Boreal Bloodline (Snow Shroud);
12) Shadow Walk (3 Ki) (Replaces Abundant Step);
13) Diamond Soul, Critical Focus
I have the stats as approximately
Stats: Str (16), Dex (22), Con (12), Int (12), Wis (16), Chr (15), Fort (+13), Ref (+16), Will (+13), AC (26) (31 with Barkskin), HP (79.5), CMD (25), CMB unarmed (+12), Speed (50ft), Initiative (+14), Spell Resistance (23)
Flurry Attack with Bow: +20/+20/+15/+15/+10 (2d6 +6 +1d6 cold +1d6 shock) (19-20 x3) - assuming within 30ft for Pt. Blank Shot and assuming gravity bow and cold steel. An extra 2d10 cold and 2d10 shock damage is done on critical hits. If using deadly aim, then +17/+17/+12/+12/+7 (2d6 +12) (19-20 x3). Using his Ki, he can add an extra attack at his highest BAB.
-The Boreal bloodline requires a standard action to use, a standard action when you could be shooting holes in things.
-Snow Shroud also costs a standard action, and 'avoiding concealment' due to cold conditions is situational, and already covered by Improved Precise Shot.
-If you want to boost Initiative, I'd suggest a 2-level dip into Inquisitor instead.
-Gravity Bow also costs a standard action.
They're good thoughts, and building an archer who can use sound rounds before combat to buff up is good; I just think Boreal isn't the way to go.
I've done a similar build, and for a one level dip into Emyreal sorcerer, along with the magical knack trait, you get by 4th level a monk who can step into the front line of combat, flurry his bow at point blank range, cast his own Mage Armor that lasts 3 hours per cast, his own gravity bow that lasts 3 minutes, and who can use any arcane wand in the book. On top of that, his casting stat is his highest monk stat, so he has an easy time combat casting if he needs to. Plus he get's a ranged healing attack that works on good aligned people (situational, but saved a couple of people).
If you do go Boreal though, you might want to look at the Sorcerer's Robe. 3 times per day you can spend a bloodline power, and have it also effect the target of a spell you are casting. So, in one round, you could get Cold Steel and Gravity Bow on your bow.
Focused Study replaces the Human Bonus Feat. Which is okay because you don't need PBS to take Precise Shot as your level 1 Monk bonus feat. Take PBS as your level 2 bonus feat and drop Dodge.
Also, less DEX more WIS. It will serve you way better from 3rd level on. Levels 1 & 2 may be painful but who cares - all that extra Ki makes it sooo much better later on.
Also note that the two Initiative boosting traits won't stack, so pick one. That plus Imp. Init will get you +6 which is good enough, because really you want the Wizard to buff you first anyhow.
If you do crave more initiative you could take eldritch heritage and gain a familiar couldn't you??? The scorpion gives you a further +2 (or +4,I can't recall) to Initiative.
GM Arkwright wrote:
Quote: -The Boreal bloodline requires a standard action to use, a standard action when you could be shooting holes in things.
-Snow Shroud also costs a standard action, and 'avoiding concealment' due to cold conditions is situational, and already covered by Improved Precise Shot.
-If you want to boost Initiative, I'd suggest a 2-level dip into Inquisitor instead.
-Gravity Bow also costs a standard action.
They're good thoughts, and building an archer who can use sound rounds before combat to buff up is good; I just think Boreal isn't the way to go.
The Sorcerer's Robe should take care of the gravity bow/cold steel issue. I do get that he will only be able to buff when they have a round or two before a fight to prepare. That should happen often enough to make buffing useful. Also, even if he can't do both, he has options for doing one or the other.
Snow Shroud is for the vision in fog to allow him to do the obscuring mist/shoot arrows combo. Hah Hah, you can't see me shooting you from this mist, but I can see you. So, I guess what I am saying is that he will create the situation by casting obscuring mist.
mdt wrote:
Quote: I've done a similar build, and for a one level dip into Emyreal sorcerer, along with the magical knack trait, you get by 4th level a monk who can step into the front line of combat, flurry his bow at point blank range, cast his own Mage Armor that lasts 3 hours per cast, his own gravity bow that lasts 3 minutes, and who can use any arcane wand in the book. On top of that, his casting stat is his highest monk stat, so he has an easy time combat casting if he needs to. Plus he get's a ranged healing attack that works on good aligned people (situational, but saved a couple of people).
If you do go Boreal though, you might want to look at the Sorcerer's Robe. 3 times per day you can spend a bloodline power, and have it also effect the target of a spell you are casting. So, in one round, you could get Cold Steel and Gravity Bow on your bow.
Good stuff, was thinking about doing eldritch heritage (boreal) and empyreal sorcerer, but did not know if the two worked together (i.e. if being an empyreal sorcerer would allow you to apply your Wis for the bloodline picked up through eldritch heritage).
Krodjin wrote:
Quote: Focused Study replaces the Human Bonus Feat. Which is okay because you don't need PBS to take Precise Shot as your level 1 Monk bonus feat. Take PBS as your level 2 bonus feat and drop Dodge.
Also, less DEX more WIS. It will serve you way better from 3rd level on. Levels 1 & 2 may be painful but who cares - all that extra Ki makes it sooo much better later on.
Also note that the two Initiative boosting traits won't stack, so pick one. That plus Imp. Init will get you +6 which is good enough, because really you want the Wizard to buff you first anyhow.
If you do crave more initiative you could take eldritch heritage and gain a familiar couldn't you??? The scorpion gives you a further +2 (or +4,I can't recall) to Initiative.
Good catch on the Focused Study. I went the dext route to make the build effective earlier, make the intiative higher, make the dexterity skills higher, reflex higher. He will give up 3 Ki points, +3 to Wisdom Saves, +3 to wisdom skills. In a game where initiative is key, is this build a good alternative build to the wisdom build, or is the wisdom build the only way to go? I guess that is the question. I am undecided. This build still has plenty of Ki and fairly high wisdom save.
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