| Omnitricks |
I'm trying to make a paladin whose combat focus is shooting down enemies at range (with his trusty halfling sling staff :)) but after looking at divine bond, it seems that it will be useless since all the properties are for melee weapons...
Unless the properties also get into the bullets? Anyone can help me clarify on this or give suggestions on whether weapon or mount is better?
| Azten |
As far as I can tell, only disruption, keen, and defending are off-limits for the sling staff.
| Catastrophe |
You might take a look at Divine Hunter archetype (I want to say its from Ultimate Combat, but I'm not totally sure). They give up some of their melee-related things for more ranged options. For example, their Divine Bond can only be a weapon, and they can add Distance, Returning or Seeking but lose out on Defending and Disruption (all other divine bonds should work for you). The only thing on the list that probably won't work with a sling would be Brilliant Energy (which is melee, thrown weapons or ammunition).
EDIT: Keen won't work either. Never actually read it (nor have I bothered to increase the crit range as my character uses a Longbow).
That leaves you with Axiomatic, Flaming, Flaming Burst, Holy, Merciful, and Speed (and Distance, Returning and Seeking if you take the archetype). Of course, you can always just put the base +X on it as well - never a bad thing.
The benefits to this archetype in addition to the above is that you get Precise Shot as a bonus feat (losing Heavy Armor proficiency in the first place, that you wouldn't need as a ranged character). You can also use Lay on Hands from a distance (giving up your 6th level Mercy). And then you trade in your usual auras for ranged-related ones (nothing really good or bad here). Biggest drawback is you aren't able to give smite to your allies for a fight, meaning that first round when you're next to them, you're unable to do so.
I can't speak directly to sling users, but I'm playing the above archetype as a bow paladin in a homebrew game. We're currently level 11, and I've enjoyed it quite a lot.
If you get to second level spells as a paladin, consider Paladin's Sacrifice. You're able to take a hit for an ally within range as an immediate action, and since you won't be on the front lines as much, it makes the impact of that spell amazing.
| Catastrophe |
Just read up on Slings, and I see nothing there about being unable to deal nonlethal damage. Even then, Merciful allows it do non-lethal damage - its magic, after all. So yes, the shots would do an extra 1d6 and be nonlethal.
The way my GM treats it is that the weapon 'enhances' the ammo you fire. So until you fire that bullet from your sling, its just a regular bullet. The moment you set it in your sling and release, it gains the Flaming or Merciful or whatever other property you put on there. Same with the +1 enhancement from your Divine Bond.
As far as not having Ultimate Combat - not sure what to tell you there. Here's the link for the System Reference Document containing the archetype (but whether your GM will allow it is a different matter):
Divine Hunter
Overall, it isn't anything to write home about, but what you lose versus what you gain is probably a net gain for being ranged.
| Omnitricks |
Well as long as the weapon can get the ability, I'm cool with it. Otherwise I'd have to go for a mount haha (not that having a pony to kick anyone that gets close is bad either :P)
I'm using the paladin for a pfs game this weekend (first time) and they only limit me to books I have so I'm stuck with core only since I'm stuck here for a year studying. That being said the only book I have is Halflings of Golarion (which is back home) Wish they allowed the books in the prd :(