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A: Dwarf. Wisdom bonus, Monk speed overcomes the speed penalty, Con is always useful, you dont care about the CHA penalty
B: Garuda Blooded or Archon Blooded Aasimar. Bonus to Wisdom, and decent SLAs. Flight with feats.
C: Varana. Great stat bonuses, Prehensile tail, and Tree Hanger+climb speed gives some great option for shooting in safety.
Edit: Forgot about Oreads.
A: Dwarf
B: I like Archon Aasimar. Right bonues, live a long life, damage reduction and other perks.
c: I love the Svirfneblins. I have been playing one, but I never told anyone except the DM, so they all think I am the worlds first serious, and easily offended Gnome. Wisdom fits, plus non detection at will, but great stealth, bonus to hit. I think they are great. My Svirfneblin Inquisitor is by far the most fun I have ever had with any character.
I am about to build a Zen Archer with some swith hitting abilities.
What is the absolute best race for this?
Let's consider three options here:
a) Only core races (humans, dwarfs, elfs...).
b) Featured races (drows, aasimars, orcs...).
c) Uncommon races (duergars, svirfneblins...).Although the c) will almost sure be ruled out.
Thanks!
1) Dwarf
2) Dwarf3) Dwarf
It's the Dwarf.
Also, by switch hitting I assume you mean switching your bow to the other hand and firing from the other side? An archery stranger if you will. There is just about no reason for the Zen Archer to waste feats on melee when he already threatens with his bow from an early level.
However, flavorwise, a archery focused monk who is also a crow just appeals to me in ways I can't explain.
I think the idea of a tengu drawing his bow and hitting his own beak with the bow string is entertaining. Then he has to decide if he is going to turn his head to the right and side-eye his aim, or if he is going to look down the side of this bow unable to get his eye lined up for the shot, and the whole thing looks super awkward. Once he has the funds raised he immediately gets a nose job with his local transmuter and a polymorph.
Man, I could lose whole rounds of combat just describing to the party how he's trying to get his stuff together and shoot but he can't aim. This actually seems like a rather hilarious character.
Oni spawn Tiefling, bonus to Str and Wis, penalty to Cha, but who cares about that. SLA for some Arcane Strike cheese too.
My wife is currently building a Zen Archer for a game. She picked an interesting choice. But its better for pure archer build than switch hitter.
Vishkanya:
Bonus Dex - Nice for Archery
Bonus Cha - Meh
Pen Wis - However Zen Archers spend less time in melee.
Bonus to Perception, Stealth and Escape Artist
Low Light Vision
Can poison arrows as a swift action. Causes Dex Damage, which makes future shots more successful when using flurry of blows.
2)I agree with Oni-Spawn Tiefling. You get +2 str/wis, -2 chr; Alter self (for +2 str and scent), +4 bluff, prehensile tail, darkvision 60ft and resistances
1). Human or Dwarf. Human has great skill points and can trade out his bonus feat for 3 skill focus. Dwarf has the best stats for the job.
2). Oread? Has good monk stats and interesting racial abilities if you trade out unwanted stuff for cool stuff from the Advanced race guide.
3). Don't like most uncommon races, so I have little knowledge here.
Dual Talent Human, now you also have the best stats for the job...1). Human or Dwarf. Human has great skill points and can trade out his bonus feat for 3 skill focus. Dwarf has the best stats for the job.
2). Oread? Has good monk stats and interesting racial abilities if you trade out unwanted stuff for cool stuff from the Advanced race guide.
3). Don't like most uncommon races, so I have little knowledge here.
I don't think dual talent is worth giving up both the feat and the skill points.
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I don't think dual talent is worth giving up both the feat and the skill points.Dual Talent Human, now you also have the best stats for the job...1). Human or Dwarf. Human has great skill points and can trade out his bonus feat for 3 skill focus. Dwarf has the best stats for the job.
2). Oread? Has good monk stats and interesting racial abilities if you trade out unwanted stuff for cool stuff from the Advanced race guide.
3). Don't like most uncommon races, so I have little knowledge here.
It can be, but only for the Zen Archer. You're a Zen Archer so you don't need the bonus feat. If you don't dump your INT you're probably getting 4 skill points per level anyway.
I opted for the Focused Study alternate trait so I could pump Sense Motive, Perception, and Stealth.
It can be, but only for the Zen Archer. You're a Zen Archer so you don't need the bonus feat. If you don't dump your INT you're probably getting 4 skill points per level anyway.
The thing is that if you are trading out the real perks of being human (besides some favored class options that don't apply here) for an extra +2, you might as well go for a race that already has the ability scores you want plus other cool stuff.
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It can be, but only for the Zen Archer. You're a Zen Archer so you don't need the bonus feat. If you don't dump your INT you're probably getting 4 skill points per level anyway.The thing is that if you are trading out the real perks of being human (besides some favored class options that don't apply here) for an extra +2, you might as well go for a race that already has the ability scores you want plus other cool stuff.
True, but that might not always be an option. There may not be a race that gives the exact scores you want that is allowed in your game. Especially if you are playing PFS.
True, but that might not always be an option. There may not be a race that gives the exact scores you want that is allowed in your game. Especially if you are playing PFS.It can be, but only for the Zen Archer. You're a Zen Archer so you don't need the bonus feat. If you don't dump your INT you're probably getting 4 skill points per level anyway.The thing is that if you are trading out the real perks of being human (besides some favored class options that don't apply here) for an extra +2, you might as well go for a race that already has the ability scores you want plus other cool stuff.
If you are open to any official race you can pretty much get anything except both strength and intelligence iirc, but you bring up a good point about that not always being possible so Dual Talent has its niche. I still don't think it makes Dual Talent a good choice in any context for Zen Archer though as the benefits of Dwarf (if strict core) or perhaps Oread, Duergar, or Oni Tiefling if not, greatly out-weigh the human benefit of +2 to 2 with no negatives.
For the Zen Archer, since you can use Wis instead of Dex for archery by 3rd level, Dex is less important (still useful for AC and the first couple of levels, but not necesary to max). Thus the races that give you Wis + Str (I prefer Str over Con for an archer). So the Oread or the Hungerseed or Motherless Tiefling fits the bill. I rate Strength high, since with some cash thrown into a composite bow, you can add your strength bonus to damage.
If you are open to any official race you can pretty much get anything except both strength and intelligence iirc, but you bring up a good point about that not always being possible so Dual Talent has its niche. I still don't think it makes Dual Talent a good choice in any context for Zen Archer though as the benefits of Dwarf (if strict core) or perhaps Oread, Duergar, or Oni Tiefling if not, greatly out-weigh the human benefit of +2 to 2 with no negatives.
Scaleheart Skinwalker? ;)
+2 Int -2 Wis, +2 Str while shape changed.
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If you are open to any official race you can pretty much get anything except both strength and intelligence iirc, but you bring up a good point about that not always being possible so Dual Talent has its niche. I still don't think it makes Dual Talent a good choice in any context for Zen Archer though as the benefits of Dwarf (if strict core) or perhaps Oread, Duergar, or Oni Tiefling if not, greatly out-weigh the human benefit of +2 to 2 with no negatives.Scaleheart Skinwalker? ;)
+2 Int -2 Wis, +2 Str while shape changed.
Male Lashunta also get this set of stat-mods.