Way of Gaining Proficiency Longbow or More Starting Gold in PFS

[stoolpigeon87]

I need to find a way to gain Longbow proficiency (except a dip) for a druid Nature Fang archer. This needs to be PFS legal.

I know Heirloom Weapon is legal, but I can't afford the gold to pay for it. And Rich Parents, Seeking Adventure, and it's kind aren't allowed. Neither is Hunter's Eye from last year's Guide to Organized Play.

Right now my only option seems to be Heirloom Weapon with a +0 Composite Bow, then wait until I have 3300 GP to pay to make it Masterwork, +1, and Adaptive. But that will take about 6+ sessions. I'd rather try to get it earlier.

Also, Elf is an option, but I need the human bonus feat for archery stuff since archery is super feat intensive.

Any ideas? Is there a trait that IS PFS legal that gives you more money that I'm missing? Or some other clever way of gaining Longbow proficiency?

[Theconiel]

If you are willing to play a half-elf, you have access to the Ancestral Arms alternate race trait, which replaces the free Skill Focus. This trait gives you one free weapon proficiency.

[Theconiel]

I do not think there is any way to increase your starting gold in PFS, probably by design.

[Matt2VK]

There's a couple of Boons out there that can also help. Getting those Boons usually require attending Cons and luck.

Depending on build, I usually start PFS with a Sling & Bullets. Then around 2rd level switch over to a masterwork bow and start putting on the enchantments when I can afford them.

[stoolpigeon87]

Yeah, I spent about an hour digging through traits and races and stuff to try and find something, but I'm coming up empty.

Looks like I'll be mainly meleeing it up until I can afford the +1 Adaptive Composite (+0) upgrade to my Heirloom Weapon.

I'd rather wait and spend a relatively small amount of gold at level 3 or so than lose out on an entire feat, and therefore screwing up my entire feat progression.

[stoolpigeon87]

Actually, this won't even work. I thought Masterwork Transformation was one of the things you could buy with Prestige, but I am wrong. And since spells cast by PCs always end at the end of the scenario, Heirloom Weapon is effectively useless.

Back to the drawing board, I guess this character was not meant to be in PFS.

[Jayder22]

Masterwork Transformation works in Society. You get it cast by an npc spellcaster or a PC if they have it. It is even specifically called out as allowed in the guide to organized play, although it stipulates that you can only have 1 item at a time that is masterwork from this spell. Once you upgrade it to +1, you can use the spell again.

[Pupsocket]

Run a scenario. assign chronicle sheet to your new character, buy your heirloom bow.

[Krodjin]

There was a faction trait, Hunter's Eye, that gave longbow proficiency and reduced the penalty on second range increment... Not sure if it's still viable as I haven't updated my society guide in some time.

[Imbicatus]

The options for a new PFS druid to have longbow proficiency without a feat or a dips is as follows:

1: Be a survivor druid. The archetype grants longbow proficiency, but you can't stack it with nature fang.

2: Be a Human, Elf, or Half-elf. Human bonus feat can be traded for adopted to give you elven weapon familiarity (gives you more options than just the longbow), Elves have familiarity, and half elves have ancestral arms.

3: Heirloom Weapon, and pay for masterwork transformation. Just make sure you don't get sundered.

[Imbicatus]

Krodjin wrote:

There was a faction trait, Hunter's Eye, that gave longbow proficiency and reduced the penalty on second range increment... Not sure if it's still viable as I haven't updated my society guide in some time.

It was retired with Andoran, unfortunately.

[Hmm]

I noticed that Nature Fang rangers get Slayer talents at fourth level, which would let you get combat feats for archery.

Couldn't you start out with a half-elf (to get archery + wisdom), and then pick up the extra combat feat (without prerequisites) that you need at fourth?

Hmm

[Wheldrake]

Why not just play an elf? Longbow, longsword, etc - and with any example of such weapons, not just the single heirloom weapon. Sure, you don't get racial bonuses to WIS, but the DEX and INT boost will help you anyway.

[Kenji Elindir]

Heirloom Weapon + 3360 gold will get you an Adaptive Comp Longbow +1.

[stoolpigeon87]

I didn't see that part about Masterwork Transformation. Nice catch.

And the feats are real tight for this build.
1 + H - Point Blank, Rapid Shot
3 Precise Shot
4 Crossbow Style: Deadly Aim
5 Spell Focus Conjuration
6 Crossbow Style: Imp Precise Shot
7 Augment Summoning
8 Combat Trick: Clustered Shots
9 Many Shot
10 + ???

Obviously some of these feats can be moved around to get certain feats earlier or later but that's a judgment call (precise before rapid shot, manyshot before clustered). And you can take the archery style path instead of crossbow to move some feats around as well.

The only real places to pick something else up would be to forgo the Augment Summoning path. And I would like to have all the necessary archer feats as soon as possible. If I wasn't human I'd be waiting until 4 to have the big 3.

[Imbicatus]

Wheldrake wrote:

Why not just play an elf? Longbow, longsword, etc - and with any example of such weapons, not just the single heirloom weapon. Sure, you don't get racial bonuses to WIS, but the DEX and INT boost will help you anyway.

Human with adoptive parentage is better imo. No penalty to con, you also learn elven languages, the same weapon familiarity, and you keep your skilled trait.

[stoolpigeon87]

Imbicatus wrote:

Wheldrake wrote:

Why not just play an elf? Longbow, longsword, etc - and with any example of such weapons, not just the single heirloom weapon. Sure, you don't get racial bonuses to WIS, but the DEX and INT boost will help you anyway.

Human with adoptive parentage is better imo. No penalty to con, you also learn elven languages, the same weapon familiarity, and you keep your skilled trait.

Yeah, I'd trade +2 con for -2 int for a class that doesn't need int. Though you do lose out on some of the smaller bonuses from Half Elf/Elf.

[Gwen Smith]

If you can afford a 3-level dip, Zen Archer Monk makes an awesome start to any longbow-based character. You get Proficiency, Flurry, Wisdom to attack, Weapon Focus, Point Blank Master, and two bonus feats you don't have meet the prerequisites for (use one for Precise Shot).

Even a 1 level dip gets you proficiency, Precise Shot, Wis to AC, good saves, and Unarmed Strike.

As far as the starting gold:
In PFS, a lot of archers spend their first 2 prestige on a masterwork composite longbow. A greenwood masterwork composite bow with +2 STR mod is exactly 750 gp, or 2 prestige points.

[stoolpigeon87]

I can't buy a regular bow, it has to be my Heirloom bow, which is where I was having the problems. Now that I know Masterwork Transformation DOES work (it used to not), this build is good to go.

And I was trying to avoid dipping, because I want to keep my spell casting up to par. And Flurry of Bows is worse than regular archery until you get Ki Pool and the second extra attack, so at least a 4 level "dip." At that point my character concept is out the window, why not just play a ZAM? :P

[Dafydd]

How about a dip or 2 in HUNTER. You gain the proficiency. It stacks with Druid for companion. You get Gravity Bow spell. For 2 levels, you gain Precise Shot for free. The spell casting is still Wis based.

Animal focus is also a great ability.

[Finn Kveldulfr]

stoolpigeon87 wrote:

I can't buy a regular bow, it has to be my Heirloom bow, which is where I was having the problems. Now that I know Masterwork Transformation DOES work (it used to not), this build is good to go.

Sounds like you're asking for advice WITHOUT giving a reasonable amount of information... like, WHY is it important that it is an heirloom and NOT a regular bow?

[Pupsocket]

Finn Kveldulfr wrote:

stoolpigeon87 wrote:

I can't buy a regular bow, it has to be my Heirloom bow, which is where I was having the problems. Now that I know Masterwork Transformation DOES work (it used to not), this build is good to go.

Sounds like you're asking for advice WITHOUT giving a reasonable amount of information... like, WHY is it important that it is an heirloom and NOT a regular bow?

Because he's only proficient with his heirloom bow.

[blackbloodtroll]

So, you need two feats, and need to be proficient with Longbows, without eating one of those feats?

I am not sure, but the Tengu's Exotic Weapon Training alternate trait might work.

The Longbow(Yumi/daikyū) was the weapon for Samurai. Kyūdō(way of the bow), was the fighting style to be mastered.

In fact, it was kind of shameful when you pulled out your sword, because that implied you sucked at archery.

[stoolpigeon87]

Finn Kveldulfr wrote:

stoolpigeon87 wrote:

I can't buy a regular bow, it has to be my Heirloom bow, which is where I was having the problems. Now that I know Masterwork Transformation DOES work (it used to not), this build is good to go.

Sounds like you're asking for advice WITHOUT giving a reasonable amount of information... like, WHY is it important that it is an heirloom and NOT a regular bow?

It's important because I don't gain proficiency in-class, and I don't want to waste a feat or level on proficiency. I mentioned all this in my first post.

[LazarX]

stoolpigeon87 wrote:

Imbicatus wrote:

Wheldrake wrote:

Why not just play an elf? Longbow, longsword, etc - and with any example of such weapons, not just the single heirloom weapon. Sure, you don't get racial bonuses to WIS, but the DEX and INT boost will help you anyway.

Human with adoptive parentage is better imo. No penalty to con, you also learn elven languages, the same weapon familiarity, and you keep your skilled trait.

Yeah, I'd trade +2 con for -2 int for a class that doesn't need int. Though you do lose out on some of the smaller bonuses from Half Elf/Elf.

The class may not "need" int, but the extra skill points and the better aptitude in your knowledge based skills, ain't nothing to sneeze at. Since you're looking at being an archer, it means you're not going for frontline melee. The Dex will be of value in both initiative and your hit chances for archery. Not to mention having that bonus to perception as well.

You go for a starting stat set like this :
[
Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 10

And take your level 4 raise in Dex.

Or reverse Dex and wis and take your raise in Wisdom.

[Morag the Gatherer]

For heirloom bow do you have to have the bow when you start? If you could wait an adventure (or gm 1 and apply the credit)You can get a very nice MW longbow using your 2 prestige points?

For proficiency, several others have pointed out that playing an elf or half elf or using a trait can get you there.

Morag

[Jayson MF Kip]

The way to get more starting gold is called "GM Credit."

[Magda Luckbender]

Jayson MF Kip wrote:

The way to get more starting gold is called "GM Credit."

This. GM the free We Be Goblins adventure for four friends. Claim GM credit for it. Profit. You now have enough starting gold. Problem solved.