Hey everyone! So in one of my campaigns, my character was just killed, so I've decided I'm going to create a new one and wanted some advice.
Since the group needs a healer (since the previous healer was just heroically killed when ogre's jumped the group from behind), I want to make sure that position is filled properly. I've settled on being a gnome archer paladin (i like the concept and gnome feels right for the personality i want the character to have). We are 8th level. rolled stats (13,13,15,12,15,14) which I've decided will (probably) be settled like this:
Str 12
Dex 16
Con 15
Int 13
Wis 12
Cha 18
So, considering that I'd like to be both healer, and decent with the bow. what feats/traits do you guys suggest? Any other suggestions for anything else I should be aware of (magic items, archetypes/etc)? (i've been wanting to play an archer for awhile, but this will be my first time actually playing one) (Paizo books only, no 3rd party stuff)
|
As far as feats go: Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus, and Deadly Aim are musts. Don't get Far Shot, I've never seen it used.
For healing, Extra Channel. You'll burn through your channel positives quickly so it helps to have some extra.
Magic items: A seeking distance bow negates miss chances for concealment and doubles the range increment. Bracers of archery and a belt of incredible Dexterity raise your attack bonuses. Special arrows don't hurt either (slaying, sizzle, sleep, etc).
Warning: Don't hyperspecialize with the bow. There's nothing sadder than a player who puts all his efforts into a single attack type and is foiled by a simple spell (wind wall, in this instance).
|
Oradin (Oracle of Life + paladin) is the best healer, though it will put some stress on your feat selection.
Drone's list of feats is spot on, though I am not so sure on Weapon Focus being a must.
I like Oath of vengeance paladins very much, but they lose the Channel.
An archer paladin would make a lot of use of a mount, since it allows you to move around and still make full attacks with the bow. In such a case, the Lookout feat is very good as surprise rounds can spell the doom of an archer.
If you choose a mount, the Shining Knight archetype (for you) and the Bodyguard archetype (for your mount) will make it less squishy.
The magic saddle in the Melee Tactics Toolbox book is awesome if you have a Mount.
If you worship Erastil, Helm of the Stag Lord will help against enemies with high DEX.
Get a Golembane Scarab to get rid of the pesky not-Smitable constructs.
As far as feats go: Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus, and Deadly Aim are musts. Don't get Far Shot, I've never seen it used.
For healing, Extra Channel. You'll burn through your channel positives quickly so it helps to have some extra.Magic items: A seeking distance bow negates miss chances for concealment and doubles the range increment. Bracers of archery and a belt of incredible Dexterity raise your attack bonuses. Special arrows don't hurt either (slaying, sizzle, sleep, etc).
Warning: Don't hyperspecialize with the bow. There's nothing sadder than a player who puts all his efforts into a single attack type and is foiled by a simple spell (wind wall, in this instance).
That's what Cyclonic is for
Divine Hunter is what you need, but otherwise...
I recommend Warpriest over Paladin to start off, mainly because of the extra feats the Warpriets gets. They really do help flesh out a ranged build!
With a Warpriest, you can have this progression:
1. Point-Blank Shot
3. Precise Shot + Rapid Shot
5. Deadly Aim
6. Weapon Specialization
7. FREE (Improved Initiative? Bullseye Shot? Covering Fire?)
9. Manyshot, Point-Blank Master
11. Clustered Shots
12. Improved Precise Shot
Wep Spec and PBM are brutally awesome. Plus, Sacred Weapon damage really benefits bows. Thanks to extra bonus BAB for bonus feats, you can even get Imp. Precise Shot when you want it.
If you worship Erastil the trait Deadeye Bowman is really useful.
Bracers of Archery, either version, or Bracers of Falcon's Aim are really useful for archers.
Fey Foundling is really good for most paladins, you are feat starved though so it might not be the best. If you do take it the spell Shield Other is a good call for the frontliners.
Bless Weapon will make you auto-confirm crits and is a good spell to have in a wand, and that wand goes in a spring-loaded wrist sheath.
Gnomes aren't naturally very good at archery, though smiting helps immensely.
For healing, Extra Channel. You'll burn through your channel positives quickly so it helps to have some extra.
Can a paladin use this feat? I thought they could only use the Channel Energy feature by using up their "Lay on Hands"?
YesCan a paladin use this feat? I thought they could only use the Channel Energy feature by using up their "Lay on Hands"?
For healing, Extra Channel. You'll burn through your channel positives quickly so it helps to have some extra.
If a paladin with the ability to channel positive energy takes this feat, she can use lay on hands four additional times a day, but only to channel positive energy.