Hey all I've been working on a Archer-inquisitor(sanctified slayer) and up to level 6. I realized I made a mistake and I need to choose a specific teamwork feat. To explain a bit.. I took the feather domain along with a big cat finally at level 5 boon companion...thus far I haven't invested gear into it. But I'm realizing the start of combat is really starting to bog down... One round to use divine favor on the companion, then on myself...followed by a move used somewhere in there for studied target... This is in PFS so half the time the fight is over and I've barely put in a shot... So I'm debating between Improved spell sharing (one round to buff myself and the companion for 5 rounds each) or Shake it off (+1 resist per ally around me up to +4)I plan to keep enfilading fire....Next level I plan to take deadly aim...at 7 I'm gonna take the rogue combat trick to get either manyshot or clustered shot and then gain the other at 9.
As for gear right now I have a +1 mithril shirt, +1 composite longbow (+2str) A beslt of incredible dex, cloak of resist +1 wand of cure light, a two potions of enlarge and mage armor... was planning to take a +1 seeking longbow (+2str) and then not sure...thinking next level when the cat becomes large I'll pick up a +1 mithril chain shirt
As for the iffy part on the fear...getting +4 to saves in a surprise round always come in handy. But the ability to give myself +4 to hit/damage and my companion +3 to hit and damage for 5 rounds Seems pretty darn nice. If I need to reapply I can make a judgement from there. But for the most part divine favor would be the only spell I would use anytime soon (if ever)..still 2 targets with one spell seems nice. After the seeking bow I'll have around 4000 gold...just trying to decide where i should put my priorities
My advice is to drop Deadly Aim and instead depend on the precision dmg from Bane with many ranged attacks per round.
As the Inquisitor has a 3/4 BAB progression you will actually deal less damage per round with Deadly Aim as you'll miss more often.
Rapid Shot/Manyshot are both great feats for this endeavour, but Clustered Shots isn't really necessary since you'll pierce most DR with a +x bow and the Bane ability.
And you lacking damage is because you don't use your actions wisely.
Round 1: Standard action to cast spell. Move action for studied target.
Round 2: Start doing damage. Bane ability as swift and Full-round.
Or
Surprise Round: Standard action to cast spell.
Round 1: Bane and Full-round.
When you reach level 7 you can use your studied target ability as a swift action instead and that will allow you to use it in the surprise round.
And you may want to look into Friendly Fire Maneuvers as a teamwork feat. Soft cover should be your main concern if you're ranged and don't have Improved Precise Shot.
Edit: and about Shake It Off. I suppose you know it won't be as useful after the first round of combat since grouping up is a sure way of getting your team killed by blasters.
Surprisingly I've been pretty darn accurate. I have the deadeye bowman trait so I'm pretty clear on soft cover (at least with one obstacle which is usually the case)
My base is +10 with the bow...+4 with divine favor..+1 point blank (sometimes) +2 if people are flanking and then +2 with studied (when i can) So right now, with rapid shot im hitting at +16 or +17...next level I plan to have heroism up most times and +1 from base...with +2 from deadly aim I'll still be at +17 or +18 but I'll be hitting at 1D8+13(+14)each...and that isnt even with bane.
Problem I'm having is I start, usually debate on divine favor on the companion since he can hit in that round or myself...I usually study one but half of the time people will drop him first (I can't wait until next level) I'm really liking the idea of improved spell sharing...but is 5 rounds enough is the question... I mean first round buff myself AND send out a suped up tiger?? I agree shake it off is really nice but most of the time pretty close to useless (but oh do those times help) While I agree I could bypass the dr with the damage...why bother when you can hurt so much more? What would you suggest as a replacement?
Clustered Shots becomes obsolete when you ignore the DR with a high enough enhancement bonus, which Bane would help you achieve. A +3 bow and Bane is effectively +5 and pierces most DR. (I realize you might not be able to get a +3 Seeking longbow anytime soon, but you can soon afford a +2 Seeking longbow and just cast align weapon for those cases the enemy does have DR/Good).
*****
Improved Spell Sharing is a good idea, but as you say, 1 minute splitted might not be enough. (And since you spend the first round casting it you only benefit from 4 of the rounds). You could get a lesser Extend metamagic rod (3000 gp) to double the duration of Divine Favor if you're worried the duration is too short.
*****
And as for feats. The archer feat chain is surprisingly short if you don't intend to go for the PBM/Snap Shot/Combat Reflexes/Improved Snap Shot ordeal, so the only "must-have" left for you should be Improved Precise Shot.
And since it is PFS your character might not progress to the point where Clustered Shots becomes... less optimal... So it could very well be a great feat if most enemies sport a DR/- or /alignment.
Remember that the inquisitor benefit from all teamwork feats he chooses, not only those bonus feats, so you could take another teamwork feat at lv 9 if you want to.
The lesser extend rod is on my short list...plan to use greater magic weapon on the bow...just found out that it doesn't stack to bypass dr. But between that and heroism I have 2 uses planned out (maybe a boss fight)
I would probably pick up Friendly fire maneuvers over improved precise...same effect but i could get it right away and I gain some other benefits. I never really looked too deep into the snap shot chain...maybe due to the short range and no improved point blank...not to mention I'm not sure where i could sneak that in
I would probably pick up Friendly fire maneuvers over improved precise...same effect but i could get it right away and I gain some other benefits. I never really looked too deep into the snap shot chain...maybe due to the short range and no improved point blank...not to mention I'm not sure where i could sneak that in
Yeah, FFM is a real nice feat, but it is nowhere near Improved Precise. FFM will only let you ignore soft cover granted by allies.
It does not let you ignore the penalty for:
Firing at an enemy standing behind another enemy.
Firing at an enemy standing behind a corner.
Improved Cover. The +8 AC enemies get from hiding behind an arrowslit.
But Improved Precise will.
*****
Improved Precise Shot is THA SHIET. It lets you ignore "the AC bonus granted to targets by anything less than total cover, and the miss chance granted to targets by anything less than total concealment."
Soft cover is only one of the penalties you have to be careful of. You still haven't overcome Cover. There is a reason to why bandits are always hiding behind trees when they ambush travellers in the woods.
*****
And as for the snap shot chain, that is a way of getting more attacks per round. There isn't really any way of increasing damage per arrow with feats if you're not a fighter (or count as one for feats, as the warpriest does). So that's why more attacks is the way to go for increasing damage.
Trust me I'm sold on improved precise shot but the +11 base means I wont see it until level 15...and this is a pfs character so he stops at level 12. That said I'm only gonna see about 2 more teamwork feats and possibly and 4 feats left
What feats have you taken?
I'm guessing you have Precise, Point-Blank, Rapid and then Enfilading as your bonus teamwork? And maybe Weapon Focus if you're human?
*****
Manyshot is a given.
Improved Spell Sharing and FFM are both good choices. (Remember that you can change your latest bonus teamwork feat).
Deadly aim should be viable since you got a good attack bonus, but it is normally not recommended when you got so much precision damage. Depending on the campaign I could even take Clustered Shots Instead. (Full of monsters with DR/Good)
Weapon Focus+PBM would be useful if your group is struggling to keep up with the damage taken.
Coordinated Shot is a teamwork feat which functions almost the same as Enfilading, but it also grants you a +1 if they're only threatening. FFM is prob needed.
*****
Of the 3 feats which are undecided, I would ignore PBM if you haven't already taken weapon focus and instead take Coordinated Shot for the flat bonus to attack.
Furthermore, if I couldn't get my hands on a Bane Baldric I would take one of the feats which increase the rounds of Bane per day. (+3 or Wis mod) Assuming this becomes a problem.
And then some kind of defensive feat. Bonus to a save or straightout Toughness. Fill some weakness you possess. The damage-dealer getting dominated always sucks.
If you are going against weaker opponents, don't bother wasting spell slots. Save those for the bigger fights. I'm personally a fan of mounted archers, but that doesn't appear to be the route you are going. Snap Shot feat chain is always good. Share Spell is also good. If you feel feat starved, a one level dip in Cavalier gets you a free teamwork feat.
Wow the Bane badric is really nice...does that mean i would have greater bane at level 7?? It's really expensive though but still i need to get it on the list somewhere.... Also does that mean i could use bane 5 more rounds a day or just the greater?...have to see if it is pfs legal
As far as I can see deadly aim is not precision damage just a flat damage increase.
Right now feats wise I have the holy 3 PB, precise and rapid...boon companion...for teamwork I'm at Enfilading fire and improved spell sharing...hmm might have a point with coordinated shot. I was looking at deadly aim at level 7, manyshot at level 8 and then clustered shot at 9...I did make the mistake of a con 10 so that has hurt me...think people realized that i need to stay back :P
Wow the Bane badric is really nice...does that mean i would have greater bane at level 7?? It's really expensive though but still i need to get it on the list somewhere.... Also does that mean i could use bane 5 more rounds a day or just the greater?...have to see if it is pfs legal
As far as I can see deadly aim is not precision damage just a flat damage increase.
Right now feats wise I have the holy 3 PB, precise and rapid...boon companion...for teamwork I'm at Enfilading fire and improved spell sharing...hmm might have a point with coordinated shot. I was looking at deadly aim at level 7, manyshot at level 8 and then clustered shot at 9...I did make the mistake of a con 10 so that has hurt me...think people realized that i need to stay back :P
Bane Baldric won't let you get Greater Bane at level 7. James said no.
Deadly Aim isn't precision damage. But both Sneak Attack bonus damage and Bane is. You can try out some damage calculations if deadly aim is worth the reduced attack for you, since you have a high Attack bonus. But decreasing your chance to hit by 10% to increase your damage by 10% isn't worth it. (0.9 x 1.1 = 0.99)
Bane damage isn't precision damage as far as I can tell. Do you have a source for that?
Bane damage isn't precision damage as far as I can tell. Do you have a source for that?
A critical hit means that you roll your damage more than once, with all your usual bonuses, and add the rolls together. Unless otherwise specified, the threat range for a critical hit on an attack roll is 20, and the multiplier is ×2.
Exception: Precision damage (such as from a rogue's sneak attack class feature) and additional damage dice from special weapon qualities (such as flaming) are not multiplied when you score a critical hit.
Sorry, I got my terminology mixed up. Bane isn't precision damage. What I meant is that he got alot of bonus damage riding on his arrows. The extra +2 from Bane will be multiplied on a critical hit, but the extra dice from Bane and Sneak Attack won't.
Ok so what is the benefit from the bane baldric then? if the damage doesn't go up and it doesnt appear to increase the rounds per day or does it?
I don't think there has been one time I've actually been able to use sneak attack...unless there is a rule that states you dont have to be the one flanking? As a range the most i can hope for is acting first.
I figure deadly aim with all the other bonuses should be swallowed up pretty quickly (I will get it next level, the same time I can pick up heroism and get +2 to hit for 70 minutes a day)
Thank you Wonderstell for the link to James' thread. I have had a question with regards to a FAQ change that does not appear to have an answer.
Thought Jacob has said before that it is his opinion or is it fact? Sorry just seems to be so-so for a inquisitor otherwise
@Sarrah
no probs.
@ekibus
It was made for gaining 5 more uses of your Bane/Greater Bane ability per day. If you haven't unlocked Greater Bane yet, then it won't affect it. It's a really good item for Inquisitors, almost mandatory.
You should have a pretty good Initiative if your Dex is as high as I think it is. You could take Improved Initiative if you want to be sure to burst someone in the first round.
Remember: Enemies are flatfooted until they have taken their first action in the first round.
And about James Jacobs. He is the person people want their FAQ-questions answered by. He is pretty much the "voice" of the game designers. He is still human, and can err, but most people take his words as rules.
Yeah was wondering if maybe I was messing up the initiative...gonna have to keep better attention...I only get to play every few weeks so half the time i forget :P (I'm at +8 init)
The baldric isn't bad but not sure if it is worth 10k...for example if I picked up a belt of physical might (+2 dex and con) for 10k I could skip the toughness feat...then get extra bane for +3 more uses...but not sure how important that will be..
Figure at level 8 I can bane burst 8 rounds a day and do +20/20/20/15 to hit and roughly 1D8+2d6+13 per arrow
Bane will help you ignore certain DR and on average give you +2 to attack and +9 Damage. If you feel that you spend most of the days without it, then you could either buy Bane Baldric or take a feat. Up to your judgement.
And are you sure your attack sequence is 20/20/20/15?
Manyshot doesn't grant you another attack. It fires two arrows during your first attack. If you miss the first attack, both arrows miss their target. (And the second arrow's damage is never multiplied on a critical hit.)
With 2 attacks from your BAB, Rapid Shot and Manyshot you should have
+20(double damage, roll for each arrow)/+20(normal)/+15(normal) as your attack sequence.
Sorry was trying to do a rapid number crunch before going to work (just got home) How would bane ignore DR?Agreed I counted manyshot as another attack.
Lol I really bit a lot on this character...right now as it stands starting next level (this is with level 8 stats) First round my character casts divine favor...cat pounces +13/+13/+13 1D8+9/1D6+9 and 1D6+9...next round...my character starts full attacking along with the cat...
Sorry was trying to do a rapid number crunch before going to work (just got home) How would bane ignore DR?Agreed I counted manyshot as another attack.
Lol I really bit a lot on this character...right now as it stands starting next level (this is with level 8 stats) First round my character casts divine favor...cat pounces +13/+13/+13 1D8+9/1D6+9 and 1D6+9...next round...my character starts full attacking along with the cat...
Bane adds +2 to the enhancement of the weapon you place it on. If you have a +1 Longbow, it counts as a +3 Longbow when firing at enemies affected by your Bane ability.
+3 Enhancement bonus on weapons makes the weapon function as if it were made of Cold Iron/Silver for bypassing DR.
That means, if you have a +1 Longbow and Bane (Evil Outsider) and fight Devils with DR 10/Cold Iron, you can bypass that DR since your weapon functions as Cold Iron.
+3 Weapons functions as Cold Iron/Silver
+4 Weapons functions as Adamantine (only for bypassing DR, not hardness)
+5 Weapons functions as any Alignment for bypassing alignment DR.
And they will of course pierce lesser DR. (A +5 Weapon functions as Magic/Cold Iron/Silver/Adamantine/Any Alignment)
*****
Also, as you have your Sneak Attack dice, you may want to start the first round of combat with Full-rounding + Bane since you'll be hitting flat-footed AC and dealing Sneak attack damage.
If you have a surprise round, then you'll be able to get in your Divine Favor anyway. So be sure to stealth!
Hmm I'll admit I cant remember the last time I've seen a game past level 7 so good to know with the enh bypass. Seeking is still a good enchant though right?
Yep. Especially since you don't have IPS.