|
With the Gloves of Improvised Might becoming PFS legal, I thought it might be interesting to put together a Juggler Bard who uses a series of improvised weapons, either thrown or melee. So far Im thinking of going with Ifrit, because I don’t have one, and also for the bonus to Dex and Cha. Feats I’m looking at are:
Catch Off-Guard
Deflect Arrows (bonus from Juggler)
Snatch Arrows (bonus from Juggler)
Throw Anything
Arcane Strike
Quick Draw
Two Weapon Fighting
What else would work well with the build?
The Gloves mention that they don’t work on normal weapons unless used with a weapon that mentions being used as an Improvised weapon (like Arrows in Melee). Does anyone know any other weapons that meet this criteria?
The other instance they can be used with a normal weapon is “if the user has an ability that allows the use of normal weapons as improvised weapons.” Does anyone know an ability feature that fits that criteria? I’d like to be able to quick draw things to throw, but still get the benefit of the Gloves.
An Alchemist dip is a possibility for Throw Anything and INT added to splash weapons.
Anyone got ideas?
The defining feature of the Monk of the empty Hand is that he can use normal weapons as improvised weapons.
Gloves of Improvised might are great for throwing builds as you get an enhancement bonus on every thrown weapon and don't have to indivdually enchant them or blink them back, so essentially you get your belt slot back.
The disadvantage is that you are only dealing 1d4 base damage. Also throwing builds are super feat intensive so needing throw anything hurts.
However the surprise weapon trait gives you a sweet +2 to hit bonus with improvised weapons.
|
|
Thanks. Monk of the Open Hand looks like it will work great. I'd never paid much attention to that archetype. I wish it was compatible with Unchained Monk, and the Wisdom parts of Monk aren't the greatest for an Ifrit. But the Ifrit part isn't necessarily required. It does mean needing STR for damage, DEX to-hit, WIS for monk stuff, and CHA for bard stuff, plus CON for HPs.
Monk of the Empty hand would get me flurry with unarmed weapons, which would save me taking Two-Weapon Fighting. It also gets me Catch Off Guard as a bonus feat, which means I could start with that and Throw Anything or Quick Draw or Point Blank Shot. Maybe Human is the way to go after all. There are a lot of feats needed for this build. Something like:
STR 14 DEX 17 CON 12 INT 7 WIS 14 CHA 14
(EDITED to drop STR 1 and raise DEX 1)
A Human Bard can take the hit to skill points. He would not be a Knowledge Skill character, obviously.
Traits: Surprise Weapon, Magical Knack (Bard)
Feats
1 M1) Point-Blank Shot, H) Precise Shot B) Catch Off-Guard, B) Improved Unarmed Strike, B) Stunning Fist
2 J1) Deflect Arrows
3 M2) Quick Draw, B) Toughness, B) Throw Anything
4 J2) Juggle 3 items, Evasion
5 J3) Flagbearer
6 J4)
7 J5) Arcane Strike, B) Snatch Arrows
8 J6) Juggle 4 items
9 J7) Deadly Aim
10 J8)
11 J9) ??????
Dipping a 3/4 BAB class does keep me from getting Improvised Weapon Mastery, but that's a late in his career thing anyway. I'm not sure what else would be good at 11.
So with Flurry and Quickdraw, he only needs 1 hand for his weapons, he can hold a flag for Flagbearer, and with Juggling still have a hand free for casting/Deflect Arrows. At 6th, he could also have a rod or a wand. Whenever he can afford the Banner of Ancient Kings, he could add a Longspear into the mix.
I can throw a one-handed weapon for 1d6 damage (as a club), and with Flurry there's no need to stick to light weapons like with TWF.
|
|
Banner of the Ancient Kings might be problematic, since I won't be able to juggle a Longspear. I forgot Juggling requires a weapon be able to be wielded in one hand. Any one-handed weapons that meet the criteria of a Longspear or pole of at least 8 feet?
Also, that should have said above I can flurry with improvised weapons, not unarmed.
I'm pretty sure there's a thread somewhere in which a designer states that a Monk of the empty Hand doesn't Need throw anything or catch off guard.
|
|
I found a post from James Jacobs saying they don’t need Catch Off-Guard. His posts aren’t usually considered official clarifications, unless it’s something he wrote. I’m not sure if he wrote the archetype or not. Anyway, it might convince an individual GM, but I’m not sure I’ll take a character into PFS relying on it. I did ask for a Campaign Clarification over on the PFS board, and linked to James’ post. Thanks again for the help.
I do eventually want Improvised Weapon Mastery, even if it doesn’t come until 13th level. Since I need one or the other of Catch Off-Guatd or Throw Anything to take that, the feats aren’t completely wasted even if I don’t need them to avoid the penalty. I can always retrain one bonus feat if that’s the case and I don’t need both. Plus Catch Off-Guard will let me catch a few spellcasters flat-footed if they don’t have a weapon out. And Throw Anything gives a small bonus for splash weapons.
If it turns out I definitely don’t need them, I could switch to Combat Reflexes and Dodge, then take Catch Off-Guard at 11th just to have the prereq in time for Improved Weapon Mastery.