Long story short I played too much Assassin's Creed Origins and right now I want to make a character who is equally competent using a bow as well as a sword and shield. I know I'll need to take quick draw eventually but it will probably at 3rd level or so. Ill grab a quick draw light shield asap but right now I just need a good idea of what feats I should grab and when. I don't need to shield bash I just want the shield for AC and possible enchants. I don't need to be mechanically perfect but I would like to not be a burden. Slayer talent advice would also be appreciated.
I’m starting with a longbow, buckler, and longsword.
Human 20 point buy.
STR:16
DEX:18
CON:12
INT:12
WIS:10
CHA:7
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Check out Treantmonk's Ranger guide.
Here.
Look at the switch hitter build, that should be close to the flavor your looking for, and is similar enough to do with a Slayer.
The guide is a bit dated, and there are likely newer feats, and things that outshine what's there, but it's at least a starting point.
Also I'd probably boost my strength stat up to 18 raise the con to at least 14 and drop the dexterity buy a little bit so that the point buy numbers add up.
You are more likely to end up in melee as a switch hitting build and even if you're using your bow the strength bonus can add your damage with a compound or adaptable strength bow.
Kinda looking at something in a similar vein. First you are already trained in martial weapons hence you are competent...sadly that always seems to be overlooked by specialization. I agree with Adderyn for the most part. With studied target you can shore up the dex hit and with sneak attack melee will be helped out. Instead of quick draw you can keep the buckler on and just go between sword and bow. Maybe go with deadly aim or rapid shot save the bow when they are out of reach and then move up. Nice thing about 2 weapon fighting with the sword and shield you could apply they studied and sneak attack to both hits...not too bad imo
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How about a one level dip in Savage technologist. This will give you access to furious. Normally people like this because it is like getting a free +1 to your weapon. Here we use it to not fall behind.
Your weapon is +1 allying furious spiked gauntlet. You to make it a +3 weapon by raging and transfer that to your enhancment bonues to whaterlver weapon you want.
This may help.
Your saves are awful, and skills ever worse.Human 20 point buy.
STR:16
DEX:18
CON:12
INT:12
WIS:10
CHA:7
How about a one level dip in Savage technologist.
This. It's is your god's gift your martial.
str: 15 (all bumps)
dex+ 16
con: 12
int: 12
wis 12
cha 12
traits: Berserker of the Society, Dangerously Curious
1. barbarian [sav-tech/drunken brute], Extra Rage, Combat Reflexes
2. cleric1 [Kurgess:Community/Travel]
3. Slayer1 Quick Draw
4. Slayer2 [Talent: Rapid Shot] ...etc.
Equipment: bardiche, morningstar, adaptable composite bow (javelins prior), light quickdraw shield
* raging: att+0 (4th:+1), AC+1, (fort/will)+4 over straight slayer w/OP's listed build.
* You have pretty much every skill you would ever care about on your class list, and seven points per level (3rd+) to throw at them.
Ok, from what I've seen here, here are my alterations.
STR: 16+2: 18
DEX: 15
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 10
CHA: 7
Longbow, Buckler, Longsword, some Blunt Weapon, Studded Leather or Armored Coat (Thinking Armored coat since I can take it off for roguish stuff) will eventually upgrade to a mithral breastplate when I'm rich. Same with Composite(+4) Bow.
Feats
Level 1: Shield Focus, Power Attack
Level 2: Ranger Combat Style (Archery: Rapid Shot)
Level 3: Quick Draw
Level 4: Slayer Talent, Dependent on party needs(dodge if I need it.)(+1 to DEX)
Level 5: Deadly Aim
Level 6: Ranger Combat Style Feat: Manyshot
And the rest will be figured out based on party and campaign.
Unless I'm wrong there is no need to upgrade to a light shield since I'm not shield bashing. Studied Target can help offset the minuses I get from power attack, deadly aim, and rapid shot. Two weapon fighting seems even more taxing for an already feat heavy build. I'm not intending to be perfectly bad ass and I'm unsure about multi classing, especially barbarian and cleric since it might be hard to justify that plotwise. A secondary reason for this build is that specializing has kicked me in the face whenever I have done it and I want a decent AC.
Thanks for all the ideas. I think that a savage technologist would be great for a specific character concept that I'll try if I get into a technological game.
Ok spent a few minutes to watch some video. Sadly dont play as much as I did. I think for the most part you are right he is a archer. Personally I would lose shield focus, dont think a feat is worth $1000. I would switch str with dex. Lose the shield focus for improved init acting first would be a nice way to get the sneak attack. lvl 5 take point blank, level 6 take point blank master..you will never pull out another weapon again so maybe move deadly aim to 3 to ditch the quick draw. Now this is based off the intro and some demo. power attack and the ability to use multiple weapons are about it, but even the character seemed to be more about the bow. Not by any means saying the build is bad, will be really nasty..but sorry I mainly just saw a archer that tinkered with weapons in a pinch...even then in the demo he was using the bow in melee. One thing I did notice is he did shield bash.
The other way is go less archer and more melee: str 18, dex 14, con 14, int 12 wis 12 and cha 7.
Feats
Level 1: improved shield bash, power attack
Level 2: Ranger Combat Style (Two weapon fighting: Two weapon fighting)
Level 3: Deadly aim
Level 4: Slayer Talent: Trapfinding
Level 5: Iron will
Level 6: Ranger Combat Style Feat: shield master
Level 7: Shield slam
Since archery is so nice it will trump any build imo but the fact that you will be able to flank to get +2d6 sneak from the sword and shield..will add up. By level 6 you could put two arrows in the air so kinda up to you
Slayer, sword and shield.
1. Deadly Aim
1. Upsetting Shield Style
2. Shield Slam
3. Power Attack
4. Rogue Talent: Snap Shot
5. Ranged Trip
6. Shield Master
Use a buckler because they work with a bow, upsetting shield style allows you to shield bash with a buckler, which is nice for when you have your bow out in melee. Shield Slam bull rushes everyone backwards away from you allowing you to shoot them with your bow. The rogue talent Snap Shot gives you a +20 on initiative during the surprise round so you can always shoot first. Ranged Trip gives you a lot of versatility with what you can do with your bow. And shield master pretty much gives you a half price magical weapon because your shield enchanments count as weapon enchanments for Shield bashing purposes.
Or, Slayer, archer.
1. Deadly Aim
1. Upsetting Shield Style
2. Rapid Shot
3. Ranged Trip
4. Rogue Talent: Snap Shot
5. Point Blank Shot
6. Manyshot
You can still use the buckler to bash people in close, so it may still be of use to take the feat early.
Have you looked at a vanilla Samurai? Weapon Expertise (Ex): At 3rd level, a samurai gains an unparalleled expertise with his chosen weapons. At 3rd level, the samurai selects either the katana, longbow, naginata, or wakizashi. The samurai can draw the selected weapon as a free action as if he had the Quick Draw feat. In addition, whenever he threatens a critical hit with the selected weapon, he gains a +2 bonus on the confirmation roll. Finally, his samurai levels count as fighter levels and stack with any fighter levels he possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites for feats that specifically select his chosen weapon, such as Weapon Specialization.
The cool thing about sword and board is that for combat maneuvers and pseudomaneuvers it's strictly superior to a two hander, assuming you're not looking to do damage with your melee weapon. That's because you're dealing with the same CMB as a Two hander guy but have better AC.
You could use your slayer combat style feats for archery and the rest of your feats for trip and other maneuvers. This opens up a cool playing style where you shoot enemies down from afar and shut them down up close.
Edit: Remember that combat expertise which is a prereq for many maneuver feats stacks with fighting defensively. Add in the shield and you'll be excellent at not dying.
I see Bayek more as a ranger than a slayer, mostly because of his link to Senu the eagle.
My take:
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 10
Skills: Survival, Stealth, Perception, Ride, Climb, Knowledge (Geography), 1 pt into other skills
Feats/Class Abilities:
1st: Point Blank Shot, Focused Talent - Skill Focus (Stealth), Favored Enemy (Human) +2
2nd: Combat Style - Archery (Precise shot)
3rd: Endurance, favored terrain (Desert), Deadly Aim
4th: Animal companion (Bird), +1 Wisdom
5th: Boon Companion, Rapid shot, Favored Enemy (Human) +4, Animal +2
6th: Combat Style (Improved Precise Shot)
The sanguine angel gets str to attk with bows but the pre reqs can be a turn off
Honestly, I think you're biting off more than you can chew trying to do a Sword/Board build AND and Archery build this early in the game (I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I'd recommend not doing it right this second). You can function quite well with a minimal investment in Sword/Board because you have high BAB. Personally, I'd dump as much as possible into making your Archery good first, and being a Human for the extra Slayer talents and bonus feat is almost required for something like this. I'll come up with a build idea and post it later.
20 pt buy - Human Slayer
Str 13
Dex 20
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 10
Cha 7
Lvl1 Point Blank Shot, Two-Weapon Fighting, (Enchant Agile on Sword/Shield/Bow)
Lvl2 RCS: Rapid Shot
Lvl3 Power Attack
Lvl4 Rogue Weapon Focus: Longbow
Lvl5 Deadly Aim, (Enchant Keen on Sword/Shield/Bow)
Lvl6 RCS: Many Shot, Human FCB 1/6: Defensive Study
Lvl7 Quick Draw
Lvl8 Combat Trick: Improved Shield Bash
Lvl9 Shield Slam, (Enchant Bashing on Shield, Light Fortification on Armor, and Cunning on Longbow)
Lvl10 Twist the Knife: Longbow or Opportunist
Lvl11 Shield Master
Lvl12 RCS: Shot on the Run Human FCB 1/6: Rogue Feat: Furious Focus (or Opportunist if you got Twist the Knife at lvl 10)
.
With a build like this, you don't need Strength above 13 (just for Power Attack), and you can make up all your damage with Dex from Agile enchantments, so you also don't need Double Slice, you mainly just need +bonus to Hit. This is why you need Shield Master by lvl 11 and Furious Focus around lvl 12-13ish, so your loss of Hit from PA and TWF are now gone.
Also, consider getting Dangerously Curious Trait for UMD (buff yourself with Wands of Invisibility and Cat's Grace, etc.) and either Reactionary +2 Initiative or Child of the Moon for a +1, +2, or +4 to Stealth depending on the Moon cycle.
With Weapon Focus: Longbow you can get Twist the Knife: Longbow, and since your Longbow has an Agile, Keen & Cunning Enchant on it, you'll have 1d8+Dex+Deadly Aim and 19-20/x4 critical.
With Shot on the Run and Quick Draw, you can Move, Shoot, Quick Draw Sword/Shield, and finish your move up to an opponent with Sword/Shield drawn. Pretty spiffy :)
Rather than investing in a 16 strength, you can pump Dex and only lose a +2 to hit when you're using Sword/Shield but benefit hugely on bonus damage and hit with everything else. Not to mention your AC and Reflex saves will be better. You can always get a Wand of Bull's Strength (+4str) and Enlarge Person (+2str, 10ft reach) to make your Str 19 if you take Dangerously Curious for UMD.
As a Full BAB class with Studied Strike, your +hit won't suffer too greatly from only having a 13 strength unbuffed.
Power Attack + Weapon Focus in a martial platform that lacks rage?
<eyebrows gettin' all twitchy>
...friends don't let friends do it, and I am your friend....
<you are grabbed roughly by the lapels and drawn in close>
"DON'T DO IT!!!" (make a Fort-save from sour ale fumes)
<crazy-eyed pirate staggers off in search of more drink>