I'm planning on joining a Tyrant's Grasp AP as a player, and I decided I'd like to play a Duskwalker Divine Hunter (aka a Paladin Archer) who serves Erastil. I've got most of the fluff figured out, and I know I want him to gain the Prestige Class Sentinel from Inner Sea Gods. I think I'm gonna have like 5 or maybe 6 levels of Divine Hunter, but what I don't know is if I should multiclass as well-and if so, what class? What advice would you have for building this character? I'm looking to make a long bow wielding undead slaying machine, if that makes sense.
My current ability scores are (including Racial Modifiers): Str 14 Dex 18 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 9 Cha 16
My GM had a rule that everyone starts with 30 points for ability scores, but if you chose a non-core, non-featured race, you lost 4 points. That's why I have 26 points for point buy.
I plan on holding my ground on the Duskwalker and archery thing, but otherwise I'm open to any suggestions.
|
Archery is a very powerful combat style. Early on, you want bonus feats to get your basics, including Precise Shot and Rapid Shot, online ASAP. Then you want to get Improved Precise Shot and (possibly) Point Blank Master. You'll be working to stack as much static damage as possible on each arrow. Finally you might look for some fancy options, from advanced weapon training or spells.
Divine Hunter is a solid option. 5 levels for Divine Bond and prestiging out seems reasonable. I find that writing your own paladin code and role-playing it is a fantastic experience. However, the paladin doesn't offer as much out of combat potential. There are a few other possibilities.
A ranger with favored enemy undead is very flavorful and has lots of out of combat utility. Consider the Ilsurian Archer archetype, and stay in until level 6 for Imp Precise Shot as a bonus combat feat, or another archetype and stay in until level 10 for Instant Enemy at spell level 3.
Inquisitors also offer a full package of in and out of combat capability. Judgments and bane make you a force to be reckoned with, although you can run out of those resources. Also, without any bonus feats, this builds slowly. Erastil's Feather domain, along with the Boon Companion feat, offers you a full level animal companion mount, which is fantastic for an archer. This class has fantastic abilities and 3/4 BAB; rather than Sentinel, you might consider the Evangelist prestige class which advances all your class features. (It even lets you duplicate your animal companion for a few rounds a day.)
Zen Archer comes online faster than any other archer, but if you're playing a full AP, you care more about the long game. A 4-level dip in Zen Archer, followed by levels in inquisitor, can make for a very nice long-term build.
The Molthuni Arsenal Chaplain warpriest, with swift action buffs, a full cleric spell list, and a fighter's weapon training, is probably the most powerful archer of all. Erastil's air blessing means you never need to worry about provoking. Again, those 2 skill points per level feel stifling to me - I would consider the Evangelist rather than Sentinel here, as well.
That all sounds pretty good. I was wondering if it was worth dipping into Feral Hunter for 1 level to get Gravity Bow as a spell, along with the animal focus Tiger that gives me straight +2 dex without a time limit. Get it at level 2 for either Paladin or maybe the Warpriest now.
I'm not sold on the boon companion because I find animal companions for the most part confusing to keep track of, along with resources the inquisitor might have.
The Sentinel I found pretty generous with feats and bonuses. I just don't know what level Tyrants AP goes upto so I don't know how far to plan.