Hello!
I'm trying to think of a backup character for me to play in the event that my current character dies. I don't plan on dying, but I'd like to be ready for the unexpected.
There's 7 players total in this campaign (plus the GM), so I'm trying to find something that fills the niche I currently fill, but I'd also like it to feel different.
I am currently an Inquisitor Archer, with an emphasis on skill checks. I'm looking for other types of ranged characters - builds that don't use spell-casting or melee as their plan A (although backup plans are always nice, and spells are great for utility), and aren't necessarily archery-based.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not looking for fully fleshed out builds, but if there's a particular archetype or feat that enables something new, I'd like to hear about it :)
I hope that made sense, feel free to ask for clarification if I was unclear. I realize this is a kind of vague question, which is why I'm looking more for bread-crumb trails I can go follow than fully fleshed out builds.
Alchemist, Kineticist, Eldritch Archer Magus.
Alternately you could switch things up by going for OVERWATCH STYLE (and eventually OVERWATCH VORTEX). You could still use a bow, but you're using it differently (presumably).
Overwatch style could be fun, with the Crossbowman Fighter archetype and a few levels of Unchained Rogue. Although Unchained Rogue would mean a hit to my BAB, so I'd get Overwatch Vortex later. It'd take some tinkering, to figure out how to best take advantage of everything. I've never made a crossbow-based character, either, so that sounds interesting
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You really need 3 questions answered before you walk thisabortionabomination into your campaign.
I'm going to assume that was a typo.
Someone posted a neat set up for sundering with a bow recently, toxopholyte ranger and archer fighter mix, I think. And using an orcish hornbow.
A bow using spell warrior skald could do a mix of counterspelling and readied attacks to interrupt. Just a denial build.
Grenadier alchemist makes for a weird archer, especially with the explosive missile discovery. It can use a crossbow, or with a dip or something a bow or pistol is a valid option. Or generally any sort of mad bomber alchemist can work.
We're currently 8th level, but I don't intend on dying soon and we're leveling fairly quickly so I'd say 10 is a reasonable level to build for.
Shadowcraft laser rifles sound spicy, but that will save to disbelieve sounds a bit worrisome - especially considering it scales off the enhancement bonus of the weapon. It'd get expensive fast, haha. Although we do have a few crafters in the party, so that would help.
A ranged sunder build is intriguing, although I expect there to be lots of Proteans in our future, and I'm not sure I'll get much use out of it. (natural weapons, et cetera) Other combat maneuvers are a possibility, though. Magic items and holy symbols do make enticing targets, too! My GM is pretty flexible, so he could probably adjust to me destroying stuff he intended to give to the party.
We've already got a skald in our party, as well as an Arcanist who's leaning heavily towards dispel/counterspell shenanigans, so I'm leaning away from that last suggestion. Stepping on toes is inevitable when there's this many players, but I'd rather not be too redundant ;)
I'll confess I don't particularly like the feel of Alchemists, although if anything could make me get over that bias it would be the prospect of lots of explosions. They're INT-based as well, which would let me keep rolling skill checks.
On closer inspection, Grenadiers are pretty cool. Is there any particular (cost-efficient) alchemical dusts/liquids that pair well with their Alchemical Weapon class feature? Their ability to make alchemical items themselves obviously comes in handy there.
All the suggestions are appreciated! In retrospect it looks like I only pointed out all the things wrong with each of those, but whatever I may have said about each idea they did get me thinking, which was the point of this thread ^-^
Acid's the cheapest alchemical weapon at 10 gp a pop. Get a hybridization funnel and acid + alkali = 2d6 acid damage for 25 gp. Incendiary catalyst + alchemist's fire + bomb fire damage is potentially a fair bit. A ghast retch flask (powder not liquid so not hybridizable) is 3 rounds of sickened even if they make the save. Kitumu's ire could be used to direct a swarm created by the vomit swarm extract - a friend once noted that alchemist's abilities seemed to be designed to make him go 'ick'. Tanglefoot bags are still good.
Mineral acid and Artokus's fire are more expensive, 2d6 damage versions of acid and alchemist's fire.
My thoughts for Alchemist were that you could just use bombs and it'd he different to what you're playing now. You get debuffs/control as discoveries, and just take some of the usual ranged feats but it'd have a very different feel compared to your archer Inquisitor.
INT-based means skills as well, so yay.
Kineticist and Eldritch Archer were similar ideas, but probably less different and with less skills.
Further you could combine all of this with Overwatch-Style/Tactician if you wanted (you wouldn't get Vortex till level 15). Then you've got yourself a new ranged character who'l play very differently to the one you're playing now, while still covering the same bases for the party.
Level 10 non bow, no spell range attacker? A ninja with the invisible blade trick can reliably be under greater invisibility every combat. A good UMD and cheap wand can have you doing flatfooted range touch attacks for sneak attack damage once a round. Or just a flurry of sneak attack ahuriken.
I've never made a character that focuses on summons and it could be fun, but with 7 players I'm afraid I'd slow things down, even if I was always as prepared as I could be.
Eldritch Archers are cool, but you've got a point about them playing similar to my Inquisitor. I am very tempted to do a thrown weapon magus, though... Magus are cool, I just need to find a way around thrown ammunition destroying itself after it's used. On a similar vein, I've never done a Warlock Vigilante before.
Kineticists and I don't really mesh, unfortunately - every time I start making one, I get sidetracked into doing something else that fulfills my personal goals better.
I really like shuriken ninjas, but unfortunately I've never been able to put one together that satisfies me. It hasn't been for lack of trying, though! Part of it comes back to the whole disposable ammunition thing I mentioned with the magus. In addition I'm wary of relying on Invisibility for my main shtick because it's so easy to counter, considering the enemies we've been fighting are intelligent and have used scrying in the past.
So far I'm most tempted by an alchemist, an overwatch-style fighter, a thrown-weapon magus, or warlock vigilante... 2/3rds casters are addicting in their utility and versatility (alchemists aren't 2/3ds, but they use extracts which have similar application in this context).
Deadly Aim, Ranged Trip, Ace Trip...
You shoot Proteans out of the air.
Phase Locking enchantment on the weapon...
You keep Proteans where you can kill them.