[Gunslinger Builder] Willhelm Kill - Crossbow Sniper

[DonKalleOne]

Hello,

i have several Builds i like to share and here is one of them. Feedback is Welcome.

Its a Crossbow Build focused on maximizing Damage in a Singleshot. The Ability to attempt a Sneak or Hide while in cover or prone and reloading is a great to keep the Enemy flatfooted to you and is a big part of the Build but there are several other ways to support it and find alternative ways:

Greater Cloak of Elvenkind (and Boots of Elvenkind) for Greater Invisibility

Smokestick or Mist/Fog Spells while having a way to ignore effects

While the First is easy to get the second depends on whenever the "Goz Mask" is allowed:

Yes: Duskwalker Heritage: 1.Gravesight, 3. Ancestral Paragon: Ghost Hunter 5. Chance Death 9. Multitalented 13. Spirit Strikes 17. Olethros's Decree (which is absolutly busted)

No: Ifrit Heritage: 1. Embers Eyes (Low Light) 3. Ancestral Paragon: Embers Eyes (Dark Vision) 5. Firesight 9. Multitalented 13.??? 17. Blazing Aura

The Next Step is Choice of Weapon and we have here a Winner: The Alchemical Crossbow. A (somehow simple) Weapon with ability to store an Alchemical Bomb and use it for 3 shots to gain +1d6 Elemental DMG and can be loaded pre Fight. We take Alchemist dedication solely because of this Weapon and its gives great Utility.

We go Sniper Way for Vital Shot which is possibly the highest possible Damage in a Single Strike but it is 2 Actions. At Level 9 where you gain Vital Shot you Will deal on the First shot the following Damage:

3d10 + 2d6 (Bleed) + 1d6 (Bomb) +1d6 (Rune) + 1d6 (Sneak) + 2d6 (One Shot One Kill) +3 +2 with 35% Crit Chance.

The Build

Scout Human Ifrit

LvL1: Crossbow Crackshot Ability: 8/18/14/14/14/8 (with Flaws)

LvL2: Pilgrims Token and Alchemist Deditaction (retrain before LvL 9 into Rogue Dedication)

LvL3: Expert Stealth and Ancestral Paragon

LvL4: Quiet Allies and Running Reload

LvL5: Expert Thievery. Ability Scores: 8/19/16/16/16/8

LvL 6: Trick Magic Item and Snipers Aim (Retrain after getting to LvL 9 into Sneak Attacker)

LvL7: Master Stealth and Incredible Iniative

LvL8: Swift Sneak and Grit and Tenacity

LvL9: Master Thievery and Multitalented (Alchemist Dedication)

LvL10: Foil Senses and Called Shot

LvL11: Expert Acrobatics and Toughness

LvL12: Quick undlock and Unshakable Grit

LvL13: Expert Medicine and Bounce Back

LvL14: Continual Recovery and a lot of Choices : Blood in the Air , Dead Eye , Dance of Thunder and Headshot.

LvL15: Legendary Sneak and Legendary Sneak (Ghost Shot comes Available). Ability Scores: 8/21/19/19/19/8

I didnt thin much about Past Lvl 15 but its straight forward Choices. At LvL 20 Ability Scores: 8/22/20/20/20/8

[Red Griffyn]

No need to take the alchemist dedication. Just take munitions crafter (L1 feat) and munitions machinist at L6 for a alchemy level of level-3 which is better than the alchemist dedication anyways (gives you some real bombs to throw as well). You'd also be better served by grabbing the ranger dedication so you can hunt prey and shoot in your second ranged increment at a hunted prey without taking a penalty since the alchemical crossbow range isn't great. It also opens up gravity weapon for more damage or far shot for a permanent range increase.

I don't think you need to dump STR. You could throw a reinforced stock onto the crossbow and that gives you a 2H 1D6 finesse weapon you could switch hit with if so desired.

[Zwordsman]

Look up Munitions feat line (and maybe the Alchemy one) for Gunslinger. They can make bombs in class, and do some weakness shenangans with them as well.

This would open up that Dedication slot for Assassin. Which won't be terribly useful until higher level. Which'll let you stack on more "opening" damage but will only be useful when you sutart the fight. so milage will very.

Though if you're human and handle the visino with weapons/elixirs, that means you could get Ranger at lv 9 ancestry feat. WHich can let you get Far Shot later.

So you can shoot from 500ft away in a small tree, and immediately hide, realod and relocate

I'd rather have assassin over rogue dedication there.
Or I'd take Poisoner Archetype (or Drow Shootist) so I can get Poison Weapon. While poison is resisted, its also adding free D4's which is pretty nice overall.

but i'm weird. i always came at these kind of things from an Alchemist POV.

[DonKalleOne]

i overlooked munitions crafter. thanks for the help

[Blave]

I wouldn't retrain Sniper's Aim even after getting Vital Shot. The feat is more attractive if you wield a fatal firearm, admittedly. Still, it's a nice backup against hard to hit enemies and unlike Vital Strike still provides its bonus if you fail to catch the target flat-footed. And sometimes you just need to finish off an enemy right now and for that the addtional crit chance of Sniper's Aim is very handy.