Advice for stygian slayer build

[Niptum]

Hello

I've started my first campaign (1e) and have done so with a stygian slayer build.
However I'm having a bit of difficulty in seeing the forest through the trees in regards to the options available in making this build better or the optimal ways in which I can use it. There are a few min/maxers in the campaign and I'm feeling a little underbuilt.

We'll be going up a lvl in one of the following sessions, currently at 5.
I wanted to play a character that can flit in and out of battle when needed to either deal damage or help protect the party. To that end I was looking to do some archery as range seems good and some melee to take proper advantage of sneak attack. My stealth and perception are quite good as I am currently one of the sneakiest characters in the campaign.

Are there certain things I should do or take to that end?
Is there a multi class option that would be good for dipping a lvl or 2?

I am a half-elf with the following ability scores:
- Str: 18
- Dex: 18
- Con: 13
- Int: 12
- Wis: 11
- Cha: 10

With the following racials/feats
- Skill focus: perception
- Power attack
- Dodge
- Point blank shot

Chosen talents so far:
- Ranger combat style: Archery
Precise shot

Following talents are what I was looking at for lvl 6 and 8:
- Trap spotting: Rogue talent where I need to roll perception if I come into 10 feet of a trap
- Blood reader: know the hp of a studied target
- Ranger combat style: two weapon fighting
(currently only have one weapon)

[IluzryMage]

Honey, I made a guide for this.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Iu-XQ18JqInx7b90QP_biwCjkLviiMou4oSFEp fQYM/edit#heading=h.fc65bivujegw

[Niptum]

IluzryMage wrote:

Honey, I made a guide for this.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Iu-XQ18JqInx7b90QP_biwCjkLviiMou4oSFEp fQYM/edit#heading=h.fc65bivujegw

Hey, I have your guide bookmarked. Thanks for the hard work in making it, it was one of the first things I found when starting to search months ago.

Nevertheless I was looking for some situation specific advices or if there was more that I've missed.

[Melkiador]

Edit: This mostly all comes down to archery being a feat hungry play style. Being a switch hitter usually still means you focus on archery, but you keep a big two handed weapon around for when archery isn't ideal.

Edit2: Are you more interested in being a melee fighter who can shoot a bow a little. Or an archer who can go into combat sometimes. To not get too overshadowed by your party, you're going to have to pick one or the other to specialize more in.

The rest of this was before Edit2, when I hadn't considered what you might really be wanting to do.
-------------------------
*Power attack won't help you enough compared to what else you are trying to do.

*You should have had rapid shot by level 3.

*Dodge is also an odd pick in my opinion. Are you working towards some other feat with that?

*You can't choose multiple styles with Ranger Combat Style. You could try to retrain that if you want to step away from archery.

*If continuing archery, you should grab improved precise shot at level 6. You can wait till 7 to grab Manyshot with a regular feat.

*Blood reader is a hard pick. It's super useful, but at the same time doesn't do anything for your own output. It's a very support ability. If you like being support it can be great.

[Niptum]

Melkiador wrote:

Edit: This mostly all comes down to archery being a feat hungry play style. Being a switch hitter usually still means you focus on archery, but you keep a big two handed weapon around for when archery isn't ideal.

Edit2: Are you more interested in being a melee fighter who can shoot a bow a little. Or an archer who can go into combat sometimes. To not get too overshadowed by your party, you're going to have to pick one or the other to specialize more in.

The rest of this was before Edit2, when I hadn't considered what you might really be wanting to do.
-------------------------
*Power attack won't help you enough compared to what else you are trying to do.

*You should have had rapid shot by level 3.

*Dodge is also an odd pick in my opinion. Are you working towards some other feat with that?

*You can't choose multiple styles with Ranger Combat Style. You could try to retrain that if you want to step away from archery.

*If continuing archery, you should grab improved precise shot at level 6. You can wait till 7 to grab Manyshot with a regular feat.

*Blood reader is a hard pick. It's super useful, but at the same time doesn't do anything for your own output. It's a very support ability. If you like being support it can be great.

The feats that I already have at the moment were rolled for during character creation. So no choice in them. The talent precise shot is the only one I've gotten to choose so far.

During the combats that we've been in so far I have mainly stuck to archery while going close if and when it was needed. I think that I want to continue playing in that way if it is viable enough in combination with sneak attacks.

[Niptum]

Currently looking into reworking the build as the DM does offer us this option once.

The rework would involve a dip into the monk: zen archer class

Either dipping in 2 or 3 lvls with the rest going into slayer.
With the slayer levels you can choose the ranger combat style of two-weapon fighting. Gaining some more attacks/prowess in a melee fight.

While the dip gives access to a few archery and monk feats and a flurry of blows for your bow which grants an additional attack. At third lvl point blank mastery is also awarded.

The main point would be a switch hitter that can handle both ranged and melee combat. Snipers goggles for the ranged sneak attack and either a wand of invisibility or the stygian slayer archetype for the melee attacks.

[WagnerSika]

I have never heard of people rolling for feats at character creation!
"I want to play an enchanter that charms and dominates the enemies with smooth talk and spells!"
"Right, lets see... <Roll, Roll> Your feats are Skill focus[Profession(Pig farmer)] and Improved Unarmed Strike".

[Niptum]

WagnerSika wrote:

I have never heard of people rolling for feats at character creation!

"I want to play an enchanter that charms and dominates the enemies with smooth talk and spells!"
"Right, lets see... <Roll, Roll> Your feats are Skill focus[Profession(Pig farmer)] and Improved Unarmed Strike".

I was mistaken about the feats. The dm helped me at the time while we were rolling the character traits and abilities