This build is intended to correct my previous mistakes with the Versatile Archer build, for example SR was taken out after I realized I was using the wrong math for it and that Mordekainen's Disjunction lowers it by 10. It's possible my end stats will be slightly off, because I'm not actually test building this character, I'm just making a few minor tweaks in text, but they should be correct or at least very close.
Years of monastic devotion coupled with rigorous arcane studies have molded this surprisingly versatile archer. He not only boasts a vicious arrow, but can easily confound all but the most powerful spellcasters with his beefy magical defenses, and can avoid melee battle with his tremendous speed. His greatest weakness, ironically, is to his fellow archer, but even there he can often shine with the aid of highly accurate crippling arrows. He doesn't find it dishonorable to stay out of the reaches of danger, as long as he doesn't flee battle entirely.
Starting Stats (Ending Stats) STR 10 DEX 20 (30) CON 13 (14) WIS 8 INT 12 CHA 8
1 Monk-Point Blank Shot 2 Monk- 3 Monk-Weapon Focus: Longbow 4 Monk- 5 Monk- 6 Monk-Toughness 7 Monk- 8 Monk- 9 Wizard-Rapid Shot 10 Arcane Archer- 11 Arcane Archer- 12 Arcane Archer-Improved Critical: Longbow 13 Arcane Archer- 14 Arcane Archer- 15 Arcane Archer-Blindfight 16 Arcane Archer- 17 Arcane Archer- 18 Arcane Archer-Called Shot 19 Arcane Archer- 20 Monk- 21 Arcane Archer-Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow 22 Arcane Archer- 23 Arcane Archer- 24 Arcane Archer-Armor Skin, Epic Prowess 25 Arcane Archer- 26 Arcane Archer- 27 Arcane Archer-Epic Fortitude 28 Arcane Archer-Great Dexterity I 29 Arcane Archer- 30 Monk-21+ Discipline, Epic Skill Focus: Discipline 31 Monk- 32 Monk- 33 Monk-Epic Will 34 Arcane Archer- 35 Arcane Archer- 36 Arcane Archer-Epic Reflexes 37 Monk-Max Tumble 38 Wizard-40 Spellcraft 39 Arcane Archer-Epic Energy Resistance: Fire 40 Monk-Max Discipline If you used your skills for 40 Spellcraft, 40 Tumble and 43 Discipline, you have another 86 skill points to distribute. It is your choice how you wish to do this: Spot/Listen? Hide/Move Silently?
Final stats: HP: 428 [15*8 (monk) + 23*8 (arcane archer) + 3*4 (wizard) + 40 (toughness) + 80 (con)] 33 AC Naked With a mundane longbow, AB: +51/+46/+41/+36, dmg: 1-8 + 12 (19-20 x3) Fortitude: 29 (+8 against spells) Reflex: 38 (+8 against spells, with improved evasion) Will: 25 (+8 against spells) Spell Resistance: 25 Fire Resistance: 10/- 56 Discipline +50% speed before even using a haste item.
Items to watch out for (ranked more or less in order of importance): Death magic immunity items and magic resist items. With Death Magic immunity and 10/- magic resist, this build would be exceedingly powerful. Haste item. Dex boosting items (more AC and AB) Robes with nice ac bonus. Will boosting items, or WIS boosting items for ac and will. Strength boosting items and a bow with mighty on it. (More damage output)
Pros: Moderate HP for an archer. Nice naked AC. Better AB than at least 95% of melee characters (not including short-term buffs), with the ability to stay out of range due to monk speed. Nice Fortitude and Reflex saves, moderate will saves. Improved Evasion. Some Spell Resistance (25) +50% Monk Speed Decent damage output. With strength boosting equipment and a mighty weapon, even better. 10/- fire resistance.. Helps against Fire Arrow and Flame Weapon/Darkfire.
Cons: While HP is good for an archer, it is still pretty low. But as outlined above, the various defensive capabilities of this build compensate for this very well. Nonetheless IGMS can be a real threat (although you may be able to run out of range of this... I’ve never had a chance to try it, but i somehow doubt it.). (Note that even with +4 con you can only soak up 2 max IGMS) Damage output isn’t as high as some archers, and AC isn’t good enough to stop other archers. An archer with high discipline (can’t use called shot) and damage output would be a very challenging, if not devastating, foe. Not immune to death magic/abilities. _________________ Have I mentioned I hate IGMS?
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 10/10/07 13:21
One thing I neglected with that build, because I didnt actually test it, is the extra feat due to taking four more AA levels. You could take Great Dexterity or Epic Toughness. If you take Great Dex, you'll want to take another one, meaning you could drop Epic Reflexes, Epic Will, or Epic Energy Res: Fire. My vote would be for fire, considering with 38 reflexes, 40 spellcraft and improved evasion, along with the fact that you can stay out of range of melee fighters with darkfire/flame weapon, you won't really need it that much. So your ab and ac can each be one point higher. Yay. _________________ Have I mentioned I hate IGMS?