Playable from levels 1-40... PvM

I was asked recently for a good support character for party play. Instantly my thoughts went to a bard/rogue/AA, but when I searched the guild I didn't find any that made use of the bard abilities. I threw this build together as a party support archer. It should do well in any party setting, it can buff a party as well as help out in combat with ranged sneak attacks. With find traps, improved invisibility and an okay open lock skill it also makes a fair scout. Pretty much what you want in a support archer.

Advantages

-Level 16 Bard Song and Curse Song. With lasting inspiration it lasts 11 rounds and is good for buffing a party, and weakening your opposition.
-7D6 sneak attack. In general, without hide in plain sight, ranged sneak attacks are hard to come by. In a party setting, they are quite easy to get. You can also use darkness and ultravision to get a couple more.
-High taunt skill. Combined with curse song he can low an opponents AC by 11 points. The fighters in the party should love that.
-Level 5 Bard spells. If buffed, he can cast level 6 spells. The level 1-4 bard spells are pretty good, the level 5 and 6 bard spells aren't that handy though.
-A high AB with a long bow. 46 is a little low for an Arcane Archer, but in general good for a support character.
-Epic dodge. Always a useful ability.
-A good AC with +5 equipment.
-High Reflex save and improved evasion. He doesn't have to wory about evocations with reflex saves.
-High UMD. He can use monk equipment.

Disadvantages

-Low Fortitude and Will saves. He has to watch out for death magic. With bard song and resistance he can buff his will save a bit and clarity can defend from mind spells.
-Low hitpoints. He can't take too much damage.
-Low damage. Without sneak attacks his arrows don't do too much damage. Arrows also do piercing damage, which is the most commonly resisted damage type.
-No melee capability. He has to use his bow at close range, which means that he could take quite the pummeling if an opponent closes with him.
-XP penalty. The elven favored class makes no sense, it should be bard or rogue.

Generic Support Archer

Race Elf

Alignment Any non lawful

Base Attribute
STR 10
DEX 16
CON 12
WIS 8
INT 14
CHA 16

Leveling Guide
Level 1 Rogue
Levels 2-6 Bard
Level 7-8 Rogue
Level 9 Bard
Levels 10-14 Arcane Archer
Level 15 Bard
Levels 16-17 Arcane Archer
Level 18 Bard
Levels 19-21 Arcane Archer
Level 22 Bard
Level 23 Rogue
Level 24 Bard
Levels 25-26 Rogue
Level 27 Bard
Levels 28-29 Rogue
Level 30 Bard
Levels 31-32 Rogue
Level 33 Bard
Levels 34-36 Rogue
Levels 37-39 Bard
Level 40 Arcane Archer

Final Level Distribution
Arcane Archer 11
Bard 16
Rogue 13

Attribute Bonuses
All 10 go to Dexterity

Feats
Level 1: Point Blank Shot
Level 3: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Level 6: Rapid Shot
Level 9: Curse Song
Level 12: Called Shot
Level 15: Lingering Song
Level 18: Improved Critical (Longbow)
Level 21: Epic Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Level 24: Epic Prowess
Level 27: Epic Skill Focus (Taunt)
Level 30: Great Dexterity I
Level 32: Improved Evasion
Level 33: Great Dexterity II
Level 36: Defensive Roll, Epic Dodge
Level 39: Blind-Fight

Final Attributes
STR 10
DEX 28
CON 12
WIS 8
INT 14
CHA 16

Final Saves (Vs. Spells)
Fortitude 20 (28)
Reflexes 34 (42)
Will 19 (27)

AB and Damage

(No buffs, normal Longbow)
46/41/36/31 6+1D8 (+7D6 Sneak Attack) (19-20 x3)

(+4 to Dexterity (Cat's Grace), Bard Song, War Cry, Rapid Shot, Haste, +5 Longbow)
55/55/50/45/40/55 6+1D8 (+3 Bludgeoning, +2 Slashing, +7D6 Sneak Attack) (19-20 x3)

Maximum AB: 72 (70 with rapid shot)

AC
27 (Robes)
62 (+12 to Dex, +5 Robes, +5 Ring of Protection, +5 Amulet of Natural Armor, +5 Boots of the Sun Soul, Haste, Bard Song)


Hit Points 302 (Max Every Level)

Final Skillpoints 322
Concentration 42 (43) (C)
Discipline 42 (42) (D)
Open Lock 11 (20) (O)
Perform 27 (30) (P)
Spellcraft 38 (40) (SC)
Spot 43 (42) (S)
Taunt 42 (55) (Ta)
Tumble 40 (49) (Tu)
Use Magic Devices 37 (40) (U)

Skillpoint Distribution
Level 1: O 4, S 4, Tu 4, U 4, Save 24
Level 2: C 5, D 5, P 5, SC 5, Ta 5, Tu 1, U 1, Save 3
Level 3: C 1, D 1, P 1, SC 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1, Save 2
Level 4: C 1, D 1, P 1, SC 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1, Save 1
Level 5: C 1, D 1, P 1, SC 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1
Level 6: D 1, P 1, SC 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1
Level 7: O 4, S 4, Tu 1, U 1
Level 8: O 3, S 3, Tu 1, U 1, Save 2
Level 9: D 2, P 1, SC 1, Ta 2, Tu 1, U 1
Level 10: S 2, Save 4
Level 11: S 1, Save 9
Level 12: S 1, Save 14
Level 13: S 1, Save 19
Level 14: S 1, Save 24
Level 15: D 7, P 1, SC 3, Ta 7, Tu 6, U 6
Level 16: S 2, Save 4
Level 17: S 1, Save 9
Level 18: C 2, D 3, P 1, Ta 3, Tu 3, U 3
Level 19: S 2, Save 4
Level 20: S 1, Save 9
Level 21: S 1, Save 14
Level 22: C 4, D 4, Ta 4, Tu 4, U 4
Level 23: S 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 6
Level 24: C 4, D 2, SC 2, Ta 2, Tu 1, U 1
Level 25: S 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 6
Level 26: S 1, Tu 1, U 1, Save 13
Level 27: C 4, D 3, P 3, SC 4, Ta 3, Tu 1, U 1
Level 28: S 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 6
Level 29: S 1, Tu 1, U 1, Save 13
Level 30: C 6, D 3, SC 5, Ta 3, Tu 1, U 1
Level 31: S 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 6
Level 32: S 1, Tu 1, U 1, Save 13
Level 33: C 6, D 3, SC 5, Ta 3, Tu 1, U 1
Level 34: S 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 6
Level 35: Tu 1, Save 15
Level 36: Tu 1, Save 24
Level 37: C 6, D 4, P 6, SC 9, Ta 4, Tu 1
Level 38: C 1, D 1, P 3, Ta 1
Level 39: C 1, D 1, P 3, Ta 1
Level 40: S 6

Spells

Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Daze, Flare, Light, Resistance

Level 1: Balgaran's Iron Horn, Expeditious Retreat, Grease, Mage Armor, Protection from Alignment

Level 2: Clarity, Darkness, Cat's Grace, Ultravision

Level 3: Find Trap, Gust of Wind, Haste, Wounding Whispers

Level 4: Dismissal, Dominate Person, Improved Invisibility, War Cry

Level 5: Ethereal Visage, Greater Dispelling, Healing Circle, Mind Fog

Level 6: Energy Buffer, Mass Haste
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Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do. I think you can use half-elf as well for AA... and would remove the XP penalty (your starting stats as fairly midlle-ground, though you might lose a point or two overall). A couple notes Mith:

You could drop your CHA to 15 and go with a 1/2 Elf for no XP penalty, if you wish. (You could also drop it on the Elf template and use those 2 points elsewhere if you like.) You need to boost your CHA (with items) to 22+ in order to access those level 6 spells, so I wouldn't really bother. Just a thought.

*edit* Never mind - you need it for Epic Dodge.

Lingering Song (you called it Lasting Inspiration, but I know you meant Lingering) adds 5 rounds to your Bard Song, so it's going to last 15 rounds, not 11 (The Bard Song lasts 10 rounds normally).

Nice build - great support character.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!

Edited By Cinnabar Din on 06/27/05 15:49

Quote: Posted 06/27/05 15:47:17 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din

A couple notes Mith:

You could drop your CHA to 15 and go with a 1/2 Elf for no XP penalty, if you wish. (You could also drop it on the Elf template and use those 2 points elsewhere if you like.) You need to boost your CHA (with items) to 22+ in order to access those level 6 spells, so I wouldn't really bother. Just a thought.

*edit* Never mind - you need it for Epic Dodge.

I had thought of lowering the CHA to 14, raising the DEX to 18 and using the great dexterity feats for 1 great charisma and armor skin. The build was a little straped for skill points, and a 16 charisma gave me a bonus to UMD, taunt and perform. It also gave me an extra level 3 spell. Also a +6 to charisma isn't that difficult to get, so you might get a level 6 spell. I wouldn't count on a level 6 spell, but it's always nice to have the option.

Quote: 
Lingering Song (you called it Lasting Inspiration, but I know you meant Lingering) adds 5 rounds to your Bard Song, so it's going to last 15 rounds, not 11 (The Bard Song lasts 10 rounds normally).

Yeah, they shouldn't have given the two bard feats that extend your bard song names that begin with "L". Good catch on the duration as well.

Quote: 
Nice build - great support character.

Thanks.
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Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.