Half-Elven Sniper (11 Fighter, 27 AA, 2 Bard) - Epic Character Builder's Guild

Nothing much to say, its decent AA build, there's a lot of AA builds but when I did a search, I didn't see one with the same leveling, so here it is. Comments, and suggestions to make the build better are always welcome.

Playable 1-40 good in pvm, not tested in pvp

Race:Half-elf, Elf if you prefer for higher dex, but you get a xp pen, and lower con so i wouldn't reccomend it.
Alignment: non-lawful

Starting

Str:11
Dex:16
Con:16
Wis:8
Int:12
Cha:11

Leveling

1- Fighter1-Toughness Weapon Focus Longbow
2- Fighter2-Point Blank Shot
3-Fighter3- Rapid Shot
4-Fighter4- Epic Weapon Specialization Longbow +1 Dex (17)
5-Fighter5
6-Fighter6-Called Shot, Dodge
7-Bard1
8-ArcaneArcher1 +1 Dex (18)
9-ArcaneArcher2-Improved Critical Longbow
10-ArcaneArcher3
11-ArcaneArcher4
12-ArcaneArcher5- Mobility +1 Dex (19)
13-ArcaneArcher6
14-ArcaneArcher7
15-ArcaneArcher8-BlindFight
16-ArcaneArcher9 +1 dex (20)
17-ArcaneArcher10
18-Fighter7
19-Fighter8- Spring Attack
20-Fighter9 +1 dex (21)
21-Fighter10-Weapon Focus Longbow, Epic Weapon Focus Longbow
22-ArcaneArcher11
23-ArcaneArcher12
24-ArcaneArcher13- Epic Prowess +1 Dex (22)
25-ArcaneArcher14- Great Dex I (23)
26-ArcaneArcher15
27-ArcaneArcher16- Great Dex II (24)
28-ArcaneArcher17 +1 Dex (25)
29-ArcaneArcher18-Great Dex III (26)
30-ArcaneArcher19-Great Dex IV (27)
31-ArcaneArcher20
32-ArcaneArcher21 +1 Dex (28)
33-ArcaneArcher22- Great Dex V, Great Dex VI (30)
34-ArcaneArcher23
35-ArcaneArcher24
36-ArcaneArcher25 Great Dex VII +1 Dex (32)
37-ArcaneArcher26
38-ArcaneArcher27 Great Dex VIII (33)
39- Fighter11- Great Str I
40- Bard2- Dex +1 (34)

Skills
1. disc4
2.Disc1
3.Disc1
4.disc1
5.disc1
6.disc1
7. Tumble 10, Max UMD
8*
9*
10*
11*
12*
13*
14*
15*
16*
17*
18. Max Disc.
19. 1 Disc
20.1 disc
21. disc
22*
23*
24*
25*
26*
27*
28*
29*
30*
31*
32*
33*
34*
35*
36*
37*
38*
39. Max Disc.
40. Tumble 40, Max UMD, SpellCraft 40,Disc 1, Perform 7
Finished: Disc 42, SpellCraft 40, Tumble 40, UMD 43, Perform 7 (maximum bard song with this for a lvl 2 bard), do what you want with the rest.
*These are the AA lvls, and don't use any of the skill points on them, save them for when you dump points on lvl 39 and 40.

Ending

Str: 12
Dex: 34
Con: 16
Wis: 8
Int: 12
Cha: 11

HP 525

AC 30 mundane clothing, +6 from max dex, and +7 clothing makes it 43

AB +58/+53/+48+/43, +7 bow, +6 from maximised dex, makes it +71/+66/+61/+56

Damage 1-8+20 (19-20x3)

Saves ..start/end

Fort 26
Reflex 34
Will 19

Bard song gives +1 attack, +1 damage, and +1 will save, but probably won't last long. nice idea.. there's a couple of issues with it first off:

Assuming you are going Half-Elf of course:
-There is no normal feat taken at 18th level
-No Epic Weapon Specialization: Longbow?
-21st Weapon Focus: Longbow talen for the 2nd time? I assume it should read EWF:Longbow and EWS: Longbow instead?
-Actual HP should be 498 not 525

Discipline 42
Tumble 40
Spellcraft 40
UMD 43
Perform 7 (only need adjusted of 6 with 2 Bard Levels)
AC 30 (naked)

Fort:26
Will: 19 (should be 17)
Reflex:34
Also you have a natural +2 vs Mind Spells thanks to being a Half-Elf
AB (melee) 31
AB (ranged) 59 (1 higher)

Other than that, there are improvements to the build that you can make. Currently you have no KD/ IKD or Blind Fight, which are invaluable to you.

Seriously consider dropping all three of Dodge, Mobility and Spring Attack:
-Dodge only gives you 1 AC against your current target or last attacker
-Mobility only gives you +4 Dodge AC against AoO.
-Spring Attack removes AoO as you move around in combat (as an archer you shouldn't be in this position, and with Tumble over 15 ranks this is negated anyway)

If you take 3 Bard and Fighter 10, you then have three points to dump in Tumble, UMD, Spellcraft & Taunt (not to mention Discipline as well). Your Bard Song gives you an extra +2 total damage and +1 to your Fort Save, so if you squeeze in Lingering Song, the duration is extended a further 5 rounds, and you now have 3 uses/ day. Another benefit is knowing a 3rd 1st level spell and a 2nd castable use per day. Quite a few pluses really.

One major thing to remember with Dex Based builds is your armor type. If you do not have Uncanny Dodge, which you don't, there will be a frequent loss to your Dex based AC, when caught either flat-footed or attacked by a hidden/ invisible creature.

Below is a suggested path to take:

STR: 12
DEX: 14 (32)
CON: 16
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 12

01: Fighter(1): Luck of Heros, Weapon Focus: Longbow
02: Fighter(2): Point Blank Shot
03: Fighter(3): Toughness
04: Fighter(4): DEX+1, Weapon Specialization: Longbow, (DEX=15)
05: Fighter(5)
06: Fighter(6): Called Shot, Rapid Shot
07: Fighter(7)
08: Fighter(8): DEX+1, Knockdown, (DEX=16)
09: Bard(1): Lingering Song
10: Arcane Archer(1)
11: Arcane Archer(2)
12: Arcane Archer(3): DEX+1, Improved Critical: Longbow, (DEX=17)
13: Arcane Archer(4)
14: Arcane Archer(5)
15: Arcane Archer(6): Blind Fight
16: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=18)
17: Arcane Archer(8)
18: Arcane Archer(9): Improved Knockdown
19: Arcane Archer(10)
20: Fighter(9): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
21: Arcane Archer(11): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=20)
22: Bard(2)
23: Arcane Archer(12)
24: Arcane Archer(13): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=22)
25: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
26: Arcane Archer(15)
27: Fighter(10): Great Dexterity III, Epic Weapon Specialization: Longbow, (DEX=23)
28: Arcane Archer(16): DEX+1, (DEX=24)
29: Arcane Archer(17)
30: Arcane Archer(18): Great Dexterity IV, Epic Prowess, (DEX=25)
31: Arcane Archer(19)
32: Arcane Archer(20): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
33: Arcane Archer(21): Great Dexterity V, (DEX=27)
34: Arcane Archer(22): Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=28)
35: Arcane Archer(23)
36: Arcane Archer(24): DEX+1, Great Dexterity VII, (DEX=30)
37: Arcane Archer(25)
38: Arcane Archer(26): Great Dexterity VIII, (DEX=31)
39: Arcane Archer(27): Armor Skin* (could be replaced with Epic Will)
40: Bard(3): DEX+1, (DEX=32)

Hitpoints: 494
Skillpoints: 232
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 27/18/34
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +9, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 29
AB (max, naked): 31 (melee), 58 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 31/34

Skills:
Discipline 43(44)
Lore 12(17)
Perform 8(9)
Spellcraft 43(45)
Taunt 43(44)
Tumble 40(51)
UMD 43(44)

Overall changes:
-Your ranged AB drops back to 58, which is what you quoted anyway.
-45 more skill ranks available
-Saves versus spells +9
-HP drop of 4 points
-Fort and Will save raised by +1 each
-AC +1 better (Armor Skin)
-Starting STR & CHA are at 12 - no need to put points into them during the build.
-Wpn Spec and Epic Wpn Spec
-Knockdown/ Improved Knockdown/. Blind Fight
-Lingering Song

Some suggestions for you really.

nice suggestions, and I think I'll take them. Thanks for replying, I like the fact that it doesnt have any odd number stats now.

Race: Half-Elf
Alingment: any non-lawful

Playable 1-40 pvm, untested pvp

Starting:
STR: 12
DEX: 16 (32)
CON: 14 (16)
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 12

01: Fighter(1): Luck of Heros, Weapon Focus: Longbow
02: Fighter(2): Point Blank Shot
03: Fighter(3): Toughness
04: Fighter(4): DEX+1, Weapon Specialization: Longbow, (DEX=17)
05: Fighter(5)
06: Fighter(6): Called Shot, Rapid Shot
07: Fighter(7)
08: Fighter(8): DEX+1, Knockdown, (DEX=18)
09: Bard(1): Lingering Song
10: Arcane Archer(1)
11: Arcane Archer(2)
12: Arcane Archer(3): DEX+1, Improved Critical: Longbow, (DEX=19)
13: Arcane Archer(4)
14: Arcane Archer(5)
15: Arcane Archer(6): Blind Fight
16: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Arcane Archer(8)
18: Arcane Archer(9): Improved Knockdown
19: Arcane Archer(10)
20: Fighter(9): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Arcane Archer(11): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=22)
22: Bard(2)
23: Arcane Archer(12)
24: Arcane Archer(13): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=24)
25: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
26: Arcane Archer(15)
27: Fighter(10): Great Dexterity III, Epic Weapon Specialization: Longbow, (DEX=25)
28: Arcane Archer(16): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
29: Arcane Archer(17)
30: Arcane Archer(18): Great Dexterity IV, Epic Prowess, (DEX=27)
31: Arcane Archer(19)
32: Arcane Archer(20): DEX+1, (DEX=28)
33: Arcane Archer(21): Great Dexterity V, (DEX=29)
34: Arcane Archer(22): Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=30)
35: Arcane Archer(23)
36: Arcane Archer(24): DEX+1, Great Dexterity VII, (DEX=32)
37: Arcane Archer(25)
38: Arcane Archer(26): Great CON I, (CON=15)
39: Arcane Archer(27): Armor Skin* (could be replaced with Epic Will)
40: Bard(3): CON+1, (CON=16)

End:
Str: 12
Dex:32
Con:16
Wis:8
Int:14
Char:12

Hitpoints: 494
Skillpoints: 232
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 27/18/34
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +9, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 29
AB (max, naked): 31 (melee), 58 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 31/34

Skills:
Discipline 43(44)
Lore 12(17)
Perform 8(9)
Spellcraft 43(45)
Taunt 43(44)
Tumble 40(51)
UMD 43(44)

Fixed starting/ending abilities - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 05/06/06 22:59

Quote:
Starting:
STR: 12
DEX: 14 (32)
CON: 16
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 12

I know that you really want the extra CON, but might I suggest switching 2 DEX ability upgrades with 2 CON, and then starting with 16 in Dex and 14 in Con. It will make the earlier levels a little easier, being an archer. But that is a minor point. really makes little difference. otherwise a solid AA.

-c I was thinking the same thing christian, but it seems you noticed that before I could edit

. Well, no longer able to edit, i'll have to put it here

Str: 12
Dex: 16 (32)
Con:14 (16)
Wis: 8
int: 14
Char: 12

All you have to do to get this is change the last great Dex feat to Great Con I, and at lvl 40 increase Con by one instead of dex. This should increase playability, without harming the build. I suppose also you can keep the build feats the same, and leave con at 14, and then have 34 dex if you wanted the +1 ab/ac at the cost of some HP. Knockdown and Improved Knockdown? what for? ranged can't use that. You could actually take Bard at level 18 instead of 22 and get Extra Music, no problem with BAB, the skills would be lower for higher levels, but it could work... the other feat, eh... Iron Will? your right, ranged can't use that. I am testing the redone version of the build right now for a second time, and just noticed that also, so, replace IKD and KD with....Iron will. . . . and then replace then next one with whatever fits your style the best i guess. Sorry I didnt catch that.

Quote: Posted 05/06/06 18:49:44 (GMT) -- ArcticDwarf900

your right, ranged can't use that. I am testing the redone version of the build right now for a second time, and just noticed that also, so, replace IKD and KD with....Iron will. . . . and then replace then next one with whatever fits your style the best i guess. Sorry I didnt catch that.

might i recommend weapon finesse, so that you can use a shield and a light weapon of your choice (quite a few with the martial weapons - hammer, handaxe, mace, dagger, rapier, sickle, shortsword). that should help keep you safe if the enemies break the front line or you have to engage in melee. although with pbs and AA damage, its probably not that necessary. but it would give a greater defensive ability with a goodd shield. and it takes nothing else away from the build.

-c Apologies for KD/ IKD suggestion... had totally forgotten it wouldn't work on ranged!