This is a bit of a one trick pony, but it’s a good trick. Having become addicted to divine damage, I wanted to create a character who could deliver the most amount of divine damage not only consistently, but to be able to do so better than anyone else. I also wanted to avoid icky xp penalties and alignment switches. As a result, I’ve cooked up this combo which hasn’t been done in the guild except once, and that was a few weeks ago by Cinnabar Din, the Eldritch Archer. That was a more balanced archer that minored in magocracy. This cannon, however, just does one thing, and that’s blowing things up with a divine bow. With a capped charisma score, one can get up to 20 Divine uses per rest cycle that will land 17 points of Divine damage bolstered by +15 Enchant Arrow. Toss some Mighty properties and elemental arrows and some party buffs, and the howitzer will be landing crits in the neighborhood of 100-150.
Disadvanatges Low Hit Points One-trick Pony No Blindfighting (but even if 50% of his shots miss, the bad guy is still in trouble) Low AC (but can be remedied by turning on Divine Shield)
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Fixed level up guide - Kail Pendragon _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 03/01/09 16:41
I can't free myself from the feeling that this should be yet another needleslinger that would benefit from being HalfBreed. You'd lose the Elfs keen senses and a whole point of AB and AC. You'd gain 40 hitpoints and the possibility to use Bard for 3 more AC and the possibility for UMD, or sorcerer for a not insignificant number of true strikes when the baddy-two-shoes feels he is well protected with shiny new armour of High-AC-anti-Elf plate. Then you scream True Strike, Divine Might, Rapid shot and quickly turns baddy-two-shoes into a Divinely Burning Porcupine. That would be lovely, juuuuuust lovely.
Actually changing race might also let you lower INT to 10 to get STR to 14. Or even leave CON at 10 and take 12 INT and 14STR to get the extra skillpoints needed for UMD.
Cool build. Think I'll have to try using this, or a variant. Actually, I think you're due for good mug of mead in the halls of Vikings. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
Oh, you're right, of course that a half-elf would provide for a more balanced character, but I wasn't going for balance. I knew that I could squeeze one more AB out of an elf than I could the half-elf (but I did try that way first, as it made the most sense). Additionally, a couple of Paladin/Bard combos have already been done, and I just don't care for the alignment switching. Seems tacky. This seemed to be the most elegant solution in which one can get the highest AB with a bow to insure that every hit was a divine hit. Admittedly I was a bit narrow-minded, for I usually opt for the balanced solo-artist characters, but I was going for shock value. I think a character like this would excel in a team, but because he can lay the holy smackdown with his yew, there's a soloability about him. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Nice to see the wheels are still turning, Grizz (I may have a thing or two in the works as well...). Not much to say about this one: you've accomplished exactly what you wanted to with this, and I think it looks good. This guy would certainly lay out the hurtin' in a party situation and I imagine he'd have a thing or two to say in a solo scenario as well.
I edited your text, as you had Sorcerer in your class listing. _________________ It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
Yeah, forgot about the alignment for a weak second there, sorry. But I still feel the loss of one AB by going Sorcerer and Half-Elf might be worth it. Also, this is a guy that is easily soloable, although Called Shot: leg would make it more so.
You can also take the 20% xp-penalty and go Elf sorcerer. Keeps the AB, gets the STR, just slows down levelling where one feels it's worth the trouble.
Not really much to do about the feats to grab Called shot though, and that's a pity.
I hate to break it to you, Mr.Grizzled, but this might just be a decent PvP build too. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
Quote: Posted 04/28/08 16:19 (GMT) -- Grimnir77
Not really much to do about the feats to grab Called shot though, and that's a pity.
Yes, I think a more balanced approach would be to go the half-elf version, throw Sorcerer in there, start with a 14 Wisdom and take Paladin to 15.... something like Paladin16/Sorc1/AA23. I would drop 2 Great Charisma feats for for Called Shot and Extra Turning. Slightly lower Charisma, loss of about 3AB, but I'd get net gain of two DM uses, and would also have a nice little pack of maxed Divine Favors that we could slap on the bow attack. I believe the Divine Favor does Magical Damage, which would make for a nice feathered cocktail of damage intoxication. Hmmm.... that's nearly a completely different build. I should have a look at that.
Quote: I hate to break it to you, Mr.Grizzled, but this might just be a decent PvP build too.
While he's got a big gun, he's soft and squishy in the middle. I think he could rip certain character types a new one, but I don't think he could take a hit, either melee or otherwise. A maximized IGMS would probably leave him in ashes. However, at least he can scroll cast and thereby throw up some Spell Mantles or Summons to help soak up the hits.
I like the build name. I like the high CHA for the Paladin abilities and I like the high AB from the many AA levels. I like this build. Good job.
I have been thinking for awhile know about making an Elven Paladin build and havent been able to come up with anything I could stick with, this gives me something to go by.
Nice build Dwarflord! A round of ale on me to celebrate the build. A welcome addition to any party and the enhanced playability versions look good too.
BTW, DF does magical dmg indeed and of a special kind which is not stopped by any form of magic DR. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Why the second Wiz level? Why not just another pally? More HP, longer duration for buffs, a(nother) second level spell... What does that second wiz level get ya? Why not pal10/wiz1/AA29? I don't see any other difference it makes.
Quote: Posted 08/27/08 05:07 (GMT) -- onion eater
Why the second Wiz level? Why not just another pally? More HP, longer duration for buffs, a(nother) second level spell... What does that second wiz level get ya? Why not pal10/wiz1/AA29? I don't see any other difference it makes.
Onion, after all these years, and you still doubt me? Rather than give you the answer, I'll invite you to look again at the starting stats. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
I don't see the correlation with the starting stats, Grizz. If you dropped that 2nd WIZ level at level 20 and slipped in another Pally level instead, as Onion's suggesting, I don't see how the stats are affected or how they affect the build... _________________ It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
Me thinks he is refering to taking 2 wiz to get full lv 2 spells! LOL jk
Griz, this build may actually give me the motivation to build an archer. It is very elegant. Thanks for putting this one up. _________________
Quote: Posted 08/27/08 15:56 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din
I don't see the correlation with the starting stats, Grizz. If you dropped that 2nd WIZ level at level 20 and slipped in another Pally level instead, as Onion's suggesting, I don't see how the stats are affected or how they affect the build...
The build only has an 8 Wisdom. There's no incentive to take further Paladin levels. One can take one more, but it really doesn't amount to much. There's no smiting involved, no Paladin spells, he's just a big ole divine blunderbuss. The only reason 8 are taken in pre-epic is that one can't take moer than 10 AA. So, no AB is lost with the 2nd Wizard level, and it gives a Will Save bump while the 9th Pally level didn't really give much other then 1-6 more hitpoints. If you’re looking for something like this, except with the Pally spells, Click here. It was a spin-off of this in which it did a little less damage and lower AB, but got the full array of Pally spells. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Um,.. wiz two does give you +1 will,high save for a wiz on a level divisible by two, but pally 9 gives you +1 will and +1 reflex.. low saves for pally on a level divisible by three.. I thought you wanted another level 1 spell with that level..
Quote: Posted 08/27/08 17:38 (GMT) -- The Sneaky Sneaker
Um,.. wiz two does give you +1 will,high save for a wiz on a level divisible by two, but pally 9 gives you +1 will and +1 reflex.. low saves for pally on a level divisible by three.. I thought you wanted another level 1 spell with that level..
Maybe I did, but I can't remember anymore. Anyway, the differences are quite small and won't really change much. Go with Paladin and get 1-6 more HP and +1 reflex, go with Wiz and get 1 more 1st level spell (Truestrike? Actually, did they just change Truestrike to be Somantic now?). Regardless, Wizard levels and Paladin spells are irrelevant in this kind of build. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Agreed.
Doh! So much for a longer spell duration...
Edit: Oh, and, psst... in the variant, there's no Grt Cha I. Not that it matters, and it's definitely not worth resurectin' the poor thing, but methinks it only takes three Grt Cha, that is, until it becomes an elven wizard, and looses Craft Wand, but, just sayin', there seems a wee typo in there.
Edited By onion eater on 08/28/08 09:52
If interested in spellcraft, that second wizard level could be a skill dump.
On the subject of skills, do you use taunt a lot with archers? The bard archers can take taunt too, but do you get to taunting range much?
The build needs to be redone -
That does not give enough BaB to qualify for AA - one needs 6, and this build only has 5...
*sighs*
Who let this dwarflord guy into the guild?
Edited By galelabriel on 12/09/08 16:57
I wonder how long it will take for him to notice?
Hehe... _________________ A Tangled Web - Upcoming PW with PRC+CEP
Quote: Posted 12/09/08 22:45 (GMT) -- WebShaman
I wonder how long it will take for him to notice?
Hehe...
Approximately 4 months?
I had so many different versions that I may have copied and pasted incorrectly at some point. There are enough Pally levels that it's not a build-breaker, but just merely a level shift that can be reflected down the line through pre-epic. It won't change feat choices or the end pre-epic result.
On the subject of skills, do you use taunt a lot with archers? The bard archers can take taunt too, but do you get to taunting range much?
Sometimes, depends on the circumstance and the bad guy. I certainly have done things like Taunt the bad guy while he was engaged with someone else, and then run back 30 feet and let loose the fireworks. I've also thrown some well-timed Taunts while they were doing something non-combat related, like quaffing potions or buffing, etc. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Lemme know your preferred way to achieve the result and I'll edit it in. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Quote: Posted 12/09/08 15:46 (GMT) -- WebShaman
That does not give enough BaB to qualify for AA - one needs 6, and this build only has 5...
Build fixed. Thanks Kail and Web. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
so dwarflord can you post this Paladin16/Sorc1/AA23 build? i'd very much like to see it.
oh and also where is the 2nd wiz level suposed to go because there is currently 1 wiz level and 10 pally levels...
Quote: Posted 03/01/09 02:25 (GMT) -- Merek46
oh and also where is the 2nd wiz level suposed to go because there is currently 1 wiz level and 10 pally levels...
Looks like when he had to re-work the build he decided to go Paladin 10/Wizard 1/Arcane Archer 29. The last Paladin level at the end for a big skill dump in Taunt.
Quote: Posted 03/01/09 00:46 (GMT) -- Merek46
so dwarflord can you post this Paladin16/Sorc1/AA23 build? i'd very much like to see it.
Yeah, forgot about the alignment for a weak second there, sorry. But I still feel the loss of one AB by going Sorcerer and Half-Elf might be worth it. Also, this is a guy that is easily soloable, although Called Shot: leg would make it more so.
