The Arbalest of Acheron

Classes:Cleric32/BlackguardG3/Monk5
Race: Human
Alignment: Lawful/Evil
Playable: 1-40, PvM, Low to Mid Magic

Attributes
Str14
Int10
Wis16 (28)
Dex8
Con10
Chr16 (22)

Level Guide
1 Cleric1, Power Attack, Divine Might, Domains: War & Trickery
2 Cleric2
3 Cleric3, Point Blank Shot
4 Cleric4, Wis17
5 Cleric5
6 Cleric6, Zen Archery
7 Monk1
8 Cleric7, Wis18
9 Cleric8, Empower Spell
10 Blackguard1
11 Blackguard2
12 Cleric9, Rapid Reload Wis19
13 Cleric10
14 Cleric11
15 Cleric12, WF: Heavy Crossbow
16 Cleric13, Wis20
17 Monk2
18 Cleric14, Improved Critical: Heavy Crossbow
19 Cleric15
20 Cleric16, Chr17
21 Cleric17, EWF: Heavy Crossbow
22 Monk3
23 Cleric18
24 Cleric19, Epic Prowess, Chr18
25 Cleric20
26 Cleric21
27 Monk4, Great Chr I
28 Cleric22, Chr20
29 Cleric23, Great Wis I
30 Cleric24, Great Chr II
31 Cleric25
32 Cleric26, Great Wis II, Wis23
33 Cleric27, Great Chr III
34 Cleric28
35 Cleric29, Great Wis IV
36 Cleric30, Great Wis V, Wis26
37 Monk5
38 BG3
39, Cleric31, Great Wis VI
40 Cleric32, Armor Skin, Wis28

Combat Vitals
Mundane Crossbow AB: 38/33/28 (17-20/x2)
Divine Power AB: 43/38/33/43
Buffed AB: 63/58/53/63

Naked AC: 29
Mundane Plate AC: 27
Fully Buffed with +5 Gear: 62

Hit Points: 336

Saving Throws
Fort: 32 (38) (46)
Will: 38 (44) (52)
Reflex: 23 (29) (37)

Skills: 182
Concentration: 43
Tumble: 40
Taunt: 38 (44)
Spellcraft: 39 (40)
Heal: 6 (15)
Hide: 5
Lore: 4 (5)
Persuade: 1
Open Lock: 1
Search: 2

Special Abilities:
Improved Invisibility
Cats Grace
Aura of Vitality
Evasion
High Damage Output from Ranged Position
Battle Mastery
Divine Trickery
Undispellable Buffs
High AC potential

Ballista Mode (Damage sources):
Bolt: 1d10
Divine Favor: +5
Aid: +1
Divine Might: 6-12
Battletide: +2
Prayer: +1
Total: 16- 31/ 32-62 on critical, notwithstanding enchanted/elemental bolts

Disadvantages
Low Hit Points
A bit Feat Starved

This is my first 1.69 offering, though it really isn’t taking advantage of much. Really nothing in the guild like this, and only one build using these classes ( Avado’s Evil Spell Smasher (Monk 32 / Cleric 1 / BG 7) , which is itself strange since these 3 classes have a bit of synergy together.

This fellow is little more than a typical melee caster cleric, but majors heavily in the crossbow. Admittedly not the best ranged weapon, it does have the best crit range of those in the game. The challenge in making a crossbow specialist is to not only have a good AB, but to be able to do something with that AB once you get it. I’ve built this a number of ways, and could never settle on any one because they all seemed to lack something. I had fun toying with a Dev Critting crossbow, but the problem with that is that in going for Dev Crit, the AB tends to suffer. A Halfling had some success in going the strength and dex path and was able to grab both Dev Crit and Epic Dodge, but it was a late bloomer. What’s nice about this build is that it’s a nice steady increase of power from start to finish, and has a number of different ways to confront an opponent.

While not a powerful cleric, his 32 levels are enough to garner respect, and he enjoys the flexibility of using melee weapons or the xbow, or in using heavy armors or no armors. He has a variety of tricks in his arsenal and I found the Domains of War and Trickery slightly edged out the domains of Strength and Travel. War gives him a steady Cats Grace which he can Empower for added AC, as well as a decent use of Battle Mastery, and Trickery grants the ever useful Improved Invisibiility.

He can deliver a variety of damage types to opponents, to include Divine and Magical, and can do so accurately from long range. Divine Power allows him to make his 4th attack at Full BAB, so he can nail targets pretty consistenly from downrange. Unlike an Arcane Archer, this projectilist could have issues with some DR since he will be limited, to some extent, on the quality of bolts available in your environment.

Divine Shield was the original feat choice for Level 3, but I felt that Point Blank Shot server a better purpose in this build and that his AC would take care of itself. One can still take that and drop one of those feats, but it’s a tough call.

Note: As a variation for those who have compatibility issues with Monk and the Trickery Domain, one could drop Monk altogether and pick up Fighter for added weapon feats and damage. Cleric29/BG3/Ftr8 had a higher damage output, but lacked a bit on Defense and AC.


Corrected starting STR/INT - Kail Pendragon
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 06/04/08 17:47

The lack of Spellfocus is what I put my finger on first. Not that it is necessary, or in the build per sé, jit's just all that wisdom.

Isn't X-bow only 1 APR? 2 with Rapid Reload. Divine power get's another one IF it would otherwise grant another attack. Finally Haste to get a 4th attack. Or is this changed in 1.69?
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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 05/29/08 11:47 (GMT) -- Grimnir77

The lack of Spellfocus is what I put my finger on first. Not that it is necessary, or in the build per sé, jit's just all that wisdom.

Isn't X-bow only 1 APR? 2 with Rapid Reload. Divine power get's another one IF it would otherwise grant another attack. Finally Haste to get a 4th attack. Or is this changed in 1.69?
Rapid Reload will be fixed to work properly in 1.69.

Nice build Dwarflord. Pity for those low HPs.
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They can't stop us
Let them try
For Heavy Metal
We will die Divine might at level 1, it's so evil

It is pretty good, I like the name too.
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Quote: Posted 12/19/06 19:54 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

Thax the Shadow Dragon sez: MONKS USE KAMAS. Just ask him.

Edited By Thaxll'ssyllia on 05/29/08 21:05

Quote: Posted 05/29/08 21:04 (GMT) -- Thaxll'ssyllia

Divine might at level 1, it's so evil

It is pretty good, I like the name too.

Thanks, Thax, and inadvertently you made me realize a mistake. In the version I played with, I started with a 14 Strength and 10 Int, and afterwards thought, "I really don't need all that strength and I'd rather have more skill points." However, I now realize there was a reason why I had a 14 Strength, and that was because of the Power Attack prereq. The way I have it above isn't possible.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! Fixed. I need the new skill spread though.
_________________
They can't stop us
Let them try
For Heavy Metal
We will die