Deepwood Sniper Bard

[spifflove]

Elf Ranger6/bard14

Str: 16 + level ups
Dex:18
Con: 12
Int: 08
Wis: 08
Char: 14

Feats:
1: point blank shot
3: weapon focus ranged
6: weapon focus pierce
9: PA
12: ic ranged
15: precise shot
18: improved precise shot

Auto granted: rapid shot; multishot

Enhancements: deepwoodsniper I, warchanter I

Thoughts?
Flames?

[oberon131313]

personally I went with arcane archer (it's an elf as well for when they add in arcane archer 2 and 3). I like deepwood sniper, but it's just odd to wait on the timer for the ability for me. Plus the depth that arcane archer could be really is neat. "hang on a second guys, making some more ice arrows."

[spifflove]

personally I went with arcane archer (it's an elf as well for when they add in arcane archer 2 and 3). I like deepwood sniper, but it's just odd to wait on the timer for the ability for me. Plus the depth that arcane archer could be really is neat. "hang on a second guys, making some more ice arrows."

As an elf Arcane archer you would not need any ranger levels, just heavy repeater, rapid reload, point blank shot, wf ranged, wf pierce, PA, mt. I wish they would change warchanter to allow wf ranged as prereq.

Yes arcane archer would work on this build but I would probably stop at 2 ranger levels.

[oberon131313]

As an elf Arcane archer you would not need any ranger levels, just heavy repeater, rapid reload, point blank shot, wf ranged, wf pierce, PA.

I went ranger to 11 so that I could get all the ranged bonus feats as well as bow strength. As of right now, the character is 8 ranger, 1 bard. Once I hit 10 ranger I'm taking the rest of my bard levels to get warchanter, then once the cap raises I'll go the last level of ranger and get precise shot and improved precise shot for free.

[spifflove]

I went ranger to 11 so that I could get all the ranged bonus feats as well as bow strength. As of right now, the character is 8 ranger, 1 bard. Once I hit 10 ranger I'm taking the rest of my bard levels to get warchanter, then once the cap raises I'll go the last level of ranger and get precise shot and improved precise shot for free.

I think the only thing you are really giving up important to a warchanter is greater heroism. Good hope mitigates this and is cheaper. They really need a mass greater hero spell.

Since I don't know if any deepwood sniper II I dont need such a deep multiclass alothough If that changes the build becomes gimp. [well, could be respect to a tempest I]

[oberon131313]

I think the only thing you are really giving up important to a warchanter is greater heroism. Good hope mitigates this and is cheaper. They really need a mass greater hero spell.

Since I don't know if any deepwood sniper II I dont need such a deep multiclass alothough If that changes the build becomes gimp. [well, could be respect to a tempest I]

yeah, but that build is also heavy on the UMD, so I'd just scroll GH anyways. The "not knowing if tier II would make it a gimp" is why I went with Elf, so I could futureproof the build a bit.

Honestly the only thing that I feel I'm losing out on is maxed songs (which my guild will give me hell about) but to me it's worth the fun of the build.

[baddax]

This character adds new meaining to this: http://vodpod.com/watch/876525-whistle-while-you-work-google-video :D

[spifflove]

I posted this on the bard forums to see if there were any opinions on level 14 as a break point for bard warchanter.

Edit: looks like this has been answered on another post nearby:

I see Bard 12/Rogue 2 as the base for the evasion-bard. You get everything that is most important to the class at that point, although Greater Heroism is scroll-only use. With mod 9 coming you should already be considering up to 20th level rather than 16th.

Some people consider the Bard 15th AC song to be very important and they may be right.
Bard 14 is Inspire Courage +3, which becomes +4 at Bard 20. Bard 16 is the last level of spells. You get 2 picks which is enough.

The Bard is essentially complete at 16th, unless Turbine adds something cool for Warchanter or Spell-Singer III at 17th.

[Lifespawn]

i'd personally go arcane archer 18 bard 2 ranger to make sure you can get warchanter 3

[Uska]

your really nerfing your ranged ability by not being pure ranger it shouldnt be that way but it is, also hurting your bardic ability as well, but I do think it might be fun to play.

[Uska]

I posted this on the bard forums to see if there were any opinions on level 14 as a break point for bard warchanter.

Edit: looks like this has been answered on another post nearby:

I see Bard 12/Rogue 2 as the base for the evasion-bard. You get everything that is most important to the class at that point, although Greater Heroism is scroll-only use. With mod 9 coming you should already be considering up to 20th level rather than 16th.

Some people consider the Bard 15th AC song to be very important and they may be right.
Bard 14 is Inspire Courage +3, which becomes +4 at Bard 20. Bard 16 is the last level of spells. You get 2 picks which is enough.

The Bard is essentially complete at 16th, unless Turbine adds something cool for Warchanter or Spell-Singer III at 17th.



Well the +2 cha and + dc for capstone is pretty sweet.

[baddax]

Not trying to flame but I dont really see the point. Could this build not be accomplished as a pure bard or mostly pure bard? If so what are you gaining from 6 ranger DWS I enhancements that will be benificial to you in solo or in group play that could not be achieved via a much lower splash ie 18 and 1 ranger (Bow Strength) and 1 fighter (weapon focus ranged).1. Especially as an elf.

IMO you are gimping your main class (bard) by splasing so heavily into Ranger for feats that you can get Without trading off Very top end Spells and abilities as a bard.

The only thing i see you getting is Rams might which is a poor tradeoff IMO. However i could be missing something.

[Lifespawn]

well 6 ranger would get rams might and jump for spells along with bowstr rapidshot manyshot twf and imp twf but i agree 6 ranger isn't worth it i think 2 is the way to go for bowstr and rapidshot for free

[spifflove]

Not trying to flame but I dont really see the point. Could this build not be accomplished as a pure bard or mostly pure bard? If so what are you gaining from 6 ranger DWS I enhancements that will be benificial to you in solo or in group play that could not be achieved via a much lower splash ie 18 and 1 ranger (Bow Strength) and 1 fighter (weapon focus ranged).1. Especially as an elf.

IMO you are gimping your main class (bard) by splasing so heavily into Ranger for feats that you can get Without trading off Very top end Spells and abilities as a bard.

The only thing i see you getting is Rams might which is a poor tradeoff IMO. However i could be missing something.

The missing element is that rangers dont buff the rest of the party (barkskin excepted) and a pure elf bard would not have any way to afford arcane archer. If I were to play a pure bard it would be a spellsinger with no room for ranged feats (possibly enough for a repeater but then human would be the choice). However I have a spellsinger of sorts (level 15 sorcerer/1 bard).

[spifflove]

well 6 ranger would get rams might and jump for spells along with bowstr rapidshot manyshot twf and imp twf but i agree 6 ranger isn't worth it i think 2 is the way to go for bowstr and rapidshot for free

Only problem is feats. Unfortunately wf ranged does not count as a warchanter prereq. It is really unfortunate and unfair and a further unwritten gimp to ranged bard builds.

That being said. I think 16 is a better breakpoint for bard than 14. 18 would future proof things. However not having precision (except on certain bows that come with the feat) would be heartbreaking. 2 fighter is an option.

[Lifespawn]

extend mt wf ranged ic ranged ic pierce pa pbs

[spifflove]

extend mt wf ranged ic ranged ic pierce pa pbs
what about manyshot? Can't a bard qualify for AA withouth mt?

[Lifespawn]

yesbard music does qualify i had forgotten that the real thing holding the build down is that wf ranged doesn't count for warchanter maybe try virtuoso and aa saves you wf something and pa and i'd pick up repeater and rapid reload to be all range.

manyshot comes free from ranger 6 depending on which build your talking about the 14/6 or the 18/2

so 18/2 has to take manyshot but could drop a ranger lvl if going repeater and take a ftr lvl for a feat or some other mix.

[spifflove]

Elf Ranger2/bard18

Str: 16 + level ups
Dex:18
Con: 12
Int: 08
Wis: 08
Char: 14

Feats:
1: point blank shot
3: weapon focus ranged
6: weapon focus pierce
9: PA
12: ic ranged
15: Multishot
18: Extend

Auto granted: rapid shot

Enhancements: Arcane archer and Warchanter as required

Weaknesses: no precision

[spifflove]

Elf Rogue 2/bard18

Str: 12 +1 tome
Dex:18 + level ups
Con: 12
Int: 14
Wis: 08
Char: 14

Feats:
1: rapid reload
3: Exotic Heavy repeater
6: point blank shot
9: weapon focus ranged
12: weapon focus pierce
15: PA
18: ic ranged


Enhancements: Warchanter and Arcane Archer as required.

Weaknesses: No melee, no precision
Strengths: All around support and utility bot, survivable