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Magness · 12-19-2002, 04:25 PM

For the absolutely purest sniper, probably a pure fighter, simply to get the most feats.

However, perhaps the better, more flexible version might be a Ranger X/Fighter 4.
Taking the "fighter 4" will let you get 3 points in bow and a few extra feats, while taking the rest of your levels in Ranger will let you take lots of stealthy skills.

Another sniper built is the ranger/rogue. You can do the R/R at 50/50 or even as low (in rogue) as rogue 6/ranger X. Some say that you can even take fewer rogue levels. Regardless, a near 50/50 ranger/rogue is a really potent character. It's a rogue with more combat skills without having to sacrifice skills. The trick is to take the open locks & disable device skills when you take a rogue level and to take the stealthy skills when you take a ranger level. It also helps to have a 14 INT to get a good number of skill points at each level. Don't forget Wildnerness Lore and Search.

In my last party (of 6), I had both a Ranger X/Ftr 4 and a ranger/rogue. These 2 formed a nasty scouting and stealth assault team.

Sniper Char Builds:

First off, start with a max'd out DEX. After that, it depends on race and class selection and personal choice. It also depends on just how much melee combat you expect to be in.

Ranger/Rogue:
STR: as much as you can take with the remaining points
Max DEX,
CON: moderate: 14 or 16
INT 14 for lots of skill points
WIS: try to keep it at 10
CHA: who cares

pure Ranger or Ranger X/Fighter 4
STR: as much as you can take with the remaining points; if you're going to use weapon finesse/dual wield, a slightly lower STR can work; if you're going with heavier weapons, you may want a slighter higher STR.
DEX: maxed out
CON: at least 14 or 16
INT: 12 is probably enough to get enough skill points per level
WIS: depends on how much you care about ranger spell casting. Try to have at least 10, just for the average Will saving roll.
CHA: who cares

pure Fighter:
Similar to Ranger, except that the need for INT and WIS is lower.

Skills:
Depends on the build. If you try a ranger or rogue MC, the stealth skills (Hide and Moce Silently) are good skills for a sniper.

Feats:
(In no particular order)
3 points in Bow (if possible), 2 otherwise
Rapid Shot!!!
Dash (if you really are a sniper, you want to be able to be able to run and shoot, run and shoot, etc.)

IMHO, the choice of feats beyond this are not terribly relevant towards building an archer. I'm not saying that there are not any other good feats. Just that feat points in Bow, rapid shot, and Dash are IMHO the most useful Sniper feats.

Choice of melee weapon? Whatever you want. Arguably, as an archer, you'll have a very high DEX and a low to moderate STR (and possibly with at least 1 level of Ranger) weapon finesse and dual-wielding is a good option. In my last party, my ranger/rogue's melee weapons were a pair of short swords, while my ranger X/fighter 4 prefered a polearm (usually a spear).

Precise Shot? I'm not impressed with this feat. If I'm forced (or choose to go) into melee, I just switch to a melee weapon.

Armor:
If you're going with a stealthy, high DEX archer, you're probably going to want light armor. If you're going with a pure fighter type of Archer, heavy armor may work for you.

12-19-2002, 04:25 PM	#3
Magness Quintesson Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Manchester, NH, USA Posts: 1,025	For the absolutely purest sniper, probably a pure fighter, simply to get the most feats. However, perhaps the better, more flexible version might be a Ranger X/Fighter 4. Taking the "fighter 4" will let you get 3 points in bow and a few extra feats, while taking the rest of your levels in Ranger will let you take lots of stealthy skills. Another sniper built is the ranger/rogue. You can do the R/R at 50/50 or even as low (in rogue) as rogue 6/ranger X. Some say that you can even take fewer rogue levels. Regardless, a near 50/50 ranger/rogue is a really potent character. It's a rogue with more combat skills without having to sacrifice skills. The trick is to take the open locks & disable device skills when you take a rogue level and to take the stealthy skills when you take a ranger level. It also helps to have a 14 INT to get a good number of skill points at each level. Don't forget Wildnerness Lore and Search. In my last party (of 6), I had both a Ranger X/Ftr 4 and a ranger/rogue. These 2 formed a nasty scouting and stealth assault team. Sniper Char Builds: First off, start with a max'd out DEX. After that, it depends on race and class selection and personal choice. It also depends on just how much melee combat you expect to be in. Ranger/Rogue: STR: as much as you can take with the remaining points Max DEX, CON: moderate: 14 or 16 INT 14 for lots of skill points WIS: try to keep it at 10 CHA: who cares pure Ranger or Ranger X/Fighter 4 STR: as much as you can take with the remaining points; if you're going to use weapon finesse/dual wield, a slightly lower STR can work; if you're going with heavier weapons, you may want a slighter higher STR. DEX: maxed out CON: at least 14 or 16 INT: 12 is probably enough to get enough skill points per level WIS: depends on how much you care about ranger spell casting. Try to have at least 10, just for the average Will saving roll. CHA: who cares pure Fighter: Similar to Ranger, except that the need for INT and WIS is lower. Skills: Depends on the build. If you try a ranger or rogue MC, the stealth skills (Hide and Moce Silently) are good skills for a sniper. Feats: (In no particular order) 3 points in Bow (if possible), 2 otherwise Rapid Shot!!! Dash (if you really are a sniper, you want to be able to be able to run and shoot, run and shoot, etc.) IMHO, the choice of feats beyond this are not terribly relevant towards building an archer. I'm not saying that there are not any other good feats. Just that feat points in Bow, rapid shot, and Dash are IMHO the most useful Sniper feats. Choice of melee weapon? Whatever you want. Arguably, as an archer, you'll have a very high DEX and a low to moderate STR (and possibly with at least 1 level of Ranger) weapon finesse and dual-wielding is a good option. In my last party, my ranger/rogue's melee weapons were a pair of short swords, while my ranger X/fighter 4 prefered a polearm (usually a spear). Precise Shot? I'm not impressed with this feat. If I'm forced (or choose to go) into melee, I just switch to a melee weapon. Armor: If you're going with a stealthy, high DEX archer, you're probably going to want light armor. If you're going with a pure fighter type of Archer, heavy armor may work for you.