PvM Arcane Archer Bard 6 / RDD 10 / AA 24

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Drow Arrow
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Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:19 am

PvM Arcane Archer Bard 6 / RDD 10 / AA 24

Post by Drow Arrow »

so this is my alternative Arcane Archer build which i designed to have more utility than the build i'm currently using which you can find here if you'd like to look at it.

this build however goes as follows:

Bard(6), Red Dragon Disciple(10), Arcane Archer(24), Elf

STR: 14 (26)
DEX: 18 (28)
CON: 8 (10)
WIS: 8
INT: 14 (16)
CHA: 14 (16)

Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Keen Sense, Low-light Vision, Skill Affinity: Listen, Skill Affinity: Search, Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Bard(1): Point Blank Shot
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Focus: Longbow
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=15)
05: Bard(5)
06: Red Dragon Disciple(1): Rapid Shot
07: Red Dragon Disciple(2): (STR=17)
08: Red Dragon Disciple(3): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
09: Red Dragon Disciple(4): Power Attack, (STR=19)
10: Arcane Archer(1)
11: Arcane Archer(2)
12: Red Dragon Disciple(5): DEX+1, Improved Critical: Longbow, (DEX=20)
13: Red Dragon Disciple(6)
14: Red Dragon Disciple(7): (CON=10)
15: Red Dragon Disciple(8): Cleave
16: Arcane Archer(3): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
17: Arcane Archer(4)
18: Arcane Archer(5): Great Cleave
19: Arcane Archer(6)
20: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=22)
21: Arcane Archer(8): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Red Dragon Disciple(9): (INT=16)
23: Red Dragon Disciple(10): {Darkvision}, (STR=23), (CHA=16)
24: Arcane Archer(9): DEX+1, Great Strength I, (STR=24), (DEX=23)
25: Arcane Archer(10)
26: Arcane Archer(11)
27: Arcane Archer(12): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=24)
28: Arcane Archer(13): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
29: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Prowess
30: Arcane Archer(15): Great Fortitude
31: Arcane Archer(16)
32: Arcane Archer(17): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
33: Arcane Archer(18): Great Strength II, Overwhelming Critical: Longbow, (STR=25)
34: Arcane Archer(19)
35: Arcane Archer(20)
36: Arcane Archer(21): DEX+1, Great Strength III, (STR=26), (DEX=27)
37: Arcane Archer(22): Devastating Critical: Longbow
38: Arcane Archer(23)
39: Bard(6): Curse Song
40: Arcane Archer(24): DEX+1, (DEX=28)

Hitpoints: 312
Skillpoints: 256
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 24/21/30
Saving Throw bonuses: Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 35 (melee), 51 (ranged)

Spell Casting: Bard(2)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 42(42), Discipline 42(50), Lore 8(17), Perform 9(12), Spot 43(44), Tumble 41(50), UMD 42(45), remaining skillpoints 29
Last edited by Drow Arrow on Wed Apr 27, 2022 6:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
Active Characters:
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Dyndrilliac
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Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:32 pm

Re: PvM Arcane Archer Bard 11 / RDD 10 / AA 19

Post by Dyndrilliac »

Not sure how you're taking two feats at Bard 6? Can only take one, Rapid Shot or Skill Focus (Spot), not both.

Your build is similar to one I'm currently playing, but I have fewer Bard levels and more AA levels. I also break up the RDD levels so he gets all 4 of his attacks per round before Rapid Shot and Haste just like all the other full pure martial classes, so not gimped by Bard's 3/4 BAB progression. Dev Crit comes online for me much sooner as well, at level 27 instead of level 38. When I rebuild from scratch at 40 redoing level 1, I will cut back on CHA - didn't need to start at 14, could have started at 12 and been fine. Need minimum of 12 to cast 2nd level Bard spells, with Cat's Grace and Bull's Strength both being helpful until you can hit the enhancement cap from gear alone. The last Bard level at 39 is primarily for skill dumping, but also needed it to be a level where I get a feat so I can grab Curse Song. The only feat I kind of wanted but didn't have room for is Armored Skin. With the cap of +12 STR and +12 DEX from gear, you end up with 38 STR and 36 DEX. Your Dev Crit DC will be 44 (10 + 20 + 14), and you can take maximum advantage of bows with up to Mighty +14. Can swap Called Shot for Blind-Fight at 21 and 33 if you want one to come online sooner rather than later. The levels at which you take them are essentially interchangeable.

Bard 6 / RDD 10 / AA 24
Elf, Chaotic Neutral

STR 14 (26)
DEX 16 (24)
CON 12 (14)
WIS 8
INT 14 (16)
CHA 14 (16)

1. Bard 1 - Point Blank Shot
2. Bard 2
3. Bard 3 - Weapon Focus (Longbow)
4. Bard 4 - STR 15
5. Bard 5
6. RDD 1 / Bard 5 - Rapid Shot
7. RDD 2 / Bard 5 - STR 17*
8. RDD 3 / Bard 5 - STR 18
9. RDD 4 / Bard 5 - Power Attack, STR 20*
10. RDD 5 / Bard 5
11. RDD 6 / Bard 5
12. RDD 7 / Bard 5 - Imp. Crit. (Longbow), STR 21, CON 14*
13. RDD 8 / Bard 5
14. AA 1 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
15. AA 2 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - Cleave
16. AA 3 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - DEX 17
17. AA 4 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
18. AA 5 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - Great Cleave
19. AA 6 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
20. AA 7 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - DEX 18
21. RDD 9 / AA 7 / Bard 5 - Blind-Fight, INT 16*
22. RDD 10 / AA 7 / Bard 5 - STR 25*, CHA 14*
23. AA 8 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
24. AA 9 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Overwhelming Crit. (Longbow), STR 26
25. AA 10 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
26. AA 11 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
27. AA 12 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Devastating Crit. (Longbow)
28. AA 13 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - DEX 19
29. AA 14 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Weapon Focus (Longbow)**
30. AA 15 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Prowess
31. AA 16 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
32. AA 17 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - DEX 20
33. AA 18 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Called Shot, Great DEX 21**
34. AA 19 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
35. AA 20 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
36. AA 21 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), DEX 22
37. AA 22 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Great DEX 23**
38. AA 23 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
39. Bard 6 / AA 23 / RDD 10 - Curse Song
40. AA 24 / RDD 10 / Bard 6 - DEX 24

Take Lore to 8. Take Perform to 9. Take Tumble to 40. Max Discipline, Spellcraft, Taunt, and Use Magic Device. Spend the rest of the points wherever you like. Should be 28 left if my math is right, but I could be wrong. With your CHA mod, Perform needs to end up at 12 for most optimal Bard Song based on 6 levels of Bard. So if you start with 14 like I did, your final CHA mod will be enough to bring a Perform of rank 9 to rank 12 insuring optimal Bard Song.
Drow Arrow
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Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:19 am

Re: PvM Arcane Archer Bard 11 / RDD 10 / AA 19

Post by Drow Arrow »

Dyndrilliac wrote: Fri Aug 20, 2021 8:38 pm Not sure how you're taking two feats at Bard 6? Can only take one, Rapid Shot or Skill Focus (Spot), not both.

Your build is similar to one I'm currently playing, but I have fewer Bard levels and more AA levels. I also break up the RDD levels so he gets all 4 of his attacks per round before Rapid Shot and Haste just like all the other full pure martial classes, so not gimped by Bard's 3/4 BAB progression. Dev Crit comes online for me much sooner as well, at level 27 instead of level 38. When I rebuild from scratch at 40 redoing level 1, I will cut back on CHA - didn't need to start at 14, could have started at 12 and been fine. Need minimum of 12 to cast 2nd level Bard spells, with Cat's Grace and Bull's Strength both being helpful until you can hit the enhancement cap from gear alone. The last Bard level at 39 is primarily for skill dumping, but also needed it to be a level where I get a feat so I can grab Curse Song. The only feat I kind of wanted but didn't have room for is Armored Skin. With the cap of +12 STR and +12 DEX from gear, you end up with 38 STR and 36 DEX. Your Dev Crit DC will be 44 (10 + 20 + 14), and you can take maximum advantage of bows with up to Mighty +14. Can swap Called Shot for Blind-Fight at 21 and 33 if you want one to come online sooner rather than later. The levels at which you take them are essentially interchangeable.

Bard 6 / RDD 10 / AA 24
Elf, Chaotic Neutral

STR 14 (26)
DEX 16 (24)
CON 12 (14)
WIS 8
INT 14 (16)
CHA 14 (16)

1. Bard 1 - Point Blank Shot
2. Bard 2
3. Bard 3 - Weapon Focus (Longbow)
4. Bard 4 - STR 15
5. Bard 5
6. RDD 1 / Bard 5 - Rapid Shot
7. RDD 2 / Bard 5 - STR 17*
8. RDD 3 / Bard 5 - STR 18
9. RDD 4 / Bard 5 - Power Attack, STR 20*
10. RDD 5 / Bard 5
11. RDD 6 / Bard 5
12. RDD 7 / Bard 5 - Imp. Crit. (Longbow), STR 21, CON 14*
13. RDD 8 / Bard 5
14. AA 1 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
15. AA 2 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - Cleave
16. AA 3 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - DEX 17
17. AA 4 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
18. AA 5 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - Great Cleave
19. AA 6 / RDD 8 / Bard 5
20. AA 7 / RDD 8 / Bard 5 - DEX 18
21. RDD 9 / AA 7 / Bard 5 - Blind-Fight, INT 16*
22. RDD 10 / AA 7 / Bard 5 - STR 25*, CHA 14*
23. AA 8 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
24. AA 9 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Overwhelming Crit. (Longbow), STR 26
25. AA 10 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
26. AA 11 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
27. AA 12 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Devastating Crit. (Longbow)
28. AA 13 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - DEX 19
29. AA 14 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Weapon Focus (Longbow)**
30. AA 15 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Prowess
31. AA 16 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
32. AA 17 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - DEX 20
33. AA 18 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Called Shot, Great DEX 21**
34. AA 19 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
35. AA 20 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
36. AA 21 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), DEX 22
37. AA 22 / RDD 10 / Bard 5 - Great DEX 23**
38. AA 23 / RDD 10 / Bard 5
39. Bard 6 / AA 23 / RDD 10 - Curse Song
40. AA 24 / RDD 10 / Bard 6 - DEX 24

Take Lore to 8. Take Perform to 9. Take Tumble to 40. Max Discipline, Spellcraft, Taunt, and Use Magic Device. Spend the rest of the points wherever you like. Should be 28 left if my math is right, but I could be wrong. With your CHA mod, Perform needs to end up at 12 for most optimal Bard Song based on 6 levels of Bard. So if you start with 14 like I did, your final CHA mod will be enough to bring a Perform of rank 9 to rank 12 insuring optimal Bard Song.
so I finally got round to re-evaluating the original build i posted and the comment regarding the extra feat is accurate, the spreadsheet must have bugged out and gave the wrong information, so after revisiting it and doing a bit of tinkering with the advice you gave at the bottom of your post this is the final result:

Bard(6), Red Dragon Disciple(10), Arcane Archer(24), Elf

STR: 14 (26)
DEX: 18 (28)
CON: 8 (10)
WIS: 8
INT: 14 (16)
CHA: 14 (16)

Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Keen Sense, Low-light Vision, Skill Affinity: Listen, Skill Affinity: Search, Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Bard(1): Point Blank Shot
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Focus: Longbow
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=15)
05: Bard(5)
06: Red Dragon Disciple(1): Rapid Shot
07: Red Dragon Disciple(2): (STR=17)
08: Red Dragon Disciple(3): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
09: Red Dragon Disciple(4): Power Attack, (STR=19)
10: Arcane Archer(1)
11: Arcane Archer(2)
12: Red Dragon Disciple(5): DEX+1, Improved Critical: Longbow, (DEX=20)
13: Red Dragon Disciple(6)
14: Red Dragon Disciple(7): (CON=10)
15: Red Dragon Disciple(8): Cleave
16: Arcane Archer(3): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
17: Arcane Archer(4)
18: Arcane Archer(5): Great Cleave
19: Arcane Archer(6)
20: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=22)
21: Arcane Archer(8): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Red Dragon Disciple(9): (INT=16)
23: Red Dragon Disciple(10): {Darkvision}, (STR=23), (CHA=16)
24: Arcane Archer(9): DEX+1, Great Strength I, (STR=24), (DEX=23)
25: Arcane Archer(10)
26: Arcane Archer(11)
27: Arcane Archer(12): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=24)
28: Arcane Archer(13): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
29: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Prowess
30: Arcane Archer(15): Great Fortitude
31: Arcane Archer(16)
32: Arcane Archer(17): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
33: Arcane Archer(18): Great Strength II, Overwhelming Critical: Longbow, (STR=25)
34: Arcane Archer(19)
35: Arcane Archer(20)
36: Arcane Archer(21): DEX+1, Great Strength III, (STR=26), (DEX=27)
37: Arcane Archer(22): Devastating Critical: Longbow
38: Arcane Archer(23)
39: Bard(6): Curse Song
40: Arcane Archer(24): DEX+1, (DEX=28)

Hitpoints: 312
Skillpoints: 256
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 24/21/30
Saving Throw bonuses: Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 35 (melee), 51 (ranged)
0
Spell Casting: Bard(2)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 42(42), Discipline 42(50), Lore 8(17), Perform 9(12), Spot 43(44), Tumble 41(50), UMD 42(45), remaining skillpoints 29

i'm happy with the outcome and will probably make it at some point. Original post also updated to reflect the now fixed build.
Active Characters:
Ragos Meadsmith
Efiel Meadsmith
Avalius Meadsmith
Gharbad Meadsmith
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