Arcane Archer Blackguard

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Dragonovith
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Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Dragonovith » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:22 am

I posted this idea on Kenji's ranged thread, but to avoid cluttering his thread further, I'm creating this post instead.

So, I want to play an Arcane Archer Blackguard. I understand that the paladin version is superior, but I'm not really into paladin roleplay. I have come up with a build, but I wonder if I can make it more optimal.

My biggest problem so far lies with the stat spread. For example, the Charisma is too low, and at that point I wonder if I shouldn't go Fighter instead, but I'd prefer not to. It also makes me raise AC concerns: the CHA is not high and I have to cross class tumble. I could go Bard instead of Ranger for Tumble, UMD, and no points wasted on WIS, but the AB hit is something to be considered. And one final note, I'd rather not go Elf instead of Half-elf, if possible.

Any opinions on the following build, or how I could build a better BG Arcane Archer?

---

Arcane Archer(19), Blackguard(4), Ranger(7), Half-Elf

STR: 13
DEX: 15+2
CON: 12
WIS: 11
INT: 14
CHA: 12+2

Half-Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Low-light Vision, Partial Skill Affinity: Listen, Partial Skill Affinity: Search, Partial Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Ranger(1): Weapon Focus: Longbow, Rapid Reload, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Favored Enemy I, {Dual Wield}
02: Ranger(2)
03: Ranger(3): Called Shot
04: Ranger(4): DEX+1, (DEX=18)
05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy II
06: Ranger(6): Power Attack
07: Arcane Archer(1)
08: Arcane Archer(2): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
09: Arcane Archer(3): Improved Critical: Longbow
10: Arcane Archer(4)
11: Arcane Archer(5)
12: Arcane Archer(6): DEX+1, Blind Fight, (DEX=20)
13: Blackguard(1)
14: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}
15: Blackguard(3): Divine Might
16: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
17: Arcane Archer(8)
18: Blackguard(4): Divine Shield
19: Arcane Archer(9)
20: Arcane Archer(10): DEX+1, (DEX=22)
21: Arcane Archer(11): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Arcane Archer(12)
23: Arcane Archer(13)
24: Arcane Archer(14): DEX+1, Armor Skin, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=24)
25: Arcane Archer(15)
26: Arcane Archer(16)
27: Arcane Archer(17): Epic Skill Focus: Discipline
28: Arcane Archer(18): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=26)
29: Arcane Archer(19)
30: Ranger(7): Blinding Speed

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Dr. B
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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Dr. B » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:26 am

Drop ranger and go Bard/BG/AA. That'll free up the ability points you're wasting on 11 wisdom. Lack of access to Tumble and UMD is also going to make this build physically painful to play--and makes Divine Shield all the more useless. With the bonus from AA levels, your AB should be fine.

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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Dragonovith » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:48 am

This is the bard version I came up with. If I did the math right, you should lose 4 AB and some feats, some skill points, but you get access to UMD, Tumble, and better Divine Might/Shield.

Arcane Archer(16), Blackguard(5), Bard(9), Half-Elf

STR: 14
DEX: 16+2
CON: 12
WIS: 8
INT: 12
CHA: 14+2

Half-Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Low-light Vision, Partial Skill Affinity: Listen, Partial Skill Affinity: Search, Partial Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Bard(1): Point Blank Shot
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Rapid Shot
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Power Attack
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(8): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
09: Blackguard(1): Weapon Focus: Longbow
10: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}
11: Blackguard(3)
12: Blackguard(4): DEX+1, Divine Might, (DEX=21)
13: Arcane Archer(1)
14: Arcane Archer(2)
15: Arcane Archer(3): Blind Fight
16: Arcane Archer(4): DEX+1, (DEX=22)
17: Arcane Archer(5)
18: Blackguard(5): Divine Shield
19: Arcane Archer(6)
20: Arcane Archer(7): DEX+1, (DEX=23)
21: Arcane Archer(8): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Arcane Archer(9)
23: Arcane Archer(10)
24: Arcane Archer(11): DEX+1, Armor Skin, (DEX=24)
25: Arcane Archer(12)
26: Arcane Archer(13)
27: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Skill Focus: Discipline, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=25)
28: Arcane Archer(15): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
29: Arcane Archer(16)
30: Bard(9): Blinding Speed

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Kenji
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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Kenji » Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:08 am

Both BG and AA have the same prereq of +6 BAB, I believe you can take AA levels first instead of BG so the pre-epic spread is Bard 8 / AA 8 / BG 4 instead of 8/7/5. The difference is having an extra fort and reflex save.

1~8 Bard
9~12 AA
13~15 BG, Divine Shield
16~17 AA
18 BG, Divine Might
19~20 AA

The end spread would also be AA 17 / BG 4 / Bard 9, providing one extra AB, one extra damage, and 2 skill points.

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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Dragonovith » Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:16 am

That would work out for an Elf, but not for a Half-elf, because they can't pick Weapon Focus: Longbow in their Bard levels due to the lack of Weapon proficiency (elf).

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Kenji
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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Kenji » Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:03 am

Oof. Noted.

Head the other way around, perhaps? Going BG 6 and AA 6 pre-epic means a +1 uni save.

And you don't lose any AB or damage save for 2 skill points.

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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by dallion43 » Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:58 am

14 16+2 12 8 12 14+2 Half-elf
14 18 12 8 12 16

12+2 18+2-2 12 8 12 14+2 Wood elf
14 18 12 8 12 16

01: Bard(1): Point Blank Shot
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Rapid Shot
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Power Attack
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(8): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
09: AA, blind fight
10: AA
11: AA
12: AA LB Imp.crit +1dex
13: BG
14: BG
15: BG DS
16: AA +1dex
17: AA
18: BG DM
19: AA
20: AA +1dex
21: Arcane Archer(9): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Arcane Archer(9lazy)
23: Arcane Archer(10)
24: Arcane Archer(11): DEX+1, Armor Skin, (DEX=24)
25: Arcane Archer(12)
26: Arcane Archer(13)
27: Arcane Archer(14): Epic Skill Focus: Discipline, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=25)
28: Arcane Archer(15): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
29: Arcane Archer(17)
30: Bard(9): Blinding Speed

,+18-20*3 (keen weapon)
,+1ab(17AA)
,+1dam(17AA)
,+1Fort, +1Ref(8AA pre epic)
,+keen sences(elf)
,+-track/no tracks(very RP)
,+2SP(+1AA)

,-Dodge(+1AC vs cur or prev,half-elf)
,-elf RP.


Imho.

P.C
12int should be enough for disc/heal/tumble/spellcraft/UMD on this build.
If you really care for one of: listen/taunt/hide+ms mix you can:
18dex 12int -> 17dex 14int
Great Dexterity I->prowess

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Hunter548
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Re: Arcane Archer Blackguard

Post by Hunter548 » Sat Jan 26, 2019 4:36 am

How married are you to AA? I personally would much rather do an archer ranger/bg/bard. Less finnicky multiclassing, more feats, significantly more damage per shot. All you really lose is the ability to go through things like premonition automatically. AB should still be fine.
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