Scout Sniper (most damage 1 shot)

[Pyrefox]

I could swear I had created a topic on this, but even checking all of my posts I couldn't find it, so, there it goes again.

I wanted to do a Scout based character that is:

1) Archer/Sniper; must be Scout based. My objective is to have a character that is an average fighter while moving in combat, but extremely deadly if he's able to prepare an ambush or something like that.

2) Able to deliver massive damage with one shot (sniping).

3) Flavor: intelligent and skilled guy, probably a Gray Elf, no templates (specially with Level Adjustment), no spells (but magic items are ok), I'll probably use Greater Psionic Shot + Wild Talent (no psionic class levels) unless there's a better option to cause damage instead of using 3 feats to deal +4d6.

4) I'm considering the effects of Mosquito Bite (skill trick) to aid the sniping action, will it work?

5) I don't know if that will be possible, but if there is some way to add in the "Hide in Plain Sight" feature to this character, I believe it would be NICE, so I can get out of normal combat and step back to sniping.

6) Of course, high Hide and Move Silently skills bonuses are very welcome. I'm considering Able Sniper as a feat option.

EDIT:
7) No gestalt please :x


Does anyone have nice ideas? :3

[ReaderOfPosts]

Depending on your definition of massive damage, a scout based build with no spells not moving may not be possible. You could possibly look at a poisoned focus build, which could be deadly at range but even with sneak attack it's hard to get good damage on a single shot. Having lots of bane arrows keyed to different creature types would help.

Would it be permissible to have the sniper take multiple shots as a standard action (so they can still hide afterward)?

[Pyrefox]

I was thinking about things like the Greater Psionic Shot, that I mentioned.

Poisons are ok, but aren't there more feat options, maneuvers, class features or even arrow types that could help raising the immediate damage?

Sneak Attack seems a good feature to add in, but I want to see if there's something that raises the damage without spending class levels. But I will consider Rogue levels (or any other "sneak attack"-like classes). Just wanna know the amount of Rogue levels that I should take.

[sofawall]

Isn't there a Ranger spell that gives Sneak Attack? Hunter's Eye, or some such thing?

Also, Assassin's Stance?

[skydragonknight]

Name: Ray Hunter
Race: UurKrau Illumian (+2 CL up to HD, +2 Dex checks/skill check including Init, Able to use Dex instead of Cha for bonus spells)
Classes(Base) in no order: Rogue 1, Scout 3, Sorceror 4
Classes(Prestige) in no order: Argent Savant 2, Mindbender 1, Spellswarp Sniper 5, Unseen Seer 4

Throw Together:
[spoiler]
Level Class level Class features Feats Skill ranks for prereqs

1 Rogue 1 Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding Darkstalker Bluff 4, Diplomacy 4, Intimidate 4, Sense Motive 4, Hide 4, Search 4, Spot 4
2 Scout 1 Skirmish +1d6, Trapfinding Hide 5, Search 5, Spot 5
3 Scout 2 Battle Fortitude+1, Uncanny Dodge Point Blank Shot Hide 6, Search 6, Spot 6, Spellcraft 3
4 Scout 3 Fast Movement+10 ft, Skirmish+1d6/+1AC, Trackless Step Hide 7, Search 7, Spot 7
5 Sorcerer 1 Metamagic Specialist ACF Spellcraft 4
6 Sorcerer 2 Practiced Spellcaster(Sorcerer) Hide 8
7 Sorcerer 3 Search 8
8 Sorcerer 4 Spot 8
9 Unseen Seer 1 Skirmish +2d6/+1AC Improved Skirmish
10 Unseen Seer 2: Advanced Learning: Hunter's Eye(Ranger 2), Silent Spell(B)
11 Unseen Seer 3: Divination Spell Power+1
12 Mindbender 1: Telepathy Mindsight
13 Unseen Seer 4: Skirmish +3d6/+1AC
14 Spellwarp Sniper 1 Spellwarp
15 Spellwarp Sniper 2 Sudden Raystrike +1d6 Craven
16 Spellwarp Sniper 3 Precise Shot(B)
17 Spellwarp Sniper 4 Sudden Raystrike+2d6
18 Spellwarp Sniper 5 Ray Mastery Split Ray
19 Argent Savant 1 Force Specialization
20 Argent Savant 2 Force Armor

15th level Sorceror Casting (Need only 17 Cha thanks to UurKrau. Start with 12/14 Cha and work your way to a +4/+6 enhancement item.)
Non-Divination CL(no items): 15-1(Unseen Seer)+2(Krau sigil)+4(Practiced Spellcaster)=CL 20
Divination CL(no items): 15+2(Krau sigil)+4(Practiced Spellcaster)=CL 20(capped at HD)+1(Unseen Seer)=CL 21
Key spells: Wings of Flurry(to Spellwarp) CL 20 = 20d6 Force damage Ray at 30 ft when Spellwarped (use Split ray for two)
Hunter's Eye CL21 = +7d6 Sneak Attack
Greater Invisibility(Just because)

Damage(no equipment):
Casting Split Ray Wings of Flurry on a flat-footed opponent after moving 20 ft: 2 X ( 20d6+20 base damage(including Argent Savant's Force Specialization) +8d6+20 Sneak Attack +5d6 Skirmish +2d6 Sudden raystrike ) = 70d6+80 (Avg of 325 Force Damage w/ No Save)

One Shot damage(Sub Maximize for Split Ray): 35 X 6 +40 = 250 damage

Stealth:
Greater Invisibility w/Darkstalker and Mindsight--only defeated by See Invisibility/True Seeing, can find any target in range with an intelligence score. Can use normal Hide/Move Silently as a backup (buy a Skin(?) of Umbral Metamorphosis from ToM for Hide in Plain Sight).

Bonus:
+3 Initiative from Uur sigil and Scout's Battle Fortitude, plus UurKrau making bonus spells based on Dex = Good Initiative as well as good attack bonus.[/spoiler]

I know it's less convoluted to only use Sneak Attack, but managed to pull 5 Skirmish dice w/o affecting caster level of the main spells. The Uncanny Dodge from Scout 2 is also very useful.
Metamagic specialist allows you to move and still use Metamagic once/twice a day, which is enough for a thought exercise.

[ReaderOfPosts]

So using Greater Manyshot (XPH) and Splitting (+3 weapon enhancement Champions of Ruin) you can get sneak attack 4+ times as a standard action (once you hit BAB +6). So A build like Scout 4/ Rogue 8 would get you 16d6+ 4 * weapon damage (so about 80 damage(, and still be able to move to hide after that. You can pull it off earlier if you drop a level of fighter in to get Greater Manyshot as soon as you get the prereqs. It's feat heavy, but probably your best bet for being an archery based sniper (without spells).

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Step one: Find one of those guys who are really good at engraving, like, they can write things on rice grains.

Step two: Give that guy a wand of explosive runes

Step three: Take those fifty grains of rice and stick them into your arrow head

Step four: Be an arcane archer with dispel magic imbued arrows

Step five: Deal 300d6 force damage to the poor soul who has your arrow embedded in his body.

[woodenbandman]

Lol wow.

[skydragonknight]

I've been in a dozen threads where Explosive Runes abuse has been mentioned. The only problem is: you automatically dispel your own spells, and that won't trigger the explosion. Either the Explosive Runes spells or the Dispel Magic would need to be cast by a second caster.

[woodenbandman]

Well, the wand is used, and I assume you don't make the wand.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

I've been in a dozen threads where Explosive Runes abuse has been mentioned. The only problem is: you automatically dispel your own spells, and that won't trigger the explosion. Either the Explosive Runes spells or the Dispel Magic would need to be cast by a second caster.

Area setting of dispel phrases it as "You may choose to automatically succeed on dispel checks against any spell that you have cast. "

[Pyrefox]

Sky, I liked that build, really, but I does have spells in it... 
And I believe Illumian first sygil improves to +3 when they reach second character level, so, I'm assuming you're probably going to get Krau first and have +3 CL instead of +2.


Ok, Manyshot + Sniping + Sneak Attack + Greater Psionic Shot sounds good. That enhancement (splitting) also sounds great, but is there any way to further improve this damage with equipment? Arrow type or bow type? (I'm already considering the possibility to add Str mod to the damage, although the character will probably have low Str score).

[DavidWL]

It sounds like what you want is something along the lines of a death attack:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/assassin.htm#deathAttack

This is melee, but probably we can find a ranged version.  I think it's what you want - 1 shot, 1 kill, intelligence based.

There are a number of classes which give it -- I'm not sure if there are classes which give a version which doesn't require as many rounds (there should be?), but I'm sure that there is a way to make a pretty good ranged death-attacker.

At worst case, you could perhaps do this with bloodstorm throwers (or whatever the class from ToB that let you make melee attacks at range).  Better though to find a version that lets you do it at range.

Also, woodland archer is probably good (for sniping).

Best,
David

EDIT:  http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-992129

[ReaderOfPosts]

[Brainpiercing]

Reading this thread makes me realize that WoTC really hates campers... er.. snipers. WotC idea of a sniper is a rogue who has to sit 30ft away.

All the methods of getting high damage on an archer work by a humongous number of attacks. If you don't want this, then you basically have to be a wizard.

I suggest just writing a homebrew class and getting it past your DM.

[Hallack]

There was an Archer prestige class in complete warrior, the Darkwood sniper.  It is and elf prc that gives sneak attack and death attacks (10 levels for death attack though).  There is also Order of Bow Initiate in same book that gives bonus damage with ranged.  

Neither of the classes are overall great but could still be fun and might be something that fits.

[Solo]

Reading this thread makes me realize that WoTC really hates campers... er.. snipers. WotC idea of a sniper is a rogue who has to sit 30ft away.

Sniper's Shot, a first level Sor/Wiz spell, removes range restrictions.

Hunter's Eye gives +1d6 Sneak Attack/3 caster levels.

Bind Vestige and Improved Binding can let you bind a vestige that gives +2d6 to sneak attack.

One dip in Swordsage at the right point in character level will get you the Assassin's Stance, which Also gives +2d6 Sneak Attack.

Craven may be useful, as it gives + character level in damage on sneak attacks.

If we include Greater Psionic shot, this is going to end up as fairly feat intensive, but you'll be able to roll a lot of dice.

[Brainpiercing]

Reading this thread makes me realize that WoTC really hates campers... er.. snipers. WotC idea of a sniper is a rogue who has to sit 30ft away.

Sniper's Shot, a first level Sor/Wiz spell, removes range restrictions.

Hunter's Eye gives +1d6 Sneak Attack/3 caster levels.

Bind Vestige and Improved Binding can let you bind a vestige that gives +2d6 to sneak attack.

One dip in Swordsage at the right point in character level will get you the Assassin's Stance, which Also gives +2d6 Sneak Attack.

Craven may be useful, as it gives + character level in damage on sneak attacks.

If we include Greater Psionic shot, this is going to end up as fairly feat intensive, but you'll be able to roll a lot of dice.

Yes, all that works, but it's really complicated, and you need to be able to cast spells.

I think I'm going to write up a homebrew prestige class just for the fuck of it.

[Solo]

Rangers can cast the Hunters Eye spell, and with the feat Sword of the Arcane Order, can prepare wizard sells in their spell slots. The psionic feats can be qualified for by a feat that gives you a small powerpoint pool.

You just need 5 feats to pull greater psionic shot + Bind vestige off. 7 if you want Craven. 8 including Swift Hunter. 9 for Sword of the Arcane Order.

This is too intensive. It eats up all your feats as a human, from class levels, and bonus feats from being a Ranger. But hey, you do a *lot* of d6 damage.

If you do go Rcout/Ranger/Swordsage, I recommend you look at the Swift Hunter Handbook for help.

[Brainpiercing]

Ok, I've just made a quick attempt at a sniper PrC. It's here: http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=4606.0

I guess it's not nearly polished, but it does the job of doing a fair amount of damage on a single shot at a greater range.