I've been looking to building a strong ranged character for a while.
Now while browsing about I looked at the Totemist. And the Swift Hunter. And the Kensai. (I don't know if anything like this has been posted before, in any case I am posting this without knowing the resource). Let's just assume I'm using the Kensai on the same basis that i could add it to a Mindblade. Also, Kensai states that it can enchant natural weapons. I assume this will work. I'm also assuming I only need one enhancement for all the spines, since I'm enhancing the "launcher".
And voila,
The SpinerThe trick: Basically it's a Swift Hunter that applies Kensai weapon bonuses to his Manticore belt given spine volley. Note that the spine volley isn't actually a volley, since it requires one attack roll per spine, but it uses full AB on every attack, which is nice, and you can get up to 12 spines at Lvl 18.
The build:This build is unfortunately not optimal any longer, since the splitting enchantment is illegal on the Manticore BeltAzurin Planar Ranger1/Totemist2/Hit&Run Fighter 2/Scout1/Kensai3 (or 4, depending on whether I need to add +1 before Splitting)/Scout+3/Ranger+5(using the Urban companion from Cityscape Web)/Kensai rest for total +6 enhancements. I may kill some more ranger for more Kensai.
Feats:
PBS, Precise Shot, Expanded Soulmeld capacity(manticore belt), Combat Expertise, WF(Spine Volley), Bonus Essentia x2, Swift Hunter, Improved Skirmish(b), Endurance (b), Rapid shot (Ranger),Improved Precise Shot, Manyshot(Ranger), Share Soulmeld (tentative as of now)
What this gives us:
6 Spines fired at full BAB, with splitting 12; 5d6/+4AC skirmish; +6 enhancements on the spines. Dex to damage vs. flat-footed opponents; Also, the familiar-companion shares the manticore belt for another 6 spines, albeit without anhancements nor bonuses, nor skirmish, unless my DM is stupid
.
The remaining problems are: Can I improve skirmish range, and possibly damage? Can I do something better with the ranger levels? Is anything blatantly illegal?
And can someone tell me that I've totally missed another great feature from someplace else?
Available sourcesBasically everything WotC. The trouble with that is: I don't have dragon mags, but my DM has, and I'm away at the moment, so I can't ask him for him. That's why I didn't include dragon mags as of now.