Dwarven Shadow Archer

[StormBear]

Greetings!

If any could spare the time, I'm seeking some assistance on how to level up, class, and skill a new character after some hiatus from BG:TSCC. I'd like to start completely anew, no RCRing, since my PC ate it about a year ago and ever since then I've been contemplating this sorta goodly natured Dwarf that fires bows from the shadows. It figures that I come back this week and the server eats it too! What better time to build then, right?

Background: At an infant age was adopted by a tribe of Wild Elves in the Forest of Amtar. Far from adulthood he defied the Elders' wishes and left to hunt on his own. Somehow escaped bindings and a cage before execution from a rival tribe. He decided to wander instead of returning to his former tribe; after learning the truth about his parents.

This Dwarf has been touched by Grumbar and the Earth's rage flies with every arrow he releases.

Beneath the cool shadow of trees, a lingering afternoon sun, or a moss covered cave are where he honed most of his survival skills. The shadows therefore, quite early on, became a most trusted friend to this lonely Dwarf.

Time spent at the fringes of society have made the toughest locks penetrable and even the slightest of spider silk trap wire noticeable in feint moonlight.

NWN2DB link: http://nwn2db.com/build/?307565

Ahem...
Still haven't quite figured out how to spend skill points as there is a lot that goes into that. I understand that there are certain levels best to take certain classes at so I'm looking at other builds with Rogue skills and Fighter feats.
Tumble and finding/disabling of traps should be a priority. Keeping stealth skills up to par seems obvious. Ideally, this Dwarfy can provide technical and tactical support to a party from ahead and behind; without them even knowing. (^.^)

[Svabodnik]

As far as I know, Expose Weakness does not apply to ranged attacks.

[Okan]

Also might look into assassin instead of SD if it is not fixed. You still get the HiPS and you get Death Attack that multiplies with manyshot. It is also much less feat starved, allowing you more choices for RP oriented feats or improve your mechanical prowess with things like improved critical and more specialization feats.

For skills, as you don't have able learner, it would be better if you sprinkle rouge/shadowdancer levels between fighter levels. Having fewer fighter levels consecutively would allow you to save up on skill points you gain on those levels to be spent on rouge/shadowdancer ones.

[Svabodnik]

I figure the SD is there for access to Epic Dodge - essentially rather than going for a glass cannon type of archer, of which there are many, it's a more defensive option. While I haven't gotten a Shadow Dancer to 10, if their Shadow Jump is anything like Ki Step, that's even more survivability for a ranged character, as you can instantly make space or move to a more advantageous position. Speaking of survivability, I don't think Improved Elemental Shield is available on the server (though Improved Elemental Storm is). Even if it were, the options of HiPSing, Epic Dodge, and shadowjumping ought to be sufficient without it.

In terms of offense, Power Crit. is a bit of a trap, especially for low crit-range weapons (such as Longbow, for 20 or 19-20 with Improved Crit. -- which should be picked up instead). Pushing forward a fighter level, you'd be able to squeeze in Epic Weapon Spec., and still get Epic Dodge at 29 (since class abilities are applied before selected feats).

I do like that you swapped Expose for +1 DEX, since the server does have +4 DEX bracers in a shop (though expensive), so an even DEX value by 30 is a good option.

My quick changes: http://nwn2db.com/build/?307586

EDIT: I do think, considering the class spread, you should consider Able Learner for the skill points progression (as Okan mentioned). There aren't that many mobs on the server with concealment or that cast displacement, so I personally find it fairly safe (when choosing your battles) to leave Blind Fight until epic levels. Taking AL earlier on, I dropped Epic Prowess from the later levels as it's no longer being used to qualify for Expose. Extra AB is very nice, but a comfortable skill progression is just as cozy. Note that the feat doesn't kick in until 4th level, since I opted to keep Luck of Heroes for saves/early AC. Updated the linked build above to represent the changes.

[StormBear]

Due to work it has been some days since I could return to this. I really appreciate both your feedback!

For skills, as you don't have able learner, it would be better if you sprinkle rouge/shadowdancer levels between fighter levels. Having fewer fighter levels consecutively would allow you to save up on skill points you gain on those levels to be spent on rouge/shadowdancer ones.

I wasn't sure about Able Learner until now. At first it seemed right to grasp for AB in the end when you don't know what to do with feats. Even though I won't be getting more AB, the ultimate goal of this character was to be "comfortably" skilled for survival in the first place.

I figure the SD is there for access to Epic Dodge - essentially rather than going for a glass cannon type of archer, of which there are many, it's a more defensive option. While I haven't gotten a Shadow Dancer to 10, if their Shadow Jump is anything like Ki Step, that's even more survivability for a ranged character, as you can instantly make space or move to a more advantageous position.

Yes Svabodnik, you worded that better than I could have. The idea is certainly to be the atypical hearty archer with the ability to get away in the blink of an eye. Not only does Shadow Dancer give HiPS early, which was for RP reasons, but the full feat score for them seems like it could be fun and effective for this escapist Dwarf. There also were very few Shadow Dancer builds to go off, especially in regards to BGTSCC (Tons of crossbow Assassin builds though!).

For some reason that inspired me to create this Dwarf even more.

In terms of offense, Power Crit. is a bit of a trap, especially for low crit-range weapons (such as Longbow, for 20 or 19-20 with Improved Crit. -- which should be picked up instead). Pushing forward a fighter level, you'd be able to squeeze in Epic Weapon Spec., and still get Epic Dodge at 29 (since class abilities are applied before selected feats).

This is the sort of stuff I always have trouble incorporating into builds, when those feats/classes are best picked up, so thank you for the advice.

Blind Fight was originally added early for survival, because I always assumed it was necessary, but if it shouldn't be a problem to hold it back until later then so be it. There are temporary UMD buffs for that sort of stuff anyway, right?

One more thing I was considering is if there is an adequate replacement for Elemental Archer. Letting Earth's rage fly with every arrow is a main aspect of this Dwarf so I think it's a solid choice. However, I was looking forward to the full capability of Elemental Shield and Storm.

For now I am going to roll off of Svabodnik's edits and continue to build as we go. Thanks again for the help so far fellas!

[Deathgrowl]

I know I'm late to the party here, but how about something even more dwarven!

http://nwn2db.com/build/?307808
Fighter8/dwarven defender7/elemental archer5/shadowdancer10!

[StormBear]

I know I'm late to the party here, but how about something even more dwarven!

http://nwn2db.com/build/?307808
Fighter8/dwarven defender7/elemental archer5/shadowdancer10!

Oh my, that is a nice build. I never considered mixing Defender and longbows. Even without certain rogue skills available I must say, you had me at Dwarven Defender here! It checks almost every mark with feats as well. Is it OK to miss Blind-fight completely though?

That offers a lot to mull over, and just may be the path this Dwarf never knew he was going to take. If anything, my character is about to have a baby brother Dwarf.

Thank you Deathgrowl.

Edit: Changed "mule over" to "mull over." Woops.

[Deathgrowl]

I don't consider blind fight as important as some others. There aren't really that many mobs with concealment on the server and I never build for PvP anyways. Blind fight is nice to have, but in my view not vital.

[Svabodnik]

IMHO for the content that I've done on the server, mobs with miss-chance are rare enough that not going for Blind Fight is a safe choice if all your want to do is PvE. However, while the server strictly follows the rule of "not balancing for PvP", it does occasionally (or frequently, depending on the character) crop up due to RP, at which BF follows the rule of "better have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." I've got a Displacement wand on most of my characters, and the UMD skill to use it, and that's coming from a player that has probably only gotten into 2-3 PvP encounter from my stay here since I started playing a couple years ago.

tl;dr: Blind Fight is mostly for contesting easily available PvP counterplay. I still go for Blind Fight myself, just to cover my bases, and open up a couple farming zones, even if I mostly play on the server for the PvE content. For PvE, it honestly only really shines in a couple of areas.