Best Build combo 2-handed, TWF & Bow (ranged)

[Steve]

What is your best build for a PC—that is viable on BGTSCC—combining 2-handed, TWF and bow (ranged) fighting? Maybe something of than bow?

I'm thinking that attempting this will leave the Build with some glaring deficiency that one might as well make a Commoner (Hi Val!!!) with only one leg, and hope for the best.

Cheers.

[chad878262]

What is your best build for a PC—that is viable on BGTSCC—combining 2-handed, TWF and bow (ranged) fighting? Maybe something of than bow?

I would say Hunter Ranger 11/F12/XXX (7 levels to play with.) This gets you GTWF, Rapid Shot and Manyshot for free (though you still have to spend feats for Point Blank Shot and Improved Rapid Shot if you want them). F12 gives you 7 bonus feats, which can get you Ranged Mastery and Melee Mastery of your choice as well as Greater/Epic Weapon Focus and Specialization in one weapon of choice. You'll still have to pick your primary method of combat to truly focus on. Northlander Hewing is a good pickup since it will give you a bump in damage with both TWF and 2-handed fighting, but watch your AC. Adding Tempest 5 can help by granting +2 AB and AC, but is kind of duplicitous with R11. Dervish could give you +2 AC and 4/day dervish dance, but shame you can't really fit 10 levels.

I'm thinking that attempting this will leave the Build with some glaring deficiency that one might as well make a Commoner (Hi Val!!!) with only one leg, and hope for the best.

The biggest issue I see is the fact that by design your build is going to be worse at their primary mode of fighting than they would be without trying to do all 3. If you go Strength Based your Ranged AB suffers while DEX focus means using light weapons which can't be two handed or having AB/Damage suffer when fighting with a medium/large weapon. I suppose you could have a couple scimitars and a bow, go for the Mithral Chain/18 DEX (after bonus from item) and max STR. It's simply never going to be as good when you don't focus on one primary fighting style, but that doesn't mean it can't work.

Personally I think it would be better to drop the idea of 2-handed fighting and instead try to get some shield feats in there so you could switch between Greater Two Weapon Fighting and Shield Bashing/Slamming. 2-handed and Two Weapon Fighting essentially serve the same role (increasing damage) so I think there is more value in being able to 'Turtle up' when needed.

[aaron22]

don't have a build for you, but a Cleric/monk combo could do here. run your wis high and and second your str. prolly wanna make it on an ORC for the wis/str bonus and cleric preferred class. your ranged will be stars, but whatever.

[aaron22]

don't have a build for you, but a Cleric/monk combo could do here. run your wis high and and second your str. prolly wanna make it on an ORC for the wis/str bonus and cleric preferred class. your ranged will be stars, but whatever.

[Zkenic]

Shields are dumb. Here is the best I could come up with, assuming you are ok with also having HiPS.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?299829

Take the Hunter kit. End build stats.
Base Stats with +3 stat items
Stats with items Str 24, Dex 22, Con 16, Int 16, Wisdom 12, Cha 6
HP: 376
Fort 21 Reflex 25 Will 13
No fail nat one fort saves
Evasion
Without Gear Hide/MS 42
Without Gear Spot 37

AC
Standard AC 40: 10(base)+6(armor)+4(dex)+4(enhancement)+12(dodge/nat/def)+3(tumble)+1(LoH)
Melee Standard AC 43 (Add CE)
Full UMD wand and scroll us AC 47-50 = (Add +4 CL 15 shield or Shades scroll, Add +2 IMA, Add +1 CL 15 spider skin)

Attack Bonus and Damage
Attack bonus 2 handing longsword [44/39/][34/29/][24/19]: 28(base)+7(str)+7(feats)+4(enhancement)+1(Critial Focus)-3(CE)
Damage 28.5(33.5):4.5(1d8)+4(Enhancement)+2(negative energy)+8(Feats)+10(Strength)+5(favored enemy only)

Attack bonus duel wielding longswords [42/37/32/][27/22/17/][42/37/32]: 28base+7(str)+7(feats)+4(enhancement)+1(Critial Focus)-3(CE)-2(duel wielidng)
Damage 25.5(30.5):4.5(1d8)+4(Enhancement)+2(negative energy)+8(Feats)+10(Strength)+5(favored enemy only)

Attack bonus longbow [41/36/31/][26/21/][16/41]:28(Base)+6(dex)+4(feats)+4(enhancement)+1(Critial Focus)-2(rapid shot)
Damage 18.5(23.5):4.5(1d8)+4(enhancement)+5(strength)+1(cold)+4(fighter feats)+5(favored enemy only)

Attack bonus manyshot longbow [33/28/23/][18/13/][8/33]:28(Base)+6(dex)+4(feats)+4(enhancement)+1(Critial Focus)-2(rapid shot)-8(manyshot)
Damage 37(47):9(2d8)+8(enhancement)+10(Strength)+2(cold)+8(fighter feats)+10(favored enemy only)

UMD and other notes
All attack bonus calculations should be 2 higher most the time. With UMD and CL 15 heroism scrolls, it is pretty much a permanent bump.
Easy to have +5 to all saves, heroism scrolls and greater resistance scrolls are both purchasable.
Easy to have +3 saves against spells. Spellcraft is crossclass, but able learner and 16 int helps.
Should be able to have at least some ranks in heal. Use it to spam health up with healing kits.

I was too lazy to put the skills in, but you should have maxed (or near maxed) hide/ms, spot OR listen, heal, tumble, and UMD. There should be some odd ranks left over, which you can use to fluff your character with sense motive, lores, or any other fun thing you might want.

I could also mess around, if you dont like HiPS, and do something like 14fighter/11ranger/5tempest. It would net you +2 AB (BaB), +2 when duel wielding (tempest), and 2 AC. It would weaken your saves a little and cut out a lot of feats and skills.

Edit
Forgot critical focus from Whirling Dervish!

[Steve]

Good suggestions!

[Caelin]

That's so creepy! I've been thinking exactly the same thing myself for a few days now. My tentative plan was to build a Hunter 11/assassin 9/Divine champion 10 to round out feats and saves.

[DreadArtemis]

Ranger(hunter) 12/Paladin(cavalier) 11/weapon master 7.
Throwing axes with feats from hunter.
Paladin Saves
Fast movement
Evasion
No spells to worry about lol
Shield abilities to tank up with one
Combat expertise if you are feeling froggy
Weapon of choice scimitar or longsword
8 favored enemies
RP animal companion
High Fort and ref saves
Greater two weapon fighting

The bad:
A little bit of MAD( ranged can be mitigated if you take brutal throw and focus on Str for ranged)
Perhaps Questionable AC( maybe use a shield sometimes)
Skill points might be rough (throw stealth in the trashcan)
Still have weak will saves( but the paladin bonus helps)

Sounds silly but I played one and it was alright. Could make an altenate build using fighter for extra feats. Not the most optimized but I enjoyed it! expensive for ammo but I found it was still entertaining

[Valefort]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?300016

Attack bonus :

28 (BAB, Dread pirate is high BAB in BG) + 7 (STR buffed with +3 item or DEX with +4 DEX bracers) + 1 (prowess) +2 (mastery slashing or ranged) + 6 (inspire courage) + 2 (heroism) + 4 (EB) = 50

Two handing scimitar with IPA => +4 (epic focus) - 6 (IPA) = 48 AB

GTWFing scimitars with IPA => +4 (epic focus) - 6 (IPA) -2 (TWF) = 46 AB

Longbow shooting => +1 (focus) - 8 (manyshot) = 43 AB

Damage :

2-handing : 1d6 +10 (STR*3/2) + 4(EB) + 12 (IPA) + 6 (inspire courage) + 2 (mastery) +2 (spec) = 39.5

GTWFing : 30.5 main hand, 27.5 off-hand

Shooting arrows : 1d6 + 7(STR) + 6 (inspire) + 2(spec) + 2 (mastery) +4 (EB) = 24.5, 49 on manyshot.

AC :

10 + 1 (LoH) + 1 (armor skin) + 3 (tumble) + 6 (DEX) + 4 (mith chain shirt) + 4 (dodge) +4 (deflection) + 4 (enchantment) + 4 (natural AC) = 41 AC, 47 with heavy shield +4

UMD as a class skill, utility bard spells.