(PF) Ranger (Bounty Hunter) archetype

[Duncan_Ruadrik]

The straight ranger makes a good Bounty Hunter, sure.

What, in your opinion, is the best archetype for a Bounty Hunter though? This of course assumes that one of the archetypes makes a better bounty hunter than a straight ranger.

please explain your opinion, I'd love to hear it!

[Aran Thule]

Probably not optimised but if your planning of being a bounty hunter in a town then a trapper might be good for disable device.
The level 10 ability will make them like Hawkeye :)

[grarrrg]

Getting the obvious out of the way first,
Bounty Hunter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/3rd-party-classes/tripod-machine/bounty-hunter) base class, 3rd party.
Take a Ranger base, drop the spells and gain FULL progression Sneak Attack.


Inquisitors (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor) also receive the Track ability, so a Ranger/Inquisitor multi-class is an option, as is straight Inquisitor.

Trophy Hunter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/trophy-hunter) Ranger gets a +2 bonus on Tracking, but locks you into the "firearm" combat style.


Ways to do nonlethal damage without penalty would be useful. Probably the quickest/easiest is the Merciful enchantment. In "nonlethal" mode you get an extra +1d6 damage, in "lethal" mode you get...nothing extra, but still worth it for the ability to switch.

Cavalier w/Order of the Blue Rose (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/orders/paizo---cavalier-orders/order-of-the-blue-rose) take no penalty on Nonlethal, AND gets +2 damage when doing so, BUT you cannot take advantage of this to kill the target, capture only.

Feats:
Bludgeoner (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/bludgeoner-combat): NO PRE-REQS?! You do not take a -4 penalty when using a Bludgeoning weapon to deal nonlethal.

Stage Combatant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/stage-combatant-combat): actually has pre-reqs, but can work with ANY weapon.

Enforcer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/enforcer-combat): Make a FREE Intimidate check EVERY time you land a nonlethal strike!
Pair with Inquisitor (Stern Gaze +1/2 level to Intimidate) using the Conversion Inquisition (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/inquisitions/conversion-inquisition) (WIS instead of CHA to Intimidate Checks)

Merciful Bane (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/merciful-bane): If you go the Inquisitor route, consider this.

Sap Adept/Sap Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/sap-adept-combat): If you gain Sneak Attack, these can be awesome.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Wizard, Cleric, Druid, or Sorcerer.

Use divinations to find the target. Use teleports, wind walk, shadow walk, tree stride, etc... to get to him quickly. Use powerful spells to subdue the target before he can even really react.



If you'd like, I made up a bounty hunter archetype for ranger of my own previously. Still could use more tweaking, probably via replacing some spells on the spell list with others. But pretty cool: http://www.enworld.org/forum/pathfinder-rpg-discussion/313863-bounty-hunter-ranger-archetype.html#post5728250

[Rift_Wolf]

Wizard, Cleric, Druid, or Sorcerer.

Use divinations to find the target. Use teleports, wind walk, shadow walk, tree stride, etc... to get to him quickly. Use powerful spells to subdue the target before he can even really react.



I think the OP was hoping for a bounty hunter as opposed to a scry-and-die. Whenever I'm putting together bounty hunters, assassins or brute squads, I go in with the mindset of 'Okay, how much can I achieve before spells have to get involved?'.

A while ago some (minor) cheese was suggested to me; sap adept deals extra damage with nonlethal bludgeoning weapons. Combine this with Merciful composite longbows of distance, pinpoint targeting (no distance penalty on that one), blunt arrows (deal bludgeoning instead of piercing damage) and sniper goggles.

Failing that, an assassin can choose to paralyse his target for a number of rounds. Tying someone up is a full-round action.

[Chained Birds]

I think the OP was hoping for a bounty hunter as opposed to a scry-and-die. Whenever I'm putting together bounty hunters, assassins or brute squads, I go in with the mindset of 'Okay, how much can I achieve before spells have to get involved?'.

A while ago some (minor) cheese was suggested to me; sap adept deals extra damage with nonlethal bludgeoning weapons. Combine this with Merciful composite longbows of distance, pinpoint targeting (no distance penalty on that one), blunt arrows (deal bludgeoning instead of piercing damage) and sniper goggles.

Failing that, an assassin can choose to paralyse his target for a number of rounds. Tying someone up is a full-round action.

How about a Merciful Musket? They do Bludgeoning damage too. :smalltongue:

[Waker]

How about a Merciful Musket? They do Bludgeoning damage too. :smalltongue:
Obviously you are shooting them with rubber bullets and bean bags.

[grarrrg]

Obviously you are shooting them with rubber bullets and bean bags.

Correction, Salt Shot (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/ammunition/alchemical-cartridges/salt-shot-cartridge)


And now that I think about it some more...
This is probably one of the few cases where Freebooter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/freebooter) Ranger would be a solid choice.

Makes good sense flavor-wise anyway.
Your Bounty could be anyone/anything, so having a "non-specific" favored enemy would fit quite nicely.

[doko239]

I've posted this build before, but...

Human Sniper Rogue, with Hunter's Eye and Poverty-Stricken traits, Sap Adept, Sap Master, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Bludgeoner feats. (Min level 5 with Combat Trick).

Carry a +1 Distance Composite Longbow (free proficiency from Hunter's Eye) with +X blunt arrows and wear Sniper's Goggles. (Required wealth is ~30000 gp, this is the hard part; WBL makes this 8th level). Carry an el-cheapo bludgeoning weapon for if things go badly.

Max Stealth, Survival (now a class skill from Poverty Stricken), Perception, Bluff skills. Rest to taste.

Begin combat by sneak attacking from 440 feet away with no attack penalty, dealing normal bow damage plus double sneak attack damage plus 2 damage per sneak attack die (at 5th level, assuming a Str of 10 and +0 Arrows, this is 1d8 + 6d6 + 12 (avg 38) nonlethal damage). You'll have 2 attacks in the surprise round, and assuming you win initiative you'll have another two on flat-footed targets. This should almost certainly be enough to take out any single level-appropriate target before they can react. Close in, tie them up, collect bounty.


Edit: Missed Chained Birds' mention of the build. Mmmmm, that's good cheese. :smallbiggrin: