SexyPlantLover
2012-05-30, 11:17 PM
I wanted to share a build for a Pathfinder only game. It's a gunslinger that stands next to it's target. It requires a definition of flank based on the requirement that flanking, even though it says on a melee attack, can be done as long as you threaten, but you don't get the +2 bonus. Not every group may agree with this train of thought, but I don't recall a rule that ranged attacks specifically can't flank, only that melee can.
Flanking
When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner.
When in doubt about whether two characters flank an opponent in the middle, trace an imaginary line between the two attackers' centers. If the line passes through opposite borders of the opponent's space (including corners of those borders), then the opponent is flanked.
Exception: If a flanker takes up more than 1 square, it gets the flanking bonus if any square it occupies counts for flanking.
Only a creature or character that threatens the defender can help an attacker get a flanking bonus.
Creatures with a reach of 0 feet can't flank an opponent.
Threatened Squares
You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.
Snap Shot (Combat)
With a ranged weapon, you can take advantage of any opening in your opponent’s defenses.
Prerequisite: Dex 13, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus, base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: While wielding a ranged weapon with which you have Weapon Focus, you threaten squares within 5 feet of you. You can make attacks of opportunity with that ranged weapon. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when making a ranged attack as an attack of opportunity.
Normal: While wielding a ranged weapon, you threaten no squares and can make no attacks of opportunity with that weapon.
Snap Shot says you threaten. Flanking says only a creature that threatens can help give a flanking bonus, and when in doubt if a creature is flanking the only requirement is to draw a line through the opponent's space. Although it calls out melee attacks, that's because normally ranged weapons don't threaten. That general is trumped by Snap Shot's specific.
(And the feat Ranged Flank doesn't make this illegal, it is seperate because it lets you make a ranged flank attack from up to 30 ft away.)
One note, this build has some baggage from the campaign and my playstyle. She was a drow witch lvl2 who died earlier in the game who was a fortune-teller and now wants to find and kill a rival, a summoner. We are adding 10th lvl characters when we lost players and I wanted to reincarnate her but hated to be gimped compared to the others by the spell reincarnate. So she's based on that character and the song "Bullet In My Hand" by Redlight King. All my characters have to be skillful and have a trick for every situation, and this one needed to make her own gear to afford all the fun stuff I wanted. I have no idea how well it works at lower levels.
The Build:
Gunslinger 5 / Bandit Sniper Rogue 4 / Divination Specialist Wizard 1
Race: Strix (they can fly! and have a +2 Dex, -2 Cha)
20pt buy: Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8. Ability bonuses into Dex and Int.
Traits: Vetern of Battle (init bonus, can draw a weapon for free if you can act in surprise round). Magical Knack (+2 caster level)
Gunslinger levels are standard. Only deed that matters is +2 Init.
Rogue archetype Sniper (lets you increase sneak attack range by 10ft) and Bandit (when you can act in a surprise round you can take a move, standard, and swift action). Take the rogue talent Slow Reactions (opponents damaged by sneak attack can't take attacks of opportunity for 1 round)
Wizard Divination (school lets you always act in surprise round and gives init bonus). I wanted a Rhamphaphynchus familiar for the init bonus and previous characteration, so I didn't take the bonded gun.
Skills: 70 total. With every skill as a class skill, I maxed Acrobatics, Perception, Spellcraft, and Stealth, put a couple into all knowledges and sprinkled the others around to get the most out of the class skill bonuses. And this character needed Craft Alchemy and Leatherworking and Profession Fortune-teller.
Feats: (I don't know if the order is legal, but I'm sure it can be depending on the order you take your levels)
1. Point Blank Shot
3. Precise Shot
5. Deadly Aim
7. Rapid Shot
9. Craft Wondrous Item
Gunslinger 1 Bonus. Gunsmithing
Gunslinger 4 Bonus. Snap Shot
Rogue Talent. Weapon Focus (pistol)
Wizard 1 Bonus. Scribe Scroll
Wizard Familiar Bonus. Alertness
Wielding a Large +1 Distance, Reliable Revolver (if can't have revolver, get Rapid Reload. Large revolvers are legal with a -2 attack and do 2d6 dmg)
Items: Sniper Goggles, Cloak of Displacement, Vest of all Tools, Belt of Dex +2, +2 Mithral Shirt, +1 Buckler, Handy Haversack with pouch of Abundant Ammunition, Ioun Stone of Muleback Cords, Pearl of Power, and sundry other items.
Game Plan:
Step 1. Go in the surprise round, do 17-37 damage from 40ft away against touch AC.
Step 2. Go before enemy in 1st round, do 51-111 total damage on 3 attacks at 9/9/4.
Step 3. Reload and move to flank. Since you hurt them with sneak attack, they can't take AoO and with AC of 24 and 20% miss change, you'll be alright when they attack.
Step 4. ???
Step 5. Loot
Flanking
When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner.
When in doubt about whether two characters flank an opponent in the middle, trace an imaginary line between the two attackers' centers. If the line passes through opposite borders of the opponent's space (including corners of those borders), then the opponent is flanked.
Exception: If a flanker takes up more than 1 square, it gets the flanking bonus if any square it occupies counts for flanking.
Only a creature or character that threatens the defender can help an attacker get a flanking bonus.
Creatures with a reach of 0 feet can't flank an opponent.
Threatened Squares
You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.
Snap Shot (Combat)
With a ranged weapon, you can take advantage of any opening in your opponent’s defenses.
Prerequisite: Dex 13, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus, base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: While wielding a ranged weapon with which you have Weapon Focus, you threaten squares within 5 feet of you. You can make attacks of opportunity with that ranged weapon. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when making a ranged attack as an attack of opportunity.
Normal: While wielding a ranged weapon, you threaten no squares and can make no attacks of opportunity with that weapon.
Snap Shot says you threaten. Flanking says only a creature that threatens can help give a flanking bonus, and when in doubt if a creature is flanking the only requirement is to draw a line through the opponent's space. Although it calls out melee attacks, that's because normally ranged weapons don't threaten. That general is trumped by Snap Shot's specific.
(And the feat Ranged Flank doesn't make this illegal, it is seperate because it lets you make a ranged flank attack from up to 30 ft away.)
One note, this build has some baggage from the campaign and my playstyle. She was a drow witch lvl2 who died earlier in the game who was a fortune-teller and now wants to find and kill a rival, a summoner. We are adding 10th lvl characters when we lost players and I wanted to reincarnate her but hated to be gimped compared to the others by the spell reincarnate. So she's based on that character and the song "Bullet In My Hand" by Redlight King. All my characters have to be skillful and have a trick for every situation, and this one needed to make her own gear to afford all the fun stuff I wanted. I have no idea how well it works at lower levels.
The Build:
Gunslinger 5 / Bandit Sniper Rogue 4 / Divination Specialist Wizard 1
Race: Strix (they can fly! and have a +2 Dex, -2 Cha)
20pt buy: Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8. Ability bonuses into Dex and Int.
Traits: Vetern of Battle (init bonus, can draw a weapon for free if you can act in surprise round). Magical Knack (+2 caster level)
Gunslinger levels are standard. Only deed that matters is +2 Init.
Rogue archetype Sniper (lets you increase sneak attack range by 10ft) and Bandit (when you can act in a surprise round you can take a move, standard, and swift action). Take the rogue talent Slow Reactions (opponents damaged by sneak attack can't take attacks of opportunity for 1 round)
Wizard Divination (school lets you always act in surprise round and gives init bonus). I wanted a Rhamphaphynchus familiar for the init bonus and previous characteration, so I didn't take the bonded gun.
Skills: 70 total. With every skill as a class skill, I maxed Acrobatics, Perception, Spellcraft, and Stealth, put a couple into all knowledges and sprinkled the others around to get the most out of the class skill bonuses. And this character needed Craft Alchemy and Leatherworking and Profession Fortune-teller.
Feats: (I don't know if the order is legal, but I'm sure it can be depending on the order you take your levels)
1. Point Blank Shot
3. Precise Shot
5. Deadly Aim
7. Rapid Shot
9. Craft Wondrous Item
Gunslinger 1 Bonus. Gunsmithing
Gunslinger 4 Bonus. Snap Shot
Rogue Talent. Weapon Focus (pistol)
Wizard 1 Bonus. Scribe Scroll
Wizard Familiar Bonus. Alertness
Wielding a Large +1 Distance, Reliable Revolver (if can't have revolver, get Rapid Reload. Large revolvers are legal with a -2 attack and do 2d6 dmg)
Items: Sniper Goggles, Cloak of Displacement, Vest of all Tools, Belt of Dex +2, +2 Mithral Shirt, +1 Buckler, Handy Haversack with pouch of Abundant Ammunition, Ioun Stone of Muleback Cords, Pearl of Power, and sundry other items.
Game Plan:
Step 1. Go in the surprise round, do 17-37 damage from 40ft away against touch AC.
Step 2. Go before enemy in 1st round, do 51-111 total damage on 3 attacks at 9/9/4.
Step 3. Reload and move to flank. Since you hurt them with sneak attack, they can't take AoO and with AC of 24 and 20% miss change, you'll be alright when they attack.
Step 4. ???
Step 5. Loot