Path of War Backport: good or bad idea?

[PraxisVetli]

So, I've a Ranger (bow) in my group having trouble with keeping up. She's not overly interested in ACF's, but is jealous of most the other characters having ToB options.
Unfortunately, ToB can't help her.
But Path of War (so I hear) can.
Apparently, they've created a few new disciplines, one of which, Solar Wind, is ranged based. Anyone have any experience with it, is it worth backporting? I just want a layout before I start puttin down money.

[Nihilarian]

I don't have any experience with Path of War, but it's certainly possible to use ToB with archery. More difficult than melee, but not impossible.

In addition, there are other ways of getting better at archery, if you're interested. Are you dead set on initiator classes or would you take suggestions? It would help if we knew what level you were.

[PraxisVetli]

I don't have any experience with Path of War, but it's certainly possible to use ToB with archery. More difficult than melee, but not impossible.

In addition, there are other ways of getting better at archery, if you're interested. Are you dead set on initiator classes or would you take suggestions? It would help if we knew what level you were.

Well Initiators are ideal, though far be it from me to turn down advice!

[Seerow]

Well Initiators are ideal, though far be it from me to turn down advice!

Here's a few builds that incorporate ToB into ranged characters:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29232415/
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29415303/
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29449385/

Another Ranged build from the same showcase that doesn't use ToB, but is pretty cool:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29255309/


Great resource for cool archery builds:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284283




That said, I don't think there's a problem with backporting Path of War. My biggest issue would be that I'm pretty sure it's still in testing (or at least the physical book hasn't been published yet). You should be able to use most of the material there with minimal changes.

[Nihilarian]

1) Hank's Energy Bow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061227a). It's the best bow in the game, and every archer should consider it. Later, consider getting it enchanted with the Splitting (Champions of Ruin) and Seeking (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm#seeking) enchantments

2) Take a psionic class and grab Dissolving Weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/dissolvingWeapon.htm). Ardent and Psychic Warrior get it the easiest, everyone else has to burn a feat. Notably the duration is instantaneous, which means it lasts as long as you need it to. Spend your off days manifesting it on arrows one by one, so you can fire them later in the week. Manifester level of 20 will net you a total of 12d6 acid damage per arrow with no PP expenditure on that day, and that's without optimization. There' a lot of other powers that could be useful as well, like Hustle.

3) If you are human, seriously consider the Chameleon PrC. Any spell, from any list, arcane or divine, up to 6th level with a caster level of 20. There are lots of great archery spells. Champions of Ruin has a lot of spells you cast directly on the arrow. You might need to ask the DM to let you retrain in order to qualify.

4) Tome of Battle. Focus on counters, stances and boosts. Strikes tend to specify melee. If you make it to high enough level, you could go Eternal Blade, which should work fine for an archer.

5) Incarnum. I'm not very familiar with incarnum, but I hear they can make effective archers.

[PraxisVetli]

Here's a few builds that incorporate ToB into ranged characters:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29232415/
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29415303/
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29449385/

Another Ranged build from the same showcase that doesn't use ToB, but is pretty cool:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29255309/


Great resource for cool archery builds:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284283




That said, I don't think there's a problem with backporting Path of War. My biggest issue would be that I'm pretty sure it's still in testing (or at least the physical book hasn't been published yet). You should be able to use most of the material there with minimal changes.

Those are pretty sick!
One of the things that promoted me towards Path of War, is that the Player in question doesn't have a lot of time for character building, and is fairly new to the game. So a Discipline specifically for her would be pretty cool. Also, the Stalker class that accompanies it would actually be pretty great for her. Having her grab Zen Archery early on sounds like she could be almost SAD.
Which is great!

[Nihilarian]

Those are pretty sick!
One of the things that promoted me towards Path of War, is that the Player in question doesn't have a lot of time for character building, and is fairly new to the game. So a Discipline specifically for her would be pretty cool. Also, the Stalker class that accompanies it would actually be pretty great for her. Having her grab Zen Archery early on sounds like she could be almost SAD.
Which is great!Are you the DM?

[PraxisVetli]

1) Hank's Energy Bow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061227a). It's the best bow in the game, and every archer should consider it. Later, consider getting it enchanted with the Splitting (Champions of Ruin) and Seeking (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm#seeking) enchantments

2) Take a psionic class and grab Dissolving Weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/dissolvingWeapon.htm). Ardent and Psychic Warrior get it the easiest, everyone else has to burn a feat. Notably the duration is instantaneous, which means it lasts as long as you need it to. Spend your off days manifesting it on arrows one by one, so you can fire them later in the week. Manifester level of 20 will net you a total of 12d6 acid damage per arrow with no PP expenditure on that day, and that's without optimization. There' a lot of other powers that could be useful as well, like Hustle.

3) If you are human, seriously consider the Chameleon PrC. Any spell, from any list, arcane or divine, up to 6th level with a caster level of 20. There are lots of great archery spells. Champions of Ruin has a lot of spells you cast directly on the arrow. You might need to ask the DM to let you retrain in order to qualify.

4) Tome of Battle. Focus on counters, stances and boosts. Strikes tend to specify melee. If you make it to high enough level, you could go Eternal Blade, which should work fine for an archer.

5) Incarnum. I'm not very familiar with incarnum, but I hear they can make effective archers.

This is an issue. The player in question has no interest in Casting (leave all tier comments at the door people), so Most of these don't do a whole lot of good. I'll look at Eternal Blade, if it can help, I'd be more than happy to show it to her! Especially if we can finagle Stalker to qualify.
Second, no one in my area knows Incarnum, and we're all too lazy to learn it lol.
Third, I'm DM, and Retraining is kind of what this is about, it's why I'm so curious on this new shindiggle.

[Nihilarian]

This is an issue. The player in question has no interest in Casting (leave all tier comments at the door people), so Most of these don't do a whole lot of good. I'll look at Eternal Blade, if it can help, I'd be more than happy to show it to her! Especially if we can finagle Stalker to qualify.
Second, no one in my area knows Incarnum, and we're all too lazy to learn it lol.
Third, I'm DM, and Retraining is kind of what this is about, it's why I'm so curious on this new shindiggle.Eternal Blade would be a bad fit for the Stalker. Different attribute focuses, lower BAB and no Devoted Spirit or Diamond Mind maneuvers. If you do end up back porting it, just use the options in PoW.

And make sure the change is something she wants.

[PraxisVetli]

Eternal Blade would be a bad fit for the Stalker. Different attribute focuses, lower BAB and no Devoted Spirit or Diamond Mind maneuvers. If you do end up back porting it, just use the options in PoW.

And make sure the change is something she wants.

OF COURSE!
Never would I force something on a player. I'm merely trying to provide options, she's a fulltime worker, and fulltime student. So I'm trying to produce a list of options for her, to help her out.

And sure, We might just do that then.

[Nihilarian]

ALSO: Hank's Energy Bow. Almost every archer should have one. It's very good.

[Ziegander]

This is an issue. The player in question has no interest in Casting (leave all tier comments at the door people), so Most of these don't do a whole lot of good.

She's playing a Ranger, that really needs its spells to shine, yet she has no interest in casting. At the same time, she wants Tome of Battle style maneuvers, which are not dissimilar to spells. I... what is... I don't even... :smallconfused:

If she wants options, then Rangers have plenty of great archery spells. Hunter's Eye, Hunter's Mercy, Arrow Mind, Arrow Storm, etc. Look in the Spell Compendium. Do a google search for Ranger spells.

If she doesn't want "magic," then Solar Wind isn't really going to help either. It's full of supernatural abilities.

EDIT:
So I'm trying to produce a list of options for her, to help her out.

Ah, well more power to you then. Good luck!

[PraxisVetli]

She's playing a Ranger, that really needs its spells to shine, yet she has no interest in casting. At the same time, she wants Tome of Battle style maneuvers, which are not dissimilar to spells. I... what is... I don't even... :smallconfused:

If she wants options, then Rangers have plenty of great archery spells. Hunter's Eye, Hunter's Mercy, Arrow Mind, Arrow Storm, etc. Look in the Spell Compendium. Do a google search for Ranger spells.

If she doesn't want "magic," then Solar Wind isn't really going to help either. It's full of supernatural abilities.

EDIT:

Ah, well more power to you then. Good luck!
LOL.
I hear you.
But, whatever. If that's what the player wants, that's what the player wants.
And oh yeah, I know CoR has all those hilarious Ranger Spells.
HILARIOUS.