Close combat archer PrC

[Bloodlust]

I was wondering if there was a homebrew out there for a close combat archer that can use his longbow as a staff or club when things get messy. This would be more for flavor than for any real power reasons, plus I'm guessing that this type of archer would have to give up some ranged options. I got the idea from an R.A. Salvatore book, where there was special elven wood that was very strong and flexible and could be strung and unstrung very quickly.

Now that i think about it though, I guess it could be a magic longbow of some sort comboed with point blank shot, and weapon focus (staff). This way there wouldn't be any need for a PrC, but I still think it'd make a good one. Anyways, suggestions/input would be great.

[PhantomBread]

Actually, there is a bow upgrade in Races of the Wild called Elven craft that lets you treat shortbows as clubs and a longbow as a quarterstaff. Fun stuff.

[Bloodlust]

Interesting. I really would like to see a PrC devoloped around this idea. Any idea of what sort of abilities it would grant. I think knockback would have to be one.

[PhantomBread]

Perhaps a grapple or pin with the bow, I was thinking about this the other day, and might actually go through with it.

[Kyace]

Maybe something where if you shoot somebody within 30 feet, you don't provoke an AoO to help mesh the short-range-into-melee fighting.

[Quellian-dyrae]

I don't know, for some reason this class name sounds familiar. Huh. Anyway, maybe this'll suit you:


Kendo Archer

“You may as well come out,” the elf marked dryly. “Your presence has not gone unnoticed.”

“Good eyes,” the brigand congratulated with a coarse grin as he stepped out from behind the tree, along with his seven warriors. “But yer still surrounded,” he marked, waving his bared long sword for emphasis. Five other bandits mimicked his actions, while the last two raised their short bows, aiming steadily for the elf’s heart.

Riunel raised one eyebrow in eloquent query, as if to ask what that had to do with anything. In a single deft move, his own priceless bow came up, a pair of arrows set on the strings, aiming for the two brigand archers.

The bandit leader scoffed. “Oh aye, we’ll be takin’ yer bow as well, thanks. Let’s be smart, elf. There’s no way you’ll shoot us all down before we reach you.”

“That is an accurate assessment,” Riunel agreed, but rather than backing down, he let loose the two arrows. The archers were surprised, but not to the extent that they hesitated, their own shafts launching the elf’s way.

Riunel’s aim was true, his shots taking his foes perfectly through the hearts. Their attacks flew straight as well, but Riunel was far faster, his bow coming around in a practiced defensive spin before him, deflecting both arrows aside. The remaining brigands charged the elf, and there was no time to get off a final shot.

Nor was there a need to.

Gripping his bow with both hands at the center, Riunel advanced to meet his opponents, spinning and ducking to get beneath two sword strokes, coming up to strike one brigand in the back of the neck with his bow, dropping her into an unconscious heap. With the other end of his bow, he took a second foe in the throat, leaving him down and gasping for air that could not make its way through his crushed throat.

Another brigand thrust at the unarmored elf, but Riunel’s reflexes were just too quick, he pivoting from the attack and blocking another sword by the flat with his bow. Up and around in a whirling strike came the elf’s weapon, one end smashing into a bandit’s back, the other into one’s stomach, although that last attack was absorbed by the rogue’s studded leather.

The leader came in, then, deftly striking with a quick slash and shallow thrust. The first attack sliced Riunel’s side, but he evaded the second with elven agility, leaping up, foot planting on the flat of the blade just long enough for him to spring off in a backflip over the head of a bandit who tried to flank him. He came down with a powerful swing, hitting that thief full atop the head, knocking her out and reducing his workload to three.

That gave the elf a few feet of breathing space. Out came arrows, firing one, two, three. The first two finished the minions, the last glancing off their leader’s chain shirt.

The bandit needed no further incentive; he took off running, hoping only that the archer would not finish him off with arrows as he fled.

Archery is a difficult study, and few archers have any real training in melee arts. This lack is only coupled with the difficulties of defending in melee with a delicate bow, or trying to aim a shot when threatened by enemy warriors. Perhaps even moreso than mages, archers fear melee combat; a spell caster can always defensively cast a spell that might very well wipe out an entire force of surrounding foes, whereas an archer only gets one shot.

But the bow, at its most basic, is not much different from a very flexible staff. The only real problem with fighting in melee with a bow is that its curving length is rather awkward, and it is too likely to be damaged in parrying enemy attacks, especially slashing weapons. Some archers have sought out training to correct these difficulties.

Enter the arts of kendo, mastery of using rods, clubs, and staves in lethal combat. Sure, it takes some practice getting used to the odd shape of a bow for melee, and quite a bit of training to master the proper defensive maneuvers, but given time and training, a dedicated archer can use these skills to become a dangerous melee threat.

Most kendo archers were originally fighters, rangers, and sometimes rogues who took a couple levels of monk to learn the basics of the martial arts. Rather than simply relying un unarmed combat when foes get close, they hone their skills at using a bow in melee, becoming even more adept with their chosen weapon. This is a more difficult study, but kendo archers believe that it comes with greater benefits.

Adaptation: The rules for the kendo archer class can easily be adapted into a “kendo spearguard” class, which uses its kendo knowledge to wield polearms such as spears as quarterstaves against opponents inside its reach. Simply replace the Weapon Focus requirement to any polearm, change the bow wielding ability to allow for such use for polearms, and replace close combat shot with combat reflexes as a bonus feat (to be replaced by another feat for which it meets the prerequisites if it already has combat reflexes).

Prerequisites:
Base Attack Bonus: +5.
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Focus (any bow) or Rapid Shot, Combat Expertise.

Stats:
HD: d8.
SP: 4.
Skills: Balance, Climb, Craft, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble, Use Rope.
Proficiencies: None gained.

Kendo Archer
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special

1st|
+1|
+0|
+2|
+0|Monk Abilities, Flurry, Kendo Fighting, Bow Wielding

2nd|
+2|
+0|
+3|
+0|Take Care

3rd|
+3|
+1|
+3|
+1|Close Combat Shot

4th|
+4|
+1|
+4|
+1|Principles of Deflection

5th|
+5|
+1|
+4|
+1|

6th|
+6|
+2|
+5|
+2|Multiple Deflection

7th|
+7|
+2|
+5|
+2|

8th|
+8|
+2|
+6|
+2|Melee Deflection

9th|
+9|
+3|
+6|
+3|

10th|
+10|
+3|
+7|
+3|Eldritch Deflection[/table]

Monk Abilities (Ex): A kendo archer has the unarmored AC bonus, unarmed damage, and unarmored speed of a monk of its level. If it already has monk levels, kendo archer levels stack with them for these purposes.

Flurry (Ex): A kendo archer can perform a flurry of blows as a monk of equal level. If it already has monk levels, its kendo archer levels stack for purposes of its flurry of blows.

Kendo Fighting (Ex): A kendo archer is skilled in the use of stick-like weapons; the quarterstaff, club, nunchucks, and so on. When using such weapons, the kendo archer may utilize its flurry of blows ability and deflect arrows feat as normal. It also may use either its base weapon damage or its unarmed damage, whichever is better.

Bow Wielding (Ex): A kendo archer can use a bow as a melee weapon without penalty. A longbow functions as a quarterstaff, a short bow functions as a club. Any feats that apply to the bow (such as weapon focus) apply equally to both uses; archery feats (such as rapid shot) do not. The bow benefits from the kendo fighting ability when used in this manner; it does not benefit from kendo fighting when wielding a bow as a ranged weapon. Enchantments on the bow that can apply to both melee and ranged attacks (such as enhancement bonuses) apply for both methods of use (although if the bow is to be used as a double weapon, it must receive a separate enchantment for its second side).

Take Care (Ex): A kendo archer is trained at taking good care of its delicate bow in a melee situation. Starting at second level, the kendo archer adds its monk AC bonus (including its Wisdom modifier) to its opposed attack roll against attempts to sunder its bow or sever its bow string.

Close Combat Shot (Ex): A kendo archer of at least 3rd level can fire its bow in melee without provoking attacks of opportunity.

Principles of Deflection (Ex): A kendo archer of 4th level has mastered applying the principles of deflection to melee attacks, knocking swords aside by the flat of their blades, adjusting the momentum of heavy attacks rather than meeting them power to power, and so on. Whenever the kendo archer fights defensively, uses combat expertise, or takes the total defense action while wielding its bow as a melee weapon, its bonus to AC is increased by 50%.

Multiple Deflection (Ex): A kendo archer of 6th level is so skilled in the arts of deflection that it can utilize its deflect arrows feat a number of times per round equal to the number of attacks it is allowed due to its base attack bonus. For example, a Ftr4/Mon2/Ken6 (BAB +11) could deflect up to three arrows per round.

Melee Deflection (Ex): A kendo archer of at least eighth level can spend two of its deflect arrow attempts to try to deflect a melee attack. Since the archer uses deflective principles rather than straight power-to-power blocks, it can deflect attacks made by creatures of any size (although against larger creatures this tactic is better defined as pushing itself out of the way, rather than deflecting its foe’s attack).

Eldritch Deflection (Ex): A 10th level kendo archer is so good at deflection that it can even deflect ranged spells, doing so so quickly and surely that its bow is unharmed. It may now use its deflect arrows feat against any spell that requires a ranged touch attack.

[Kyace]

I'm not sure why Combat Expertise is a required feat.

[Quellian-dyrae]

They have a pretty strong defensive focus, and Principles of Deflection improves defensive fighting tactics. I always feel that abilities that improve defensive fighting should probably require the character know Combat Expertise.

[Telonius]

Interesting. A Fighter would be able to take this starting at 6th level, but a non-human Ranger (who might presumably be even more focused on archery than a Fighter) wouldn't be able to take it until 10th. I would change the Prereq to say "Weapon Focus (any Bow) or the Ranger's Improved Combat Style (archery) ability." That would allow a Ranger to take it starting at 7th level.

[Bloodlust]

WOW. That's pretty darn cool. That is almost exactly what I had in mind flavor wise. very cool. is that your own creation?

[Quellian-dyrae]

Yeah...I'm apparently on some sort of monk-alternative streak. Anyway, glad you like it.

Far as the ranger goes...yeah, okay, may as well make it easier for them.

[Roderick_BR]

Maybe something where if you shoot somebody within 30 feet, you don't provoke an AoO to help mesh the short-range-into-melee fighting.
There's an epic feat that allows it. It could be turned into a class feature for a prestige class so you could get it pre-epic.