Character Concepts: Hawkeye - Half-Orc Seeker

D&Di debuted the upcoming PHB3 Seeker class today. The popular speculation was that this would be another Divine Striker, come to find out that the Seeker is actually a Primal Controller.

Just goes to show what wild speculation is worth :\

Yes...the Primal power source already has a formidable and compelling controller class in the Druid...but as it turns out, the Seeker is utterly and completely it's own animal and vastly different from all of the other controller classes.

The most unique thing about the Seeker is that this class does not utilize implements like other controller classes to focus her evocations, but instead relies on ranged weapons such as bows, crossbows and thrown projectiles. A lot of the Seeker's powers involve loosing arrows wreathed in a swirling maelstrom of spiritual power that upon contact with the foe, creating area of effects that damage or hinder surrounding enemies. Some powers create terrain altering zones as well.

The Seeker is Wisdom based, with secondary effects keying off of Strength or Dexterity. Their primary class feature, Inevitable Shot, allows them to make a ranged basic attack against a nearby enemy when they miss their primary target. Also many of her evocations state that they can be used as a ranged basic attack. This makes the Seeker an effective secondary striker, as they are almost always doing damage.

The Seeker class also offers two different builds to choose from, each with it's own "Seeker's Bond" encounter power. The Bloodbond, which was detailed in the D&Di preview, grants the Encaging Spirits encounter power. This creates a burst effect that pushes and slows enemies as a minor action. In addition, this class feature also allows the Seeker to shift as a minor action while not wearing heavy armor.

The article, written by Robert J. Schwalb, with design commentary by himself and Stephen Radney-MacFarland, also details to Prestige classes: The Crimson Hunter, who is like a vengeful primal assassin, and has features that mostly promote their secondary striker effects. The Seven Fates Archer is a spirit talking Seeker who is purely about control.

All in all, the Seeker class is very jizz-worthy. If I had known about this before, I would probably have utilized this class for Antioch's primal-centric "Songs of Erui" campaign rather than my Shifter Archery Ranger, Greymalkin. Simply put, I want to play this class like a motherfucker.

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Which brings me to my character concept: Hawk-Eye, the Half-Orc Seeker.

Since the Seeker class is Wisdom and Dexterity based, Elves are about the most perfect choice, with Razorclaw Shifters nipping at their heels.

But optimal is boring to me...so I decided to go with a Half-Orc (my personal favorite race across all my years of playing D&D. I have yet to play one in 4E though, alas.)Partially because the Half-Orc is usually characterized as a savage fighter who relishes in melee combat, and I wanted to change it up, and partially because their Furious Assault power and Dexterity bonus lend themselves well to the Strikery-ness of the Seeker.

In addition, I decided to go with the Ranger multiclass, to increase damage output and open up a whole world of archery based feats and Paragon Paths. At some point, during the heroic levels, Hawkeye would be taking feats like Weapon Expertise: Bows, Weapon Proficiency: Greatbow, Distant Advantage, Lethal Hunter, Weapon Focus: Bows, etc.

In paragon levels, I would probably have Hawk-Eye take the Battlefeild Archer PP, to bolster his hit% and Battlefield Experience + AOE=sad DM : )


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Hawkeye
Half-Orc Seeker, level 1
Inevitable Shot, Seeker's Bond: Bloodbond, Hunter's Quarry (Ranger MC)
Background: Forest (+2 Perception)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 14, Dex 16, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 8.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 14, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 8.


AC: 15 Fort: 12 Reflex: 14 Will: 14
HP: 26 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 6

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +8, Athletics +6, Perception +11, Nature +8, Perception +10, Stealth +8

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +0, Bluff -1, Diplomacy -1, Dungeoneering +3, Endurance +4, Heal +3,
History +0, Insight +3, Intimidate +1, Religion +0, Streetwise -1, Thievery +3


FEATS
Level 1: Warrior of the Wild (Ranger Multiclass)


POWERS
Seeker at-will 1: Elemental Spirits
Seeker at-will 1: Stinging Swarm
Seeker encounter 1: Spider Spirits
Seeker daily 1: Storm of Spirit Shards

Half-Orc encounter: Furious Assault

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit
Leather Armor
Longbow
Quiver (30 arrows)
Mace

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