How To Build Huntress in The Pathfinder RPG

The Huntress has gone through a lot of changes over the years. The name and persona were originally assigned to Helena Wayne, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle (alias Batman and Catwoman). When her mother died, Helena donned a costume of her own, and used the skills her parents taught her to find the man responsible, and bring him to justice. In alternative stories the mantle was worn by Helena Bertinelli, a mafia daughter who vows bloody vengeance when her whole family is wiped out by a rival gang. Both versions are swift, deadly, and precise. Both versions have been woven in and out of the Bat-family, which makes her a snug fit into this Gotham Knights character build series.

If you'd like to see the rest of the Gotham Knights, or if you'd prefer character builds for The Avengers or the cast of Game of Thrones, check out the Character Conversions page on Improved Initiative! And for more gaming articles, as well as associated geekery and weirdness, consider checking out my full Vocal archive while you're here!

Also if you've ever wondered why the costumes sported by our favorite vigilantes are just so damn strange looking, Why Do Superheroes Wear Their Underwear On The Outside? may have the answer to satisfy you.

The Stock (Attributes, Race, and Traits)

Like so many of the other heroes and vigilantes that make up Gotham, Huntress is human. Players are free to experiment with other races, but human is most accurate to the character, and the bonus feat at creation along with the extra skill point per level is certainly going to come in handy. Like Gotham's other protectors the Huntress doesn't have a “dump stat” per se, but emphasis should be placed on her Dexterity, Strength, and Constitution.

Her two starting traits are far from an easy decision. On the one hand, traits like Reactionary (+2 trait bonus to initiative) and Dangerously Curious (+1 trait bonus to use magic device, and use magic device is always a class skill for you) are always a good pair to have. However traits like Ambush Training (+1 trait bonus to initiative and a +1 to weapon damage rolls during any surprise round one acts in) or Soaring Sprinter (gain a +2 trait bonus to acrobatics attempts to keep your balance or jump, and acrobatics becomes a class skill for you) are also tempting choices.

When choosing traits, remember to look at the character and ask how often the bonuses will be used. While many traits sound cool, or fit well with the Huntress's background, keep in mind that a bonus you don't use is a bonus you might as well not have.

String (Class)

The Huntress stalks the concrete canyons and steel spires that make up her city. She slips from shadow to shadow, and she waits as patiently as any big cat for the right moment to strike. With her trademark crossbow, the Huntress is best realized as a ranger. Not just any ranger though; she should use the Urban Ranger archetype found in the Advanced Player's Guide. And if you want to make sure she doesn't have any spells (as Huntress doesn't have a pool of magic to rely on), you can combine this archetype with the Skirmisher in the same book!

New Abilities

There aren't too many differences between the urban archetype and the parent class. Urban rangers lose handle animal and knowledge (nature), but they gain disable device and knowledge (local). These skills will be invaluable for a vigilante who needs to know where the bad guys' headquarters is, and then stealthily sneak in. Urban rangers lose favored terrain, but gain favored communities. The bonuses don't change, and having a community the ranger can move through with ease makes more sense for an urban avenger. These rangers also gain trapfinding like rogues, and they can move through crowds as if they were made up of allies. At higher levels these masters of urban camouflage can vanish into crowds just as if they belonged there.

Favored Enemy

If the Huntress is going to be stalking street scum and putting down gang lords, then she's going to want humans as a favored enemy. If a gang of goblinoids, tieflings, half-orcs, or other kind of creature starts stirring up trouble, though, then it's a good idea to expand Huntress's repertoire of studied foes. Adapt as either the campaign requires, or as the character's experiences dictate.

Combat Style

The Huntress uses a crossbow, and despite the weapon's changing size and style in her comic and television portrayals it's remained a part of her repertoire. As such the crossbow style is really the way to go with her.

Alternative Class Option

The above class option was the one originally written for this guide, but since that time the Advanced Class Guide came out. So if you would rather have the sheer adaptability of the slayer over the ranger (with its ability to study any target, deal sneak attack damage, and to customize their talents a la carte), then this hybrid class will be right up your alley.

If you're sticking with the brutal killer aspect that made Huntress such an individual to be feared early on in her career, then the Executioner archetype out of Advanced Class Origins might be worth looking at. Especially if you want to sow fear, and leave a sea of blood in your wake.

Bolt (Skills and Feats)

It's hard work bringing vengeance to those on your hit list, and Huntress needs to have the right skills to get the job done. As such, she should have ranks in Climb (for getting to high places), Intimidate (for interrogation), Knowledge (local) [in order to get the best information on what's happening], Knowledge (dungeoneering) [so she's never caught off guard in a dungeon], Disable Device (for getting around pesky locks and traps), Perception (to see what the enemy is doing), and Stealth (so the enemy can't see her). Other skills the Huntress will find useful include Acrobatics, Use Magic Device, Sleight of Hand, and Survival.

Huntress, like the rest of the Gotham Knights, tends to engage the city's swollen, putrid underbelly fist-first. Since combat is a foregone conclusion, and since she comes loaded for bear, it's important to know which feats to take to maximize her deadliness. The following feats are quite useful, and her bonus style feats have been marked with an asterisk to show that no prerequisites need to be met for them when they're taken as part of her Crossbow Style (for those who are opting for Urban Ranger over Slayer).

Point Blank Shot (Core Rulebook 131) +1 to attack and damage with ranged weapons within 30 feet.

Precise Shot (Core Rulebook 131) Ignore the -4 penalty for firing into melee.

*Deadly Aim (Core Rulebook 121) Take a negative to attack, gain a bonus to damage with ranged weapons.

Rapid Reload (Core Rulebook 132) Reduce the action to reload a crossbow. Light crossbow reduced to a free action.

*Crossbow Mastery (Advanced Player's Guide) Reload any crossbow as a free action. Reloading for the type of crossbow you have Rapid Reload for doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity.

Rapid Shot (Core Rulebook 132) Make an additional attack with a bow or crossbow when making a full attack at a penalty.

Weapon Focus (Light Crossbow) (Core Rulebook 136) Gain +1 to attack when using a light crossbow.

*Pinpoint Targeting (Core Rulebook 131) Make a single attack, target gains no armor, natural armor, or shield bonuses.

These feats allow you to build the Huntress up to a very dangerous 10th level Urban Ranger. For those who want to give her additional options beyond her ranged striking though, Quarterstaff Master (Ultimate Magic 154), Skill Focus (Stealth) (Core Rulebook 134), and Hellcat Stealth (Cheliax: Empire of Devils) are all choice feats. Improved Initiative (Core Rulebook 127) and other miscellaneous combat feats are also useful, though they won't allow her to do any more damage.

The Trigger (Equipment and Story)

Whether she's a mafiosa out for blood or the vengeful daughter of Gotham City's greatest costumed characters, the Huntress tends to have quite the arsenal of tricks slung round her hips. For those who want to be ready for anything, it's important to come prepared.

Mundane Equipment

While it might sound silly, sometimes it's the non-magical equipment that can really make the difference. A silk rope and a grappling hook are often worth more than epic-level scrolls in a tight pinch, for instance. Chalk and candles weigh practically nothing, but can be great for marking a path and seeing in the dark without drawing attention. Alchemical items are your best friend, and it's a good idea to have plenty of tanglefoot bags and smokesticks on hand. It's a good idea to have plenty of bolts, and if you have the spare room, you should consider bringing a net and a lasso, too; there's nothing like an entangled opponent to make a challenging combat a little less dire. Lastly, caltrops can save your life when a chase is under way.

Weapons

The Huntress's main weapon is her crossbow, and it's a good idea to make it magical as soon as possible. However, while it's tempting to put a whole slew of enchantments on the weapon, it's a better idea to put specific elements or magical effects on her bolts, and to just boost the attack power of the crossbow itself. Fire and ice, acid and electricity, holy, bane, and wounding are all great, but different foes call for different enchantments. It's also a good idea to have backups, which is why a quarterstaff, cestus, spiked gauntlet, and shuriken are all handy things to have hidden about your person... just in case.

Armor

Much like Batman, the Huntress should wear light armor to maximize her mobility. With her additional range, enemies shouldn't be able to easily close with her before she can put them down. That said it's a good idea to invest in mithril armor, perhaps with the shadow or slick enchantments to make sure she doesn't get seen or grappled.

Miscellaneous Magical Items

It never hurts to have a few holdouts when it comes to additional magic items. An eversmoking bottle (Core Rulebook 513) and a set of fogcutter lenses (Ultimate Equipment) can give the Huntress a field of fire where her enemies will never be able to find her. A vest of escape (Core Rulebook 532) can grant much-needed bonuses to surpassing locks and getting out of grapples, where rings and pendants can provide immunity to poison, gas attacks, or ensure that she always has feather fall ready and waiting in case she takes a tumble off of a rooftop. The cloak of the bat (Core Rulebook 506) or cloak of elvenkind (Core Rulebook 507) can provide helpful boosts to stealth as well.

Story

Huntress has had a lot of different stories over the years, but before you put her into your Pathfinder game you need to ask yourself what her story is now. Is she a child of privilege who is lashing out against the corruption in her city? Is she someone who's seen the dark, seedy side of the city and realized that it's a jungle sure as any wilderness, and she's out to keep it in line? Or is she someone kept on call by the city council, given tacit permission to clean up in places where more traditional law enforcement simply hasn't gotten results?

If you're looking for further inspiration, consider some of the following:

- Who Is In Your Character's Rogues Gallery?: While Huntress might have the same problem as the Punisher when it comes to recurring villains (namely that there often aren't any left to return), it's still a good idea to ask who she stands against. That can go a long way to define her.

- 100 Gangs For Your Urban Campaigns: If you're looking for groups for Huntress to harass, then this collections is full of potential foes. And if you're looking for specific NPCs for her to hunt down, or to use as snitches and informants, then you might want to check out 100 Random Bandits to Meet as well.

- 100 Prisoners For a Fantasy Jail: Whether it's stalking the inmates of Arkham, or she's trying to get a line on accomplices for criminals who are still roaming free, there are dozens of interesting individuals who could be hindrances, or helps, in this supplement.