[New Class] Gnomish Arbalester: two drafts, feedback invited

In roughing out a custom class to represent a gnomish arbalester, I found myself torn in two directions:

a) sneaky, distanced sniper
b) heavily-armored, drop-the-missile-weapon-when-necessary fighter.

Does either feel more correct to you? Any refinements/improvements you can think of for either?

Gnomish Arbalester A Gnome 0 Hit Dice 1 Fighting 1b Thief 2 Arcane 0 Divine 0

XP: 1650 = 250 + 500 + 500 + 400

Weapons: bows/crossbow, flails/hammers/maces
Armor: leather
Fighting Style: two-handed weapons

Thief Skills
Backstab
Climb Walls
Hide in Shadows
Move Silently

Trade-offs
Reduce weapon selection from Unrestricted to Broad
Reduce weapon selection from Broad to Narrow
Eliminate one fighting style
Eliminate one thief skill
1 initial skill for 1 skill at 5th and 1 skill at 9th

Custom Powers
Accuracy
Precise Shot
Sniping
Precise Shot at 5th
Precise Shot at 9th

Gnomish Arbalester B Gnome 0 Hit Dice 1 Fighting 2 Thief 1 Arcane 0 Divine 0

XP: 2100 = 250 + 500 + 1000 (+ 150) + 200

Weapons: axes/flails/hammers/maces, all missile weapons
Armor: any
Fighting Style: any

Trade-offs
Eliminate three thief skills
Reduce weapon selection from Unrestricted to Broad
1 initial skill for 1 skill at 5th and 1 skill at 9th

Custom Powers
1st: Ambush, Precise Shot, Sniping
5th: Precise Shot, Battlefield Prowess
9th: Precise Shot

I like the first one. I personally don’t envision gnomes as being a natural fit for melee.

I agree with Beragon; Arbalester A is the way to go for gnomes. Maybe re-purpose B as a dwarf arbalester.

+1 to what J Bennett said… the second arbalester would work well for a dwarf.

Thanks, all for the feedback. A felt right to me, too, but I just couldn’t shake the idea of a long nose emerging from a wee suit of plate. :slight_smile:

Ha! Do that anyway… gnomes are known for “tinkering” are they not? I think your players will get a kick out of some crazy gnome trying to hold the front line encased in full armor that doesn’t quite protect his nose!