D&D 3E/3.5 Building an archer, Pathfinder/3.5 home game

[Sunseeker]

I will be participating in an upcoming Pathfinder/3.5 homegame, it's a Drow-centric, evil-party type game and I'm looking to fill our ranged/sniper spot as after all your wonderful help I've come to be very fond of the Ranger class.

However, what I'm looking for isn't so much a ranger, but simply an archer who does A: a few powerful hits, or B: multiple moderately-powerful hits.

There are a few things I'm already eyeing for this.
1: I plan on utilizing one of the various races available that will give me flight(I like flight), this will also likely burn me a feat slot. At the moment I'm shooting for some sort of tiefling utilizing the new Blood of Fiends or an evil aasimir, depending on if the DM lets me apply the aasamir's flight alternate ability from Blood of Angels to a tiefling(he's pretty much said yes, but still).
2: I would like to be using a greatbow, really for no other reason than it sounds freaking awesome.


But overall, I'm not sure if a Fighter would work out better for this, or a Ranger, I won't really be using the animal companion(I hate pets), and I'm rather indifferent to using spells(though I realize some Ranger spells are quite good). I've run a pet-less ranger before and it worked fine so I'm not concerned on that loss there.

I would like some pointers from folks more familiar with 3.5/Pathfinder than I on if it would be better to go Ranger or Fighter as a base class, or something else entirely, and some suggested build advise.

Thanks!

 

[gamerprinter]

If you don't mind 3PP, Rite Publishing's Way of the Samurai features a Samurai archetype called Yabusame, essentially an archer whose focus is on distance and accuracy, not lobbing swarms of arrows. Many of his extraordinary powers are special standard action bow shots, thus one shot per round, but devastating. He has far challenge to replace a samurai's normal challenge.

I drow samurai?! I just say refluff the description to fit a drow, or better yet, an honorable drow might make for an interesting PC among a party of evil drow. You can be honorable and evil, but it's a challenge.

I know it's a completely different way to go, but just something to consider, as it seems to fit your premise.

 

[Mad Hamish]

If it's well built the fighter will do more damage (a ranger might catch up if up against favoured enemies), the ranger gives you more options (more skills, spells, special abilities etc)

Note that the ranger can pick to buff his companions against favoured enemies instead of taking an animal companion.

Both are very playable and it comes down to what you want to play

 

[Sunseeker]

If you don't mind 3PP, Rite Publishing's Way of the Samurai features a Samurai archetype called Yabusame, essentially an archer whose focus is on distance and accuracy, not lobbing swarms of arrows. Many of his extraordinary powers are special standard action bow shots, thus one shot per round, but devastating. He has far challenge to replace a samurai's normal challenge.

I drow samurai?! I just say refluff the description to fit a drow, or better yet, an honorable drow might make for an interesting PC among a party of evil drow. You can be honorable and evil, but it's a challenge.

I know it's a completely different way to go, but just something to consider, as it seems to fit your premise.

I don't particularly enjoy asian-fluffed concepts and classes, they always feel grossly misappropriated.(pet peeve)

That aside, I have a terrible inclination to play goodie-two-shoes types and would like to for one play someone, almost mustache-twirling evil.

 

[gamerprinter]

I don't particularly enjoy asian-fluffed concepts and classes, they always feel grossly misappropriated.(pet peeve).

It's certainly not for everybody, though I've attempted not to be 'grossly misappropriated', especially for non-caster classes, I've tried to stick closer to historical inspirations, rather than 'wahoo' cinematic concepts.

I don't particularly care for most others' attempts at asian-fluffed concepts, and one of the reasons I'm developing mine the way I have.

 

[HatedRogue]

3rd party publisher.

Advanced Class has a hunter class in it. The class works by obtaining positions and attacking from them. If your able to find ways to stack your positions you do more damage.

examples of positions are:
Single Shot Benefit: as a full round action you make one ranged attack and add 2d6 to the damage.
Steady Breath Benefit: Give up your swift action to gain 1d6 damage on all ranged attacks that round.
Motionless Benefit:You can become flatfooted till the start of your next round but add 1d6 damage to all your ranged
attacks.
Higher Ground Benefit: If you are above your target by 5 feet or more you add 1d6 damage to all attacks.
Long Benefit: When at a full range increment from your target add 1d6 damage to ranged attacks.

You gain positions as much like a rogue gets sneak attack.

The hunter gets a style as well, that gives him special abilities'
Styles:
Breed Master
City Hunter
Occult Huntsman
Trap Master
Trophy Hunter

Well you get the idea. This might work for you.
Advanced Class and NPC - Wordcasting Entertainment | DriveThruRPG.com
or
paizo.com - Error

 

[Squire James]

I would go either pure Fighter, or a mostly-pure Fighter with a few Rogue (sniper) levels to extend that 30 ft sneak attack range a bit.

Since damage bonuses will be harder to get than for melee types, bonus dice are golden. Elemental dice, holy dice, and Bane dice if one creature type is a common enemy are all good (and occasionally sneak attack dice if you have some Rogue). Your attack rolls will likely be very good, so Deadly Aim is very important for low-AC foes.

 

[ibayboy]

I've just finished a Kingmaker campaign with a PF Ranger13/Fighter2/Horizon Walker2. Damage output was slightly above the Fighter/Rogue, mainly due to number of attacks.
This was our first PF ruleset game, so we weren't fully optimized. We didn't even realise how good archery had become.
Points we 'discovered', manyshot and rapid shot stack. Deadly Aim is mandatory. Ranger spell Instant Enemy is your friend, Holy bow with Bane arrows to suit.
The ranger owned in the skill dept, even before Fav Enemy and Fav Terrain bonuses went on.

All in all a perfect character for Kingmaker.imo

 

[Sunseeker]

I would never turn down rapid or manyshot. All far too fun. Especially since we'd be starting at level 10.

I've done some cooking with the classes and the biggest upside to the Fighter is the insane number of feats. I've taken most of the things I can think of and still have about 3-4 feats slots left over.

Browsing through the Pathfinder OGC, I found a Hunter class which basically gains "sneak attack" at slower intervals, provided I can deny them their Dex bonus to AC, which shouldn't be terribly hard, given I'm looking at a standard range of some 100yards.

The biggest difference I've noticed between the Fighter and the Hunter/Ranger, is that you lose accuracy and guaranteed damage for situational greater accuracy and situational greater damage. And of course, you miss out on a good dozen feats.

I like the addition of sneak attack damage to the Ranger in the Hunter, as I really have no use for most of the spells or the pet in the Ranger(instant enemy is a good one tho).

Though I can stack 2d6 on to a magic item through stacking special magic damage stuff and probably come close to the same average damage while maintaining higher accuracy, feats and such.

 

[ibayboy]

Browsing through the Pathfinder OGC, I found a Hunter class which basically gains "sneak attack" at slower intervals, provided I can deny them their Dex bonus to AC, which shouldn't be terribly hard, given I'm looking at a standard range of some 100yards.

Can you point me to that archetype.
Does the 'sneak attack' still work at 100yds?