I had a 3.5 character, fighter-skirmisher with point blank shot and a mix of spears, javelins and buckler. It was a great class and point blank shot negated the penalty for slightly lower str and higher dex.
At low levels i was nasty, slaying orcs left right and centre whether they were next...
Yes and of course there is a hidden subtext in playing any 'striker'. Strikers produce 3 cool effects only one of which is a strike....
-Range damage before contact (probably 1st round only), ranger + sneak attack means molto damage! Enjoy those fistfulls of dice at 1st level!
-Supression fire...