20th level archer - how to boost damage?

[RangerWickett]

I'm making characters for a one-shot. The archer has a +40 attack bonus, but does only 2d6+d6 fire +11 per hit. How can I do more damage?

 

[JoelF]

Can you say where your damage is coming from already so we can suggest things you don't already have?

 

[paradox42]

Improved Critical is the first thing that leaps to my mind. Assuming you're using a mighty bow, and I don't see how you could be doing +11 damage without one, then it should have a crit multiplier of x3. So, anything to boost your ability to make critical hits will boost your damage significantly.

Also, consider adding more elemental types to your bow; presumably it's already Flaming since you deal Fire damage, but you can add more for relatively little cost. Flaming + Shock should be allowed by any DM, and some DMs might not have an objection to allowing Flaming + Frost on the same weapon (which would be even more helpful as creatures that are immune to one damage type are often vulnerable to the other).

Edit: I looked it up in the DMG, and by the RAW Flaming and Frost are perfectly legal to have together on the same weapon, though I know some DMs object to this on "realism" or roleplay concerns. So I'd suggest going that route if you can.

Also, along similar lines, you might try Truebane from the recent issue of Dragon (#345; it's in the article on Kostchtchie). With regular Bane weapons you're out of luck if you encounter something other than the creature the weapon's baneful against, but Truebane lets it switch types every time it hits a new target. This, of course, requires that your DM allow this quality into the game, but at least it's from a semi-official source so that helps.

 

[RangerWickett]

I'm making characters for a one-shot. The archer has a +40 attack bonus, but does only 2d6+d6 fire +11 per hit. How can I do more damage?

BAB +20, Dex 30 (base 20, +6 item, +4 from leveling). +5 weapon, +4 feats, +2 bracers, +1 ioun stone competence bonus. Total attack bonus +42, oversized weapon goes to +40.

Strength is only 16.

Weapon focus, spec, greater focus, spec, ranged weapon mastery. Those get me +4 attack, +6 damage.

+5 distance flaming speed large composite longbow (Str 16).

Damage is 2d6+1d6 fire +15 (I forgot to add bracers bonus and strength). I have improved crit, rapid shot, and all those, so I'll be making lots of attacks. Typically it'll be +38/+38/+38/+33/+28/+23 with rapid shot and a speed weapon.

 

[Iku Rex]

Fighter 20?

 

[saucercrab]

What's the class/PrC makeup?

Deepwood sniper in Masters of the Wild increases the crit multiplier for a bow. There's also an archer PrC in FR's Silver Marches that has a Power Attack ability for ranged combat that it gets at its 3rd class level.

Might I also suggest the Quiver of Anariel? (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.) It would allow you to exchange some of the enhancement bonus on your bow for another ability or two (& give you a special material for bypassing DR).

 

[Question]

You could take the targetter fighter variant class from dragon 310. It lets you take a ability in place of a feat to use dex mod for damage, but only against non-crit immune creatures.

It also gives you proficiency with 2 exotic ranged weapons.

But otherwise, yea, a archer does really low damage, and those 1d6 weapon abilities are nullified by a easy elemental resist 5.

 

[JoelF]

Well, boosting your Str and increasing the mighty strength of your bow is one way. Also, to increase your chance of critting, power critical will help confirm the threats you get, especially with your lower BAB attacks.

You might also consider penetrating shot - against many foes you'll get more attacks than with a full attack - but they'll be split up on separate targets.

 

[paradox42]

BAB +20, Dex 30 (base 20, +6 item, +4 from leveling). +5 weapon, +4 feats, +2 bracers, +1 ioun stone competence bonus. Total attack bonus +42, oversized weapon goes to +40.

Strength is only 16.

Weapon focus, spec, greater focus, spec, ranged weapon mastery. Those get me +4 attack, +6 damage.

+5 distance flaming speed large composite longbow (Str 16).

Damage is 2d6+1d6 fire +15 (I forgot to add bracers bonus and strength). I have improved crit, rapid shot, and all those, so I'll be making lots of attacks. Typically it'll be +38/+38/+38/+33/+28/+23 with rapid shot and a speed weapon.

Hmmm. Okay, this makes it tougher. Your bow is full, unless you're allowed to go into Epic bonuses with it, which you're probably not. This does not, however, mean you can't get around it a little by investing in magical arrows. If you have any equipment funds left, get yourself a few quivers of Frost arrows, or other ammunition with elemental qualities. You might also try aligned weapon qualities to get alignment damage, but that's more difficult to get consistently since a lot of the enemies you face won't necessarily be the correct alignment to take the damage.

If you are a Fighter 20, Weapon Supremacy should be available (given that you already have a Weapon Mastery feat). It doesn't grant any direct damage bonuses, but the "take 10 on one attack roll" feature of the feat might help you confirm crits more consistently.

 

[Question]

Do you really need the distance/speed?

How often do you think you will be firing from a few hundred feet? I mean if you are doing stuff like defending a castle, but travelling with the party and getting attacked, etc tends to mean you are rather close to the battle.

You dont need speed, the party wizard should haste you.