3rd Level Archer Feat

[Eltern]

What, exactly, is a third level human fighter, focusing on bows, supposed to take at level three?

Level one: Point Blank, Precise, Weapon Focus
Level two: Rapid Shot
Three: ?
Four: Wep Spec.
Six: Manyshot/Improved Rapid Shot
Eight: Imp Wep Focus

So...

Thanks,
Eltern

 

[rowport]

Sticking with just ranged feats, Far Shot is good. For more versatility, being able to use your other ranged feats effectively with thrown weapons, choose Quick Draw. Assuming that you have a good DEX, you might think about Weapon Finesse for those times you cannot use your bow. Or, you might want to start the Shot on the Run feat tree.

 

[Eltern]

Oh, this is assuming SharpShooting is useless since you'll get Improved Precise Shot anyway

Eltern

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

It seems to me that you've got the order wrong. I'd put Rapid Shot at first level and save Weapon Focus for 2nd.

However, that said, good feats for third level:
1. Iron Will. Fighters are often targetted with will saves. It helps to have a bonus.
2. FRCS: Luck of Heros. Any will save bonus helps.
3. Start on the Shoot on the run chain
4. Power Attack: for when you have to pull out a melee weapon and fight for it. (Also helps against constructs with hardness if you don't get adamantine arrows and if you're in fog or blinded)
5. Change the order a bit and get EWP: Great bow (Complete Warrior) at 2nd and WF: Great Bow at 3rd.
6. Two Weapon Fighting. Another good backup strategy for when you are forced into melee.

That's just a few ideas. There are lots more useful feats (Track for instance if your character has ranks in Survival). If your character is devout, some vow feats from BoED or Monte Cook's Book of Hallowed Might might be good.

 

[Eltern]

How necessary is Many Shot for Improved Rapid Shot? To me it seems logical with PB, PS, RS, and a base attack bonus of +6. Why is Manyshot in there?

I'm not a fan of Many Shot myself since both must be at the same target. This makes it only useful for guys with lots of HP and low AC, which is pretty limited, especially at a standard action. If Manyshot wasn't required this guy wouldn't even take it, just get going on the Shot on the Run chain.

Really, Shot on the Run is at it's best when you're popping around corners then back again, or running from one wall to another.

Eltern

 

[Shadeus]

I'm playing a ranger with the archery combat path and Manyshot isn't as useful as I thought it would be. Basically its uses are limited to the surprise round in most situations (esp. as a fighter) and even then only if a) you have your bow in hand and b) you are within 30' of your foe. As a ranger, I found with woodland stride, he could attack creatures and then move through the forest fast enough to get away from them before they could reach him (especially with the longstrider spell).

Ranged Disarm is a kind of cool flavor thing. Sharp-shooting isn't bad, because its a long way until level 11 where you qualify for Imp. Precise shot.

Outside the realm of bow-feats, Imp. Initative is always good to make sure you are first to get that bow shot off. Nothing more frustrating than having your bow in hand and having someone run up right next to you. With no shield, Dodge is always a good choice as well.

 

[James McMurray]

Definitely check out ranged disarm, ranged pin, and ranged sunder (all from Complete Warrior). The first is almost a must-have feat for any focused archer that doesn't expect to find a disarming bow. The second and third are just really cool tricks.

 

[Thanee]

And don't forget Improved Critical later.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Eltern]

Definitely check out ranged disarm, ranged pin, and ranged sunder (all from Complete Warrior). The first is almost a must-have feat for any focused archer that doesn't expect to find a disarming bow. The second and third are just really cool tricks.

Don't they all have BAB prereq of +5?

Eltern

 

[James McMurray]

I don't know offhand. That's why I said to check them out.