Archer capitalizing on a stat-roll windfall

[Machiavelli]

In http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=183646 I asked for information to help me build a fun to play archer to start at 5th level. I did things somewhat backward, deciding upon a fighter 2/ rogue 3 with a crossbow before rolling my stats. The advantage of such a build would be that Dexterity would be the only vital stat, and Constitution would have to (as always) be at least okay. The rest could be dumped without any major problems.

Then I rolled 11, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16 using 4d6 drop lowest, no rerolls, and rearrange at will. That's a 37 point stat array!

So, I'm wondering if there are any good uses for my non-Dexterity stats that will not detract from my archery prowess. Here's an outline of the character's levels, as I first envisioned it:

Human Fighter 2/ Rogue 3

Lvl Class    BAB  Abilities               Feats
1   Fighter  +1   [FB]Precise Shot        Point Blank Shot, WF: Light Crossbow
2   Rogue    +1   SA +1d6, Trapfinding  
3   Rogue    +2   Evasion                 Crossbow Sniper
4   Fighter  +3   [FB]Deadeye Shot 
5   Rogue    +4   SA +2d6, Trap sense +1

I was thinking perhaps a Cleric of Solonor Thelandira, so I could get those two free feats from the two domains Elf and War, as well as access to True Strike once per day, with just a single level. That spellcasting would make quite a good use of a Wisdom score, yes? But the flavor just isn't right. How the heck would one explain that this roguish warrior is actually also a cleric of a god that doesn't even match his race?
I'd really like the flavor of arcane spellcasting to enhance archery. It would put a good Charisma to work. Oh, I know! I could work toward Arcane Archer if it wasn't such a worthless class with the added insult of a crappy prerequisite race! :\

I've been blessed with good dice this time, and I just want to make it count for something.

 

[Nifft]

Any reason you can't just play an Elf Rogue/Cleric Archer?

Here's two possible builds, assuming Forgotten Realms deity list, and assuming access to Complete Adventurer.

LG Elf Archer of Gwaeron Windstrom (NG)
Str: 13, Dex: 15 -> 17, Con: 16 -> 14, Int: 11, Wis: 14, Cha: 13
1/ Rogue 1 -- Point-Blank Shot
2/ Cleric 1 (Travel, Good)
3/ Cleric 2 -- Precise Shot
4/ Rogue 2
5/ Cleric 3
6/ Shadowbane Stalker 1 -- Rapid Shot
7-15/ Shadowbane Stalker 2-10

You'll get a bunch of mobility spells (longstrider, fly, plus dimension door and teleport), and at higher levels you can make your own Holy bow (take Craft Magic Arms & Armor at level 9, and Practied Spellcaster at level 12, which will exactly make up for your 4 lost caster levels).

Your ranks in Concentration and Spellcraft are going to lag until you hit Shadowbane Stalker. You'll have to eat a cross-class penalty cost on Sense Motive at 5th level, but only for one rank. Putting Rogue as your 5th level would avoid the cross-class penalty, but would incur a -20% XP multiclass penalty, which is worse IMHO.


The other alternative is the same class levels, but choose Mielikki for your deity (and Travel & Fey for your domains). Fey gives you faerie fire (meh) and inspired aim (ooooo!).


Elf domain would be fantastic, as would War with a bow, but Shadowbane Stalker requires LG alignment, and there are no NG or LG Elf deities.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kafkonia]

Well, if you're allowed access to UA, you could take a level of Battle Sorcerer and get the ability to cast in light armor (burn a feat on Battlecaster and you can cast in Medium, if that's what you'll be wearing.) And while you'll have fewer spells than a regular sorcerer of the same level, you can still choose from true strike, arrow mind, guided shot, sniper's shot, targeting ray, distract assailant, guiding light, and shieldbearer at first level, among others.

 

[Darklone]

Get that elf cleric/rogue and pick all those nice fey heritage feats.

 

[Simm]

Elf domain would be fantastic, as would War with a bow, but Shadowbane Stalker requires LG alignment, and there are no NG or LG Elf deities.

There is if you use races of the wild. The elven pantheon has a protector goddess with the same domains and Corellon but with a LG alignment.

 

[Nifft]

There is if you use races of the wild. The elven pantheon has a protector goddess with the same domains and Corellon but with a LG alignment.

Nice! So it's true what they say: "With enough supplements, anything is possible!"

Thanks, -- N

 

[ainbimagh]

As I tell everyone looking at fighter/rogue, have you looked at scout?

 

[Darklone]

I'm still not convinced Scout is a good class for an archer... Sadly...

Well, perhaps for this Xbow build here.

 

[Daermon]

You could go to Arcane Archer either through Duskblade or Hexblade, depending on how you roll.

 

[Nifft]

I'm still not convinced Scout is a good class for an archer... Sadly...

The Scout Archer's viability depends on whether your DM allows the Greater Manyshot feat.

-- N