Arrows/Bolts vs. Damage Reduction

[DumbPaladin]

Pathfinder is like starting over and simplifying again, in many ways.

In 3.5, spread across all the splatbooks, there were a couple of ways to ensure that a character using a crossbow or composite bow would rarely have a problem of NEVER being able to overcome a creature's damage reduction.

Most of those feats and weapon modifiers don't exist in PF yet.

Since I have been considering creating an Oracle who primarily uses ranged weapons, I want to try my best to ensure I don't end up with a character whose primary weapon attacks can't surpass monsters' DRs -- let's say DR of 10 to 20 being the norm, eventually.

Is there a difference between crossbow vs. bow in terms of which one won't turn out to be irrelevant at later levels? Are there feats I can take (besides Point Blank Shot) which will increase my damage to help me get past DR? Are there other classes I should consider dipping into to help with my problems with dealing damage?

We're using Paizo-published product only -- no 3pp suggestions, please. Thanks!

 

[Volaran]

Bows and crossbows in many ways have the easiest time bypassing material-based damage reduction. Easier to keep an assortment of bolts or arrows around (adamantine, alchemical silver, cold iron, etc) than a collection of swords.

The Deadly Aim feat is essentially Power Attack for ranged weapons, which is useful for getting by untyped DR.

Beyond that, as an Oracle, you'll have access to Magic Weapon, Greater Magic Weapon, and Align Weapon. Between all of those, and a decent set of knowledge skills (possessed by yourself or someone else in the party) to determine what you're fighting and what its weaknesses are, you should be set.

 

[Dingo333]

Crossbows deal between 1d8 and 1d10, with a 19-20/x2 crit, no strength
Bows deal between 1d6 and 1d8, x3 critical, variable strength (how much ya got, get a bow for that amount)

I recomend taking advantage of burst weapon properties.
Crossbows have a range (19-20) and will add 1d10 when you crit
Bows have a x3 multiplier, so while not as likely to crit, 2d10 when they do

Deadly Aim as said above
Focus Shot allows you to add INT to DMG, but only allows 1 shot
Vital Strike will increase the amount you roll

Its not a feat, but efficient quivers will increase your carrying ability for arrows (up to 60, plus other weapons). Carrying different arrows will allow you to bypass many typed DR.

I should note that the most DR I have seen on any creature is 15, and while they have some steppe bypasses, these guys are high CR, very rare.

If you wanna multiclass, I recommend Inquisitor, but fighter, ranger, and rouge are all good choices too

 

[Flatus Maximus]

The Vital Strike feats, along with Deadly Aim, seem like a great start. You've got a great Cha, so UMD versatile weapon (APG: bard 2, ranger 2, sor/wiz 3) to switch those arrows/bolts to bludgeoning or cold iron or silver or slashing, as needed. The other types of DR can be handled with materials or a high enough +.