Attack bonus or Damage?

[Luthor Harkon]

Hey every body recently I created a Ist level human fighter, archer like charcter and my to highest rolls for stats were an 18 and a 15 so I thought I'd put them in to Str (for mighty composite longbow damage) and Dex (for attack rolls).Then I ran in to this quandary:If i put he 18 into Dex then I'll have +2 better attack rolls but if put it in strength then I'd do two more damage.( with a mighty composite longbow)
I'm leaning toward Dex cos then I have +2 attack and can use the rapid shot feat better,with which i can possibly do double damage(two shots),which would negate the effects of more damage because of higher strength.
So this is my quetion.Which, over the long run is more important: damage or attack bonuses?

 

[Creeperman]

Attack bonuses are a dime a dozen, while damage bonuses are hard to come by.

I'd dump it into Strength. After a few levels you won't miss the attack bonus nearly as much as the extra damage.

 

[shilsen]

I'd vote for Dex. Considering you're a first level character, most of your foes will be low in hit points, and a single hit will often take them out. An 18 in Dex gives you +6 (I assume you have weapon Focus?) or +7 at 30 feet (Point Blank Shot). Gets even better with Rapid Shot. Considering that it also gives you a +4 to AC, Initiative and Reflex saves, that's the way I'd go.

You can always bounce the Str from 15 to 16 at 4th level, and at higher levels the Str bonus to damage will be inconsequential. Just get your friendly neighbourhood cleric to cast Greater Magic Weapon on both bow and arrows (remember, they stack), and call yourself Legolas!

 

[Rackhir]

At low levels all characters are relatively ineffective and you are going to have a tough time hitting anything whatever your choices are. The long term is better to plan for (at least if you think the campaign will survive). The REALLY nice thing about the damage bonus on the mighty composite bows is that it is good at ANY range. About half your damage bonuses as an archer will only be good out to 30'.

Your attack bonus will be going up with EVERY level (assuming you stick to classes with a Fighter BAB progression), your damage bonus will not. My archer character at 12th has a fully buffed to hit bonus of about +22/+22/+17/+12. In our most recent adventure, he was nailing fairly reliably a giant with 9/10ths cover(+10 ac) and a shield spell. I passed on improved rapid shot (removes the -2) in favor of improved crit, because the options for increasing my damage are so limited. In fact he started out with Str 16 Dex 16 and I put my stat increases into strength to bump it up to 18 for this very reason.

Since GMW works for increasing both damage and to hit, it is more or less a wash in terms of trying to decide which is better to go with. The bonuses from it don't start getting really substantial until about 9th lv, at which point you will already have a pretty decent attack bonus.

One suggestion, Bracers of Archery. At +2hit/(+1 Dam within 30') at only 5k gold or so are your best friend and affordable even at relatively low levels.

To summarize

To Hit
+1/lvl BAB
+ Dex Bonus
+1 Weapon Focus
+1 Precise Shot (if within 30')
+1 Masterwork Bow

To Damage
+ Str Bonus (if Mighty CLB)
+1 Precise Shot (if within 30')
(+2 Weapon Specialization at 4th lvl)

One last comment, you are going to have to drop the bow and drag out a melee weapon occasionally, especially at low levels. Magic swords and such are much more common than magic arrows, so whenever you run into DR creatures, you will probably have no choice but to use a melee weapon. Dex doesn't help you then (at least with regards to hiting and damage).

 

[Cullain]

One last comment, you are going to have to drop the bow and drag out a melee weapon occasionally, especially at low levels. Magic swords and such are much more common than magic arrows. Dex doesn't help you then (at least with regards to hiting and damage).

True, but chances are you won't be wearing heavy armor, so that dex will be very helpful for raising your AC.

I'd still go with strength, myself.

Cullain

 

[Zhure]

I'd go 18 in CON and 15 in STR. :-D

Tank up on full plate and put your third best spot in DEX. STR damage from a STR bow works out to any range, but specialization is only good for 30'. Thus a high-STR archer is ultimately more damaging than a high-DEX archer, hit for hit. Of course, he won't hit quite as often.

Also, when the enemy does close with you, your high-STR will be something of a surprise to them. High-STR lets you carry more arrows, and more ranged weapons (javelins, daggers, as well as bows).

That's just my take on it.

Greg

 

[Ravellion]

I'd still go for DEX. Your first attack will always hit, but the secondary attacks don't. As you said, the rapid shot feat takes two off, and range might take something off as well. The you have cover, and secondary and tertiary attacks can use all the bonusses to hit you can muster.

If the DM likes open field combat, with lots of medium AC creatures, take STR however.

Rav

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

A bit off topic, but

In our most recent adventure, he was nailing fairly reliably a giant with 9/10ths cover(+10 ac) and a shield spell.

Huh? I thought the shield spell provided cover (whether virtual or real shouldn't really matter). That's a really mean DM too. I'd use the same trick on my players if it didn't bend so many rules. (I have few problems with mean DMs.)

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

A friend with a math degree proved to me that me that using power attack is almost always a losing tactic in situation when your attack bonus isn't higher than the AC. I'd assume the same is true when choosing between 18/15 for DEX/STR.

If you miss, you don't do damage at all so it's always better to hit reliably than do more damage when you do.

Also consider this:

If you think you will always be using a mighty composite bow with the appropriate STR bonus, you're dreaming. You won't be able to afford it at level 1. And then when you find magic bows I'd be surprised if they all turned out to be of the right type. The Dex bonus will never leave you, though.

If you have high DEX, you have a high initiative. As a bowman, it's very easy for you to take advantage of flatfooted opponent.

A +2 longbow grants a +2 bonus to damage. +2 arrows grant a +2 to damage that stacks with the bow...

That means a maximum of +10 to damage from enchanted bonuses. Add possible flaming bonus and such. That +2 to damage from STR is not as signficant as you'd think in the long term.

 

[Tyrion]

Definitely put your high score into DEX, and when you receive ability score points for levelling put them into DEX as well.

The reason is simple...you can only benefit from STR up to an 18, since the Mighty property of bows does not go above +4. Put the 15 into STR, then buy a Girdle of Giant Strength or ability-enhancing manual to boost it to 18. It'll be enough for the rest of the campaign.

Also, as other posters have mentioned, DEX will benefit you in many more ways than STR...Armor Class, Initiative, lots of skills, etc.