Using sustainable attacks, when the only difference is class, a 3rd edition monk will be 1-5 points behind the ranger in attack bonus, and be making 0-1 fewer attacks. These differences depend on level, and usually get worse for the monk as levels go up.Refuse all you want, but apparently, you missed my caveat, "Less than optimal? Perhaps, if you're not a Ranger, Fighter, OA Samurai or PsyWar, but you still have that option."
Besides, it still depends upon your build & how much you want to commit to it. I usually use a Dex & Wis build for my monks, as opposed to Str & Wis. Early on, equipped with a Quiver of Ehlonna and a bunch of javelins & alchemical bombs, they make fine artillery. And again, you really only need the first two feats to make a difference in your ranged combat effectiveness- the rest is gravy.
As the Monk levels up, he will, of course, suffer in comparison to a "warrior" class sniper.
Using at-will powers, when the only difference is class, a 4th edition warlord will be 0-3 points behind the ranger in attack bonus, and will be making 0-1 fewer attacks. These differences do not change with level, and are never both at maximum, as the ranger has to choose between the extra attack and the extra accuracy.
Why is the 3rd edition monk an acceptable sub-optimal sniper, but not the 4th edition warlord?
A fundamental ability is not the same as an ability which is easy to learn. Remember that 1st level characters in fourth edition are highly trained. Prime shot isn't a matter of a month's worth of tutelage under a master archer, it's the result of five to ten years of firing arrows at a target every day for two hours.Not quite. "Better" has nothing to do with it.
I'm objecting to 4Ed's design decision that- unlike 3.X- certain starting class abilities are never available to a multiclassing PC unless he starts in that class...and the player doesn't even get to choose those abilities from which his PC will be forever barred. A 4Ed multiclassed PC has been essentially "socially promoted"- even though he lacks some of a class' fundamental abilities, he still gets to call himself a fully qualified member of that class.
In this particular, a 4Ed PC who is proficient with a ranged weapon and multiclasses into the Ranger class will never get access to a fundamental class ability.
In 3.X, the abilities your PC lost out on due to multiclassing were the high-level ones. This more accurately reflects the way people learn and earn promotions.
Multiclassing doesn't provide five years of archery practice, and most adventuring groups aren't going to put saving the world on hold for five years while Jonny puts in his time at the firing range.
I was assuming the arcanist in your example was a member of the character class "arcanist", which is not in the 3.5 PHB I(which I'm using for reference). If it's just any arcane caster, well, they'll run out of rays and orbs long before an archer will run out of arrows.That said, as I recall, PBS, PS, and WFoc were all available in the 3.0 PHB. Reach Spell is the only thing I mentioned not in that book.