Good archer builds?

[Mercule]

So, my thread about the fighter vs. the swashbuckler got me thinking about the other characters in the group. Running the numbers, I think the ranger (archer path) is actually doing pretty low damage. I'm more of a melee fan, so haven't really paid attension to ranged combat much, but I was given to understand that archers were pretty nasty.

So, I ask, can someone educate me on what makes archers attractive/potent/fun? I have most non-setting books on which to draw.

 

[Thanee]

You can (pretty much) always make a full attack.

You mostly lose Power Attack and the x1.5 Str for two-handed weapons, but gain some safety by staying away from melee (as long as that works, that is).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Abraxas]

If you are using non-core material the Deepwood Sniper and Peerless archer PrCs add some interesting abilities to the standard archer. The DwS has abilities that treat all arrows fired as if they were keen and improves the crit range of for you arrow from x3 to x4 (and eventually x5). The PA can make ranged attacks while threatened and not provoke AoOs and gets a ranged version of Power Attack.

Give the archer character a longbow with the Truebane or Magebane and Blessed enhancements and you add 2d6 and automatically confirm all critical threats against appropriate targets. The damage they can dish out becomes startling fairly quickly.

 

[Question]

The deepwood sniper needs conversion to 3.5 though.

 

[Iku Rex]

The deepwood sniper needs conversion to 3.5 though.

I don't think replacing the intuit direction and wilderness lore (3.0) skills with survival (3.5) is that much of a task. I don't see anything else that needs conversion.

***

As for potent archers, Champions of Ruin has the Justice of Weald and Woe PrC. It grants some decent abilities and offers spellcasting with a number of very handy archer spells.

 

[steev42]

Archers are the bane to my existance as a DM. Or, I guess I should say that Order of the Bow Initiate is the bane to my existance. And more specifically, the ability that allows them to make an attack (or full attack) without provoking an AoO. Combined with Rapid Shot (or Manyshot if for whatever reason they only get one attack), and a decent composite bow, they're doing as much damage on each attack as a longsword-weilder, except they get one more attack. Bonuses to attack also seem to stack up much easier for a bow weilder than a melee weapon-fighter; that may just be a matter of perception though.

 

[Question]

Its the "ignore cover" thing IIRC.

 

[Iku Rex]

Its the "ignore cover" thing IIRC.

The deepwood sniper doesn't have an "ignore cover thing".

You're probably thinking of the peerless archer. (My conversion.)

 

[Klaus]

Warlock.

Yes, it's only 1 attack per round, but it's 1d6 damage per two class levels that bypass any DR and any Energy Resistance, it's a ranged *touch* attack, you don't need any weapon or ammunition, you can fire up to 250 ft. away with no range penalty (using Eldritch Spear) and you can benefit from Weapon Focus (ranged touch), Ranged Spell Specialization (Complete Arcane), Improved Critical (imagine scoring a critical hit with a 8d6 eldritch blast!), Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Coordinated Shot, etc...

 

[Mercule]

Warlock.

Yes, it's only 1 attack per round, but it's 1d6 damage per two class levels that bypass any DR and any Energy Resistance, it's a ranged *touch* attack, you don't need any weapon or ammunition, you can fire up to 250 ft. away with no range penalty (using Eldritch Spear) and you can benefit from Weapon Focus (ranged touch), Ranged Spell Specialization (Complete Arcane), Improved Critical (imagine scoring a critical hit with a 8d6 eldritch blast!), Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Coordinated Shot, etc...

I don't disagree with your assessment, and Warlock is more my typical style. I'm specifically looking for advice on the classic archer, though. Robin Hood or maybe William Tell.