Help building a melee oriented Archer!

[Heroditis]

I am toying with the idea of an archer who is able to function as a front-line fighter. This would likely mean taking some levels of OotBI, but other than that, I am open to ideas. All WotC books are game (except for Psionics - not in campaign, and Frostburn - DM does not have it yet), as are Dragon Mags. Race is open. Using Greyhawk expanded pantheon for Human gods, and FR for the non-human pantheon.

The party is 9th level and has a Elven Paladin, a Human Cleric (Heronious) and a Human Evocation specialist (Rogue support will likely come from NPC). The character would come in at 9th level. Unusual race/class combinations are welcome.

Stats are as follows 17, 14, 14, 12, 11, 10 (34 points).

Thanks in advance,
Heroditis

 

[Sammael]

Well, here's an orc archer NPC I made for my campaign. He has the "blooded one" template from Unapoproachable East (LA +1), so his ECL is 10, but that can be fixed by removing the one level of barbarian. Note that he is horrendously min/maxed because of his initial purpose - bodyguard to a Red Wizard of Thay. With a bit of tweaking, however, I think he'd be a playable character. Oh, and I used the elite array for him (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8), so you have a few more ability points to add. Alignment can easily change to LN, N, or CN, to make him more compatible with the group.

Potential background story: bred in captivity by a powerful transmuter who loved to experiment on his slaves, Gorstagg escaped when a band of adventurers (the party?) killed his master.

Feel free to plunder for ideas...

GORSTAGG BLACKARROW
Male blooded orc barbarian 1/fighter 8
Hit Dice: 1d12+8d10+27 (76 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 50 ft.
Armor Class: 23 (+6 armor, +4 Dex, +2 natural, +1 deflection), flat-footed 19, touch 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+15
Attack: Greatbow +17 (1d10+9+1d6 electrical, 19-20/x3); or greatbow manyshot +13 (2d10+18+2d6 electrical, 19-20/x3); or maul +16 (1d10+10, 20/x4)
Full Attack: Greatbow +17/+12; or greatbow rapid shot +15/+15/+10; or maul +16/+11
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Rage 1/day, war cry 1/day (+1 attack and damage for 2d4 rounds)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., scent
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 16 (18), Con 17, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Languages: Orc, Mulhorandi
Skills: Jump +19, Listen +4, Spot +4, Intimidate +2
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Daylight Adaptation, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (greatbow), Greater Weapon Focus (greatbow), Manyshot, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (greatbow), Weapon Specialization (greatbow)
Alignment: Lawful evil
Treasure: implants of ogre power (4,000 gp) - cannot wear bracers, implant similar to the boots of striding and springing (5,500) - cannot wear boots, elfskin gloves of the archer (as lesser bracers of archery + gloves of Dex +2) (11,000 gp), +1 keen shocking composite (+6 Str) greatbow (19,400), +1 ring of protection (2,000 gp), +2 chain shirt (4,250 gp), +1 maul (2,315 gp), potion of cure light wounds x5 (250 gp)

 

[Korak]

Race: Human

Base Stats: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 10

Levels:

1. Ranger1, Point Blank Shot (human) Precise Shot (Lvl1) Track (Rng1)
2. Ranger2, Rapid Shot (Rng2)
3. Fighter1, Exotic Weapon Proficiency [Greatbow] (Ftr1) Weapon Focus [Greatbow] (Lvl3)
4. Fighter2, Farshot (Ftr2) Stat Bump (Dex)
5. Fighter3
6. Fighter4, Manyshot (Ftr4) Improved Rapid Shot (Lvl6)
7. Exotic Weapon Master1 (select the close combat shot equivalent class ability)
8. Deepwood Sniper1, Stat Bump (Con)
9. Deepwood Sniper2, Weapon Specialization [Greatbow] (Lvl9)

19-20 crit range, x4 crits, d10 base damage, don't provoke AOOs

put level 12 stat bump into con

item priorities, haste boots, dex gloves, mith chain shirt, cloak of resistance, amulet of con... save for belt of giant str for 2 more dmg per shot (after buying appropriate bow)... later down the line, dusty rose ioun stone, animated shield

bracers of archery are nice, but your hit mod will already be very good, upgrading your dex gloves is almost always a better buy because it also gives ac and reflex save.

if you fight lots of crittable creatures... put burst properties on your bow, if not, holy is an excellent choice

later feats... improved precise shot, power critical

any questions?

 

[hong]

Go ftr/rogue, pick up Weapon Finesse, and sneak attack with a rapier when you're not using a bow.

 

[Heroditis]

Thanks folks.

Some excellent ideas! BTW, which book has the Great Bow, CW? (DM has the "Complete" books, not me). Any more ideas?

 

[Korak]

Yes, the greatbow is in Complete Warrior. It's basically a longbow, or composite longbow with d10 base damage and 10' more range, but it is an exotic weapon and is so big that it can't be used while mounted.

 

[Rackhir]

If your DM is insane enough to permit it, Peerless Archer from the Silver Marches FR setting book is obscenely powerful. It grants the No AoO feat, gives you ranged power attack and at 10th I think it grants a 30' area threatened area (man I'd LOVE to combine that with the multiple AoO feat).

 

[shilsen]

If your DM is insane enough to permit it, Peerless Archer from the Silver Marches FR setting book is obscenely powerful. It grants the No AoO feat, gives you ranged power attack and at 10th I think it grants a 30' area threatened area (man I'd LOVE to combine that with the multiple AoO feat).

What he said. With especial emphasis on "insane".