Need Some Halp

[DuDe iTz FLeX]

OK so a friend of mine is building an arcane archer. 2wizard/2fighter/6ranger/10arcane archer cause he wants to play an archer for the first time. we're both playing in our first epic campaign and i built a whispergnome ninja who without even factoring in poison damages did 210 points of hp damage on my very first attack. a couple of us think my friend may have jacked his character creation process becuz his character is not that powerful at all. is there a better way to cross class for an arcane archer?? is there a better prestige class for archers than arcane?? any suggestions on uber bows he could buy?? what kind of arrows should i have him craft?? any suggestions on feats?? ive got a 3.5 DMG and PHB sittin in front of me and could really use some help peoples. thanks a heap.

 

[der_kluge]

The problem is that your friend's arcane archer simply does not have enough personality. Develop a more interesting backstory, and then work on an interesting personality for the arcane archer.

And then the amount of damage that he does will be irrelevant because it will instantly become 100% more fun to play regardless.

 

[DuDe iTz FLeX]

OK. ummm... that doesnt help much. any other suggestions out there??

 

[The Lost Muse]

If you want an archer to deal lots of damage and you are limited to the core rulebooks, try something like this (note: the only equipment this character has is a composite longbow)

Male Elf(High) Rgr11/Rog9; CR 20;
Medium Humanoid (Elf);
HD 9d6+11d8+20; hp 26;
Init +5; Spd 30 ft/x4;
AC 15 (+5 dex), touch 15, flat-footed 15;
Base Atk/Grapple +17/+19;
Full Atk +23/+18/+13/+8 Two-handed (1d8+2;20/x3, Composite Longbow);

SA&SQ Uncanny Dodge(Ex), Improved Uncanny Dodge(Ex), Trap Sense(Ex), Animal Companion(Ex), Wild Empathy(Ex), Woodland Stride(Ex), Evasion(Ex), Favored Enemy (Humanoid (human) (+6 bonus), Dragon (+2 bonus), Elemental (+2 bonus)), Swift Tracker(Ex), Sneak Attack +5d6, Trapfinding(Ex);

AL LG; SV Fort +11, Ref +18, Will +7;
Str 14(+2), Dex 20(+5), Con 13(+1), Int 13(+1), Wis 12(+1), Cha 10(+0);
Skills: Put ranks in Hide, Move Silently, Spot, Listen, and Climb.

Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Endurance², Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot², Rapid Shot², Manyshot², Track², Weapon Focus (Longbow, Composite).

Without spelling out the additional attacks gained by Rapid Shot, and Manyshot, this archer will deal up 4d8+20d6 damage in a round, so long as they are able to sneak attack their opponents. I think that if you are expecting to deal tons of damage with an archer using just the core, you're not going to get the raw power of tons of damage with a single attack; however, you can use good tactics and manoeuvrability to be an effective addition.

2 - Bonus Feats/Combat Style

Edit: I agree with Der Kludge...

 

[DuDe iTz FLeX]

Thanks timmundo thats a good start but what about the arcane part??

 

[The Lost Muse]

If he wants to be an arcane archer, substitute 1 level of wizard for a rogue level, and multi into the prestige class around level 10. This will, however, greatly reduce the characters damage output.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Seriously, he will never be a killer if he stays arcane archer. It is just a cruddy class.

Instead multiclass scout and ranger with the swift hunter and Improved skirmish feats from complete scoundrel. In he long run the particular mix doesn't matter much as long as he gets Manyshot from Ranger, though ranger spells are nice.

Also you MUST get improved Manyshot from the XPH. That will let you skirmish with every arrow.

At level 20 with thsoe he will do absolutely terrible damage if he moves 20 feet and then many shots. It is sick, I tell you.

 

[DuDe iTz FLeX]

ok mountain but whats the XPH??

 

[phindar]

Expanded Psionics Handbook. Or some sort of terrible disease. I personally would accept either answer. ("We must wipe out XPH in our lifetime!")

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Depends on your viewpoint of the Psionic system I would say.