So I've hit the damage roadblock on an Archer

[MithrasRahl]

I'm averaging 3 hits a round, doing an average of 12.5 damage per hit for a total of 37.5. However, most enemies we've been facing have a DR of 10, with such things as evil, good, adamantine, etc breaking it.

How do archers get around this roadblock? The obvious answer is specific arrows with those properties, but are there any other? Can you use an oil of bless on a bow to give it Good damage for a certain amount of time? what about the others?

 

[Nifft]

Arrows with special metals.
A Cleric with align weapon.
A Holy bow.

Psionic Shot + Greater Psionic Shot + Psionic Meditation = one shot each round which deals +4d6 damage; that nicely compensates for DR 10.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Azaar]

I considered Psionic Shot/Greater Psionic Shot/Psionic Meditation for my archer build, and go for Fell Shot and Epic Psionic Focus to use Greater Psionic Shot and Fell Shot with the same psionic focus. But... really, that would be overkill, given my current build.

Ultimately, it depends on what you're playing in terms of class, as well as what kind of bow/crossbow you're wielding. If you want serious possibilities, I suggest Ranger/Scout with the Swift Hunter feat: favored enemies, skirmish and the ability to deal skirmish damage to your favored enemies even if they would otherwise be immune (constructs and undead, anyone?). I'm running a Scout at present, but I may very well take a level of Ranger come 12th character level and take Swift Hunter to get the favored enemies.

With my scout (wielding a +2 corrosive composite (+3 STR) shortbow), I get one attack (unless skirmish doesn't impede with the prospect of a full-round action -- correct me on that, if anyone can?), but I'm averaging the same damage with one shot that you're struggling to attain in three shots. If I'm stuck with one attack, then I'll need to look into Spring Attack/Bounding Assault/Rapid Blitz to get three attacks per round once I'm eligible for those feats.

 

[Legildur]

Order of the Bow Initiate (Complete Warrior) is one possible solution for the one shot per round to defeat DR. Otherwise I think that this is the price you pay for standing out of melee.

Would be interesting to see your current build to see what might be improved. Because Clerics, Rogues, Scouts Rangers and Fighters can go about the builds in different ways.

I'm assuming Rapid Shot is in play here for say 4 attacks (averaging 3 hits per round), so that would put you at 11th+ level.

As a Fighter, that'd give you (contributing to damage) Weapon Specialisation [+2], Ranged Weapon Mastery (piercing) [+2] and Point Blank Shot [+1]. Throw in a mighty composite long bow (say +3 Str bonus to damage), and a magical bow (say again around +3 enhancement) and there is a lazy +11 to damage per arrow - and that's before you even start to look at Greater Weapon Specialisation [+2] and other enchantments (flaming, holy, etc) [minimum +1d6] on the bow itself or Greater Magic Weapon on the arrows if the bow conentrates on bonus damage from additional die.

And I'm not even going to start on the exotic Greatbow etc or use of Enlarge Person.

Aside from that, as you indentified, the 3.x achilles heel of the 'golf bag of weapons' rears its ugly head and requires a quiver of each arrow type (cold iron, admantine, good, etc).

 

[ShadowX]

You want the force enchantment for your bow from MIC.

 

[MithrasRahl]

Level 10 at the moment, 4 Fighter, 4 Ranger, 2 Deepwood Sniper.

Weapon focus, Rapid Shot, Weapon Spec, to name a few. The plan is to go 2 more ranger to get Manyshot for free, as well as a spell to use Hunter's Mercy, and then take Ranged Combat Master at 12.

I have a plan of what I want to take for the next 6 or so levels, so Scout/other classes are out of the picture. I'm basically looking for expendable items like oils and potions to fix my problem. Our "cleric" is not actually a cleric, but a Mystic/Combat medic. Amazing at healing/buffing, not much good in terms of helping me overcome DR.

So is there anything I can buy besides a different bow/different arrows?

 

[frankthedm]

I'm basically looking for expendable items like oils and potions to fix my problem.

Cold iron should be your default arrows. Silver arrows are cheap enough to have a quiver or two. Adamantine arrows cost a bit, but you might be able to convince your DM to let them be slightly more recoverable.

Our "cleric" is not actually a cleric, but a Mystic/Combat medic. Amazing at healing/buffing, not much good in terms of helping me overcome DR.

no cleric? Ugh. You need align weapon until you get a holy bow and if you deal with various aligned DR foes. Using greater magic weapon to boost a +1 bow loaded with energy enchantments is also considered standard operation in 3E.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Kensai levels- each level you take you add to your chosen weapon's enchantment or enhancements.

OA Samurai and Soulbow PrCl have similar abilities, though in the latter case you'd also have to take underlying levels in Soulknife.

With Wild Talent or levels in any psionic class, you can get levels in (Pyro/Cryo/Electro/Sono/Aceto)Kineticist, and enhance your weapon with that energy type.

 

[Arkhandus]

Multiclass into Psychic Warrior. Learn Offensive Prescience and some other offensive powers, and take the psionic feats of Psionic Shot, Greater Psionic Shot, and similar.

 

[MithrasRahl]

To the previous two...

Scout/other classes are out of the picture. I'm basically looking for expendable items like oils and potions to fix my problem.

So is there anything I can buy besides a different bow/different arrows?

Thanks for the advice frank, I'll look into the arrows