The Deadliest Archer of Them All

[Chun-tzu]

There's been a lot of talk lately about which archery-focused PrCs are better, and how they stack up to each other. So let's take a closer look, shall we? (Sorry about the length of this post, but it's unavoidable.)

The four contenders are the Arcane Archer (DMG), Order of the Bow Initiate (S&F), Deepwood Sniper (MotW), and Peerless Archer (Silver Marches).


Minimum Level of Entry: Supposedly a rough indicator of a PrC's power, in this case I'd say they were inaccurate:

• AA - minimum 8th level (typical path: Fighter or Ranger 6/Wizard or Sorcerer 1)
• OBI - minimum 6th level (typical path: Fighter 5)
• DS - minimum 6th level (typical path: Ranger 5)
• PA - minimum 8th level (typical path: Fighter or Ranger 7)

"Minimum 8th level" means that a character must be at least 8th level to have reached the prestige class in question.


Hit Dice:

• AA - d8
• OBI - d10
• DS - d8
• PA - d10

Over 10 levels, a d10 will result in 5 hit points more than a d8, on average. Slight advantage for OBI and PA.


Armor

• AA - armor check penalties to Hide, Move Silently; arcane spell failure may apply (Note: Many AA's will have only access to level 1 spells, and True Strike has no somatic component so ASF does not apply.)
• OBI - OBI's skills and class abilities are not hindered significantly by any armor
• DS - many skills affected by armor
• PA - several class abilities restrict PA to light armor

Archers are unlikely to wear heavy armor regularly. Slight advantage to OBI, slight disadvantage to PA.


Saves

• AA - good Fort/Ref
• OBI - good Ref/Will
• DS - good Ref
• PA - good Fort

A surprising amount of variability here. Good saves make a big difference in defense. Advantage to AA and OBI.


Stealth & scouting

• AA - hide, move silently, listen, spot (4 pts/level)
• OBI - spot (2 pts/level)
• DS - hide, move silently, listen, spot (4 pts/level)
• PA - hide, spot (2 pts/level)

Skills are a fundamental part of a character's abilties, and AA and DS are significantly better off than OBI and PA.


Penetrating Cover and Concealment

• AA - Seeker Arrow 1/day, completely negates cover and concealment (except for total cover), Phase Arrow 1/day - negates all cover, even total, and concealment and armor modifiers
• OBI - none
• DS - concealment reduction 30%
• PA - reduce cover and concealment by up to 3 steps (e.g., from nine-tenths cover to one-quarter)

It's getting hard to measure who's coming out ahead. PA has the best benefit overall, but AA can make shots that even PA finds impossible. OBI is distant 4th.


Other Attack Bonuses

• AA - +5 enhancement bonus to all arrows; True Strike 1+ times/day (Note: True Strike is not part of AA's abilities, but ties in directly with AA's requirements, so virtually all AA's will take True Strike. A 1st level Sorcerer with Cha 14 can cast True Strike 4 times/day.)
• OBI - superior weapon focus (+1 that stacks with weapon focus), zen archery (if taken in addition to the zen archery feat, add Wis modifier as well as Dex modifier to attacks)
• DS - take aim (+4 to attack, requires full round to aim); reroll failed attack rolls (must take second roll) 3/day; true strike 1/day; magic weapon (+1) 1/day
• PA - none

AA's enhancement bonus does not stack with Greater Magic Weapon, which may or may not be available from a friendly spellcaster. DS can be most counted on to make the shot when the chips are down, with AA not far behind. OBI with Greater Magic Weapon has potentially highest regular attack bonus.


Damage Bonuses:

• AA - +5 enhancement bonus (important for defeating damage resistance)
• OBI - superior weapon specialization (+2, stacks with weapon specialization); ranged sneak attacks +5d6; can make banked shots if target within 20 ft of wall, virtually guaranteeing sneak attack damage (req full round)
• DS - all arrows keen (double threat range); does x5 instead of x3 on critical hit; magic weapon (+1) 1/day; may safely use poison
• PA - ranged sneak attack +4d6; can power attack using bow and arrows (i.e., up to +20 on damage but -20 on attack)

Again, difficult to measure which one comes out on top. PA will probably do more damage on average, AA the least. Remember, ranged sneak attack only applies to close range (within 30 feet) under specific circumstances.


Other Range Modifiers

• AA - none
• OBI - does not provoke AoO
• DS - range increments increased by 100 feet
• PA - threatens nearby areas with bow

OBI and PA most comfortable in close combat; DS champion at long distances.


Any other notes?

• AA - Elves and half-elves only. Imbue Arrow. Hail of Arrows 1/day.
• OBI - When allies make AoO, OBI gets free attack as well.
• DS - none
• PA - Can craft magic arrows (must pay gold and XP)

Who comes out on top? Let the arguing commence.

Edit - Colors changed to maximize readability. Some corrections by Rackhir and drnuncheon.

 

[Thanee]

You forgot the best of the lot... Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard, Rogue/Wizard/Arcane Trickster, etc.

They own each of the ones listed above in higher levels (I'm speaking pure ranged combat, not spellcasting, that's just a bonus (a big one, tho)), unless they have some serious anti-magic against them!

I'd probably place my bet on an Elven Cleric with the Elf and Time domains (there is an elven god with both in the Forgotten Realms, I can't remember the name right now, tho) and Extend Spell, Persistant Spell, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot among other useful feats.

Well, speaking of fighter classes, the Peerless Archer sounds quite good, I must say, altho I don't have the book and can't look at the complete stats yet (will get me The Silver Marches eventually, tho, as we often play in the Forgotten Realms and the FR sourcebooks usually have a high degree of quality)!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Rashak Mani]

Neat Analysis.... but like most Consultants you dont give an answer !!

Anyway it always depends on so many factors. Do you have a mage in group ? What kind of monsters do you usually face or do you crawl in dungeons.

All can be min/maxed by various means or tactics. Thou I like the concept of Deepwood Sniper. How many times have you shot an arrow further than 400-500 feet ? This sniping business might be good for the first two arrows. Then enemy closes in and melee starts.

Arcane Archer has the flexibility of not depending on magical arrows to hit damage reduction. No matter which bow he uses he has +X arrows.

 

[CRGreathouse]

The Peerless Archer is too powerful, methinks. Power Attack for ranged attacks = bad.

 

[Rackhir]

Two corrections.

Unless you are into the Epic level version of OoBI, then they don't threaten an area. They just don't draw an AoO when firing a bow in a threatened area.

OoBI's do get move silently as a class skill.

Trying to pick a "Best" archer class is largely a futile endeavor, since they all have limitations or areas where they could strongly benefit from abilities the other classes have. The "Best" is going to be a combination of at least two classes.

 

[Numion]

The Peerless Archer is too powerful, methinks. Power Attack for ranged attacks = bad.

My thoughts excactly. IMC archers usually have ridiculously high attack bonuses, and they can deal out lots of damage. Power Attack would just be too much.

 

[drnuncheon]

I think you left out this:

Number of Attacks

• AA - Hail of Arrows allows 10 attacks (vs. different opponents) at highest BAB bonus 1/day
• DS - normal
• OBI - normal
• PA - normal (? - Don't have SM)

Some people have found that Bard is the best path to take to get Arcane Archer - it delays entrance until 9th level but gives you 3rd level spells, allowing you to center a dispel magic anywhere within bowshot. Other bard spells that are useful include fear, the magic circle spells, glitterdust, hypnotic pattern...

An AA might also choose to focus on magic early on, as a Sor (or Wiz)8/Ftr2, still getting 10 levels of AA in before 20th and getting up to 4th level spells. While there aren't that many choice spells in the PHB, if the campaign expands the spell list at all this could be quite useful indeed. Magic of Faerun for example adds useful short-range area spells like explosive cascade or shatterfloor (which will slow your enemies down as well as damaging them).

J

 

[Chun-tzu]

OoBI's do get move silently as a class skill.

??? Not in my copy of Sword and Fist. Nor are there any changes in the Errata.

Trying to pick a "Best" archer class is largely a futile endeavor, since they all have limitations or areas where they could strongly benefit from abilities the other classes have. The "Best" is going to be a combination of at least two classes.

I think many people would disagree about it being futile, since people argue about such things all the time anyway, e.g., "the Arcane Archer is underpowered compared to other archer PrCs" or "the Arcane Archer is overpowered." Not all PrCs are equal.

It's quite possible that the best would be a combination of the two classes, but if we accept a limit of 20 levels, then combining 2 of these cuts you off from gaining the highest level (and often most powerful) abilities.

But let's not confuse things. This exercise is simpler if we just debate the merits of each PrC.

 

[Shallown]

I think the best is a little of each.

Rogue / fighter

Order bow to 2nd to 4th
deepwoods 2nd to 4th
peerless to at least 3rd

Works to make a nasty onslaught

Later

 

[Rashak Mani]

Lets suppose your DM wont allow you to have 2 PrClasses... joining them all up becomes another discussion of other pros and cons.