Updated classes from Complete Warrior/Psionic Kensai Archer Build

[Cephid]

I'm trying to make a nice archer build, and there are only a few PrC's to choose from. (as opposed to 100d's of melee ones)

I read somewhere that the following PrC's are overpowered and have been supersceded.
Does anyone know where I can find the unpdated version of these? Or, if they are all good as is in the origional 3.5 Complete Warrior.

Darkwood Stalker
Order of the Bow Initiate
Exotic weapon master

Peerless Archer(from somewhere else. Anyone know where? Is there an undated 3.5 version?)

Thanks a lot.

[EDIT] And I thought there was a PrC called Deepwood Sniper. Where would I find the current version?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Races of the Wild has several archer feats and a tactical feat.

Races of Stone has several useful feats (not sure if you would consider any archery-specific) and Cragtop Archer as a PrC.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I'm trying to make a nice archer build, and there are only a few PrC's to choose from. (as opposed to 100d's of melee ones)

I read somewhere that the following PrC's are overpowered and have been supersceded.
Does anyone know where I can find the unpdated version of these? Or, if they are all good as is in the origional 3.5 Complete Warrior.

Darkwood Stalker
Order of the Bow Initiate
Exotic weapon master

Peerless Archer(from somewhere else. Anyone know where? Is there an undated 3.5 version?)

Thanks a lot.

[EDIT] And I thought there was a PrC called Deepwood Sniper. Where would I find the current version?

Darkwood Stalker, OotBI, and Exotic Weapon Master are overpowered?! Really? You couldn't pay me to play an OotBI, and I LOVE archers! Well...the OotBI originally printed in Sword & Fist was pretty strong, but the one in CW is terrible. "Give up my full attack, the guarantee of getting it being the ONLY thing that makes archery strong compared to melee, in order to do PrC level/2 extra d8's of damage? Yay! I'll just close my eyes and pretend Manyshot doesn't exist, either!"

Ahem...I know nothing of Peerless Archer, the first 3 in their most recent versions, are CW. Deepwood Sniper is in Masters of the Wild, which is 3.0 (never updated). There's not much to alter to make it 3.5, though, if you have a willing DM.

I second Infiniti's suggestions of checking out the Cragtop Archer and the RotW feats (specifically Woodland Archer, the tactical feat). Using Scout or Ranger (with spell Compendium spells like Arrow Mind) is good for a base class. Or mix them with the Swift Hunter feat. Elf cleric archers are also good.

For gear, the one recent standout is in MIC, the "Force" weapon special property. It's a +2 market price mod, for projectile weapons only. Makes the projectiles into pure force damage, so you never again have to worry about DR (aka, "the bane of archers")

 

[moritheil]

I normally see OotBI* and Craigtop as dips. I haven't seen anyone use EWM in a very long time, except for the occasional melee char dip to improve the bastard sword.

Peerless archer is pretty good, but there's nothing overpowering about it.

*When I see OotBI, it isn't taken for the d8 precision damage, as SotS suggests - it's taken for the ability to not provoke AOOs.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

*When I see OotBI, it isn't taken for the d8 precision damage, as SotS suggests - it's taken for the ability to not provoke AOOs.

With 5 ft steps and MIC swift action teleporting boots, this really shouldn't be worth a dip, I would think.

 

[moritheil]

With 5 ft steps and MIC swift action teleporting boots, this really shouldn't be worth a dip, I would think.

Am I arguing the merits of the class, or am I reporting the commonly-held rationale for dipping in the class?

Firing out of melee without AOOs is something that normally can't be done until epic. There are people who think acquiring that ability early is worth a two-level dip. If you have other ways of doing it, that's fine, but that doesn't somehow change the reasons most other people have for dipping into OotBI, does it?

 

[Cephid]

Thanks for your help so far guys.
I suppose I'm just frustrated with the lack of PrC's and feats for archers. (relative to melee/arcane/rogue/divine etc.)

I'm trying to find ways of getting my damage up significantly, without being stuck 30' from enemies.

I thought kensai might be good because all the enhancement abilities work at any range.

Potential ideas:
Fighter 2 (feats)
Warblade 2 (ability to swap weapon focus/specialisation feats and some cool stance)
Kensai (lots of dammage pumping abilities.)

Kensai Weapon: Elven craft bow (can be used as a staff or Bow)

The idea is I have weapon focus/specialisation/mastery for my bow which has lots of damage pumping enhancements.

Other feats would be archery based.

Pump heaps of arrows into enemy at range.

For flexability: spend 1hr to change all my weapon focus type feats to staff (which has all the same damage pumping enhancements) and beat them up close range. I still threaten an area, so I can take AoO's too.

Another Idea (which could be incorperated) is to be a half giant, take exotic weapon profficiency: great bow (1d10 or 2d8 as half giant.)
use the Bo9S stance which lets weapons count as 1 size larger for a bow that does 3d8 base damage.
Then take up the walls, and fell shot.
Eventially, a fight starts:
1st round: Run up wall to elevated position.
Fire at enemy: Use fell shot and many shot to take a touch attack with several arrows, each doing 3d8 plus Kensai enhancements (and bane arrows for fun)

2nd round: Stay in nice, hard to reach position and full attack from above. (maybe take crag top for +2 damage)

So what do you think? Issues/potentials/suggestions?

 

[blargney the second]

Fighter 4 is the new archer prestige class. Grab Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and Ranged Weapon Mastery.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

One thing you could try for giggles is to have a Quiver of Ehlonna with your "backup" badass bow stored safely inside. Its your real chosen weapon.

THAT is the one you had made for when you want to use your Kensai's power-surge...you know, that +8 Str you get for a few rounds?

Also, realize that the Kensai is oddly difficult to qualify for. Its not so much the BAB or Feat requirements that get you, its the ranks in Concentration, Diplomacy, and Ride. AFAIK, only a handful of classes can qualify for it in 5 levels- the Paladin, Samurai (both OA & CW), a LE or LN Hexblade, and a LG Soulborn, possibly the Crusader (I can't recall if it has a full BAB progression or not).

Another Idea (which could be incorperated) is to be a half giant, take exotic weapon profficiency: great bow (1d10 or 2d8 as half giant.)

I don't think that will work- as I recall Powerful Build (and the related Monkey Grip) only apply to melee weapons, not projectile weapons.

OTOH, if you were using a Greatspear...

 

[Darklone]

Firing out of melee without AOOs is something that normally can't be done until epic.

Arrowmind spell?

There are so many nice swift ranger spells in the SpC like Exacting Shot or Hunters Precision... all a ranger or a ranger/scout needs are lots of pearls of power. Head for Greater Manyshot to really enjoy your skirmish damage and full attacks from enemies are never a problem (just move behind something that stops their full attack charges).

The machine gun archer is a ftr4/bardX (RWM) or a clr1/brdX (Divine Might). Go for maxxed Cha, get a bow of songs, optimise Inspire Courage and enjoy your Cha mod to hit and to damage. I suggest to get some flaws though for extra feats, these builds burn bardic music attempts like inquisitors witches.