What's wrong with Fighters as archers?

[nittanytbone]

The reason fighters aren't the best archers is because (A) they don't have much bonus damage on each shot, and archers can usually full-attack with rapid shot for a volley of missiles and (B) it only takes 3 essential feats to be a competent archer (PBS-->Precise Shot-->Rapid Shot), making it non-feat and non-stat intensive.

For example, an elvish cleric-archer can have all required feats by level 3, as well as full casting progression and the ability to use Wisdom to hit (only 13 dex required for Rapid Shot), thus allowing them to focus on decent STR for damage. A human can gain MWP through many sources (PrCs such as Radiant Servant or Prestige Paladin, feats, domains, etc) and gets the human bonuses to boot. Divine Favor gives +1 to hit/damage each three levels, which honestly almost keeps par with Weapon Specialization for awhile until higher levels spells (like Divine Might) come out.

A rogue or ranger gets more bonus damage on each shot (sneak attack and favored enemy), making their damage output higher than a fighter who is stuck with weapon spec.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Well, he could really use Spot as a class skill, so as to be able to target enemies at extreme range.

 

[Klaus]

Fighter is awesome for it.

Since you already have a d10 for HD and good armor, you can put a 10 or 12 in Con, and keep Dex and Wis higher than you otherwise would. Being a human and putting a 13 on Int won't hurt, skills-wise.

With the feats Guerrilla Warrior and Guerrilla Scout (Heroes of Battle) you can take Spot, Listen, Hide and Move Silently at 1 point per rank (still limited to cross-class max), plus some other nice benefits. But you have the feats to burn. Skill Focus (Spot), Alertness and Improved Initiative are also nice to have.

And I love the image of a human archer in heavy armor.

 

[Drowbane]

To misquote Forceuser: The best class at fighting archery is the Fighter!

 

[Patlin]

A fighter's not missing anything to be an archer, but "archer" is a pretty general term.

If you want to play a "Robin Hood" type character, the fighter is missing the woodsy skills you would expect from someone operating out of sherwood forest. Ranger (or any of several multiclass combinations) is probably a better way to go if you are going for that archetype, the very similar elf archer archetype, or any sort of huntsman.

Also, weapon specialization and greater weapon specialization help, but if you like to take your character from level 1 to level 20 they're not enough (in my opinion) to keep you in the ballgame damage-wise, given the limitations on strength with bows. Crossbows, of course, are worse. If your goal is to rain down massive amounts of death with your archery, you might want to consider a magically pumped rogue. Scout is also an excellent option. Scout/Fighter might be best of all, as fighter levels can help you get the greater manyshot feat a lot earlier on in your career. Prestige classes like Order of the Bow initiate take another spin on this goal.

Finally, a lot of archers like to have magic at their disposal. You could conceivably build an excellent archer based exclusively on many other classes, such as the Cleric, Psychic Warrior, or Artificer.

Sure, a fighter gets the archery feats a lot sooner, but there are a lot of ways to be a good archer other than just by having the feats. Saying a Cleric is a bad archer because the Cleric doesn't get all of the feats by X level is just as invalid as saying a fighter is a bad archer because he cannot cast the oh-so-convenient greater magic weapon spell.

There are probably plenty of as yet undiscovered ways to play a good archer. If you want to design a new class that likes to use bows, go for it! In my opinion, having different ways of doing things is a lot of fun.

 

[Ace]

I don't think that there is anything wrong with it.

me either

I saw a variant in the files at Crystal Keep that was pretty good.

There is also 3 Arrows for the King which I think is 3.5

 

[Mistwell]

Another vote for "Not Missing Anything".

He won't be as skillsy as an archer ranger, but he'll be a better archer.

Point Blank Shot
Weapon Focus
Rapid Shot
Dodge
Mobility
Weap Specialization
Manyshot
Shot on the Run

For a human fighter, all of that by 6th level. 6th!

Precise Shot is essential for an archer build. Much more so than the Shot on the Run feat chain.

 

[Mistwell]

Divine Favor gives +1 to hit/damage each three levels, which honestly almost keeps par with Weapon Specialization for awhile until higher levels spells (like Divine Might) come out.

It does not keep them on par with hitting however, since they lose both base attack bonus and weapon focus (and the higher level feat improvements that depend on base attack bonus).

 

[Felix]

Precise Shot is essential for an archer build. Much more so than the Shot on the Run feat chain.

I knew I was missing something!

Shows how long its been since I've made an archer, eh?

 

[Slaved]

It does not keep them on par with hitting however, since they lose both base attack bonus and weapon focus (and the higher level feat improvements that depend on base attack bonus).

Being able to use greater magic weapon to get a higher flat bonus while focusing the bow on secondary enhancements definately helps though.

If archery means having lots of archery related feats then the fighter is good to go.

If it means being stealthy and being able to spot targets however, he is out of luck without multiclassing, at which point I guess it would be 4 levels of fighter plus something else.