What's wrong with Fighters as archers?

[Voadam]

Fighters make great archers. The archer concept straight classed fighter in my 16th level game is considered the most powerful in damage output and attacks from a hugely powerful party, and he doesn't have an artefact weapon like two of the other party members.

However they also get things not often associated with archers, heavy armor and tower shield proficiencies for instance so flavor wise it can be a little odd.

 

[RigaMortus2]

If all you are worried about is archery feats, being able to hit with a bow, and doing decent damage, the Fighter will make a great archer.

If your vision of an archer includes good skills and sniping, then they aren't going to excel in that area.

 

[Salthorae]

The archer concept straight classed fighter in my 16th level game is considered the most powerful in damage output and attacks from a hugely powerful party....

Hey Voadam, can you possibly PM how he accomplishes that? I have an archer in my group who is struggling in his power output... Thanks!

Oh, I like the fighter for all the feats you can get, though I agree with an earlier post that talked of perhaps home rules to drop the heavy armor and add/get a good Ref save...

 

[RangerWickett]

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!

A much better option, I feel is a fighter/ranger or fighter/druid. The mobility granted by an animal companion mount makes your archery much stronger, and if you get stuck in melee most mounts are a great back-up damage dealer.

 

[Klaus]

There's no reason to get an animal companion. Either spend a feat taking Wild Cohort or keep buying expendable warhorses.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

There's no reason to get an animal companion. Either spend a feat taking Wild Cohort or keep buying expendable warhorses.

Or take leadership and get a cohort that is a mount, like a pegasus.

Oh yeah, I'm in the camp who says fighters (or rangers if you wanna be more robin hood) make fine archers no need for a specific class.

 

[bestone]

Fighters make good archers

We use a terrific house rule *hah in our opinion* for fighters, that they can pick thier 1 good save. It works nicely and adds flavour, and isnt too overpowering.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Fighters make excellent archers. In fact, if you want to use archery to deal damage, your best choice--by FAR--is a single classed fighter (at least until 12th level). The +4 damage on every shot from greater weapon specialization (going up to +6 if you toss ranged weapon mastery into the mix) is a huge advantage in damage dealing.

Practically, it is very very tempting to start with two levels of ranger because that gets you a few skills, a bonus to fort and reflex saves, favored enemy, track, and the same feat that you could get with two levels of fighter: rapid shot. Since you are going to have a good dexterity anyway, the need to wear light armor shouldn't be a hinderance.

 

[Venator]

Fighters make excellent archers. In fact, if you want to use archery to deal damage, your best choice--by FAR--is a single classed fighter (at least until 12th level). The +4 damage on every shot from greater weapon specialization (going up to +6 if you toss ranged weapon mastery into the mix) is a huge advantage in damage dealing.

Practically, it is very very tempting to start with two levels of ranger because that gets you a few skills, a bonus to fort and reflex saves, favored enemy, track, and the same feat that you could get with two levels of fighter: rapid shot. Since you are going to have a good dexterity anyway, the need to wear light armor shouldn't be a hinderance.

I agree with this 100%. I am currently playing a 9th level Fighter (Archer) in the Age of Worms adventure path. I think if i had to re-work the character over from level one i might go with the 2 ranger, 18 fighter route instead.

IMO, the Fighter archer really comes into his own at 9th level. Ranged Weapon Mastery (8th) and Improved Rapidshot (9th) make for an extreme jump in power.

 

[Technik4]

Nothing is wrong with Fighters as archers. The capacity to wear heavy armor does not dictate its use. Fighters get plenty of feats early which can establish an archer archtype very easily. Specialization certainly helps the damage output, as well as the standard magical arrows and magical bows.