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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 1568068" data-attributes="member: 1757">I'd say Elder_Basilisk is pretty right on about the PrC thing. If Peerless Archer ever got updated to 3.5, it might be a worthwhile class to take, but otherwise, the work of building a better archer is now done in feats (which, IMHO, was a better way to go). It does disturb me, though, that the one obvious power-up for archers is to learn how to shoot people 5' away with an even bigger weapon than the standard longbow. This has (OT alert!) made me all the more committed to getting rid of the EWM and replacing it with a standard Weapon Master class which is open to all fighters (req'ment: Greater Weapon Focus, replaces EWP), since I like the weapon stunts but don't think they should be limited to funky weapons.Back onto topic: I'm a big fan of Ftr4/Rgr16 or Rgr6/Ftr14. IMHO, ranger levels past Combat Style II are wasted unless you go the whole hog and get the stealth abilities. (Poly self now sucks for a ranger because of the low-low HD cap.) I've been thinking that another reasonably good archer type (although not combat-focused, it has other neat abilities) is a Rgr2/Ftr2/Rog16. This build has +16 BAB, can easily acquire all the archery feats, has SA +8d6 within 30 feet (and can pull this off often with an item of greater invisibility or, better still, blink), has a boatload of skill points, and has some abilities (in particular, evasion, UMD, and nasty stuff like crippling strike) that dovetail well with ranged combat. It's missing hp (but what archer needs those, especially with evasion?) and some archery bonus feats (two less than the ranger, eight(!) less than the fighter), but, given situational advantage, is a force to be reckoned with. 27,000 gp (see ring of blinking, DMG)  makes every attack a sneak attack (unless your opponent has uncanny dodge or can see ethereal), which knocks the OOtBI's precise shot ability into a cocked hat. Imp Precise Shot allows you to overcome one of the rogue's most frustrating SA obstacles, concealment, while crippling strike, should you choose to take it, allows you to inflict up to 10 Strength damage in a round! Plus there are the great skill points and nifty special abilities.</blockquote>

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