Best Archer?

[redwing]

There have been threads comparing what makes the best archer and possibilities have included the core classes: fighter, rogue, ranger, ftr/socrceor and the PrC's: Arcane Archer, Order of the Bow Initiate, Deepwood Sniper, and Peerless Archer.

My queston to you: what makes the absolute best archer? Post your character if you feel you are an uber archer. (yes this is leaning toward making a munchkin but....)

List everything you feel is important for creating the perfect archer: abilities, skills, feats, magic, armor, weapons, etc.

 

[dagger]

The Deepwood Sniper is really nice, especially with his keen arrow ability (that works with magic arrows) and the X4 (and eventually X5 crit you get. Very nice.



With weapon focus, weapon specialization, rapid shot, and improved rapid shot (from a Dragon mag), you can do some serious archer damage.

In one of the d20 books (Quint Elf book from Mongoose I think), there are some more expensive broad arrows that have less range but do 1d10 damage.

 

[Rackhir]

You might want to quantify that somewhat. The "BEST" would be all of the above, to the point of absurdity. So, restrict it to say 10/15/20 levels etc. Obviously the higher the level the easier it is to take multiple classes and gain synergy from them. Do you want someone who operates independently/part of a group? High/Low Magic world? What kind of item/support does the character get? Are you talking short term damage capability or long term slugging ability? Do you want to optimize for sneak attacks or straight combat, etc.... Finally there is the question of what classes are you talking about. WotC only or ones from this d20 book or that one. What about people's private classes.

 

[Tidus4444]

5 Fighter/ 10 Ootbi/ 5 Peerless. I'll post a more specific build if osmebody want me to.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Best Archer?

Bill Archer, he is a hell-u-va guy!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'm currently enjoying my Elf Psychic Warrior/Deepwood Sniper...he has powers like Claws of the Bear and such if he's forced into melee. Heh, the party seems to like him too, since he's our only long range character.

 

[redwing]

Rachir:

Yeah I guess I should have been a little more detailed. I'm going to start out at level 3 but eventually (over time) build up to about level 20. So level 20 seems to be a good planning point. It's just so I can have an idea how my character will turn out and what path I should follow.

He would be part of a group (as of now: a ronin samurai type (ftr), his squire (cleric), druid, wizard, and the archer.

The magic is well kinda in the middle: there aren't really any spells banned and all magic classes are open but there aren't exactly wizard NPC's walking around the streets handing out Magical +4 bows of Power.

short term/long term: I'd actually rather my character be a hard@** in the long run. I'd be okay if he was a little weak in the beginning.

sneak/straight combat: probably straight combat, he'd be able to do some hiding and moving silently but when it comes down to it he's on the front line (well further back firing arrows.....but out there fighting), so I don't think I'd need any sneak attack damage if that's what you were wondering.

Any d20 classes are fine.

tidus: yeah that would be great if you would expand on your character, sounds really good.

dagger: what issue of Dragon was that feat in?

AM Guard: sounds like a cool character concept, I'll give it some thought.

 

[ShadowX]

Once again I direct you to the wonderful character optimization boards at wizards

http://boards.wizards.com/community/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=271;t=004405

Most claim a cleric archer is the best, but 3.5 could change that.

 

[Tidus4444]

here's my build:
Every level put points in Craft (bowmaking). Make sure you put 2 points in Knowledge (religion) first level.
Race elf
Put max dex, high wis
Decent strength too, for composite bows

1: Fighter: take Point Blank Shot and Rapid Shot.
2: Fighter: Weapon Focus: longbow as your feat.
3: Fighter: Precise Shot as your feat
4: Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Longbow as your feat. Extra ability in Dex
5: Fighter: no choices to make
6: Ootbi: get sneak attack +1d6
7: Ootbi: Take Zen Archery as feat. Get close combat shot
8: Ootbi: increase dex again. You get sneak +2d6 this level
9: Ootbi: Take quick draw as a feat (needed for Peerless). Get superior weapon focus.
10: Ootbi: sneak +3d6
11: Ootbi: Get Free attack and Zen Archery
12: Ootbi: Superior weapon spec
13: Ootbi: increase Dex. Feat doesn’t matter much, maybe far shot. sneak +4d6

The rest of the levels or feats don't matte too much. Keep pumping dex and archery feats. After going 10 Ootbi, go 5 Peerless. Oh, and if you don't care about multiclassing restrictions, take Barbarian at 5th level and take extra rage evenrtually. It'll help you with composite bows.

 

[dagger]

Its one of the earlier ones, right after 3e came out, its in an article where they go over how to make a feat.

I'll try and locate it when I get a chance.