While I do agree with you about the Fighter being a good option here JaronK, I don't see how Fighter 1 is going to put up better numbers than the Cloistered Cleric at 1st.
Long winded but short and imperfect analysis below.
[spoiler]If we assume we're the same race, with the same point buy, same number of flaws allowed etc. considering just the difference between 2 Domains+Knowledge Devotion compared 1 Bonus Feat and 1 BaB isn't the Cloistered Cleric still ahead at level 1?
Knowledge Devotion is at worst equal to +1 BaB, but sometimes even at level 1 better - therefore it is better.
Knowledge Devotion is what, usually equal, but sometimes superior to the damage from a +1 str mod bow - therefore it is better.
Fighter Bonus Feat. 2 Domains=2 Fighter Bonus Feats. 2>1.
Fighter has more HP. Cleric has more healing. I will call that a toss up if you like, however, it's easy to die at low levels, especially 1.
Probably the same Fort saves.
Cloistered Cleric unarguably better Will save.
Fighter has possibly a better Reflex save, maybe.
Bardic Knowledge is clearly better than nothing.
Lots of skill points is clearly superior to very few.
Turn Undead vs nothing.
You get heavy armor, but, aren't you going to have a high dex? Won't that hose your movement probably? Again this is level 1.
At 2nd level, Fighter picks up another BaB and another Feat. CC gets just about squat except my Knowledge Devotion checks get 5% more probable, and another 1st and 0th level spell. I would agree that at 2nd level, the Fighter is probably equal to, or possibly better than, the CC at archery. But at "adventuring"? I still have spells.
3rd level when we both get a feat and a BaB, I get 2nd level spells. Again, my Knowledge Devotion checks are getting better. I'd say CC takes this level.
4th - Fighter better at archery, possibly. Better at adventuring? Doubtful.
5th - Cleric picks up 3rd level spells. Fighter doesn't even get a feat (if you're still straight fighter, multiclassing/dipping will obviously help). Cleric is obviously the better adventure and certainly can be a good enough archer.
6th - Fighter probably does very well this level with a 2nd attack and another feat. Totally willing to admit they are probably the better archer for and at this level. Better adventurer though? Probably not. In addition if retraining or rebuilding is in effect, I could do a Dex/Wis/feat rebuild and get in Zen Archery.
7th - 4th level spells for CC. No feat for Fighter. CC takes it.
8th+ - 4th level spells are just too good, and the rest of the way is Divine Power or better. CC all the way. [/spoiler]
I can totally agree that the Fighter might be a better archer at a few of those levels, especially if you're adding in Ranger as I talk about below. But I still think CC will be a better archer at 1st and 3rd. Possibly 5th as well. But as we know, the CC is just going to be a better overall adventurer at all of those levels in a standard game.
Now, obviously, you mix in some Fighter, you mix in some Ranger (could you even mix in some Whirling Frenzy Barbarian for more Dex?) and you're going to tear up the lowest levels of the game as a more competent archer -AND- you're a significantly better adventurer, thanks to Ranger helping out all the weak areas.
Save improvements, skill points help a ton, Ranger gets tons of bonus feats vs taking dead Fighter levels etc.
But in that case, wouldn't you say "Damn the Torpedoes!" and take your first level in Ranger for the ass-ton of skill points instead of even fooling around with Fighter for 1st? That makes a lot more sense, but, I'm sure you can agree that a 1st level CC is better than a 1st level Ranger at Archery and Adventuring - A&A. Even weaving Ranger and Fighter together I still think you're only getting a modest increase in power.
I do like the Targetteer+Skiprocks+Halfling idea throwing in Drow Hit-and-Run Fighter variant but now we're making more of a "thrower" than an "archer". If that counts, I am heavily with you on an early combination of Fighter and Ranger - with help from Cloistered Cleric; the power of a 1 level dip is just too great and opens up lots of possibilities.
I enjoy building and playing classes from the ground up, and since that is part of the OP's question, I do appreciate looking at a build in the context of each level. I just think CC simply handles every level a lot easier and without significant issues.
The druid idea is neat but won't the 3 BaB req for Zen Archery interfere with feat selection? Like, are you going to take Zen Archery at 3rd and get no use from it until 4th/5th depending on where you mix in Ranger? That means you kind of suck at those levels, and the OP is basically looking for a house at all levels of progression. Of course, re-training complicates the shit out of this - actually I have to ask the OP about that.
Endaire: If you are allowing retraining, and you said the campaign last an indefinite time, then couldn't the character be the best archer at every level because he could constantly rebuild into it?