Author Topic: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?  (Read 16891 times)

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Endarire

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What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« on: May 24, 2010, 05:50:31 AM »
Assume all 3.5 material is allowed, starting ECL is 1, and (nearly) infinite loops are banned.
Hood - My first answer to all your build questions; past, present, and future.

Speaking of which:
Don't even need TO for this.  Any decent Hood build, especially one with Celerity, one-rounds [Azathoth, the most powerful greater deity from d20 Cthulu].
Does it bug anyone else that we've reached the point where characters who can obliterate a greater deity in one round are considered "decent?"

Solo

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2010, 05:51:59 AM »
It involves Swift Hunter.

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Mixster

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2010, 07:46:27 AM »
Yeah or a Knowledge Devotion Cleric.

Can't go wrong with SAD and Knowledge Devotion.
Monks are pretty much the best designed class ever.

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Fluffles

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2010, 12:55:06 PM »
To expand on Solo's post: Scout 4 / Ranger 16 with Swift Hunter, and possibly Zen Archery if you maximize Wis.

JaronK

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2010, 01:46:39 PM »
Actually, I find KD Cloistered Clerics don't really start to shine until around level 7 (when they can finally cast Divine Power).  So while it's good at higher levels, I'd actually say the humble Fighter does a great job from early on, as there are a lot of strong Archery feats.  Dipping Ranger can be a very good idea too.

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drako_beoulve

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2010, 02:35:17 PM »
I Played Soulknife 2 / Fighter 4 / Masther Thrower 1 / Rogue 3 / Soulbow 10  and actually enjoyed it.

Maybe Soulknife 2/ Fighter 4 / Soulbow 10 / Fighter +4


For a Gestalt I Expanded this to:

Rogue 17 / Master Trhower 1 / Psi-Warrior 2 // Soulknife 2 / Fighter 8 / Soulbow 10
« Last Edit: May 24, 2010, 02:38:59 PM by drako_beoulve »

Akalsaris

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2010, 03:57:51 PM »
My favorite is swift hunter (Scout 3/Ranger 17, or drop 1 more ranger for cloistered cleric dip), though certainly a cleric archer is a better overall character and a fighter archer will generally put out more damage.

carnivore

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2010, 05:57:57 PM »
Optimal Archer .... would not be a Swift Hunter build ... since the majority of its bonus Skirmish Damage must be when the Target is within 30'

an Archer with a Single Cloistered Cleric dip(Domains: Elf, War, Knowledge) is very strong ... especially when combined with Devotion feats: Travel Devotion, Law Devotion, Animal Devotion), since you can use Turn Attempts to gain additional uses of the Devotion feats ... or you can use Turn attempts for something else

Fighter 20 makes a VERY strong archer build ..... since Archery is very Feat Intensive .... here is a very strong fun build:

Fighter 12/ Ranger 6/ Exotic Weapon Master 2
great feats, skills, saves ... great damage output at all times, even in Melee

Psychic Warrior makes a nice addition  to Fighter for Archery ... something like PW 2/ Fighter 18 .... will allow for Weapon Supremacy and Greater Psionic Shot ...

Druid can even be used for a Fun Archer build ... especially when using Wildsahpe for a Strong Form, combined with Zen Archery for Accuracy .... like this
[spoiler]
Druid Archer for review, this is to demonstrate the feasability of a Druid Archer.... using Wildshape to get a Strong Form(gain Strength and Size and Natural Armor and Natural Attacks(to threaten adjacent) while using Wisdom instead of Dex for Attacking and Rage for a Boost to Str and an Extra Attack


Anthropomorphic Bat ... (+0 LA,Small size, +6 Wis,-4 Str,-2 Cha, Fly 20'(Average))
ECL 12

Druidic Avenger Variant with Whirling Frenzy rage variation 12


28 point

5 Str(9 base - 4 racial)
8 Dex(8 base )
12 Con(12 base)
16 Int(16 base)
30 Wis(17 base +3 lvls +6 Racial +4 amulet)
6 Cha(8 base -2 racial)

feats:[spoiler]
Flaws:Slow
Feeble

Feats:
Educated
Knowledge Devotion
Natural Spell
Zen Archery
Exotic Weapon(Composite Greatbow)
Extra Rage
Extend Rage[/spoiler]

Wildshape (4/day)
Whirling Frenzy(duration 9 rounds each time, 5/day)(with Con 19 Briarvex form)


stats when wildshaped into Briarvex Form(MM4):
Large Size
Str 29(25+belt)(33 Str with Whirling Frenzy)
Dex 10
Con 19
Int 16
Wis 30(17+3 lvls +6 Racial +4 amulet)
Cha 8

Combat Stats:
Attack BAB+9 +10 Wis+5 Enhancement +5 Insight +1 haste = +30

Damage (+9 Str+5 insight+5 Enhancement)+(1d10x2 size increases(1d10>2d8>3d8)(Huge)=3d8)= 3d8 +19(32), with Whirling Frenzy +34

base results:
+29/+24 ... all day ... 32 damage per shot....... very respectable considering it is also a Full Spellcaster
+30/+30/+25 ... with haste
+28/+28/+28/+23 .... 34 damage per shot ... with Whirling Frenzy and Haste,...... very nice for any class even a Fighter


Items:
+1 Dragonbone Composite GreatBow(huge)(Dracominicon)
Strongarm Bracers (MIC)
+4 Amulet of Wisdom(DMG)
+4 Monks Belt of Str(DMG/MIC)...combine items
Tooth of Dahlver Nar(Leragne)...GMW @ 20th CL 1/day... use on bow(Tome of Magic)
Vagabonds Boots of Speed (immune to Fatigue(constant), haste 10 rounds/day) (Complete Champion)


Briarvex form stats (MM4)
[spoiler]
Briarvex
8HD
Large
+10 NA
spd 30'
Att:2 spiked fists 2d6+str
25 Str
10 Dex
19 Con
(EX) Imp Woodland Stride [/spoiler]


bottom line ..... i think that does it, fun Archer .... @12th lvl  ;)
before this.... his main combat form:
Dire Ape

fuinjutsu

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2010, 06:10:05 PM »
Unseen seer?  Maybe not the best archer per se, but with enough divination spells, you should be able to hurt things just fine, and 9th level spells don't hurt.
Eh, the wizard have more money than them combined, he could in theory just use all his money on a fleet of trained attack mules, but then we aren't playing 3.5 but zergling rushing in Starcraft instead.

carnivore

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2010, 07:09:04 PM »
Soulknife/Soulbow can be used for a nice Archer build ...have one i will post later

 :D

Ithamar

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2010, 07:14:04 PM »
Neraph spellcaster that polymorphs into an Arrow Demon (MMIII) can definitely get the job done as far as achery is concerned.
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Fluffles

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2010, 08:11:26 PM »
Neraph spellcaster that polymorphs into an Arrow Demon (MMIII) can definitely get the job done as far as achery is concerned.

Don't forget 2 Hank's Energy Bows :)

dark_samuari

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2010, 08:28:19 PM »
What about something akin to this?



Revolver Ocelot
Male Human Rogue 1/Swashbuckler 3/Rogue 2/Fighter 1/Exotic Weapon Master 3/Swashbuckler 10
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid (Human)
Hit Dice: 3d6+3/17d10+17 (136 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+0 armor, +4 Dex, -1 Flaw, +3 Shield of Blades), 16 touch, 10 flat-footed
Base Attack/Grapple: +19/+19
Attack: Masterwork Hand Crossbow with a Gnome Crossbow Sight +25 ranged (1d4+9/19-20x2; 90ft.)
Full Attack: Masterwork Hand Crossbow with a Gnome Crossbow Sight +25/+20/+15/+10 ranged (1d4+9/19-20x2; 90ft.)
Full Attack (Two-Weapon Fighting & Sneak Attacking): Two Masterwork Hand Crossbows with Gnome Crossbow Sights +23/+23/+18/+13/+8 ranged (1d4+13+8d6+20/19-20x2; 90ft.)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Sneak Attack +8d6
Special Qualities: Poison Use, Shield of Blades (+3), Insightful Strike, Feign Death, Penetrating Strike, Hit-and-Run Tactics, Exotic Weapon Stunt (Close-Quarters Ranged Combat, Ranged Disarm & Twin Exotic Weapon Fighting), Seduction, Grace (+2), Swift & Deadly, Improved Flanking, Lucky (1/day), and Acrobatic Skill Mastery.
Saves: Fort +15; Ref +14; Will +6
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +24, Craft (Poisonmaking) +9, Craft (Weaponsmithing) +14, Gather Information +26, Hide +15, Intimidate +26, Knowledge (Local) +15, Move Silently +9, Perform (Weapon Drill) +21, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +29, Tumble +27 and Use Magical Device +22.
Skill TricksFeats: Point Blank Shot [1st], Able Learner [Human], Quick Draw [Flaw], Craven [Flaw], Weapon Finesse [Swash1st], Hand Crossbow Focus [3rd], Daring Outlaw [6th], Precise Shot [Fighter1st], Crossbow Sniper [9th], Woodland Archer [12th], Deadeye Shot [15th], and Improved Precise Shot [18th].
Flaws: Noncombatant and Vulnerable.
Languages: Common, Drow Sign Language, Goblin, and Undercommon.
Challenge Rating: 20
Variants Used: Feign Death, Hit-and-Run Tactics, Penetrating Strike, Poison Use, Shield of Blades and Swift & Deadly.
Books used

Mixster

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2010, 09:36:39 PM »
What about something akin to this?

Awesome!

Awesome awesome awesome. Gotta find a DM who accepts guns again, as that would be cooler.

Cleric Archer with Knowledge Devotion however, at level 10 and beyond nothing gets near that. Especially if you multi with Prestige Paladin, and other things.
With Persisted Divine power, you can easily go to 20+ Strength, good knowledge stats, good wisdom for Zen archery, and just keep your dex at what you need for rapid shot. It's also a cleric who does many things rather well.

However, I do agree fighters are better at it up till around level 7. But after that nothing beats the cleric or druid archer builds. Unless you have unimaginary good ability scores (something like 3 stats that are 18+.

But swift hunter is probably the best character who does only archery.
Monks are pretty much the best designed class ever.

JaronK

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gorfnad

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2010, 09:46:27 PM »
Bard 7/ Fighter 1/ Arcane Archer 2/ Sublime Chord 2/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 3
Imbue Arrow Shenanigans (Shrink Item, Antimagic Field, etc.)

Ithamar

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #15 on: May 24, 2010, 09:52:24 PM »
How about this:

Alternate Druid 17 / Scout 3 for Swift Hunter goodness and full Druid spellcasting.  At level 20 just Shapechange into an Arrow Demon, cast Owl's Insight (for Zen Archery of course!) and then go to town.

If you can manage to get your hands on 2 Bows of the Solar from BoED, so much the better. ;)
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bananaphone

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #16 on: May 24, 2010, 09:57:53 PM »
I suppose it would involve the feats:
Fell Shot(to expend my psionic focus to make one attack roll a ranged touch attack)
Manyshot(to fire off several arrows using one attack roll)
Psionic Meditation(move action to regain my psionic focus and repeat)
then grab Hank's Bow, to make Power Shots.

Knowlege Devotion for more damage, and Knowledge Mantle for bonuses to Knowledge skills.
« Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 08:58:32 AM by bananaphone »

Maat_Mons

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #17 on: May 25, 2010, 12:39:49 AM »
Unseen seer?

It grants +4d6 skirmish damage and you can enter with dread necromancer to fuel travel devotion so, yeah, I'd agree with that. 

Akkristor

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #18 on: May 25, 2010, 01:14:56 AM »
Personally, i'm interested in trying a Factotum Archer build, using Manyshot and a Splitting Bow, with only a 20 Intelligence, I can spend one Inspiration Point (renewed at the end of each encounter), and get a +5 bonus on both attack rolls or all 4 damage rolls (or 2 points to get both).  Add in Knowledge Devotion and all skills as class skills for more uber archer fun.

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: What's your favorite build for an optimal archer?
« Reply #19 on: May 25, 2010, 01:33:17 AM »
Unseen seer?

It grants +4d6 skirmish damage and you can enter with dread necromancer to fuel travel devotion so, yeah, I'd agree with that. 
Of course, you'd be best off with some way of getting multiple ranged attacks per round...
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