Anyone want to help me build my next character? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anyone want to help me build my next character? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
_xiii_
03-03-06, 09:24 AM Hey, anyone on the board bored and want to help me make my next character?
(board / bored, get it? :))

Anways, not sure when our next game will be, but i'd like to have my character made up and ready to go, since it takes me so long being fairly new to the game to set one up.

I'd like to play a Ranger. I don't know the location of where we will be starting, so I might not even be in the wilderness much at all.

Okay, obviously since i'm posting it here, i'd like it to be fairly optimized, so let me start. Whats a good race for rangers? I was thinking Human or Elven, since I want to focus on Archery combat class, since its my favorite. Something with high dex obviously. Are races with LA's useful at low and high levels, or just low levels?

So i'll need high dex, con, str, not sure what else needed for a ranger. I'll have to take feats that help out my bow skills, weapon focus kinda stuff right? Also, not many characters in later levels live long without some kind of magic and magic equipment. So should I take caster levels in something to become well rounded? How about getting my character polymorphed into something thats mixes well with ranger, tracking, stealth, and bow skills?

I'm sorry if this is a lot of material, we have most of the books, I don't have them infront of me since I don't personally own them. If the board wants to have a little fun and help me build this, I got plenty of time today, just hop in and lets start, okay? THANKS! :)
_xiii_
03-03-06, 09:28 AM Favored Enemies: i'm sure this is very useful if you take them in something you generally would encounter more often.

Since I don't really know anything about the game, I suppose I should take them in something like humanoid and what else, animals?

Equipment: I'll obviously want a melee weapon, but I want to focus on a bow with all the goodies, hopefully I can find a way of getting plenty of gold to help max it out. Want to add my strength to it right? What other enchantments are good? Keen arrows? Vorpal?

Light armor for a more stealthy bow character right? Mithral or something?
Kurama Youko
03-03-06, 10:01 AM i've never really build a archer character before, archery has aways been a second option for me when it comes to a fighter, something that i'd do if the enemy decides to run away or take to the air...

I would suggest working toward the Iniate of the Bow PrC in the complete warrior, take 2 lvs of Fighter, than head into Ranger and take the prestige class mentioned for 10 lvs. The two races that stand out to me are as you mentioned human and elven, if you use wood elf then like humans multiclassing between fighter and ranger wont hurt you.are you playing in forgotten realms? maybe when you get to higher lvs you could take a magicial beast cohort or even a dragon cohort that is large enough for you to use as a mount, i think mounted archery sounds cool, probably not as powerful as mounted melee though, but there is a three lv prestige class for it in the races of the wild, it helps lv animal companions i think, with a ranger you could take that and combined it with natural bond for a decent mount i think.
BreakfastNinja
03-03-06, 10:26 AM In Races of the Wild... there is a Ranger Substitution level -- it offers, I think, D6 hit die, 8 skills + int/lv, and favored enemy: undead at +3 (or servants of lolth, or orcs/gobbies) -- if you have it.

Welcome to the board. : ) TMI? Look here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=57494) --

The board has already collected amazing Ranger builds & ideas, focusing & defocusing. I think, *cough* The elf ranger (listed) for levels 1-2 or 3,
Favored Enemy "Human" is best. : )

Kurama -- has a good PrC in Order of the Bow Initiate (Complete Warrior); pick up / max out (if possible) move silently, hide, spot, listen, survival, and something else -- even more with the sub level (8 skills :) ) -- the Horizon Walker PrC in the DMG adds to skills (+4 to most of those mentioned) and at level 6 (if you take the shifty one) dimension door every... 1d4 rounds or so.

Breakfast NINJA!
BreakfastNinja
03-03-06, 10:57 AM Deleted. :P
GaffeR
03-03-06, 01:01 PM ranger 20 is pretty lousy, ditch that class after a free feat or two.
ksbsnowowl made a wackload of archer posts that can be found in the stickies and right here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=183604) . Make sure to grab at least 2 levels of Order of the Bow Initiate or Exotic Weapon Prof (Greatbow) and 1 level of Exotic Weapon Master. These will let you fire while not provoking AoOs (which is a very very good thing). If you can get Peerless Archer (from FR's Silver Marches), you'll be golden. Its one of my Favorite archer PrCs out there.

Here, do yourself a favor and check out the optimization library (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=213480) , it's probly got answers to all your questions.
cvazi
03-03-06, 01:26 PM Actually, I like the one that Surreal compiled better.

HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=482636)
Thanatos42
03-03-06, 04:07 PM What level will you be starting at?
What is it about ranger that appeals to you?
What else do you care about, besides dealing massive damage with your bow (It's OK if that's all you care about ;) )
_xiii_
03-03-06, 04:46 PM Starting level anywhere between 1-20, so I figured we could just make a 20 level build I can work my way up to if I have too.

I live the ranger because i'm more of a fan of the flavor, the wilderness expert, hunting, maybe even an animal companion, something rare would be cool.

I just want a guy I enjoy playing, a bow focused character that isnt a toss away character, can make a difference in a party even if he will be outclassed by a wizard eventually, and I know he will because magic users always have the advantage at higher levels unfortunantly.

Not sure if i'm helping enough, I just want something unique, fairly optimized, and fun. :)
Thanatos42
03-03-06, 10:18 PM That helps a lot. You want a character you'll enjoy playing, not just the one who does the most damage.

Classes/Prestige classes that come to mind:
Ranger (duh)
Druid - another wilderness expert
Scout - skirmish and mobility
Rogue - sneak attack (can be ranged)
Fighter - feats
Arcane Archer - arrow tricks
Horizon Walker - bonuses to fighting in different terrains, like any forest
Order of the Bow Initiate - extra damage on ranged attacks
Master Thrower - throws weapons
Exotic Weapon Master - benefits on using exotic weapons (like the greatbow)

The only problem you might have is mixing exotic weapon master and Order of the Bow initiate. If I were DM'ing, I'd let a greatbow count as an exotic weapon or a longbow for the purposes of prestige classes, not both.
Also, from what you list, Druid might be a better option to play. They are the true masters of the wild, and make just as capable archers as rangers (especially with a few levels of fighter tossed in).
Zaxter
03-04-06, 01:23 AM The only problem you might have is mixing exotic weapon master and Order of the Bow initiate. If I were DM'ing, I'd let a greatbow count as an exotic weapon or a longbow for the purposes of prestige classes, not both.
Actually, if you look at the sidebar on page 116 of Complete Adventurer, you'll see that that Weapon Focus (Greatbow) qualifys you for both the Exotic Weapon Mater and the Order of the Bow Initiate, as well as giving you a +1 bonus to attack with either the greatbow or the longbow.
Thanatos42
03-04-06, 03:44 AM Last sentence:

"...consider expanding this benefit to the following weapons."

Sounds like they're making a suggestion that's up to the DM's approval to me.

Order of the Bow isn't designed to be used with an exotic weapon; likewise, exotic weapon master is designed to use an exotic weapon. No one weapon can be both, therefor I personally wouldn't allow it. You're mileage may vary.
scrollreader
03-04-06, 04:08 AM I'd consider comething like this, for a defaultish ranged ranger.

Ranger 1-11/Deepwood Sniper 2/Beastmaster 1/Ranger 12-17

Race: Wood Elf (MM)

Feats:
1) Point Blank Shot
2) Rapid Shot (B)
3) Far Shot
6) WF: Longbow, Manyshot(B)
9) Far Shot
11) Improved Precise Shot (B)
12) Skill Focus: Animal Empathy
15) Natural Bond
18) Improved Manyshot

It's not superoptimized. But if you like the feel of the ranger, this is a little bit of a boost to the feature's you like (animal companion, archery) without sacrificing the skills and feel of the class (and the special abilities)

You end up with arrows that are deadlier than ever (19-20/x4), an animal companion equal to a 15th level druid, and all the ranger goodies (culminating in HiPS at level 20)

Without more guidance, that's about the best I can offer.
Lilt
03-04-06, 04:55 AM It may not be 100% optimal, but Ranger 20 is always a possibility. Ranger gets some nice abilities once it reaches the later levels, like Camofluage and Hide in Plain Sight. The Spell selection is powerful and you get abilities most levels. Still, waiting that long to get the really phenomenal abilities does kinda suck. Ranger 20 is undoubtedly the most simple option, but you need to decide what balance between ease of use and complexity you want.

What books are allowed? Peerless Archer is a powerful PrC in the Unapproachable East bopok, but that's FR so not all DMs allow it. Elf may have a nice racial substitution level, but humans can go Chameleon (RoD).

Chameleon is a very nice PrC, and a simple yet powerful entry to it is Ranger 2/Rogue 3. The use of the class itself can be quite complex, as it lets you choose what abilities it gives each day granting everything from spellcasting to trapfinding bonuses, but you can choose to simplify it by taking the combat focus for most of the time for +2 to attack and damage. I personally think that playing a chameleon would be fun, although I've not yet had a chance to try it out and my idea of fun might be different to yours.

It might still make a good 'dip' for you, however, as it gives you a bonus feat at 2nd level that you can switch every day, so If you're allowed the Extra Favoured Enemy feat (MotW) then you can essentially have favoured enemy versus whatever you're fighting that day.
Thanatos42
03-04-06, 04:14 PM Feats that are essential:

Point Blank Shot - prereq for archer tree
Far shot - increase range on Bow by 50% (100% with thrown weapons)
Precise shot - lets you shoot into melee
Rapid Shot - one extra ranged attack per round
Improved Rapid shot - negates -2 penalty from Rapid Shot (from Complete Warrior)

This lets you shoot into melee from 165 away at no penalty when using a Composite Longbow.

Other fun feats:

Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Greatbow) - greatbows deal 1d10/3 with a range of 130ft, but can't be used mounted (Complete Warrior)
Mounted Combat - prereq for mounted archery
Mounted Archery - Halves penalty for ranged attacks when mounted
Improved Mounted Archery - Eliminates or reduces penalties (depending on mounts speed)
Improved Critical - always useful for a character that focuses on one weapon
Weapon Focus - same reason as improved crit
Weapon Specialization - same as above, argueably the most powerful feat a warrior can get
Shot on the Run - allows you to split movement before/after a ranged attack
Ranged Disarm - disarm from a distance (Complete Warrior)
Ranged Pin - Grapple from a distance, prereq for ranged sunder (Complete Warrior)
Ranged Sunder - Sunder with a ranged weapon

Since Ranger's get an animal companion, having a Horse or something else you can ride isn't a bad idea. The rangeded disarm/pin/sunders are interesting, but have to be used within 30ft, making them a bit less useful.

So for something completely different, I would suggest:
Half-Elf
Sorcerer 1/Fighter 1/Ranger 8/Arcane Archer 10

This gives 8 feats, as well as improved combat style, animal companion, and a few other ranger specials. You have access to 1st lvl arcane and 2nd lvl divine spells (mmm True Strike), as well as a few Ranger buff spells. It also gives access to Death Arrow, Phase Arrow, Seeker Arrow, and the ability to Enhance non-magical arrows.
Talk to your DM . If he lets you swap divine spells for the Arcane Archer's prereqs, then you can drop that lvl of sorcerer.
Feats:

Point Blank Shot
Far Shot
Precise Shot
Improved Rapid Shot
Mounted Combat
Mounted Archery
Improved Mounted Archery
Improved Critical
Rapid Shot, Many Shot (from Ranger's combat style)

This buid isn't greatly optimized, but it does allow you to deal death from a distance, and move around the battle-field quickly. Another option is swapping Druid for Ranger (add an extra lvl of fighter and drop Improved critical if you do), giving access to 4th lvl Druid Spells.

Another option is dropping arcane archer, and going with Order of the Bow Initiate (Complete Warrior). OoTB gain the ability to attack with a precision strike, which deals 1d8/2lvls extra damage within 30ft, but limits you to a single shot per round. If you go with OoTB, drop the sorcerer and go for Scout, since skirmish stacks with OoTB. If you don't plan on riding your animal companion, then going for more scout might make sense anyways.

Remember that archery has a huge advantage over melee combat - it's hard for the enemy to hit you. It's almost impossible to do as much damage in a round as a 20th lvl raging Barbarian with a greataxe, but you won't get hit nearly as often either.
Gavinfoxx
03-04-06, 05:11 PM I dont really like this archer build... I mean, cmon, Arcane Archer?

If you REALLY wanna be an archer... check out some of the builds here...

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=183604

There are things that are much more important to an archer than simple feats...
Lilt
03-04-06, 05:22 PM I'd hardly call Far Shot essential. There are so many things more effective than extending how far you can shoot the bow before you take a -1 penalty. How may combats take-place at over 100ft anyway? It might be useful with a weapon with a shorter range increment, like with thrown weapons which have a range limit of 5 range increments as opposed to 10, but the chance of any combats taking place within ranges that it matters for bows is infinitessimle.
Thanatos42
03-04-06, 05:55 PM I forgot to mention, any of the builds I use only use the Complete Series and the 3 core books.

As such, Arcane Archer and Order of the Bow Initiate are the only two prestige classes that I've found that specifically apply to archers. No, the build is not completely optimized, but it does keep it's flavor as a woodsman with a bow. The only thing he's getting with Arcane Archer that he can't utilize is imbue arrow.

He asked for something different, and I gave him something different. It uses limited books, and all material is 3.5. Now if you scrap the woodsman theme, I could probably do more, but damage is not the most important part of a character.
Thanatos42
03-05-06, 04:26 PM Since my last build was generally disliked (even by me), I suppose I ought to supply another one. Here it is:

(any race) Druid 20
Feats: PBS, FS, PS, RS, EWP(greatbow), and 2 feats of your choosing.
(Alter the feats based on what you plan on doing. If you don't plan on sniping from a distance, drop farshot)

Weapon of note: Composite Greatbow +4 with +5 enhancement, blood seeking (+1), disarming (+2), and exit wound (+2).

The bow seeks targets, goes through targets to hit those behind them, and has the ability to disarm if you should choose. If you're allies have decent reflex saves, you could add explosive (+3, drop disarming and lower the enhancement to +4) to have explosive arrows on each successful hit. You could argue that explosive should go off each time it hits a new target from exit wound, but I doubt your DM would allow that.

You get 9th lvl druid spells (and there's some powerful ones), you can wild shape into a huge elemental, and a few "I'm one with the woods" goodies.

You'll be a useful ranged attacker early in the game who can also heal and summon extra allies (animal companion plus summon spells).
You could also toss in a few levels of ranger for archery style if you desired, though personally I'd sitck with Druid 20.

In later levels, you'll be doing damage comparable to High Level spell-casters (because you'll be one) - shapechange (Now I'm a Titan), storm of vengeance, mass cure critical wounds, and elemental swarm comes to mind.
Khazra Reborn
03-05-06, 04:56 PM I'd strongly suggest scout. Scout 10/highland stalker10 is a powerful archer. Especially with greater manyshot (http://srd.pbemnexus.com/psionicFeats.html#greater-manyshot) (its not in the MM, DMG, PHB or the complete series but is in the SRD so i thought it would be worth a try as its technically core). Without greater manyshot its not really worth playing a scout archer.
Arcane archer is not good, though im big enough to admit i played a ranger6/hexblade4/arcane archer10 in a campaign once. If your in a really low gold/item setting the free +5 arrows are quite decent. And i had full BaB with above average saves.
ninjarabbit
03-05-06, 05:04 PM If you're going to use a greatbow I'd suggest at least one level of Exotic Weapon Master from Complete Warrior, being able to shoot in melee without provoking an Attack of Opportunity is useful

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
_xiii_ 03-03-06, 09:24 AM	Hey, anyone on the board bored and want to help me make my next character? (board / bored, get it? :)) Anways, not sure when our next game will be, but i'd like to have my character made up and ready to go, since it takes me so long being fairly new to the game to set one up. I'd like to play a Ranger. I don't know the location of where we will be starting, so I might not even be in the wilderness much at all. Okay, obviously since i'm posting it here, i'd like it to be fairly optimized, so let me start. Whats a good race for rangers? I was thinking Human or Elven, since I want to focus on Archery combat class, since its my favorite. Something with high dex obviously. Are races with LA's useful at low and high levels, or just low levels? So i'll need high dex, con, str, not sure what else needed for a ranger. I'll have to take feats that help out my bow skills, weapon focus kinda stuff right? Also, not many characters in later levels live long without some kind of magic and magic equipment. So should I take caster levels in something to become well rounded? How about getting my character polymorphed into something thats mixes well with ranger, tracking, stealth, and bow skills? I'm sorry if this is a lot of material, we have most of the books, I don't have them infront of me since I don't personally own them. If the board wants to have a little fun and help me build this, I got plenty of time today, just hop in and lets start, okay? THANKS! :)
_xiii_ 03-03-06, 09:28 AM	Favored Enemies: i'm sure this is very useful if you take them in something you generally would encounter more often. Since I don't really know anything about the game, I suppose I should take them in something like humanoid and what else, animals? Equipment: I'll obviously want a melee weapon, but I want to focus on a bow with all the goodies, hopefully I can find a way of getting plenty of gold to help max it out. Want to add my strength to it right? What other enchantments are good? Keen arrows? Vorpal? Light armor for a more stealthy bow character right? Mithral or something?
Kurama Youko 03-03-06, 10:01 AM	i've never really build a archer character before, archery has aways been a second option for me when it comes to a fighter, something that i'd do if the enemy decides to run away or take to the air... I would suggest working toward the Iniate of the Bow PrC in the complete warrior, take 2 lvs of Fighter, than head into Ranger and take the prestige class mentioned for 10 lvs. The two races that stand out to me are as you mentioned human and elven, if you use wood elf then like humans multiclassing between fighter and ranger wont hurt you.are you playing in forgotten realms? maybe when you get to higher lvs you could take a magicial beast cohort or even a dragon cohort that is large enough for you to use as a mount, i think mounted archery sounds cool, probably not as powerful as mounted melee though, but there is a three lv prestige class for it in the races of the wild, it helps lv animal companions i think, with a ranger you could take that and combined it with natural bond for a decent mount i think.
BreakfastNinja 03-03-06, 10:26 AM	In Races of the Wild... there is a Ranger Substitution level -- it offers, I think, D6 hit die, 8 skills + int/lv, and favored enemy: undead at +3 (or servants of lolth, or orcs/gobbies) -- if you have it. Welcome to the board. : ) TMI? Look here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=57494) -- The board has already collected amazing Ranger builds & ideas, focusing & defocusing. I think, cough The elf ranger (listed) for levels 1-2 or 3, Favored Enemy "Human" is best. : ) Kurama -- has a good PrC in Order of the Bow Initiate (Complete Warrior); pick up / max out (if possible) move silently, hide, spot, listen, survival, and something else -- even more with the sub level (8 skills :) ) -- the Horizon Walker PrC in the DMG adds to skills (+4 to most of those mentioned) and at level 6 (if you take the shifty one) dimension door every... 1d4 rounds or so. Breakfast NINJA!
BreakfastNinja 03-03-06, 10:57 AM	Deleted. :P
GaffeR 03-03-06, 01:01 PM	ranger 20 is pretty lousy, ditch that class after a free feat or two. ksbsnowowl made a wackload of archer posts that can be found in the stickies and right here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=183604) . Make sure to grab at least 2 levels of Order of the Bow Initiate or Exotic Weapon Prof (Greatbow) and 1 level of Exotic Weapon Master. These will let you fire while not provoking AoOs (which is a very very good thing). If you can get Peerless Archer (from FR's Silver Marches), you'll be golden. Its one of my Favorite archer PrCs out there. Here, do yourself a favor and check out the optimization library (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=213480) , it's probly got answers to all your questions.
cvazi 03-03-06, 01:26 PM	Actually, I like the one that Surreal compiled better. HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=482636)
Thanatos42 03-03-06, 04:07 PM	What level will you be starting at? What is it about ranger that appeals to you? What else do you care about, besides dealing massive damage with your bow (It's OK if that's all you care about ;) )
_xiii_ 03-03-06, 04:46 PM	Starting level anywhere between 1-20, so I figured we could just make a 20 level build I can work my way up to if I have too. I live the ranger because i'm more of a fan of the flavor, the wilderness expert, hunting, maybe even an animal companion, something rare would be cool. I just want a guy I enjoy playing, a bow focused character that isnt a toss away character, can make a difference in a party even if he will be outclassed by a wizard eventually, and I know he will because magic users always have the advantage at higher levels unfortunantly. Not sure if i'm helping enough, I just want something unique, fairly optimized, and fun. :)
Thanatos42 03-03-06, 10:18 PM	That helps a lot. You want a character you'll enjoy playing, not just the one who does the most damage. Classes/Prestige classes that come to mind: Ranger (duh) Druid - another wilderness expert Scout - skirmish and mobility Rogue - sneak attack (can be ranged) Fighter - feats Arcane Archer - arrow tricks Horizon Walker - bonuses to fighting in different terrains, like any forest Order of the Bow Initiate - extra damage on ranged attacks Master Thrower - throws weapons Exotic Weapon Master - benefits on using exotic weapons (like the greatbow) The only problem you might have is mixing exotic weapon master and Order of the Bow initiate. If I were DM'ing, I'd let a greatbow count as an exotic weapon or a longbow for the purposes of prestige classes, not both. Also, from what you list, Druid might be a better option to play. They are the true masters of the wild, and make just as capable archers as rangers (especially with a few levels of fighter tossed in).
Zaxter 03-04-06, 01:23 AM	The only problem you might have is mixing exotic weapon master and Order of the Bow initiate. If I were DM'ing, I'd let a greatbow count as an exotic weapon or a longbow for the purposes of prestige classes, not both. Actually, if you look at the sidebar on page 116 of Complete Adventurer, you'll see that that Weapon Focus (Greatbow) qualifys you for both the Exotic Weapon Mater and the Order of the Bow Initiate, as well as giving you a +1 bonus to attack with either the greatbow or the longbow.
Thanatos42 03-04-06, 03:44 AM	Last sentence: "...consider expanding this benefit to the following weapons." Sounds like they're making a suggestion that's up to the DM's approval to me. Order of the Bow isn't designed to be used with an exotic weapon; likewise, exotic weapon master is designed to use an exotic weapon. No one weapon can be both, therefor I personally wouldn't allow it. You're mileage may vary.
scrollreader 03-04-06, 04:08 AM	I'd consider comething like this, for a defaultish ranged ranger. Ranger 1-11/Deepwood Sniper 2/Beastmaster 1/Ranger 12-17 Race: Wood Elf (MM) Feats: 1) Point Blank Shot 2) Rapid Shot (B) 3) Far Shot 6) WF: Longbow, Manyshot(B) 9) Far Shot 11) Improved Precise Shot (B) 12) Skill Focus: Animal Empathy 15) Natural Bond 18) Improved Manyshot It's not superoptimized. But if you like the feel of the ranger, this is a little bit of a boost to the feature's you like (animal companion, archery) without sacrificing the skills and feel of the class (and the special abilities) You end up with arrows that are deadlier than ever (19-20/x4), an animal companion equal to a 15th level druid, and all the ranger goodies (culminating in HiPS at level 20) Without more guidance, that's about the best I can offer.
Lilt 03-04-06, 04:55 AM	It may not be 100% optimal, but Ranger 20 is always a possibility. Ranger gets some nice abilities once it reaches the later levels, like Camofluage and Hide in Plain Sight. The Spell selection is powerful and you get abilities most levels. Still, waiting that long to get the really phenomenal abilities does kinda suck. Ranger 20 is undoubtedly the most simple option, but you need to decide what balance between ease of use and complexity you want. What books are allowed? Peerless Archer is a powerful PrC in the Unapproachable East bopok, but that's FR so not all DMs allow it. Elf may have a nice racial substitution level, but humans can go Chameleon (RoD). Chameleon is a very nice PrC, and a simple yet powerful entry to it is Ranger 2/Rogue 3. The use of the class itself can be quite complex, as it lets you choose what abilities it gives each day granting everything from spellcasting to trapfinding bonuses, but you can choose to simplify it by taking the combat focus for most of the time for +2 to attack and damage. I personally think that playing a chameleon would be fun, although I've not yet had a chance to try it out and my idea of fun might be different to yours. It might still make a good 'dip' for you, however, as it gives you a bonus feat at 2nd level that you can switch every day, so If you're allowed the Extra Favoured Enemy feat (MotW) then you can essentially have favoured enemy versus whatever you're fighting that day.
Thanatos42 03-04-06, 04:14 PM	Feats that are essential: Point Blank Shot - prereq for archer tree Far shot - increase range on Bow by 50% (100% with thrown weapons) Precise shot - lets you shoot into melee Rapid Shot - one extra ranged attack per round Improved Rapid shot - negates -2 penalty from Rapid Shot (from Complete Warrior) This lets you shoot into melee from 165 away at no penalty when using a Composite Longbow. Other fun feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Greatbow) - greatbows deal 1d10/3 with a range of 130ft, but can't be used mounted (Complete Warrior) Mounted Combat - prereq for mounted archery Mounted Archery - Halves penalty for ranged attacks when mounted Improved Mounted Archery - Eliminates or reduces penalties (depending on mounts speed) Improved Critical - always useful for a character that focuses on one weapon Weapon Focus - same reason as improved crit Weapon Specialization - same as above, argueably the most powerful feat a warrior can get Shot on the Run - allows you to split movement before/after a ranged attack Ranged Disarm - disarm from a distance (Complete Warrior) Ranged Pin - Grapple from a distance, prereq for ranged sunder (Complete Warrior) Ranged Sunder - Sunder with a ranged weapon Since Ranger's get an animal companion, having a Horse or something else you can ride isn't a bad idea. The rangeded disarm/pin/sunders are interesting, but have to be used within 30ft, making them a bit less useful. So for something completely different, I would suggest: Half-Elf Sorcerer 1/Fighter 1/Ranger 8/Arcane Archer 10 This gives 8 feats, as well as improved combat style, animal companion, and a few other ranger specials. You have access to 1st lvl arcane and 2nd lvl divine spells (mmm True Strike), as well as a few Ranger buff spells. It also gives access to Death Arrow, Phase Arrow, Seeker Arrow, and the ability to Enhance non-magical arrows. Talk to your DM . If he lets you swap divine spells for the Arcane Archer's prereqs, then you can drop that lvl of sorcerer. Feats: Point Blank Shot Far Shot Precise Shot Improved Rapid Shot Mounted Combat Mounted Archery Improved Mounted Archery Improved Critical Rapid Shot, Many Shot (from Ranger's combat style) This buid isn't greatly optimized, but it does allow you to deal death from a distance, and move around the battle-field quickly. Another option is swapping Druid for Ranger (add an extra lvl of fighter and drop Improved critical if you do), giving access to 4th lvl Druid Spells. Another option is dropping arcane archer, and going with Order of the Bow Initiate (Complete Warrior). OoTB gain the ability to attack with a precision strike, which deals 1d8/2lvls extra damage within 30ft, but limits you to a single shot per round. If you go with OoTB, drop the sorcerer and go for Scout, since skirmish stacks with OoTB. If you don't plan on riding your animal companion, then going for more scout might make sense anyways. Remember that archery has a huge advantage over melee combat - it's hard for the enemy to hit you. It's almost impossible to do as much damage in a round as a 20th lvl raging Barbarian with a greataxe, but you won't get hit nearly as often either.
Gavinfoxx 03-04-06, 05:11 PM	I dont really like this archer build... I mean, cmon, Arcane Archer? If you REALLY wanna be an archer... check out some of the builds here... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=183604 There are things that are much more important to an archer than simple feats...
Lilt 03-04-06, 05:22 PM	I'd hardly call Far Shot essential. There are so many things more effective than extending how far you can shoot the bow before you take a -1 penalty. How may combats take-place at over 100ft anyway? It might be useful with a weapon with a shorter range increment, like with thrown weapons which have a range limit of 5 range increments as opposed to 10, but the chance of any combats taking place within ranges that it matters for bows is infinitessimle.
Thanatos42 03-04-06, 05:55 PM	I forgot to mention, any of the builds I use only use the Complete Series and the 3 core books. As such, Arcane Archer and Order of the Bow Initiate are the only two prestige classes that I've found that specifically apply to archers. No, the build is not completely optimized, but it does keep it's flavor as a woodsman with a bow. The only thing he's getting with Arcane Archer that he can't utilize is imbue arrow. He asked for something different, and I gave him something different. It uses limited books, and all material is 3.5. Now if you scrap the woodsman theme, I could probably do more, but damage is not the most important part of a character.
Thanatos42 03-05-06, 04:26 PM	Since my last build was generally disliked (even by me), I suppose I ought to supply another one. Here it is: (any race) Druid 20 Feats: PBS, FS, PS, RS, EWP(greatbow), and 2 feats of your choosing. (Alter the feats based on what you plan on doing. If you don't plan on sniping from a distance, drop farshot) Weapon of note: Composite Greatbow +4 with +5 enhancement, blood seeking (+1), disarming (+2), and exit wound (+2). The bow seeks targets, goes through targets to hit those behind them, and has the ability to disarm if you should choose. If you're allies have decent reflex saves, you could add explosive (+3, drop disarming and lower the enhancement to +4) to have explosive arrows on each successful hit. You could argue that explosive should go off each time it hits a new target from exit wound, but I doubt your DM would allow that. You get 9th lvl druid spells (and there's some powerful ones), you can wild shape into a huge elemental, and a few "I'm one with the woods" goodies. You'll be a useful ranged attacker early in the game who can also heal and summon extra allies (animal companion plus summon spells). You could also toss in a few levels of ranger for archery style if you desired, though personally I'd sitck with Druid 20. In later levels, you'll be doing damage comparable to High Level spell-casters (because you'll be one) - shapechange (Now I'm a Titan), storm of vengeance, mass cure critical wounds, and elemental swarm comes to mind.
Khazra Reborn 03-05-06, 04:56 PM	I'd strongly suggest scout. Scout 10/highland stalker10 is a powerful archer. Especially with greater manyshot (http://srd.pbemnexus.com/psionicFeats.html#greater-manyshot) (its not in the MM, DMG, PHB or the complete series but is in the SRD so i thought it would be worth a try as its technically core). Without greater manyshot its not really worth playing a scout archer. Arcane archer is not good, though im big enough to admit i played a ranger6/hexblade4/arcane archer10 in a campaign once. If your in a really low gold/item setting the free +5 arrows are quite decent. And i had full BaB with above average saves.
ninjarabbit 03-05-06, 05:04 PM	If you're going to use a greatbow I'd suggest at least one level of Exotic Weapon Master from Complete Warrior, being able to shoot in melee without provoking an Attack of Opportunity is useful