archer damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

archer damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Amni
12-18-06, 12:19 PM What is the best way to optimize an archers damage output at 10th level?
FriendlyFrog
12-18-06, 12:40 PM The best way, sadly, is spells. Clerics, Archivists and Artificers are amongst the best archers, as they can both run around with a great amount of spells that boost damage. Spells like Greater magic weapon, Divine favor, Divine power and Righteous might boost their effectiveness greatly.
solbergb
12-18-06, 12:52 PM Make sure you hit with every arrow. (high BAB, feats/swift spells that mitigate cover/concealment etc)

Play a high strength archer (so you can pull a mighty bow)

Never ever be stopped by DR. Have all metals imaginable as arrowheads, have oil of align weapon for the weirder alignments. Consider a few elemental bane arrows for the DR10/- varieties.

Use an expensive weapon that adds d6's, probably Holy at level 10 since that 's the only way to get past the Good DR and also do extra damage to most opponents. See if you can get flame arrow or sonic weapon spells somehow.

Either have the bow weilded to your hand or have quickdraw, so you always get to shoot a full attack.

Have high spot and maybe unusual senses so you always have a target for your full attack.

Eschew any combat style that involves not doing a full attack (eg, scout, order of bow initiate keen shot, multishot)

Then, given that this is 10th level and the cleric/archers have not hit their stride yet, have leadership with a level 8 bard cohort, preferably one that can not only inspire courage with masterwork instruments (CV) but one that can boost caster levels on the wiz or cleric in the party to boost the GMW they'll toss on your expensive bow from +2 to +3. (see Harmonic Chorus, SC)
Zenzei
12-18-06, 01:15 PM Also, get Splitting enhancement (+3 bonus equivalent) to your bow ASAP. It makes every arrow shot to split into two identical arrows thus doubling your damage potential, it doesn't get any better than this for archers IMO.
Only downside is the price, even +1 Splitting composite bow cost ~32k

Splitting enhancement can be found in Champions of Ruin
ksbsnowowl
12-18-06, 01:25 PM Check out the Archer Build Thread linked in my sig.
Saxis
12-18-06, 02:55 PM There's also the Stalker of Evil build (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=1962775&postcount=33)...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Amni 12-18-06, 12:19 PM	What is the best way to optimize an archers damage output at 10th level?
FriendlyFrog 12-18-06, 12:40 PM	The best way, sadly, is spells. Clerics, Archivists and Artificers are amongst the best archers, as they can both run around with a great amount of spells that boost damage. Spells like Greater magic weapon, Divine favor, Divine power and Righteous might boost their effectiveness greatly.
solbergb 12-18-06, 12:52 PM	Make sure you hit with every arrow. (high BAB, feats/swift spells that mitigate cover/concealment etc) Play a high strength archer (so you can pull a mighty bow) Never ever be stopped by DR. Have all metals imaginable as arrowheads, have oil of align weapon for the weirder alignments. Consider a few elemental bane arrows for the DR10/- varieties. Use an expensive weapon that adds d6's, probably Holy at level 10 since that 's the only way to get past the Good DR and also do extra damage to most opponents. See if you can get flame arrow or sonic weapon spells somehow. Either have the bow weilded to your hand or have quickdraw, so you always get to shoot a full attack. Have high spot and maybe unusual senses so you always have a target for your full attack. Eschew any combat style that involves not doing a full attack (eg, scout, order of bow initiate keen shot, multishot) Then, given that this is 10th level and the cleric/archers have not hit their stride yet, have leadership with a level 8 bard cohort, preferably one that can not only inspire courage with masterwork instruments (CV) but one that can boost caster levels on the wiz or cleric in the party to boost the GMW they'll toss on your expensive bow from +2 to +3. (see Harmonic Chorus, SC)
Zenzei 12-18-06, 01:15 PM	Also, get Splitting enhancement (+3 bonus equivalent) to your bow ASAP. It makes every arrow shot to split into two identical arrows thus doubling your damage potential, it doesn't get any better than this for archers IMO. Only downside is the price, even +1 Splitting composite bow cost ~32k Splitting enhancement can be found in Champions of Ruin
ksbsnowowl 12-18-06, 01:25 PM	Check out the Archer Build Thread linked in my sig.
Saxis 12-18-06, 02:55 PM	There's also the Stalker of Evil build (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=1962775&postcount=33)...