Building an Archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building an Archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Artegall
02-02-04, 11:32 AM All right, folks, I'm pretty new to D&D 3.5, and I'm looking for some advice.

Assuming only the core rules, how would you go about building a fun, interesting archer. I'm talking about someone who might shoot a foes weapon from his hand or pin his clothes to the wall. Someone who might knock two arrows to the bow and launch them at two different thugs at the same time. Someone who might grab an arrow from the air, knock it two her bow, and shoot it right back in her enemy's face. Someone who can launch an arrow through a fairly thick hedge and still hit home.

Looking through the rules in the Player's Handbook, I assume you'd start as a fighter. You'd stack your abilities to favor Dexterity. You'd keep to fairly light armor to avoid Dexterity penalties. And you'd focus on those nifty archery feats like Point Blank Shot, Multishot, and so on.

But I don't see rules for some of the highly cinematic moves--the fancy shots, the tricky maneuvers--that'd be fun at higher levels.

I'd prefer to do this with the core rules in order to avoid DM objections, but if there are supporting books, I'm willing to consider them.

Any advice is most welcome.
Capn Charlie
02-02-04, 11:53 AM Well first, if you have access to Dragon #310 see if your dm will let you use the Targetter fighter variant there. Mostly the same as fighter but sans- martial melle weapon prof, only buckler prof, and with a few feats less from his bonus list. But it switches around some skills and adds a few abilities you can take in lieu iof bonus fighter feats. One lets you give up up ranged attacks to up your threat range, and the other lets you add dex to damage.

Next off, the complete warrior has the feats: Ranged Disarm, Ranged Pin, and Ranged Disarm. As well as Zen Archery(for wis to attack instead of dex).

Sadly PrCs for archers are in short supoply. The Arcane Archer class in the DMG is for magic oriented pointears and that is about it. If you can get some sourcebooks there is the Deepwood Sniper, Order of The Bow initiate and a few others but not much.

I would just stick to plain fighter(or Targetter) and forego most prestige classes. However if you want a little stylish Melee tacked on the Duelist is the way to go.
Ithilorien
02-02-04, 12:07 PM You could also try the ranger, in 3.5 it's practically a 20-level PrC to itself.

Take four levels of fighter to specialize in the longbow, ranger 11 for all it's related goodies (including good reflex saves and excellent skills) then top out with rogue 6 for some sneak attacks, maybe.
Artegall
02-02-04, 12:56 PM Thank you both for the replies. Interesting food for thought.

It's always a little tricky, creating a character whom you've already conceived within the restrictions of a system ...
Addi83
02-02-04, 01:36 PM You might like the Arcane Archer class.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Artegall 02-02-04, 11:32 AM	All right, folks, I'm pretty new to D&D 3.5, and I'm looking for some advice. Assuming only the core rules, how would you go about building a fun, interesting archer. I'm talking about someone who might shoot a foes weapon from his hand or pin his clothes to the wall. Someone who might knock two arrows to the bow and launch them at two different thugs at the same time. Someone who might grab an arrow from the air, knock it two her bow, and shoot it right back in her enemy's face. Someone who can launch an arrow through a fairly thick hedge and still hit home. Looking through the rules in the Player's Handbook, I assume you'd start as a fighter. You'd stack your abilities to favor Dexterity. You'd keep to fairly light armor to avoid Dexterity penalties. And you'd focus on those nifty archery feats like Point Blank Shot, Multishot, and so on. But I don't see rules for some of the highly cinematic moves--the fancy shots, the tricky maneuvers--that'd be fun at higher levels. I'd prefer to do this with the core rules in order to avoid DM objections, but if there are supporting books, I'm willing to consider them. Any advice is most welcome.
Capn Charlie 02-02-04, 11:53 AM	Well first, if you have access to Dragon #310 see if your dm will let you use the Targetter fighter variant there. Mostly the same as fighter but sans- martial melle weapon prof, only buckler prof, and with a few feats less from his bonus list. But it switches around some skills and adds a few abilities you can take in lieu iof bonus fighter feats. One lets you give up up ranged attacks to up your threat range, and the other lets you add dex to damage. Next off, the complete warrior has the feats: Ranged Disarm, Ranged Pin, and Ranged Disarm. As well as Zen Archery(for wis to attack instead of dex). Sadly PrCs for archers are in short supoply. The Arcane Archer class in the DMG is for magic oriented pointears and that is about it. If you can get some sourcebooks there is the Deepwood Sniper, Order of The Bow initiate and a few others but not much. I would just stick to plain fighter(or Targetter) and forego most prestige classes. However if you want a little stylish Melee tacked on the Duelist is the way to go.
Ithilorien 02-02-04, 12:07 PM	You could also try the ranger, in 3.5 it's practically a 20-level PrC to itself. Take four levels of fighter to specialize in the longbow, ranger 11 for all it's related goodies (including good reflex saves and excellent skills) then top out with rogue 6 for some sneak attacks, maybe.
Artegall 02-02-04, 12:56 PM	Thank you both for the replies. Interesting food for thought. It's always a little tricky, creating a character whom you've already conceived within the restrictions of a system ...
Addi83 02-02-04, 01:36 PM	You might like the Arcane Archer class.