Archer specific equipment - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 freelancerbob May 14, 2009 3:43:12	Ok, I'm playing an Arcane Archer, lvl 19 now, shooting rather than spell focused( with only 4 bard levels, she isn't gonna be slinging around the big stuff any time soon). The Campaign went on a break for a while, and Gm has allowed me to regear up to the wealth by level guidelines. I had about a third of the gear I should have, so there's room for plenty of goodies. I'm happy with my bow, and I am stuck with some sort of sentient mithril breastplate armour, but pretty much everything else is up for grabs. Campaign power level is fairly tightly controlled, cheese is highly frowned on, gm is quite twitchy about getting too obscure, and we don't often have more than a few fights in a session. Any thoughts? As an arcane archer, she doesn't really need a quiver of annariell, but some variant or other similar item might work. she has greater bracers of archery already. I will pick up a buckler of some kind: just a simple +5 if no-one has any clever ideas. She almost never has need of melee weapons, so I was thinking of that one that grants +2 init, not sure what it's called or where it's from.
#2 carnivore May 14, 2009 4:20:17	can you post the Build? how much gold do you have to work with? what books are allowed? what is the rest of the party like? :D
#3 freelancerbob May 14, 2009 6:56:31	:P Ok, Bard 4/Fighter 4/Arcane Archer 10/Order of the bow initiate 1 ( for close combat shot next level) Party varies considerably. It's TENTATIVELY safe to assume there is a tank, mage and rogue present, and usually some sort of cleric. Average number of around 6. I can probably make a case for gear from most 3.5 books and/or 3.0, but if core can do the job, it's more likely to be cleared. We can assume , as stated, that we can spend up to the limit for 19th level characters: in the region of 500,000 or so. Say 300,000-400,000 to allow for existing gear and so I don't look too pushy. What's 100,000 gold between friends;)
#4 carnivore May 14, 2009 7:59:53	what feats do you have? also Skills and Skill tricks? :D
#5 freelancerbob May 14, 2009 9:28:50	Can we just assume I'm really good at shooting people and I've maxed out spot. Frankly the rest doesn't matter. Oh. Exalted Chaotic Good alignment. Her brother is the God of Healing, which is...fun. He gets a bit annoyed when she kills people, so she tries not to get too kill crazy.
#6 Kerrus May 14, 2009 10:01:20	There are items that key off of or replicate feats, and in order to give you the best suggestions, it'd be useful to have that information so we don't suggest things like arrows of far shot when you already have far shot, fi.
#7 halfslime May 14, 2009 12:27:24	Check out the bone bow from Frostburn. You'll have to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency to use it effectively, but it does 1d10 per hit and has slightly better range than a longbow. Plus any longbow feats you take apply to it as well.
#8 rymosrac May 14, 2009 12:57:10	Methinks the greatbow still outclasses the bone bow if you'regoing to go exotic.
#9 madgryphon May 14, 2009 13:15:33	And splitting is a wonderful enhancement. Double the number of attacks you make!
#10 hijaxx May 14, 2009 13:32:08	yes... yes, splitting. that rocks. +1 to that. can that thing stack with speed?
#11 carnivore May 14, 2009 15:27:03	try this ...... Assuming this: Star Elf(-2 Con,+2 Cha) fav Class: bard Bard 4/ Fighter 4/ Arcane Archer 10/ Order of the Bow Initiate 1 Feats :..... assuming these: Rapid Shot(fighter bonus) Weapon Focus(Composite longbow)(fighter bonus) Weapon Specialization(Composite longbow)(fighter bonus) 1st lvl: Point Blank Shot 3rd lvl: Precise Shot 6th lvl: Knowledge Devotion 9th lvl: Ranged Weapon Mastery(Piercing) 12th lvl: Woodland Archer 15th lvl: Improved Rapid Shot 18th lvl: Quick Reconoiter Equipment: ..... "she has greater bracers of archery already" ...assuming 400000gp budget: 129200gp +1 Accurate Sacred Splitting Force Elvencraft Mighty(+5 Str) Composite Longbow Show Splitting(Champions of Ruin)(+3 bonus).... Double the number of shots Force(+2 bonus)(MIC) .................... Auto-overcome Any DR, arrows become force effects Sacred(libris mortis,Boed)(+1 bonus)..+1d6 vs undead,+2d6 vs evil outsiders, considered good vs DR...great, stacks with Bane and Holy Accurate(Drow of the Underdark)(+1 bonus) ........ when you miss, +2 Circumstance to next Attack Elvencraftcost +300 gp(RotW p166) any Longbow (including Composite, Mighty, etc.),any Shortbow (including Composite, Mighty, etc.) Shortbow May be used as a Shortbow –or– a Club.Longbow May be used as a Longbow –or– a Quarterstaff. The wielder threatens the squares around himself/herself even if the last use was as a ranged weapon. The bow is not damaged when used as a melee weapon and the wielder may shift between ranged and melee as part of a Full Round Attack (if desired).
#12 sofawall May 14, 2009 15:33:09	yes... yes, splitting. that rocks. +1 to that. can that thing stack with speed? Yes. Can we just assume I'm really good at shooting people and I've maxed out spot. Frankly the rest doesn't matter. As others have pointed out, frankly it DOES matter. Please post your build.
#13 phaedrusxy May 14, 2009 17:19:51	I would make that bow a Bow of the Wintermoon, if you are Neutral Good or Chaotic Good (or even ask your DM if you can still use it if you're LG). Get the cheap version in the Magic Item Compendium, not the older one in RotW. It automatically adjusts to your strength mod, which is very nice. I can see the advantage of the Force enhancement, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather have, and it is easy to carry around a load of arrows to beat various types of DR. Archers have it way better than melee types in that regard (which is good, because DR hurts archers more than them often, also). I like the Collision property from Expanded Psionics. It gives a flat +5 to damage, which is multiplied on crits, for a +2 enhancement. This is more handy if you have a crit-based build, though (or use a Wand of Hunter's Mercy). The Magebane enhancement is also very good (and only +1, which is crazy), as the worst enemies tend to be the ones that have arcane spells or SLAs. Holy is also a very good one, since you're exhalted. So in summary, I'd go with an Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision Bow of the Wintermoon, and add an arrow crystal of Least Revelation (or a better one).
#14 carnivore May 15, 2009 4:36:15	So in summary, I'd go with an Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision Bow of the Wintermoon, and add an arrow crystal of Least Revelation (or a better one). what is the cost of that? ..... and how are you determining the price of that? :D
#15 phaedrusxy May 15, 2009 10:18:18	It costs 1000 more than the bow you posted. :P The MiC Bow of the Wintermoon is a +1 composite longbow that costs 3400 gp. A normal +1 composite longbow is 2400 gp. The MiC specifically says you can upgrade relics just like any other magic item, so you just add 1000 gp to the end cost. I think I matched the overall value of the special abilities with the one you posted, so the difference should just be that +1000 gp. Edit: Crap... I forgot Splitting. Definitely get Splitting. That would make that bow a +9, after adding that. So Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision, Splitting Bow of the Wintermoon. 162,000 gp +400 (MW composite longbow) + 1000 gp (BotWM) +300 (elvencraft), and I'd also add a wand chamber for +100, and the Least Crystal of Revelation for 400, for a total of 164,200. You could also add another +1 ability. I think Smoking is pretty cook. :D
#16 carnivore May 15, 2009 11:25:53	if you want to use relics... then try this: 129200gp +1 Accurate Sacred Splitting Force Elvencraft Mighty(+5 Str) Composite Longbow plus Raptor Arrows is even better.... Ignore All DR, Bane vs Everything, additional Damage vs Undead and Evil outsiders, if you Miss get +6 to next attacks(+2 Accurate +4 Woodland Archer) :D
#17 phaedrusxy May 15, 2009 11:31:41	You could use both. :P You only have to be CG, NG, or CN to get the Bow of the Wintermoon to auto-adjust to your Strength. Then you can take the True Believer feat for Ehlonna and use the Raptor Arrows to their fullest effect.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

freelancerbob

May 14, 2009 3:43:12

Ok, I'm playing an Arcane Archer, lvl 19 now, shooting rather than spell focused( with only 4 bard levels, she isn't gonna be slinging around the big stuff any time soon). The Campaign went on a break for a while, and Gm has allowed me to regear up to the wealth by level guidelines. I had about a third of the gear I should have, so there's room for plenty of goodies. I'm happy with my bow, and I am stuck with some sort of sentient mithril breastplate armour, but pretty much everything else is up for grabs. Campaign power level is fairly tightly controlled, cheese is highly frowned on, gm is quite twitchy about getting too obscure, and we don't often have more than a few fights in a session.

Any thoughts? As an arcane archer, she doesn't really need a quiver of annariell, but some variant or other similar item might work. she has greater bracers of archery already. I will pick up a buckler of some kind: just a simple +5 if no-one has any clever ideas. She almost never has need of melee weapons, so I was thinking of that one that grants +2 init, not sure what it's called or where it's from.

carnivore

May 14, 2009 4:20:17

can you post the Build?
how much gold do you have to work with?
what books are allowed?
what is the rest of the party like?

:D

freelancerbob

May 14, 2009 6:56:31

:P

Ok, Bard 4/Fighter 4/Arcane Archer 10/Order of the bow initiate 1 ( for close combat shot next level)

Party varies considerably. It's TENTATIVELY safe to assume there is a tank, mage and rogue present, and usually some sort of cleric. Average number of around 6. I can probably make a case for gear from most 3.5 books and/or 3.0, but if core can do the job, it's more likely to be cleared. We can assume , as stated, that we can spend up to the limit for 19th level characters: in the region of 500,000 or so. Say 300,000-400,000 to allow for existing gear and so I don't look too pushy. What's 100,000 gold between friends;)

carnivore

May 14, 2009 7:59:53

what feats do you have?
also Skills and Skill tricks?

:D

freelancerbob

May 14, 2009 9:28:50

Can we just assume I'm really good at shooting people and I've maxed out spot. Frankly the rest doesn't matter. Oh. Exalted Chaotic Good alignment. Her brother is the God of Healing, which is...fun. He gets a bit annoyed when she kills people, so she tries not to get too kill crazy.

Kerrus

May 14, 2009 10:01:20

There are items that key off of or replicate feats, and in order to give you the best suggestions, it'd be useful to have that information so we don't suggest things like arrows of far shot when you already have far shot, fi.

halfslime

May 14, 2009 12:27:24

Check out the bone bow from Frostburn. You'll have to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency to use it effectively, but it does 1d10 per hit and has slightly better range than a longbow. Plus any longbow feats you take apply to it as well.

rymosrac

May 14, 2009 12:57:10

Methinks the greatbow still outclasses the bone bow if you'regoing to go exotic.

madgryphon

May 14, 2009 13:15:33

And splitting is a wonderful enhancement. Double the number of attacks you make!

#10

hijaxx

May 14, 2009 13:32:08

yes... yes, splitting. that rocks. +1 to that.
can that thing stack with speed?

#11

carnivore

May 14, 2009 15:27:03

try this ......
Assuming this:

Star Elf(-2 Con,+2 Cha) fav Class: bard
Bard 4/ Fighter 4/ Arcane Archer 10/ Order of the Bow Initiate 1

Feats :..... assuming these:
Rapid Shot(fighter bonus)
Weapon Focus(Composite longbow)(fighter bonus)
Weapon Specialization(Composite longbow)(fighter bonus)
1st lvl: Point Blank Shot
3rd lvl: Precise Shot
6th lvl: Knowledge Devotion
9th lvl: Ranged Weapon Mastery(Piercing)
12th lvl: Woodland Archer
15th lvl: Improved Rapid Shot
18th lvl: Quick Reconoiter

Equipment: ..... "she has greater bracers of archery already" ...assuming 400000gp budget:

129200gp +1 Accurate Sacred Splitting Force Elvencraft Mighty(+5 Str) Composite Longbow

Show

Splitting(Champions of Ruin)(+3 bonus).... Double the number of shots

Force(+2 bonus)(MIC) .................... Auto-overcome Any DR, arrows become force effects

Sacred(libris mortis,Boed)(+1 bonus)..+1d6 vs undead,+2d6 vs evil outsiders, considered good vs DR...great, stacks with Bane and Holy

Accurate(Drow of the Underdark)(+1 bonus) ........ when you miss, +2 Circumstance to next Attack

Elvencraftcost +300 gp(RotW p166) any Longbow (including
Composite, Mighty, etc.),any Shortbow (including Composite, Mighty, etc.)
Shortbow May be used as a Shortbow –or– a Club.Longbow May be used as a Longbow –or– a Quarterstaff. The wielder threatens the squares around himself/herself even if the last use was as a ranged weapon.
The bow is not damaged when used as a melee weapon and the wielder may shift between ranged and melee as part of a Full Round Attack (if desired).

#12

sofawall

May 14, 2009 15:33:09

yes... yes, splitting. that rocks. +1 to that.
can that thing stack with speed?

Yes.

Can we just assume I'm really good at shooting people and I've maxed out spot. Frankly the rest doesn't matter.

As others have pointed out, frankly it DOES matter. Please post your build.

#13

phaedrusxy

May 14, 2009 17:19:51

I would make that bow a Bow of the Wintermoon, if you are Neutral Good or Chaotic Good (or even ask your DM if you can still use it if you're LG). Get the cheap version in the Magic Item Compendium, not the older one in RotW. It automatically adjusts to your strength mod, which is very nice.

I can see the advantage of the Force enhancement, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather have, and it is easy to carry around a load of arrows to beat various types of DR. Archers have it way better than melee types in that regard (which is good, because DR hurts archers more than them often, also).

I like the Collision property from Expanded Psionics. It gives a flat +5 to damage, which is multiplied on crits, for a +2 enhancement. This is more handy if you have a crit-based build, though (or use a Wand of Hunter's Mercy). The Magebane enhancement is also very good (and only +1, which is crazy), as the worst enemies tend to be the ones that have arcane spells or SLAs. Holy is also a very good one, since you're exhalted.

So in summary, I'd go with an Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision Bow of the Wintermoon, and add an arrow crystal of Least Revelation (or a better one).

#14

carnivore

May 15, 2009 4:36:15

So in summary, I'd go with an Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision Bow of the Wintermoon, and add an arrow crystal of Least Revelation (or a better one).

what is the cost of that? ..... and how are you determining the price of that?

:D

#15

phaedrusxy

May 15, 2009 10:18:18

It costs 1000 more than the bow you posted. :P The MiC Bow of the Wintermoon is a +1 composite longbow that costs 3400 gp. A normal +1 composite longbow is 2400 gp. The MiC specifically says you can upgrade relics just like any other magic item, so you just add 1000 gp to the end cost. I think I matched the overall value of the special abilities with the one you posted, so the difference should just be that +1000 gp.

Edit: Crap... I forgot Splitting. Definitely get Splitting. That would make that bow a +9, after adding that.

So Elvencraft +1 Holy, Magebane, Collision, Splitting Bow of the Wintermoon. 162,000 gp +400 (MW composite longbow) + 1000 gp (BotWM) +300 (elvencraft), and I'd also add a wand chamber for +100, and the Least Crystal of Revelation for 400, for a total of 164,200.

You could also add another +1 ability. I think Smoking is pretty cook. :D

#16

carnivore

May 15, 2009 11:25:53

if you want to use relics... then try this:

129200gp +1 Accurate Sacred Splitting Force Elvencraft Mighty(+5 Str) Composite Longbow

plus Raptor Arrows is even better.... Ignore All DR, Bane vs Everything, additional Damage vs Undead and Evil outsiders, if you Miss get +6 to next attacks(+2 Accurate +4 Woodland Archer)

:D

#17

phaedrusxy

May 15, 2009 11:31:41

You could use both. :P You only have to be CG, NG, or CN to get the Bow of the Wintermoon to auto-adjust to your Strength. Then you can take the True Believer feat for Ehlonna and use the Raptor Arrows to their fullest effect.