Non-sneak archer

[Zanniej]

I've seen some people use them, and always wondered: How are they built!?
Archers that do epic damage no matter what. Not relying on sneak attacks or anything. How do you get damage high enough to just blast everything to pieces before they reach you?

[kellendril]

Bard/Elemental Archer/Arcane Archer/Fighter was the build that I tested. With every bit of his magical boosts active, he could do (at level 18) high 90's damage with his manyshot attacks.

[Moltrazahn]

Another varriant is Fighter(8)/Assassin(8)/Arcane Archer(9)/Elemental Archer(5)

Granted, this build gets hips at level 24, however you hit like a Jackhammer from god up till that point anywho. Unbuffed, naked and unarmed at level 30, you have 51 ranged ab. Which is mad. Granted you afterwards add your bow, its enhancements, then your arrows, their enhancements, and a catsgrace, herosim etc... You become the living embodyment of a Glass cannon.

Downsides are low saves, low hp, feat starved, few skills. Your pretty much a one-trick pony, altho an amazing trick that is.

[Thorsson]

Bard/Elemental Archer/Arcane Archer/Fighter was the build that I tested. With every bit of his magical boosts active, he could do (at level 18) high 90's damage with his manyshot attacks.

Yes, this works; however unless you go Bd8/F8 (Bd4/F12 would be stronger) you get an XP Pen. Thing is that F8/Asn8 is simply better than F8/Bd8.

[Zanniej]

Thanks! Those look good. If anybody would be willing to whip a build on nwn2db I'd be eternally thankful! (Alright, maybe not eternally, but definately a couple of minutes at least!)

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Or pure rangers, when facing favored enemies. But this can also be a sneaky build.

[Thorsson]

Thanks! Those look good. If anybody would be willing to whip a build on nwn2db I'd be eternally thankful! (Alright, maybe not eternally, but definately a couple of minutes at least!)

Here's one. You can argue about a few things, but all the basics are there.

[NegInfinity]

I've seen some people use them, and always wondered: How are they built!?
Archers that do epic damage no matter what. Not relying on sneak attacks or anything. How do you get damage high enough to just blast everything to pieces before they reach you?

Elf with arcane archer levels. Definitely elf.

[Storm Munin]

Bard/AA/blackguard with Epic divine might feat

A +8 mighty bow and extend haste for some nice cruising.

You can do other builds like that with cleric, but bard has that nice magic damage/morale AB.

Bard/stormsinger/ea/aa was fun to ride as well.

Cleric can be fun with the wis to hit feat, the fullplate helps.


In comparison my fighter/ea/asn/aa had issues due to the weak will save, the hips were rarely used though.


A friend had loads of fun with rogue/assassin/aa focusing on sneak dice, 70+ stealth and One shot feat back in the day. But you didnt want that.


Hard to go wrong with archers in regard to damage output.

[Thorsson]

All those part-time Bards are prone to dispels now though. Sneak attack doesn't Manyshot, which limits your damage as a Rogue.

[Zanniej]

Those are some interesting builds Storm Munin. Nice!
And thanks for all the other feedback.

[Deathgrowl]

The main problem with non-sneak archer is defense. So maybe an archer gish of some kind?

How about a spirit shaman26/fighter4 with zen archery? Or druid variant.

Cleric26/fighter4? Divine power will likely help.

Dropping down the CL a bit, you can get fighter4/wizard11/eldrich knight10/dragonslayer5, maybe? Don't know how much damage you'll get out of it, though.

[NegInfinity]

The main problem with non-sneak archer is defense.

Tower shield + Improved Combat Expertise. Equip tower shield + switch to ICE when something gets too close to comfort. Archers are dex builds, so something like 50 ac should be reachable. That won't help while shooting, of course.

[Deathgrowl]

That won't help while shooting, of course.

... No, indeed. Thus the problem with non-sneak archers remains defense, even if they can potentially equip tower shields and put on ICE

I had a thought just now, though: There are some classes with inherent AC. For instance, you might be able to make something out of fighter12/dwarven defender10/elemental archer5/something3 (something can be rogue for tumble, for instance). Maybe the defensive stance of DD even works as ranged?

Monk, maybe, and get both tumble skill and wisdom to AC. Put a few points of wisdom in and get some AC out of that.

Fist of the Forest maybe?

[Thorsson]

Dear oh dear. Bard's have Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility/Displacement, Ghostly Visage, Haste, Curse Song, Song of Heroism, not to mention Hymn of Requiem and Inspire Defense.

If you are worried about defenses just go Bard 21/AA9 or Bard25/EA5 or Bard26/F4 (or even Bard21/EA5/F4), depending on how dependable you want your buffs to be...