Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

There are three types of archers: Long Range, Short Range and Hybrid

I have a 30 Phantom/SD - short range
And my OOBI - fig 4, wiz 3, OOBI 10, AA 9 atm - long range

A lot of people swear by the Hybrids - say fig/Assassin/AA/EA

(all the above are elves)

I find the Hybrids a bit unsatisfying tho. I've not really tested and compared them all though

Just kinda randomly thinking about it, a Ranger 21 / OOBI 9 could dish it out pretty spectacularly, and with little perks here and there, make a fantastic outdoor-focused Build.

But then again, it’s all just the Mechanics Dance, which while initially fun, gets boring super fast when RP possibilities are low-to-non-existent.

So says the old guy!

Back before some of the newer classes were added, I was running a Monk 9/SD 3/ WD 8/WS 10 build for archer, getting that epic dodge.

With Thief Acrobat around, its probably better to do with Fighter or Ranger. Like even something as simple as Ranger 21/TA 4/ SD 5 seems very powerful. (SD is in this build because its the easiest way to get Defensive Roll)

c2k wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:14 am Back before some of the newer classes were added, I was running a Monk 9/SD 3/ WD 8/WS 10 build for archer, getting that epic dodge.

With Thief Acrobat around, its probably better to do with Fighter or Ranger. Like even something as simple as Ranger 21/TA 4/ SD 5 seems very powerful. (SD is in this build because its the easiest way to get Defensive Roll)

Bit low on damage?

So, from what I understand, OOBI's Precision Damage feat doesn't work on the first flurry, and is shaky at best. So I don't think you can count on either the long range sneak attack damage, or the flat +10 damage from OOBI either.

I've found that a Fighter 12/Assassin 8/Elemental Archer 5/Arcane Archer 5 is actually pretty solid, with an AB of 52 and average Manyshot damage in the 50's with a +5 or higher Mighty Longbow. You don't get One Shot, but it's steady damage with HIPS and passable skills. The Death Attack is nice as well, and bumps up the damage considerably to the 80's.

I wish you could use OOBI the way it was intended, but as it is right now I don't think it's doable.

Dragonslayer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 1:24 pm So, from what I understand, OOBI's Precision Damage feat doesn't work on the first flurry, and is shaky at best. So I don't think you can count on either the long range sneak attack damage, or the flat +10 damage from OOBI either.

I've found that a Fighter 12/Assassin 8/Elemental Archer 5/Arcane Archer 5 is actually pretty solid, with an AB of 52 and average Manyshot damage in the 50's with a +5 or higher Mighty Longbow. You don't get One Shot, but it's steady damage with HIPS and passable skills. The Death Attack is nice as well, and bumps up the damage considerably to the 80's.

I wish you could use OOBI the way it was intended, but as it is right now I don't think it's doable.

OOBI works well enough to make it worthwhile as a choice. If you haven't tried it you wont know that.

A build with 20 dedicated archer levels - 10 Arcane Archer and 10 OOBI does excellent damage from long range

Max Hatchet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 12:42 pm

c2k wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:14 am Back before some of the newer classes were added, I was running a Monk 9/SD 3/ WD 8/WS 10 build for archer, getting that epic dodge.

With Thief Acrobat around, its probably better to do with Fighter or Ranger. Like even something as simple as Ranger 21/TA 4/ SD 5 seems very powerful. (SD is in this build because its the easiest way to get Defensive Roll)

Bit low on damage?

Depends on your gear.

Max Hatchet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:27 pm

Dragonslayer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 1:24 pm So, from what I understand, OOBI's Precision Damage feat doesn't work on the first flurry, and is shaky at best. So I don't think you can count on either the long range sneak attack damage, or the flat +10 damage from OOBI either.

I've found that a Fighter 12/Assassin 8/Elemental Archer 5/Arcane Archer 5 is actually pretty solid, with an AB of 52 and average Manyshot damage in the 50's with a +5 or higher Mighty Longbow. You don't get One Shot, but it's steady damage with HIPS and passable skills. The Death Attack is nice as well, and bumps up the damage considerably to the 80's.

I wish you could use OOBI the way it was intended, but as it is right now I don't think it's doable.

OOBI works well enough to make it worthwhile as a choice. If you haven't tried it you wont know that.

A build with 20 dedicated archer levels - 10 Arcane Archer and 10 OOBI does excellent damage from long range

Sorry! I wasn't aware that what other players had told me was wrong, then. Does the flat damage work, or the sneak attack long range work? I was considering making one, but from what other players who had to RCR their characters told me, it wasn't worth it.

Dragonslayer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 5:01 pm

Max Hatchet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:27 pm

Dragonslayer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 1:24 pm So, from what I understand, OOBI's Precision Damage feat doesn't work on the first flurry, and is shaky at best. So I don't think you can count on either the long range sneak attack damage, or the flat +10 damage from OOBI either.

I've found that a Fighter 12/Assassin 8/Elemental Archer 5/Arcane Archer 5 is actually pretty solid, with an AB of 52 and average Manyshot damage in the 50's with a +5 or higher Mighty Longbow. You don't get One Shot, but it's steady damage with HIPS and passable skills. The Death Attack is nice as well, and bumps up the damage considerably to the 80's.

I wish you could use OOBI the way it was intended, but as it is right now I don't think it's doable.

OOBI works well enough to make it worthwhile as a choice. If you haven't tried it you wont know that.

A build with 20 dedicated archer levels - 10 Arcane Archer and 10 OOBI does excellent damage from long range

Sorry! I wasn't aware that what other players had told me was wrong, then. Does the flat damage work, or the sneak attack long range work? I was considering making one, but from what other players who had to RCR their characters told me, it wasn't worth it.

It doesn't work as advertised but its still 10 levels worth taking for an archer. If you see me on as 'Phaedra' I will show you sometime.

EDIT these builds have been obsoleted. OOTBI is no good. Death attack from Assassin damage is no longer doubled during Manyshot.


One of best damaging Archers are EDM ones since you only need 3(4) class levels to get divine might dip and rest of the classes for AB and more damage:

6 fighter / 10 OOBI / 10 Divine Champion / 4 Cleric

Damage: 16 (26 charisma), 5 (24 strength), 4 (fighter weapon specialization and mastery), 12 (OOTB), 5 (divine wrath), 3 (enlarge), 4 (weapon), 4.5 (1d8 longbow), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on weapon), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on arrow) = 58.5 average damage per shot; 117 average damage per manyshot.

Easily obtains 50+ AB even with leaving dex at 17.

EDIT: Going 12 fighter / 10 OOTBI / 3 cleric / 5 DC is basically same build, but getting a bit more damage at cap.

Another uncommon alternative.

Not as powerful as the above, but a warlock/assassin archer is going to be very survivable with above average damage as a warlock 8 / assassin 8 / 4 fighter / 10 OOBI:

Damage: 5 (24 strength), 4 (fighter weapon specialization and mastery), 12 (OOTB), 14 (4d6 SA), 3 (enlarge), 4 (weapon), 4.5 (1d8 longbow), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on weapon), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on arrow) = 51.5 average damage per shot; 103 average damage per manyshot.

Can also go warlock 8 / assassin 9 / fighter 4 / Arcane Archer 9:

Damage: 5 (24 strength), 4 (fighter weapon specialization and mastery), 5 (imbue arrow), 17.5 (5d6 SA), 3 (enlarge), 4 (weapon), 4.5 (1d8 longbow), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on weapon), 2.5 (1d4 elemental damage on arrow) = 48 average damage per shot; 96 average damage per manyshot.