Archer Builds

[Gicker]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of starting an archer/ranged combat character. What are the different archer builds out there and the advantages to each?

Thanks in advance!

Gicker

[casadechrisso]

I think it's easier to point out the similarities - most of them use a bow...

The main differences are probably between regular damage dealers (mostly based on fighter/ranger) and flanking archers (based on or with lots of rogue/assaassin/etc levels), I prefer the latter not only for the sneak attacks but other skills and features, however they are more specialized and not the pure max damage dealers in every situation, but can be good enough. Ranger/Assassin/some bow PrC is a good start for that.

And then of course here on BG you have the crossbow specialist, one of the more interesting and really powerful ranged paths. Limited in attacks per round, but can output impressive damage... it's hard to recommend one over the other, I'd try them all.

[Gicker]

Hmm, interesting.

How would a Fighter/Weapon Master/Elemental Archer work out?

I saw Crossbow sniper... I think people said it's best rolled as a bard?

[Deathgrowl]

Weapon master only works for melee weapons.

Archer builds are many and varied. First of all because Bow, Crossbow and Sling are all such different weapons. But basically all of them also have the common issue of being relatively poor on defense, so almost all archers pick up either assassin or shadowdancer for HiPS, unless they're pure-ish rangers.

Pure ranger is great for archers, regardless of which weapon you choose. It relies quite a lot on favoured enemies, but that's the general idea for ranger anyways.

Ranger/assassin is also really good, and works well against non-FEs.

Then you have a whole range of builds that start with fighter4, fighter8 or fighter12. Most of them also include the Elemental Archer PRC, and some of them the Arcane Archer PRC.

The good old powerbuild cheese archer is Fighter8/Elemental archer5/assassin8/arcane archer9. This gets super high AB, very good damage from stealth within 30 feet (because of double death attack).

Bard can also make a very good basis for an archer. I know there is at least one currently active bard23/fighter4/shadowdancer3 archer on the server.

I guess in the end it depends on what you're looking for.

Of course, it's important to remember that crossbows are for peasants, though!

[Gicker]

Thanks for the info.

On the topic of FEs, what are the better choices on this server?

[Deathgrowl]

Undead, Giant, Goblinoid, Dragon and Outsider are probably must-haves for PvE. Monsterous Humanoid is also very good. Orc also comes up relatively often.

[Sun Wukong]

On the topic of FEs, what are the better choices on this server?

Giants (Trolls, Ogres, and Giants)

Undead (Lots of undead with that pesky damage reduction... Vampires, Zombies, Skeletons, etc.)

Elves (There is an underdark area with bunch of drow to kill, and elves can also be found around campfires... but PvP rules apply here.)

Dragons (Wyverns are dragons, kind of.)

Outsiders (Djinns, demons, fiends, angels... Tieflings and Aasimar might also apply. Haven't tested.)

Elementals (Air, Water, Fire, Earth Elementals, there few scattered in the epic areas. Genasi might also apply. Haven't tested.)

Monstrous Humanoids (There are Gnolls around level 10~ and 25~, also other things.)

Orcs (The server has had its history of orc based events. Keeps overly friendly grey-orc players at bay too.)

Goblinoids (Not so sure about this one... Even though I basically grinded my ranger to level 21~ on those hob goblins north of Soubar.)

Aberration (Mostly underdark, mind flayers, umberhulks, beholders, etc.)

Dwarves (I think Nashkel mines has Duergar, at least it had the last time I went there, and the Underdark has its share of dwarves too.)

As for a must have favored enemy on this server, I would pick Giants because there are a lot of giants on the surface. Frost Giants, Fire Giants, Stone Giants, Hill Giants, Trolls, Ogres, etc.

[Gicker]

Thanks guys. I have to say, I really appreciate the readiness with which the community offers advice on builds and other questions. Good stuff!

[Tsidkenu]

And don't you find it interesting that our 2nd archer PRC, Order of the Bow Initiate, doesn't even get a look in for archer builds?

[Hendrak]

Two other options:

a divine archer: prefered cleric or FVS (sheverash?) combined with some HIPS class, maybe hierophant or Darkfire Disciple too. Most cleric weapon buffs are doubled with Manyshot, they also have AC buffs, deathward, spellmantles etc.

an arcane archer: make use of the shapechange spell, get archer feats and transform into that elf/succubus with range weapon. you can turn on manyshot as automatically performed each round. Best also with HIPS class, but has all wizard cheese too: Mirror Images, Displacement, Greater Heroism, Superior Resistance etc.