Arcane Archers and Zen Archery - Should they get free ammo?

[Astral]

Arcane archers should definitely get free arrows but perhaps they should be different than standard arrows. I'm thinking maybe something like elemental damage instead of physical and a compensation of +1 damage because physical > elemental. Then. at 11th AA lvl a fourth type of arrow with even more elemental damage. That or perhaps some legendary AA only longbow with crazy DC and can be crafted only by 11+ aa lvl that is /slightly/ better than Ashwood and that will compensate the class for not having free arrows.

As for Zen archers... I can imagine random people actually taking that feat without being archers just so they can sell arrows in their shop same way people take other caster crafting feats. So I dont have a very good idea about how to give Zen archers free arrows without it being exploitable by none archers but I do agree that Zen archers should have access to free arrows or again, some special bow (that gives wisdom instead of dex) to compensate for not having access to arrows.

[Subutai]

Arcane archers should definitely get free arrows but perhaps they should be different than standard arrows. I'm thinking maybe something like elemental damage instead of physical and a compensation of +1 damage because physical > elemental. Then. at 11th AA lvl a fourth type of arrow with even more elemental damage.

This could be interesting, but wouldn't it clash with templates? Elemental AA arrows would have to be really, really great to balance out Masterly Damask + Templated arrows in terms of usability.

As for Zen archers... I can imagine random people actually taking that feat without being archers just so they can sell arrows in their shop same way people take other caster crafting feats. So I dont have a very good idea about how to give Zen archers free arrows without it being exploitable by none archers

This is a good point. While I think AA's should get free arrows as rangers do, it might be that if we start handing out free arrows to every bow user, crafting arrows will become pointless. Perhaps a better solution, for the cases of non-rangers/AAs would just be to lower the DC, CP, and materials needed for arrows to make them a little more accessible. Something that archers could sit down at the end of their adventure and make a few bundles.

If they're going to go through a particularly huge number of arrows, they might need to prepare in advance, or buy some arrows from someone else, but overall, I don't think it's necessary for archers and other ranged users to have to depend so extremely heavily on crafting, while no other class has to. Spell components are the only comparable item, and those are relatively low DC, and only require a couple easy-to-find components, as opposed to requiring lots and lots of different components, some difficult to find.

Zen archers should have access to [...] some special bow (that gives wisdom instead of dex)

I hadn't thought of this, but this would be a great addition. A version of the Ashwood Long and Shortbows that give Wis instead of Dex would be fantastic, and would give Zen archers the same benefit of using the top tier bow that their non-Zen comrades get.

[Durvayas]

I'm going to chime in and say that I have a bard AA. The main reason I don't play that AA is honestly that I don't enjoy devoting half of my playtime to grinding materials for arrows just to be functional, and I especially don't like having to hunt down people to make my bundles for me, just so I can hunt for further items to make those bundles good.

The change that implemented templates also prevents me from even putting basic temp essences on even a STACK(not even a bundle, a stack) of mundane ammunition has only made my experience worse compared to when I first started the character. It was a sharp QoL detriment that I could no longer make basic mundane ammunition even passable.

I continuously regret that I didn't just build my AA as a ranger, and at present, would recommend someone hit themselves in the genitals with a hammer every two hours, rather than play an AA without being archer path. You'll achieve roughly the same degree of masochism either way.