So I've come up with a build but I've never played an archer or any ranged character before other than warlock. This build would have 9 levels of Arcane Archer, so +5 arrows for dr penetration. It would also get the following:
AB: 50
AC: 58
STR: 8
DEX: 20
CON: 12
INT: 8
WIS: 30
CHA: 12
My main concern is damage. I only tested it on the PGCC with the basic +5 arrows made with the AA's craft arrow. Didn't bother with essences or templates or any spells. And so the damage was quite low. Would I be able to get arrows that deal a lot more damage per shot? And is gearing strength a requirement to deal sufficient damage?
Would greatly appreciate any advice from people experienced playing archer builds. Thanks.
Stable: You can have two +4 dmg types and +5 physical on top with GMW scroll.
Standard: Its slightly better since you can have both GMW and Blackstaff on it for 5physical and +3 magical dmg while also couple it with Defaning clang or Flame weapon for another +5/1d8.
I have played quite a few archers. My favorite ones use divine might (usually +9 or +10 buffed - base charisma 16/18) on top to give that extra oomph when needed.
The templates help a lot (as described above by -stick-) - I like to add more, though:
Cleric's divine favor is good (+5 magical), ranger's favored enemy including bane of enemies at 21 is good (extra 2d6 to favored), fighter's epic weapon focus is good (for +6). The more of these you can add in, the better, on top of arcane archers +5 arrows.
Realistically you'll probably get more from swapping vigilante for ranger for the archer path goodies. That way you can ditch DEX entirely and put more into WIS and still get PBS and rapid shot. It'll cost AC, though.
127 soft spot is not too hard to hit so you can afford to lose a point or two in places.
Realistically you'll probably get more from swapping vigilante for ranger for the archer path goodies. That way you can ditch DEX entirely and put more into WIS and still get PBS and rapid shot. It'll cost AC, though.
127 soft spot is not too hard to hit so you can afford to lose a point or two in places.
Darn, I've been figured out.
Yeah, I was thinking of doing something like that. Currently getting 82 spot with just basic wisdom gear and owl's wisdom.
Still not 100% sold on playing it, but its a neat concept I'm playing around with. Not sure what other builds would be able to get spot that high other than eagle totem druid. I am open to suggestions though.
My spotlock build is on the Gloaming Spotlock page.
I believe I gave up around 4 spot total to take double minor gifts and fit all the sail stuff in. Spotbots and sailbots are the same people a lot of the time.
Worth noting that Gloaming is by far the best detector race due to keen senses and small size. That alone gives an edge Vs AA spotters as they are elf-locked.
My spotlock build is on the Gloaming Spotlock page.
I believe I gave up around 4 spot total to take double minor gifts and fit all the sail stuff in. Spotbots and sailbots are the same people a lot of the time.
Worth noting that Gloaming is by far the best detector race due to keen senses and small size. That alone gives an edge Vs AA spotters as they are elf-locked.
I am currently sitting on a major reward so was thinking of making another avariel. They not only get keen senses but an additional +2 spot on top of that so it's pretty good. Also the bonuses to dex and wisdom make it perfect for vigilante.
My spotlock build is on the Gloaming Spotlock page.
I believe I gave up around 4 spot total to take double minor gifts and fit all the sail stuff in. Spotbots and sailbots are the same people a lot of the time.
Worth noting that Gloaming is by far the best detector race due to keen senses and small size. That alone gives an edge Vs AA spotters as they are elf-locked.
I am currently sitting on a major reward so was thinking of making another avariel. They not only get keen senses but an additional +2 spot on top of that so it's pretty good. Also the bonuses to dex and wisdom make it perfect for vigilante.
They are an excellent choice. Your build will almost certainly fare better than my efforts; mine, as she is so fond of saying, is good at "Everything except combat". 58 AC and 50 AB is very playable for a character like this but it is very squishy.
It doesn't hit the super high numbers but Shaman / Ranger or Shaman / Ranger / X is a very comfortable to play alternative. One of my biggest issues as a spotter player is often that I'm no threat to the people I can spot, and a savvy player will know to just burst you down, restealth and they are all good. Shaman spotters are both durable and capable in that regard, and can hit 110+ spot easily and maintain it almost indefinitely.
I believe my gloaming hit 118 (effectively 122 due to size) maximum but I believe I dropped it to 116(120) in order to take 2 INT via level up (ouch) so I could take discipline and I dropped Planar Gate for ESF: Discipline. I had Ylsa, who hit 124 but she was a grandfathered aasimar and I did really stupid stuff like taking Artist and Blooded at first level. She essentially played as a commoner and she taught me it was all right to lose a few points to pay for some QoL. It turned out that almost nobody was stacking bluff or stealth to anything like that level.
They are an excellent choice. Your build will almost certainly fare better than my efforts; mine, as she is so fond of saying, is good at "Everything except combat". 58 AC and 50 AB is very playable for a character like this but it is very squishy.
It doesn't hit the super high numbers but Shaman / Ranger or Shaman / Ranger / X is a very comfortable to play alternative. One of my biggest issues as a spotter player is often that I'm no threat to the people I can spot, and a savvy player will know to just burst you down, restealth and they are all good. Shaman spotters are both durable and capable in that regard, and can hit 110+ spot easily and maintain it almost indefinitely.
I believe my gloaming hit 118 (effectively 122 due to size) maximum but I believe I dropped it to 116(120) in order to take 2 INT via level up (ouch) so I could take discipline and I dropped Planar Gate for ESF: Discipline. I had Ylsa, who hit 124 but she was a grandfathered aasimar and I did really stupid stuff like taking Artist and Blooded at first level. She essentially played as a commoner and she taught me it was all right to lose a few points to pay for some QoL. It turned out that almost nobody was stacking bluff or stealth to anything like that level.
Yeah I had the same concern, ideally though I would try to partner with someone whose build is actually good for PVP. I could sacrifice the wisdom AC to get more utility out of the Warlock class with 26-27 CL. Might be worth dropping Vigilante for Ranger and go heavier into AA like you said, for the extra CL and AB/Damage. Would also free up some feats so maybe I could pick up Extend Spell. I feel like just having a sustainable haste would make a huge difference in PVP, I really need move speed that lasts if I want to kite anyone.
Edit: Okay after testing on PGCC I can say for certain you were right, was even able to drop a couple points of wisdom to allocate to other stats by going 3 ranger/10 warlock/17 AA and somehow still end up with more AB. Picked up the Alertness feat to help make up for sacrificing the wisdom. Still ending up with 80 spot without any skill bonuses on gear. Best part it gets 27 CL haste which lasts 2 minutes 45 seconds, and can be infinicast once every 3 mins. Plus darkness spam to hide from mobs and characters without ultravision. Only bad thing is the AC but this build is not really meant to tank or stay on the front line anyways.
Weirdly my best archer was not an archer but a str based Ranger dual wielder. 27 Ranger 3 Rogue, that was long before rangers got even better on Arelith.
Ranged AB was respectable but this was a DPS maniac when the mob got close. AC... don't worry about it, but if you need more a proper shield increases AB and AC. Bane of Enemies added 2d6 to all Favored Enemies regardless of weapon. A high level Animal Companion with Awaken and Greater magic fang adds to the damage and investment into Animal Empathy gains you two temporary meatshields to distract the mob while you shoot from afar. Divine wand use without having to invest too heavily into UMD (or at all) means you can have a lot of the wards you need to survive.
It's a non-archer build that is a very good archer.
On archers, you usually have to choose between raw AB/DMG and other utility.
A Ranger/Ftr/AA will deal the most consistent damage and have the highest AB, but has little other utility.
A divine/something/AA can get the highest burst damage + more utility from spells.
My personal favourite is Shaman/Ranger/Bard or vigilante: Full spellcaster, summons, pretty good AB and decent dmg, great utility. Can be geared and specced for very high spot by sacrificing either trans or conjuration SF line. Bard dip gives more buffs still, while vigilante dip allows for +9 passive and +15 combined shield AC.
