Need help with a powerful level 10 - 12 Archer Build

[Titanium Fox]

Hey guys. I'm trying to shore up one of the primary bosses for my campaign, and I want him to be an actual, real challenge for my party. I have five guys at level 10, and I was thinking of tossing a compliment of guards at them, along with the actual boss at level 12.

Now, he is the head of tactical reconnaissance for the major city my players are investigating currently. This sorely limits his class options, just based on the fact that your standard Fighter or Wizard tend to not be the best, or most typical at this type of work.

I was thinking of going with an archer build for him, but I am sorely under-informed when it comes to ranged physical damage builds, as I am primarily a Sneak Attack or Sword and Board player myself. I was hoping the playground could shed some light.

As of right now, I'm considering Cloistered Cleric Zen Archer to reflect his cultish ties, however that doesn't really fit the feel that I get when I think about the character I've built up. So, I'd like to look into good martial builds that maximize damage per round, and have some basic utility; primarily towards allied buffs. I'm not afraid of cheesing one level dips where necessary, this fight is supposed to be a challenge, and my party consists of extremely experienced players that are beyond wealth by level by a factor of nearly 1.5.

Any thoughts?

[Piggy Knowles]

How about a bard?

A level 10 bard, with Lingering Song, Song of the Heart, Dragonfire Inspiration, a Badge of Valor, a Vest of Legends, and the Inspirational Boost feat would make a pretty excellent archer. Start a regular Inspire Courage song for +6 to attack /damage, then end the song (its effects will continue for 10 rounds thanks to Lingering Song), and start one with Dragonfire Inspiration for +6d6 fire damage.

If you want even more attacks, pop off a Haste, too. Again, every attack you make will have +6 att/damage, and +6d6 fire damage, at level 10. And best of all, all of your allies will be effected as well...

[Aeryr]

Bards are pretty good leaders.

If you don't mind to optimize a little you can make him a fey and give him charming arrows (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fey/20030815a). Perhaps using the unseelie fey from the dragon magazine compendium or using some of the LA 0 fey. You might want to give him an energy bow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040815b) Since he probably will have quite a nice chance of hitting.

[Roguenewb]

On the fey-thing, Unseelie Fey is good, but so is http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a the feytouched presented here. Just don't take the level, the level is sad.

[Golden Ladybug]

My absolute favourite Archer Build is Ranger 2/Psychic Warrior 4/Pious Templar (Ehlonna) 4/Slayer 10. Psionic Archers are very, very good at what they do.

1) Point Blank Shot
F) Precise Shot
F) Weapon Focus: Longbow
3) Practised Manifester/Zen Archery
PsyWar1) Psionic Shot
PsyWar2) Fell Shot
6) True Believer
9) Manyshot
12) Psychic Meditation
etc

The key thing here is Fell Shot, which allows you to expend your Psionic Focus to turn your Ranged Attack into a Touch Attack. Manyshot lets you make all your Iteratives as one standard action, with only one attack roll. Which means they're all Touch Attacks.

True Believer qualifies you for both Pious Templar, but it also unlocks Ehlonna's Raptor Arrow's relic powers (Bane against everything), and whatever the feat actually does. PT also grants Weapon Specialisation, for another 2 points of damage (which isn't bad for an archer). Psychic Warrior nets you Dissolving Weapon, allowing you to add an additional 4d6 of Acid Damage onto your Arrows. Buy a splitting bow, and enchant your Raptor Arrows with the Collision Enhancement That's 6d8+12d6+24d6+42+6*Str damage a round (average 297+6*Str), as a touch attack. These figures become slightly higher if you can buy Hank's Energy Bow.

[Piggy Knowles]

Psychic Warrior nets you Dissolving Weapon, allowing you to add an additional 4d6 of Acid Damage onto your Arrows.

I see this quoted a lot as a reason why PsyWarriors make great archers, but I've never actually seen any rules that back it up.

Dissolving Weapon charges one held weapon so that your next single attack deals +4d6 damage. It does NOT have the clause that it can also be applied to fifty bolts or pieces of ammunition. And I have never been able to find a clause that allows you to apply it as such (believe me, I've looked).

[AtLastForgot]

I've always been a fan of the Scout/Ranger build with Swift Hunter.

Scout1 -> Cleric 1 -> Scout 3 -> Ranger15 is my favored progression.

Using the Cloistered Cleric variant, you can gain both Knowledge Devotion and Travel Devotion easily. This, coupled with the "Monster Lore" Knowledge, gives you bonuses to hit and damage to make up for the lost points of BAB. You have 6+Int skill points at every level and, if you take some Urban variants, can operate very well in the city.

Travel Devotion lets you move as a swift action and make full attacks every round for a minute at a time and uses are replenished by burning Turn attempts. This gives you full Skirmish damage on multiple arrows and can really put out the hurt.

The leadership role is a little light admittedly. You might have to blow a feat on Able Learner if you want to get the social slew into Class Skills for the majority of your progression.

A detailed guidebook on the build can be found here (http://dictummortuum.blogspot.com/2011/09/swift-hunters-handbook.html).

[Titanium Fox]

Well, I just finished off the character thanks to your suggestions. He's a straight Bard 12.

+20 Hide & Move Silently
5 attacks per round with Manyshot - +10 / +5 - If all hit, 10d6 + 10
Dragonfire Inspiration +6d6 Fire Damage to all allies
Lingering Song - 10 Round Duration
+21 Perform Oratory

Looks like this will be pretty damn effective with a compliment of guards! Thanks guys!