Opinions: Archer Build

[marjan]

This is ECS build for a friend of mine who wants archer without too much casting. The point buy is strange one so I'll just post ability scores and he will also get 2 extra feats at level 2 and 7. Fighter is changed to have Spot and Listen as class skills and 4+int skill points. The build is 8th lvl.

Abilities - base (items + levels):
S 15 (16) +3
D 16 (20) +5
C 14 +2
I 16 +3
W 10 0
C 8 -1

Levels:
Fig1/Wiz2/Fig3/AbCh2

Feats:
1 Point Blank Shot *
1(Flaw) Able Learner (for keeping knowledge skills class-skills always)
1(Human) Precise Shot
1(Bonus) Rapid Shot
2(Extra) Combat Casting
2(Bonus) Weapon Focus (Longbow)
3 Knowledge Devotion
4(Bonus) Close-quarters Fighting (with Arrow Mind this is the way to avoid
being grappled)
6 Arcane Strike
6(Bonus) Weapon Specialization(Longbow)(this opens up ranged weapon
mastery as an option for next level feat)
7(Extra)

Equipment:
+1 Earthbound Composite (+3 Str Longbow) 8700
+1 Twighlight Mithral Chainshirt 5200
+1 STR item 1000
+2 DEX item 4000
+1 Ring of Deflection 2000
+2 Cloak of Resistance 4000
Augment Crystal (the one with +1d6 acid dmg) 3000

This leaves 100gp of unspent gold.

So what should that 7th level feat be. It would be nice to find some archery feat. Anything you would change or add?

[Iku Rex]

Make him an abjurer with the PHBII alternate class feature. The Focused Specialist variant from CMag is also worth considering, for more spells per day.

Ask the DM if the Collector of Stories skill trick (CSco) applies to Knowledge Devotion.

Feats:
Close Quarters Fighting isn't that necessary for a wizard. Use the abjurer ACF, an item or a teleportation spell to get away. Arcane Strike is melee only, so it's not that important either.

The Practiced Spellcaster (CDiv) feat is a must-have.

Improved Toughness (CWar) is a safe choice for any character.

Manyshot can come in handy from time to time, and qualifies the character for Improved Rapid Shot (CWar) later.

Items:
(Per RAW you can't have a +1 Str item.)

I recommend a Bow of the Wintermon (MIC, 3400) for all archers. Save up for the force (MIC, +2) ability and never worry about damage reduction again.

Goggles of Foefinding (MIC, 2500) will remove that pesky +4 soft cover bonus when firing into melee behind the party's melee fighters.

A twilight mithral chain shirt is only slightly better than mage armor at this level.

An Anklet of Translocation (MIC, 1400) is a cheap way to avoid grapples and get out of melee range quickly.

And everyone wants a Healing Belt (MIC, 750).

Have you thought about his spells?

[marjan]

Make him an abjurer with the PHBII alternate class feature. The Focused Specialist variant from CMag is also worth considering, for more spells per day.

I like Focused Specialist, but PHBII alternate is some shield bonus to ac which is not very useful since he can cast shield as free action and familiar can grant free bonus to some saves.



Ask the DM if the Collector of Stories skill trick (CSco) applies to Knowledge Devotion.

That I will do.



Feats:
Close Quarters Fighting isn't that necessary for a wizard. Use the abjurer ACF, an item or a teleportation spell to get away. Arcane Strike is melee only, so it's not that important either.

The Practiced Spellcaster (CDiv) feat is a must-have.

Improved Toughness (CWar) is a safe choice for any character.

Manyshot can come in handy from time to time, and qualifies the character for Improved Rapid Shot (CWar) later.

I thought AS works with any attack that's why I listed it. So one more feat.



CQF is nice to have to avoid being grappled at first place. With items you can easily escape but you waste standard action. Spells are not 100% escape means due to concentration check. It is not completely necessary but is nice to have.

Practiced Spellcaster is nice but currently he won't have much uses for it. Arrow Mind and Shield will last 4 mins which is enough to get you through encounter. And at lvl11 he can substitute his CL with his BA.

Improved thoughness is nice one.

Manyshot and Improved Rapid Shot are for him +2 to hit. For 2 feats that's not all that great but it is nice.



(Per RAW you can't have a +1 Str item.)
DM allows it.


Have you thought about his spells?


For now I have Arrow Mind, Shield, Resist Energy, See Invisibility and Dimension Leap as spells.

[Iku Rex]

..., but PHBII alternate is some shield bonus to ac which is not very useful since he can cast shield as free action and familiar can grant free bonus to some saves.Sorry. I was thinking of the conjurer ACF. (You don't have to be an abjurer to become an abjurant champion.)


Practiced Spellcaster is nice but currently he won't have much uses for it. Arrow Mind and Shield will last 4 mins which is enough to get you through encounter. And at lvl11 he can substitute his CL with his BA.Good point about the BAB substitution. I forgot about that. But IMO Practiced Spellcaster is still worth it, even after it becomes just +1 CL. Caster level = good. One more level and that +4 CL means +2 extra AC from dragonskin (SC, lv 3).


For now I have Arrow Mind, Shield, Resist Energy, See Invisibility and Dimension Leap as spells.I'd also consider guided shot (SC, lv1), fist of stone (SC, lv1), heroics (SC, lv2) and, if it's allowed, alter self (lv2). I guess he won't have that many spell slots to spare once he's loaded up on shield and arrow mind though.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

A level of Spellsword would easily fit into this build. It would promote both BAB and Casting Level and give you 10% ASF reduction, negating the need for the Twilight enchantment.

It needs BAB of +4 and 2nd level spells. You could get this after your 1st level of AbChamp no problems.

This would save you 4k on your +1 mithral chain shirt which you could use to get an Amulet of Natural Armor and a Quiver of Ehlonna

I would also suggest some method of flight (such as memorising Fly as a 3rd level spell), as there is nothing more obnoxious than an archer raining death on you that you can't reach.

True Strike is a must-have-in-memory 1st level spell for you, obviously. By 8th level, most mobs have too many HD for Sleep to work on 'em anyways, and you're sporting something better than Mage Armor for armor. Might want to keep Shield around just in case. With AbChamp, you can bring it up as a swift action anyways. Sadly, Mage Armor is a Conjuration, not an Abjuration, so you're SoL for it working with AbChamp.

[Frosty]

Go conjuration specialist and you won't have to worry about grapple unless they all waste their turns trying to grapple you :)