Help on a Pathfinder Archer

[Dragonamedrake]

Ok im working on a archer build based on the Updated Pathfinder Arcane Archer. You can find it listed here...

www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classe...

Basicly they gain 7/10 casting and while casting isnt so much an issue it really makes the class nice. You add in the Imbue arrow and Enhanced Arrows and you have a pretty solid class. Now I want to break it in half!

We are using all of the Pathfinder rules exept for spells. They are staying 3.5

Here is the build I have so far.

Pathfinder Material
Ranger/Wizard Arcane Archer/Race - Elf

I plan on making the following Item... Persitant Polymorph 1/day = Command Word 1/day = (10 X 21 X 1800)/5 = 75,600 GP
Otherworldly Elf  Ranger 4/Wizard 2/Deepwood Sniper 4/Arcane Archer 10

Class breakdown:

(1) Ranger  1st Favored Enemy, Track, wild empathy
(2) Ranger  Combat style feat = Far shot
(3) Ranger  Endurance, 1st Favored Terrain
(4) Ranger  Hunter's Bond
(5) Wizard  Arcane bond, arcane school, cantrips, Scribe Scroll
(6) Wizard
(7) DS         Keen Arrows, Range increment bonus +10ft/lvl
(8) AA         Enhance arrows (magic)
(9) AA         Imbue arrow
(10) AA       Enhance arrows (elemental)
(11) AA       Seeker arrow
(12) AA       Enhance arrows (distance)
(13) AA       Phase arrow
(14) AA       Enhance arrows (elemental burst)
(15) AA       Hail of arrows
(16) AA       Enhance arrows (aligned)
(17) AA       Arrow of death
(18) DS       Concealment Red 10%, magic weapon, proj imp crit +1
(19) DS       Safe Poison use
(20) DS       Take aim +2

Class Feats ( In Pathfinder you gain a feat every other lvl)

(1) Ranger 1 Point Blank Shot, Otherworldly(flaw), Rapid Shot(flaw)
(2) Ranger 2 Farshot(class),
(3) Ranger 3 Weapon Focus (Longbow)
(4) Ranger 4 Precise Shot
(5) Wizard 1 Scribe Scroll(class)
(6) Wizard 2 ?
(7) DS 1
(8) AA 1         Manyshot
(9) AA 2
(10) AA 3       Improved Rapid shot
(11) AA 4
(12) AA 5       Improved Precise shot
(13) AA 6
(14) AA 7       Woodland Archer
(15) AA 8
(16) AA 9       ?
(17) AA 10     
(18) DS 2       ?
(19) DS 3   
(20) DS 4       ?


Ok so with that item I can use persistant polymorph to turn into a Arrow Demon. That gives me basicly 2 attacks for each one.
With base attack 4 attacks + Rapid Shot + Haste = 6 attacks.
While a Arrow Demon that makes 12 Attacks. If he is weilding 2 longbows with the splitting enchantment that gives us 24 attacks... all with lots of bonus dmg from the Arcane Archer Embue ability. If I can throw in Assassin Senses Im criting on a 17-20 for X5 dmg.

My math might be off some, but how can I improve on this build. Is there a better class to go other then Deepwood sniper. Any help is apreciated. Thanks in advance

[KellKheraptis]

With the revisions to Arcane Archer, you can go something like Wizard 8/Eldritch Knight 6/Arcane Archer 6, and end up with 16 BAB/17 CL.  Requires either Militia or Otherworldly, but the latter at least is good anyway, especially for turning into outsiders...like demons

[Dragonamedrake]

That would be a nice build, but Im looking more for a true Archer build. The build you listed really doesnt use archery untill later lvls. I dont know about my build either though seeing as I only have a CL of 9... which really brings up the point of why bother. I know with the changes to Arcane Archer though something nice can be created. I mean even without the CL increase you get +5 Elemental/ Elemental Burst/Distance/ Aligned arrows any time you shoot. Basicly you shoot +10 arrows for free. Add in Imbue arrow, Seeker arrow, Phase Arrow, Hail of Arrows, and Arrow of Death and 7 caster lvls and they take a crapy DMG class and make it a whole lota win. I just dont know how best to put it together. I like the caster lvls but really I would like a build I can be considered " The archer" through most of the build.

And I really like the Idea of taking Otherworldy and Polymorphing into an Arrow Demon.... you take that and the splitting enhancement (+3) and you just became a machine gun. I know alot of people think the elemental dmg is weak because of resistance... but since you can decide which element you use each time you shoot you can find one the mob isnt resistant too. Anways thanks again for any help. I would like to get this guy build for our next campain. I might have to use Fiendform however since I think next game the DM is thinking about switching the spellcasting to Pathfinder.... Pathfinder polymorph is nerfed. Again thanks.

[Akalsaris]

I would take Precise Shot at 1st, and Rapid Shot later on.  Even against large opponents, the penalty for firing into melee drives me nuts at low levels!

Edit: oh, the PF Chronicles has some feats to look into for elven archers - pg. 89 has Focused Shot (apply your int to dmg with a bow!), and sniper shot (can do precision damage as far as you can shoot).

[Glutton]

Dont forget Deadly Aim (think thats the name, pathfinder feat) for power attack with bows.

[Dragonamedrake]

I would take Precise Shot at 1st, and Rapid Shot later on.  Even against large opponents, the penalty for firing into melee drives me nuts at low levels!

Edit: oh, the PF Chronicles has some feats to look into for elven archers - pg. 89 has Focused Shot (apply your int to dmg with a bow!), and sniper shot (can do precision damage as far as you can shoot).

Awsome. Focused Shot sounds great for a Arcane Archer. So other than Arcane Archer... what do you think. Eldritch Knight or Deepwood Sniper... I really like the increased multiplier given by Deepwood sniper but I dont suppose it maters if Im shooting 24 times a round.

[Dragonamedrake]

No one has any more advice?

[kobo1d]

Have you considered something with Sublime Chord, like:

Bard 1/BAB 7/Arcane Archer 2/Sublime Chord 2/Arcane Archer +6/Spellcasting 2

Ninth level spells are better than even the fanciest bow crap.

Edit: That stub fails hardcore because of Sublime Chord reqs, but it can be done.

[xman146]

Where can i find some of the things mentioned here, such as the Otherworldly feat, or the splitting splitting enchantment (I'm new to Pathfinder)? thanks!

[Anklebite]

Where can i find some of the things mentioned here, such as the Otherworldly feat, or the splitting splitting enchantment (I'm new to Pathfinder)? thanks!

splitting is from champions of ruin. otherwordly, I think, is from PGtF; it also posted here: http://www.roleplaynexus.com/feattraits.html

[Akalsaris]

Just to clarify, both otherworldly and splitting were from non-pathfinder books - forgotten realms, to be exact.  Focused Shot and sniper shot were from the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting book.