OK, so my group plays arena matches while we wait for late players or when I don't have any material ready for that game day. In this arena game we earn arena points which can be spent to earn gear from the arena's massive armory or use it to rez if you die in a match. If you die in a match then you bring in a new character build that is two levels lower. In addition, for the arena only we allow up two 4 flaws for extra feats.
My current arena character is a Giff LA+3/ Barb 1 / 6 Lasher and is named Chomp Chomp. I am having fun with him and currently he is unstoppable but the matches are getting way tougher and he might kick it soon. So I am preparing my next character build, which is a super archer. I have always wanted to try a character like that plus I could see this as a viable build for me to play in the future.
My Super Archer build:
Fighter 9 / Wizard 1 / Arcane Archer 10
Now what really brings this combo home is the feats that I choose plus the gear I use.
Elven Double Bow: This is found in Arms and Equipment and has two string allowing the archer to notch two arrows and fire them at the same time.
Chain Shirt + Dastana
Desired magical items: Belt of Battle, Bracers of Archery, Dex enhancement items
Core Feats:
Exotic WP Double Bow
Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Weapon Focus Double Bow
Weapon Specialization Double Bow
Far Shot
Manyshot
Heroic Surge
Feats I am considering:
Dodge
Practiced Spell Caster
Improved Critical
The above combo when combine with a double elven bow allows my archer to fire four arrows on the first shot because Manyshot generally is described about bows that have one string but since Double Bows have two is conceivable to load two for each string. Of course, this would take more than one round to load but the feat doesn't say that the bow has to be drawn so my archer can have this ready before a fight starts or spend a heroic surge because loading weapons are an move action. Or if I can't use Heroic surge any more that day then I can follow up with a use from a belt of battle if I have it. After my first attack goes out with 4 arrows I can then follow up with the rest of my attacks from the high BAB I would have with this build. After my BAB is spent I can then lastly follow up with rapid shot for one last shot. So at level 20 in the first round I could launch 8 arrows or 9 arrows while hasted. The next following round I could then spend another Heroic Surge combined with a charge of the Belt of Battle to load 4 arrows once again and the rinse lather and repeat. I call this my Robin Hood Men in Tights Build.
Now here is where it get's scary, because I would then have the bow enchanted with that arrow spit enchantment that causes each arrow fired from a bow to split into two arrows thus allowing me to launch 16 to 18 arrows in a round.
In addition, because I use the fighter as my base I would have weapon training +2 with bows which would give me a +2 to attack and damage with my bow. The Arcane Archer just sweetens the pot because of the high BAB, the ability to make all my arrows +1 burst arrows plus other special abilities. The Arcane Archer also enhances that one level of wizard giving me up to 5th level spells.
Now what I what I need advice on is what to pick for my remaining feats or how to better enhance this build, so I am open to suggestions.
Fly.
I guess you mean the spell.
just curious, which version of Dastana are you using the OA or the A&E? one's a stacking armor bonus, the other is a shield bonus. sometimes it makes a difference
The A&E version is the one we use which is the stacker. It stacks with Chain Shirts and most light armors except Studded Leather for some reason.
Any way you can get in the air and hover. Round after round of full attacks from somebody you can't reach is... demoralizing.
Air walk works about as well. Levitate not so much. Flying carpets work great.
This is true but the race I am using is a Drow Noble mainly for the huge Dex bonus but this also allows for an at Will Deeper Darkness which is like a 120 feet Radius so arrows flying from a darkness is a huge demoralizer as well.
BTW at my table we ruled a while ago that Darkvision works in Deeper Darkness but only at half strength.
What about deadly aim as a feat?
I understand that is the feat that it trades attack for damage but can I use that with multiple attacks?
On a side note I would like to know if there is an item or enchantment that creates a never ending quiver of normal arrows. Kind of like from Everquest.
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What about deadly aim as a feat?I understand that is the feat that it trades attack for damage but can I use that with multiple attacks?
On a side note I would like to know if there is an item or enchantment that creates a never ending quiver of normal arrows. Kind of like from Everquest.
yeah, it works on all attacks in a round.
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For the neverending arrows: Quiver of Plenty, forget the source, I think it costs 18,000 GP. It can also create some of the special material arrows, although it is limited to 5 adamantine per day.
Some feats to consider:
APG: Point-Blank Master - nothing so demoralizing as basing the archer, and he STILL gets his full attack and does NOT provoke when doing it.
Iron Kingdom, I think: Ranged Threat, allows you to take an AoO with your bow within 20', and you threaten so you can flank. This also makes Combat Reflexes a strong contender, too, of course. And negates the need for anything but another bow as a back-up weapon, especially when combined with Point-Blank Master.
Since you are using non-standard races, you might also want to look at catfolk, as they are only 1 LA, and give a good Dex bonus.
Deadly Aim, as mentioned, is good.
Precise Shot, if you wind up firing into melee a lot.
Improved Precise Shot, since that neutralizes several negative modifiers.
Enhancement for the bow: Force from the MIC. Bypass DR and most incorporeal issues.
If you weren't Drow, you could go for Millenial Chainmail from the MIC to get obscene AC and fast healing.
The APG offers the spell Gravity Bow, which I think is Sorcerer/Wizard as well as being Ranger... Increases the damage die size of the bow by one step, as though it were one size step larger.