Hello Pathfinder experienced players, as the title says I want to play a bard archer and I'm looking for some advice in how to create a good one.
I'm not a minmaxer, I'm just looking for a reliable build, we will start at level 1, 20 pts buy system. Thanks for the advice.
Are you familiar with the archery line of feats? Just go with that. Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, and so on. You can mix it up with more Bard-ish feats to improve your performances or spells as well. Arcane Strike is a nice little boost as well.
You want a good Dex since you don't have full BAB, and still want to use Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim to do damage at the expense of accuracy. The song will help you out as well. Good Str will allow you to use a composite bow when you have the dosh to afford one. Cha is still important for your bardly duties, but if you don't use spells that allow saving throws (preferring buffs instead of charms, for example), then you don't need a very high Charisma, 16 would do.
As indicated.. Once you get thru that line of feats you should be gold.
Actually, I would follow P.A.s advice straight down the line.
Thanks for the advice, actually I'm familiar with that line of feats, not too much time ago I played a ranger archer. I asked just because in some forums there are people that mention bards as excellent archers so I suposed there had to be some special builds around that.
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I actually only went 14 charisma on my archer bard, with 18 dexterity, 14 strength, and I think the rest at 10s. That was using 20 point buy, with my +2 racial on dex, obviously. I'm planning to take all the same feats PA mentioned, and I already have a composite bow for my +2 str bonus at level 2.
The lower charisma eliminates the possibility of saving throw based spells like Hideous Laughter and Grease, but I'm focusing on buff and healing spells, so it's ok. I'd recommend Perform (Oratory) for your Versatile Performance at level 2, and go from there.
If you want to do more save based spells, then put cha as your top stat, dex second, and str third. Just remember that you don't get enough spells per day to act like a full caster, so you need to put enough points and feats into archery to be good at it.
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Standard Archer Bard:
Human
Str 14
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 7
Cha 14
(for a pure archer)
OR
Str 12
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 7
Cha 16
(for a more casting oriented version, you can switch Con and Int if you like)
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
3: Rapid Shot
5: Arcane Strike (Better than Deadly Aim at this level, stacks with it).
7: Deadly Aim
9: Manyshot
Whatever you like thereafter.
Traits (if you get 'em): Indomitable Faith, Reactionary (or the PFS one that gives Longbow Proficiency if it's allowed)
Skills: As others mention, Perform (Oratory) is great for a 2nd level Versatile Performance. Other than that? Whatever you like, though I'd skip Acrobatics, Handle Animal, and Intimidate to take advantage of using Versatile Performance on Dance at 6th and Percussion at 10th. Also, a rank in all the Knowledge skills is an amazing boost for a Bard.
Wisdom's low, but pays for much coolness. Also, fun to roleplay.
Spells are obviously mostly buff spells, though even with your mediocre Charisma, Glitterdust is likely worth it at 2nd. Haste and Good Hope are must-haves at 3rd.
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Standard Archer Bard:
Human
Str 14
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 7
Cha 14(for a pure archer)
OR
Str 12
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 7
Cha 16(for a more casting oriented version, you can switch Con and Int if you like)
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
3: Rapid Shot
5: Arcane Strike (Better than Deadly Aim at this level, stacks with it).
7: Deadly Aim
9: ManyshotWhatever you like thereafter.
Traits (if you get 'em): Indomitable Faith, Reactionary (or the PFS one that gives Longbow Proficiency if it's allowed)
Skills: As others mention, Perform (Oratory) is great for a 2nd level Versatile Performance. Other than that? Whatever you like, though I'd skip Acrobatics, Handle Animal, and Intimidate to take advantage of using Versatile Performance on Dance at 6th and Percussion at 10th. Also, a rank in all the Knowledge skills is an amazing boost for a Bard.
Wisdom's low, but pays for much coolness. Also, fun to roleplay.
Spells are obviously mostly buff spells, though even with your mediocre Charisma, Glitterdust is likely worth it at 2nd. Haste and Good Hope are must-haves at 3rd.
Couldn't have built it better myself. Plus what is the trait that gives Longbow Prof. That's awesome for this build.
pretty much what people said. we have a level 13 bard in our KM party...so having GMed 55 sessions to the bard from 1st level
-grease is very useful, even not as an attack
-mirror image is your number 1 level 2 spell
-good hope is your number 1 level 3 spell
hopefully another party member will haste for you and another will say cast prayer
with a quiver full of all the silly arrows available the only DR you need to worry about is slash and vorpal assuming you beg and beg to be purchased the first holy weapon because your lore will be that good you will know all monsters tricks and tribulations
your initiative will be excellent
the only downside is that your perc wont be as good about half the party which may mean you get surprised a bit
have fun, you have a glorious career ahead of you
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I played an archer bard in PFS for some time (till she got to a certain level and switched focus)
You want to go with the archery line of feats for certain.
human - Point Blank Shot
lvl 1 - Precise Shot
lvl 3 - Rapid Shot
Lvl 5 - Arcane Strike (take this before deadly aim)
Lvl 7 - Deadly Aim
From here you can do manyshot and/or clustered shots (for DR purposes)
purchase Adamantine Weapon blanch and keep some arrows coated.
If your DM allows them, you can also buy adamantine durable arrows (from elves of golarion book)
Efficient quiver of course.
Don't get tempted to play an Elf for the free Longbow Proficiency. The difference in damage between a shortbow and longbow in damage is 1 damage in average. If you really want to go longbow, purchase lesser bracers of archery.
You probably want to go into Arcane Archer at lvl 9. You get SO many neat tricks and it complements the archer bard perfectly.
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Couldn't have built it better myself. Plus what is the trait that gives Longbow Prof. That's awesome for this build.
Thanks. :)
And it's PFS exclusive (originally, anyway), for the Andoran faction, and is called "Hunter's Eye". It also removes the penalty for shooting into the second range increment. Nice Trait for this build if you're allowed to take it.
You probably want to go into Arcane Archer at lvl 9. You get SO many neat tricks and it compleents the archer bard perfectly.
While I agree with the rest, I disagree with this. Arcane Archer is mediocre at best, and slows down spellcasting while stopping Performance progression (one of your coolest features) entirely. It might be worth it in PFS, with only a few levels to go, but is most definitively not in a 1-20 build.
And it's PFS exclusive (originally, anyway), for the Andoran faction, and is called "Hunter's Eye". It also removes the penalty for shooting into the second range increment. Nice Trait for this build if you're allowed to take it.
Pretty cool trait indeed, saves you a few GP from my idea of using lesser bracers of archery for the prof.
While I agree with the rest, I disagree with this. Arcane Archer is mediocre at best, and slows down spellcasting while stopping Performance progression (one of your coolest features) entirely. It might be worth it in PFS, with only a few levels to go, but is most definitively not in a 1-20 build.
I think Arcane Archer is one of the best Paizo Prestige Classes. It will depend when he means "archer bard" does he want the bard or the archer part more.
If he wants to focus on the archer part, AA provides full BAB progression, as well as some really neat arrow tricks.
If he wants to focus on the bard part, I agree. I would still dip 2 levels of AA for Imbue arrow.
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The Arcane Duelist Archetype can be very effective for this build as well. The ability to magically enhance your weapon (and others eventually) and gain a few sweet bonus feats totally work well with this idea. I actually know someone who is playing one. so far she is brutal.
Eh. The weapon enhancement's a Performance, which means you're giving up Inspire Courage for it (almost never worth it) and the Archetype gives up Versatile Performance and Bardic Knowledge. Totally not worth it, IMO. At least not unless you really want to be a focused mage-killer.
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My favorite Bard archer build dips Divine Hunter Paladin 1 (possibly 2 for the saves bonus, but that's just gravy) and is an Archaeologist.
Standard archaeologist tactic of Lingering Performance for swift action every 3 rounds to keep up performance for only 1 round lost; since it's a swift you can still full attack.
Best to take Pal at 1st level for the BAB and hp, though you won't qualify for lingering performance till 3 if you do that.
Initial feat progression:
1 Point Blank Shot
1 Rapid Shot [Human]
1 Precise Shot [Paladin]
3 Lingering Performance
Traits: Maestro of the Society for +3 rounds will help, if you can get it despite not starting as a bard.
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Yeah, Arcane Duelist won't be worth it until fairly late when you start getting feats that actually work with archery- only thing it really has going for it is free Arcane Strike. Still did it for my archer bard, mostly for fluff reasons and to save the feat, but it probably wasn't optimal.
It is pretty nice to have a bonded weapon, though - it essentially amounts to an extra spell of your highest level, which can make a big difference since you probably won't be shooting for a high cha on an archer.I built my Arcane Duelist for hybrid buffer/archer, figuring that my first 1-2 round would be buff rounds, whereas archery would be a secondary thing to do afterwards. 'Course, he died in his second encounter, so I guess the single most important piece of advice I can give, speaking from painful experience, is to not entirely neglect your fortitude save.
... Hope that doesn't happen to my friend. She has the same concept though. Buff for a few rounds then fire away. late levels are extra dangerous.
at seventh level you can maintain two performances at the same time.
Also, an arcane duelist basically gets distance, seeking, keen, and ghost touch for free. that leaves a lot of room for other properties on your bonded weapon... which cost half as much to create.
If you get high enough, the duelist also gets penetrating strike, which is totally awesome.
I guess it just depends on what you want to do. Are you in it to be an archer or a skill guy? because the duelist is hands down the better archer.
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at seventh level you can maintain two performances at the same time.
Uh, the only thing I can find that does that isVirtuoso Performance, which, as a 4th level spell isn't available till 10th and, due to round numbers, is viable maybe one fight a day.
Also, an arcane duelist basically gets distance, seeking, keen, and ghost touch for free. that leaves a lot of room for other properties on your bonded weapon... which cost half as much to create.
True. You also basically lose the ability to cast spells when not holding your weapon...which is awful out-of-combat.
If you get high enough, the duelist also gets penetrating strike, which is totally awesome.
Also true, but not worth the cost, IMO.
I guess it just depends on what you want to do. Are you in it to be an archer or a skill guy? because the duelist is hands down the better archer.
Not hands down, no. He's slightly better...but his vast loss of out-of-combat and utility abilities is in no way made up for by the few free Feats and single cool Performance.
About that problem with losing caster levels by going Arcane Archer, there's a trait called Magical Knack that will negate the loss for the most part. I agree with others that I wouldn't recommend going very deep into the AA PrC, but Magical Knack will help if you do.