3.5 Archer Fighter build


3.5/d20/OGL


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

I am going to start playing in a 3.5 game and going to be playing a human Fighter who is built around Long Bow. I like to see what you all think of my Toon.

Str 16 HP 12 Init 4
Dex 18
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 14

Feats
1) Point Blank
1) Percise Shot
F1) Weapon Focus Longbow

Gear
Fighters' kit
5 Thunder Stones
5 Flasks of Acid
5 Alch Fire
5 Sunrods

Armor
Studded Leather

Weapons
Composite Longbow +0
Quarterstaff
Short sword


Go cleric with the elf domain for free point black shot, also some domain power for improved initiative.


Are you playing 3.5 or Pathfinder? Cause they are different games.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

I play both it for 3.5 game. the Dm allowing class kits from PF since they are mundane gear.


First lvl cleric, for elf domain power, then second domain could be time for improved initiative, war for wepon proficiency great bow AND Weapon focus, or fate domain for uncanny dodge. Then go zen archer in pathfinder for Flurry of arrows.
Also if your dm will let you take pathfinder cleric with 3.5 domains that's the best because channel is a great backup ability.
Great bow in 3.5 is the best bow there is.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

only pf stuff he is allowing is the class kit as it only mundane items. everything else is strictly 3.5. Plus I don't Multiclass.


OK sorry, so nix the monk idea and still take cleric. Its been so long since I played 3.5 but I remember the best lvl 1 for a bowman are those domain powers.


If you need some really well referenced 3.5 material
link to alternative class features list

you could conceivably replace 2 of your 3 feats with cleric domain powers (war, and elf), then pick 2 more feats at lvl 1, as well as get access to the great bow 1d10 x3 crit.


Also, the 3.5e fighter, as well as 3.5e archers across the board, has a lot of trouble racking up the damage with ranged attacks.

Which books do you have available to use to build from?


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

me personally only have PHB1 but i can torrent all the books on pdf.


It's been a while, but the elf cleric archer build was indeed one of the iconic builds on the char ops boards. The level 1 spell that granted you a bonus TH/dmg, Greater Magic Weapon, Magic Vestment, Divine Might, Divine Power, and the potential for 24 hour spell buffs with Persistent Spell and Channel metamagic was extremely flexible and useful. With Zen Archer adding Wis to hit, you never had a problem hitting and magic stacked your damage to the moon.

Oh, and 9 level casting, on top of it all.

It's been two many years to lay out the full build, now.

Oh, the right bow is a must. What's the name of the one that fired an extra arrow for every one you shot? Don't remember that power, either.

Just remember that in 3.5, GMW was 1/3 levels, and could pass the +10 barriar, so +5/+9 bows were totally a thing.


Splitting. +3.

GMW was always 1/4lvls in 3.5e.

Anyway, fighters make absolutely terrible archers. Don't do that.

Cleric is a good way to go. You'll have to be an elf though.

Assuming that your stat spread is set in stone;

Human Cloistered Cleric 1 (of a deity that gives elf and war domains with longbow as favored weapon)
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 18, Cha 14

Feats: War-MWP(Longbow et al.), War-Weapon Focus(Longbow), Flaw-Extend Spell, Knowledge-Knowledge Devotion, Elf-Point Blank Shot, Flaw-Persistent Spell, 1-Rapid Shot, Human-Precise Shot

Planned feat progression:
3-Zen Archery
6-Divine Metamagic(Persistent Spell) <- pick up a Nightstick or two before this point.
9-Holy Warrior <- Reserve feat from Complete Champion, adds a bunch of passive damage to your arrows.

At first level, this has +3 or +1/+1 to hit, 1d8 damage, and access to a few ways to increase this, such as Point Blank Shot, Knowledge Devotion, Divine Favor, and Blessed Aim.

It all adds up, in the end.

If you really want a nonmagical archer, I might be able to figure something out. It won't be a fighter, though, and it won't be particularly good.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

I am not looking playing a cleric just a fighter since the party already has a barbarian in the party and i didnt feel like playing a caster.


Fighters are pretty bad archers. Not a lot of ways to help you there.

The barbarian will most likely be a lot more useful than you.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

The thing is I didnt want to play your typical fighter I wanted to play more range support fighter. I dont have to do massive damage just enough to bring down the foes.


Jem'Nai wrote:
I am not looking playing a cleric just a fighter since the party already has a barbarian in the party and i didnt feel like playing a caster.

Well a 1 lvl dip, and you don't have to cast in battle will net you 2 feats and a great bow.

Without taking cleric you will under perform. You asked for 3.5 help on a pathfinder forum, and that's mostly what we can remember. Your not going to get much advice on fighter as it really does suck In 3.5


I think ranger styles give both twf and a bow feat I'm not sure.

Edit: nm, I'm wrong, only get one.


I suppose that my earlier post wasn't particularly constructive. Here's something to make up for that.

When you say 'range support', what does that mean? Standard fighter archery really doesn't do enough damage to bring down any foes past level 5 or so. It sucks. Even at low levels, it's moderately to majorly bad.

If you want to play a martial archer, consider making a scout/ranger multiclass, with the Swift Hunter feat at sixth level.

Something like Human Scout 1 at level 1.

Feats:
1 - Point Blank Shot
H - Precise Shot

See if you can get the GM to agree to Partial Base Bonuses, from Unearthed Arcana.

Either way, you start out your career being able to find traps, wear light armor, and shoot your shortbow for 2d6+1 damage once each round after moving at least 10 feet. Not too shabby.

Level progression:

Scout 3/Cleric 1/Ranger 16 (the cleric dip is here for Travel Devotion and turning attempts, so you can move as a swift action to activate skirmish)

Feat progression
1 - Precise Shot
H - Point Blank Shot
3 - Weapon Focus: Longbow
4b - Travel Devotion (From complete champion - you get it by giving up the normal benefits of the Travel Domain power for clerics)
4b - Potentially another Devotion feat? (Law or Knowledge are good, if available)
6 - Swift Hunter (From Complete Scoundrel; lets your Ranger and Scout levels stack for Skirmish and Favored Enemies, and lets you deal Skirmish Damage to favored enemies, even if they're normally immune)
6b - Rapid Shot
9 - Improved Skirmish (increases your skirmish damage)
10b - Manyshot

Favored Enemy(Undead) should be your first favored enemy, Plants or Constructs your second.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

I not looking to multiclass since I like playing straight 1-20 class

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Then it doesn't matter what you do, you're going to suck.

Just take any archery feats you see and don't worry about it.


Jem'Nai wrote:
I not looking to multiclass since I like playing straight 1-20 class

Then we can't really help you.

Maybe try Scout 20 (from complete adventurer) and go for Improved Manyshot(it's on the SRD) at level 12. See if you can get a splitting bow.(the Splitting Enhancement is +3 and from Champions of Ruin. A +1 splitting bow is 32000gp and always worth it.)

But honestly, the very best you can hope for here is being a worse warlock with more skills.


If you're set on a D&D 3.5 non-multiclassed non-caster archer, your 'toon' in the OP will suck badly past level 6 and won't be amazing to that point. 3.5 just doesn't like your ideas.

You might try an elf warblade as an approach which will work a little better, at least up to level 10 or so; casters will dominate by that point.


Grumble mumble fighter mrf.

Anyway. I maybe found something.

1) Fighter variant from DotU, Hit & Run: Exchanges heavy armor and tower shiled proficiency for +2 to initiative, and dealing dex to damage on FF targets within 30ft.

2) Targeteer fighter from Dragon Magazine: gets a bunch of things they can exchange for fighter feats, most notably the ability to deal dex instead of strength to damage with bows. Also loses martial melee weapons proficiency, gets proficiency with two exotic ranged weapons, such as the greatbow. Also gets some new class skills.

3) Dead Eye from Dragon Compendium: Gives you dex to damage within 30ft. Immune to crits are immune.

Strongheart Halfling Targeteer Hit And Run Tactics Fighter 20
Stats: Str12, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 14

Feats
1 - Education (makes all knowledge skills class skills, from eberron, needed for Knowledge Devotion)
H - Point Blank Shot
Flaw - Weapon Focus: Greatbow
Flaw - Dead Eye
1F - Precise Shot
2F - Vital Aim (Targeteer dex to damage ability, exchanged for fighter feat)
3 - Knowledge Devotion (you need this for the damage)
4b - Rapid Shot
6 - Woodland Archer (from Races of the Wild)
6b - Weapon Specialization: Greatbow
8b - Ranged Weapon Mastery: Piercing
9 - Manyshot (this is actually nearly half decent for you, strangely enough)
10B - Improved Rapid Shot (Complete Warrior)
12 - Improved Precise Shot
12 - Greater Weapon Focus: Greatbow

Level 1 damage:
+8 to hit, 1d8+5(small greatbow) damage, only 1d8(from a small greatbow) if enemy is immune to crits, or ourside 30ft. range. 1d8+10 if flatfooted.


IS there a feat to stack scout and fighter levels? I seem to remember there was.


Scout and ranger. At least, that's the good one.

There's one for fighter and ninja, but it's not very good.


Does the feat Craven work on archery? Best damage feat in the whole game.

There MUST be a feat that stacks fighter and rogue levels, because I made a build using it and Craven. Two feats from Tome of Blades to grant a stance so I could flank with myself and sneak attack dmg, then stacked on the craven to a fighter with Weapon Supremacy.

Damage was quite sick.


If you can fit in the Combat Form feat from Player's Handbook 2, they're pretty fun. Combat Awareness, Combat Vigor, and Combat Strike are particularly awesome.

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