are they inevitable as part of the archer build or useless flavor?
huh...my initial thought was no as I thought their was a clause that said they only applied to melee attacks, but after reading them I don't see anything that says you can't. I guess it is just one more thing to add into a supposed archery build (although adding in those 4 feats on top of all the other archery type feats may make the build even more feat intensive so I am unsure how worthwhile it may be in the end).
Posting feats below for others to review.
Vital Strike
Improved Vital Strike
Greater Vital Strike
Devastating Strike
Honestly, the Vital Strike tree is mostly useless except as a way to make a standard attack more tolerable.
Because archers rarely have to deal with standard attacks there is no reason for archers to have the vital strike tree.
- Gauss
vital strike tree on an archer would only be useful if you never had any chances to stand still (i.e. every single encounter/the DM is singling you out and never allowing you to do so) or were playing a scout rogue or something.
can it be used with a gunslingers "condenses all attacks into one uber-attack" ability?
AndIMustMask:
There are ways out of that situation. If you are a fighter, ranger, or Zen Archer-monk then you can take Point Blank Master.
If you are not then I suggest the Jaunt Boots (take a 5foot step, travel 15feet 3/day).
Vital Strike cannot be combined with anything that is not a 'standard attack'. I would have to check the wording on the gunslinger's ability you referenced but the answer is probably no. IF (big if) it is a yes then it would only apply to the base damage.
- Gauss
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Yeah, the main benefit to archery is all the extra attacks you get while full-attacking. I suppose if you were building a movement based archer where you planned on running around a lot those feats might be worthwhile.... Although I'd probably just play a ranger at that point and use my animal companion as a mount so you get the movement and keep your full attacks. Archery is such a feat intensive tree, I don't know that there is any overall benefit to taking the Vital strike to Devastating Strike feat tree. As noted by others, if DR is what you're trying to get through, just take Clustered Shots.
Yeah, the main benefit to archery is all the extra attacks you get while full-attacking.
"All the extra attacks..?" Rapid Shot gives you one extra. What else are you considering?
Manyshot gives you +1arrow, Haste gives you +1attack.
Level 20 fighter's BAB progression with speed bow :
18(2arrows)/18(rapid shot)/18(speed)/13/8/3
A total of 4arrows at a +18attack bonus (before dex, magic, etc. etc.) and then 3 more less accurate arrows.
Damage for the most accurate arrows is 4d8+(bonuses*4)
VS Vital Strike->Devastating Strike at level 20:
20(1arrow) at 4d8+6+bonuses).
The multiple arrows win hands down due to all the extra magic damage (15points) Weapon Specialization (12points), Strength damage (approx 16points), Weapon Training (18points), Deadly Aim (36points)
The total extra damage (just with a quick calculation) is 15+12+16+18+36-6 = 91pts for just the first 4 arrows. Note: all of those extra damage bonuses are for 3 arrows (since the first arrow is equal to the Vital Strike first arrow in bonuses).
- Gauss
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Yeah, the main benefit to archery is all the extra attacks you get while full-attacking."All the extra attacks..?" Rapid Shot gives you one extra. What else are you considering?
As Gauss pointed out, ManyShot and Rapid Shot are key feats you can get a t relatively low levels. Also, with the increased likelihood of getting to make a full attack, haste, speed, or similar properties tend to be much more beneficial to archers since they see that extra attack far more often.
For the monk archer builds, you get your extra flurry attacks, your haste/speed attack, and your extra ki point attack.