Paladin with a bow

[razorfinis]

Can a paladin use a bow with smite evil, and can he use it as his divine weapon. What do you think? This is my first time posting. So if this sounds crazy or was asked before sorry.If you think it is a good idea. Would like to know what feats would you take.

[Hunterofthedusk]

It's actually one of the better damage builds for a paladin, as it allows for more full attacks, thus more bonus damage from smite.

Pretty much you take the standard archer feats, point blank shot, rapid shot, precise shot (if archery is the only thing you do), deadly aim... It's all pretty much cut & paste from every other archer build, really.

[BladeMaster0182]

I had a player who did this and the answer is yes and yes. Archer paladins are sweet.

As for feats, look at an archery guide like this one: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/rogue-eidolon-s-lab/rogu e-eidolon-s-guide-to-fighters

It has all types of fighters but the archer is in there. You want the big ones like Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot (seriously if you don't take this archers everywhere will weep,) Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Manyshot (the last two stack,) etc. All of those are MUST HAVES to be a great archer.

[Dragonborn3]

First off, welcome to the boards!

Second, any weapon can be used with smite evil and be a divine bond. A favorite example of a friend of mine is a paladin with the Caught Off Guard feat, and imagining the looks on the other demons faces when the succubus explains she was smited by the paladin's +5 Holy Sausage...

As for feats, I know there are others on this site that could help you better than I, and will be able to suggest more feats.

Point Blank/Precise Shot are staple feats of archery, along with Rapid/Many Shot and now Deadly Aim.

[Name Violation]

Dragonborn3 wrote:

she was smited by the paladin's +5 Holy Sausage...

O_o

whoa, kinky

[Dragonborn3]

Name Violation wrote:

Dragonborn3 wrote:

she was smited by the paladin's +5 Holy Sausage...

O_o

whoa, kinky

Lawful Kinky, the nee Alignment for Paladins everywhere!

[MerrikCale]

An archer paladin of Erastil is sweetness

[Abraham spalding]

Dragonborn3 wrote:

Name Violation wrote:

Dragonborn3 wrote:

she was smited by the paladin's +5 Holy Sausage...

O_o

whoa, kinky

Lawful Kinky, the nee Alignment for Paladins everywhere!

The Nee Alignment of paladins of the Order of the Pimp everywhere.

[Dragonborn3]

Dragonborn3 wrote:

A favorite example of a friend of mine is a paladin with the Caught Off Guard feat, and imagining the looks on the other demons faces when the succubus explains she was smited by the paladin's +5 Holy Sausage...

Abraham spalding wrote:

The Nee Alignment of paladins of the Order of the Pimp everywhere.

This is the friend.

[james maissen]

razorfinis wrote:

Can a paladin use a bow with smite evil, and can he use it as his divine weapon. What do you think? This is my first time posting. So if this sounds crazy or was asked before sorry.If you think it is a good idea. Would like to know what feats would you take.

It can work, but it is not up there with a fighter archer for the most part but it is similar in that you still need a fighter-type that will tank for the party.

My suggestions:

1. Memorize Shield Other to take advantage of your lay on hands to share some of the tanking duties.
2. Go with a mount rather than a weapon, mounted archery works much nicer.

Feats: Point Blank, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Many Shot, Deadly Aim, and Improved Precise Shot will take you to 11th level. If you have an extra feat in there via Human then you can take something that appeals, but I would go with Halfling instead.

As to order of the feats after Point Blank Shot I'd run the numbers to decide the order. Precise shot is something that you can delay if the party cooperates and you can find targets not in melee. Juggle rapid, many and deadly aim based on expected damage for reasonable opponent ACs.

What kind of point buy are you using?

-James

[Kierato]

I would also like to point out that smite evil can be done with any type of damage, including spells!

[Shadowborn]

MerrikCale wrote:

An archer paladin of Erastil is sweetness

Yes, yes it is...

[haruhiko88]

So then what about a paladin with a double crossbow? The book states that the precision damage from sneak attack does not apply, but since smite evil is not precision damage would both attacks apply the smite damage?

[wraithstrike]

haruhiko88 wrote:

So then what about a paladin with a double crossbow? The book states that the precision damage from sneak attack does not apply, but since smite evil is not precision damage would both attacks apply the smite damage?

Yeah.