Please comment on my Arcane Archer Build

[Nachtfrost]

Hi all!

Spoiler:

Since my GM and some players of my gaming group had severe problems with my Gunslinger - especially his damage output - I decided to switch to a core rulebook character. The background of our in-party-trouble is detailed in this thread.
Now I want to show them that the Gunslinger was no special "broken" class. So I will try to build a core character with an equally nice damage output. I decided on a ranged character, again, but not another one trick pony, so I will go for Arcane Archer.

I want to build an Arcane Archer to replace my current lvl 8 character in our Carrion Crown campaign. Please comment on my build and maybe you have some suggestions how I can get more bang for the buck?

Archery is very feat-hungry, so I decided to use a fighter as base class. All those bonus feats come handy and especially Weapon Specialisation is nice to have.
I chose wizard (Elemental School: Void) as arcane caster class, because I want CHA as dump stat and the INT gives some additional skill points also the spell selection is far greater. Might Sorcerer (Sage Archetype/Arcane Bloodline) be a viable choice? More Spell slots, also INT dependent, but restricted spell selection.

Our GM allowed us to use ocupations from the Tome Of Secrets. I selected "Hunter" which gives POint Blank Shot or Deadly Aim as a free bonus feat.

Human
Lvl 8
Fighter 6/ Wizard 1/Arcane Archer1

20 point buy
STR: 14, DEX: 20 (16 +2 race +2 level ability bonus), CON 12, INT 14, WIS 12, CHA 7

Feats:
Human) Point Blank Shot
Occupation) Deadly Aim
Level 1) WF (Comp. Longbow)
Bonus 1) Precise Shot
Bonus 2) Rapid Shot
Level 3) Weapon Finesse
Bonus 4) WSpec (Comp. Longbow)
Level 5) EWP Aldori Dueling Sword (or maybe Elven Curved Blade?); Weapon Training (Comp. Longbow)
Bonus 6) Clustered Shots
Level 7) Manyshot

Thats the build so far. Is Weapon Finesse/ Exotic Weapon any good? I thought it would be nice for some switch hitting. If not, I would pick up Combat Reflexes at LvL 3 and Point Blank Mastery at Lvl 5.

The next few feats would look like this:
Lvel 9) Point Blank Mastery
Level 11) Improved Crit (Comp.LB)
Level 13) Improved Precise Shot
Lvl 15) Snap Shot
Lvl 17) Improved Snap Shot

Continuing AA for all 10 levels, then switching to eldritch knight till lvl 20 (which the campaign won't sse I guess). So the char has a +19 BAB and effective lvl 10 wizard spellcasting at lvl 20.

So what do you think? Any suggestions or maybe improvements?

Greetings
Frosty

[ossian666]

If you want to switch hit you are a melee character with some ranged capacity, not a ranged character with some melee capacity. If you want to be ranged don't blow feats on melee IMO.

[CRobledo]

I would go with the Sorc option (imho) for more castings of Gravity Bow/day. Just pick some good spells to Imbue Arrows with. Wizard would, however, give you access to higher level spells faster, so it's a preference thing.

I do agree with Ossian to focus on archery if that is what you are going for.

[sunbeam]

It seems like most builds that use Arcane Archer do it to get Imbue Arrow, and they emphasize caster levels.

If I were going to make something using the Arcane Archer PC, I'd only take two levels of fighter, if that.

It seems like Arcane Archer is only good if you want to be a caster that likes to shoot arrows.

If Archery is your thing, I think there are better ways to do it.

[Bertious]

Personally as you don't seem to need swift actions i'd pick up arcane armor training.

Maybe something like this

Feats:
Human) Point Blank Shot
Occupation) Deadly Aim
Level 1) WF (Comp. Longbow)
Fighter 1) Precise Shot
Fighter 2) Rapid Shot
Level(Sorc 1) 3) Arcane Armor Training
Fighter 4) WSpec (Comp. Longbow)
Level 5) Point Blank Master; Weapon Training (Comp. Longbow)
Fighter 6) Clustered Shots
Level 7) Manyshot

With PBM you don't really need a melee weapon as your bow is one.

[Lord Twig]

I agree with Bertious, although I would stick with Wizard, but that is just a preference thing.

Also I would say stick with just one level of caster, archery is going to be your thing, not spell casting. This is where I disagree with sunbeam. Even low level casting adds a lot of versatility to a martial character. Whereas, if you were going to focus on spell casting, being able to use a bow adds almost nothing. It would be better to go strait Wizard in that case.

[CRobledo]

We also have a Bard/AA in my local group, but he is more bard than archer. Still though, he is quite effective. Sure he will never beat a Zen Archer in damage, but he brings LOTS of utility.