Is there a viable way to do it?
Paladins are pretty feat starved, and archery takes lots of feats.
Right now I'm playing a human paladin (wielding a bardiche), and I'm worried ranged enemies may be a problem (at least, the non-evil ones!)
So far I have the feats
Power Attack, Fey Foundling, Combat Reflex, Greater Grace, and Lunge. I am thinking about picking Cornugon Smash and possibly Improved Sunder later. If I can spare the feat, maybe Intimidating Prowess too. But those can wait.
I'm guessing I'd need at least 3 or 4 feats to be a decent archer (Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot and Manyshot). Although, maybe, Point-Blank Shot and Rapid Shot could suffice for a while.
So, my question is, should I pick these feats at all? At what level?
I've a 14 Dex, not bad, but not great. And Paladins have so many other cool feats to take...
I don't think it is really viable.
The ranger can due it, due to bonus feats without requirements.
The paladin, as you write, doesn't have enough feats to pull it off. The four you mention is important. I would add deadly aim to the list.
On top of this, you bonded weapon (if you don't have the mount) is going to be your first choice weapon. So sticking to one weapon is a much more appealing choice for the paladin.
However, being a Paladin, you could easily pull off having a back up ranged weapon without the feats. When smiting, you get a decent bonus to slay those enemies you can't get into melee with.
Alternatively, you can definately make a ranged paladin work. While it wouldn't work as well, with the feats you have, they can be very effective, due to many attacks.
Is there a viable way to do it?
Paladins are pretty feat starved, and archery takes lots of feats.
Right now I'm playing a human paladin (wielding a bardiche), and I'm worried ranged enemies may be a problem (at least, the non-evil ones!)
So far I have the feats
Power Attack, Fey Foundling, Combat Reflex, Greater Grace, and Lunge. I am thinking about picking Cornugon Smash and possibly Improved Sunder later. If I can spare the feat, maybe Intimidating Prowess too. But those can wait.
I'm guessing I'd need at least 3 or 4 feats to be a decent archer (Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot and Manyshot). Maybe, Point-Blank Shot and Rapid Shot could suffice for a while.
So, my question is, should I pick these feats at all? At what level?
I've a 14 Dex, not bad, but not great. And Paladins have so many other cool feats to take...
You don't need feats Just grab a composite bow,smite evil, weapon bond and full attack, that is switch hitting already.
Against non evil creatures, I recommend just pick up UMD and a wand of MM at caster level 9 and blast away. You have a good charisma so it isn't hard to hit the DC for such a wand.
My worry is about non-evil flying creatures. MM is kinda underwhelming. Divine Bond helps, I just fear it may not be enough sometimes. (The ranger in the party is focusing on mounted combat)
I don't think it is really viable.
The ranger can due it, due to bonus feats without requirements.
The paladin, as you write, doesn't have enough feats to pull it off. The four you mention is important. I would add deadly aim to the list.
On top of this, you bonded weapon (if you don't have the mount) is going to be your first choice weapon. So sticking to one weapon is a much more appealing choice for the paladin.
However, being a Paladin, you could easily pull off having a back up ranged weapon without the feats. When smiting, you get a decent bonus to slay those enemies you can't get into melee with.
Alternatively, you can definately make a ranged paladin work. While it wouldn't work as well, with the feats you have, they can be very effective, due to many attacks.
Deadly Aim is a great feat, but not strictly necessary, IMO. I know paladins can make amazing archers, but I've already made a melee guy, mostly because I figured the party could use the tank.
Smite does help a lot. The problem, as usual, are the non-evil flying enemies. I do have a composite longbow, anyway, better deal less damage than no damage at all.
Precise shot is kind of pointless for the switch hitter, because you want to be in melee most of the time, so you probably aren't worried about shooting at enemies engaged in melee. As for other feats, PBS is really only important for getting rapid shot and many shot, so that is just a matter of how far into archery you want to go. Personally, I'd grab deadly aim and not worry about the extra attacks. It limits you, but your archery is still passable enough that the enemy will not just laugh in your face.
5d4+4 auto hit isn't bad, is there an easy way for your paladin to gain flight? Do you have an arcane caster in the party?
Shrug it's hard to build a switch hitter with a paladin, maybe get the eldritch heritage: Orc feats.
Skill focus: Survival
Eldritch Heritage: Orc Bloodline ---> Quicken SLA at 13.
Swift action to add a massive morale bonus to all your attack and damage rolls.
The rest of the Orc bloodline is good for melee too.
Well, we do have a sorceress and a druid, so if everything else fails, I'll just get flight or air walk and chase the g!+$&%n flyers.
Eldritch Heritage is awesome. I'm really considering it. I'm torn between Demon, Draconic (my favorite due to role play reasons) and Orc.
I guess I'll just focus on melee and let the casters do their jobs when facing non-evil flyers.
Deadly Aim is a great feat, but not strictly necessary, IMO. I know paladins can make amazing archers, but I've already made a melee guy, mostly because I figured the party could use the tank.Smite does help a lot. The problem, as usual, are the non-evil flying enemies. I do have a composite longbow, anyway, better deal less damage than no damage at all.
If the focus is effectivity, I fear the ranged feats is going to give you too little.
Manyshot is probably out of the question, since it requires dex 17.Your composite longbow, should be able to help out enough without the feats. And given you are lvl 7-9(?), getting some means of flying should be possible, when it really matters.
Alternatively, and this might be my favorite, is to take EWP (net), and get ready to catch those pesky fliers.
Net only has a 10 feet range increment, and you don't need EWP to use the net effectively. Just eat the minus 4, the paladin is a full bab class.
That and nets target touch AC, making it very easy to hit. (I actually already have a mwk net, planning on enchanting it to be a +1 Ghost Touch net.)
I'm more and more convinced that archery feats are not worth the investment (for this character, anyway). Which was exactly what I suspected. I just hoped I could be wrong.
I think I'll focus on melee and healing and let the druid and sorceress cast Fly or Air Walk when the time comes. Maybe carry a potion of Fly for emergencies.