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Ok, building a One-Shot, One-Kill sniper. TRULY a sniper. As in, you can't see me, but I can see you. From far away. And kill you in one shot because I'm rolling a 5-gallon bucket of damage dice. And even if you come after me, I'm going to know you're there and escape before you get me.
Please stick to Pathfinder rules as much as possible, as I may use this build for a PFS campaign.
I'm considering the following:
Halfling Ninja with some rogue talents (AFAIK, no archetypes)
Halfling Rogue with some ninja tricks and the Sniper Archetype
Drow Warrior with the Cavern Sniper Archetype and levels of either Ninja, Rogue, or Shadowdancer. (Focus on Drow Noble feats for utility)
Help me build the Ultimate Sniper. Must haves:
Mobility. Not the feat, just the ability to move faster and farther.(And while stealthed, if you please, with minimum penalties)
Stealth. Obvious for a sniper, but focus on more than just the skill. Finding or providing myself cover, hiding in plain sight, etc.
Power. One shot needs to be the death of my chosen opponent as often as possible. Forget bleed, stack on damage dice and damage bonuses.
Speed. I should be able to force my target to be denied their dex bonus as often as possible so I don't have to hold actions to wait for the "kill shot".
Utility. This will be the hard one. If forced into a situation where I am unable to snipe, I should be able to melee combat and/or crowd control.
Escape. I should be able to escape sight very quickly to reposition.
Anti-Countersnipe. If you find me the very least I should be able to see, hear, smell, or sense you or your attack coming and act.
Survive. Have things like HP, DR, SR, and as many different types of AC bonuses as possible to stay alive.
sounds like a job for the zen archer monk.
sounds like a job for the zen archer monk.
I actually thought about that on my way back to the desk. Very distinct possibility that I should add that to the list. Stealth, survivability, ranged damge, up close escape capabilities...
So long as you get vanishing trick and invisible blade you're solid.
Can be accomplished with 2 Ninja tricks or 3 rogue talents. A rogue would need to get the Ki Rogue Talent, but it would still work. With Invisible Blade(first accessible at level 10) you have greater invisibility, and thus sneak attack with every single hit. It's also hugely thematic.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/e-g/goggl es-sniper-goggles this is your first magical item. You need these to contribute as a sniper. Very expensive but very worth it.
...Though I still think a vivisectionist is a better rogue =D
One of my campains have a character like this. Is a fighter with cavern snper archetype, and i can say is a pretty bad strategy.
More hits (specially with sneak attack) means much more damage.
Hence why I'm building this. Sneak attack + poison seems like it should be effective enough, providing enough attack and damage bonuses to force the hit and/or crit.
The entire game can't be about quantity. I want that ONE quality shot.
I don't think it's possible to have everything you want any way you build it. However, I do think Ninja is a better choice with one or two levels of Shadowdancer. You can do sniper archetype things with rogue/ninja talents, so rogue levels aren't necessary.
Also despite your want of one shot one kill, you'll still want Rapid Shot and Many Shot. At level 10 you will ALWAYS be doing 1d8+Strength+5d6 damage, and even that isn't insta kill.
Also despite your want of one shot one kill, you'll still want Rapid Shot and Many Shot. At level 10 you will ALWAYS be doing 1d8+Strength+5d6 damage, and even that isn't insta kill.
I may not need those if I go Zen Archer monk with the Flurry of Shots.
I don't think it's possible to have everything you want any way you build it. However, I do think Ninja is a better choice with one or two levels of Shadowdancer. You can do sniper archetype things with rogue/ninja talents, so rogue levels aren't necessary.
Nope. Definitely nothing will give me EVERYTHING I want, but I'm thinking a Halfling Zen Archer/Ninja will get me most of it.
Other than being MAD, are there any other obvious conflicts with this combo?
I know it's not the classes you suggested but the gunslinger gets an ability to combine a bunch of shots into one big one. Not sure on the range though.
I've never built a gunslinger. I'm not opposed to looking at it if I can find out more about this "boom shot" ability.
So, rundown so far:
Halfling Ninja with Swift as Shadows, Sniper's Eye, Stealthy Sniper,Vanishing Trick, and Invisible Blade. Then obtain Sniper's Goggles and as high a STR Compound Bow as I can for bonuses.
Possibly take Zen Archer or Shadowdancer levels for utility.
It's called deadshot at 7th level.
I definitely like the Deadshot mechanic, and the idea of going with a Stealth Gunslinger. This is why I ask for brainstorming stuff.
So, if I go Stealth Gunslinger, I want to maximize my full attack action, and get all the extra damage that I can. Stack on 5d6 sneak attack dice, and feats like Vital Shot (if it works with guns), and that's the mechanic that I seek.
Thank you, Ishpumalibu.
So, Stealth Gunslinger. GO, VOLTRON FORCE! (tm)
There's an archetype for Gunslinger that gives you sneak attack dice. I think it's the Bushwhacker.
Though I think a Ninja with a bow and greater invisibility is the best "Sniper"
Dot.
There's an archetype for Gunslinger that gives you sneak attack dice. I think it's the Bushwhacker.
Though I think a Ninja with a bow and greater invisibility is the best "Sniper"
Oooh. Thanks for the tip. So, Gunslinger/Ninja for stealth shooting...
Alchemists can get bomb damage on ranged attacks. That is better than sneak attack on a single shot and no need for expansiv googles to deal that damage at any range. For that money you can buy one of the items from Ultimate Equipment that generates poisons 3 times per day. Bullseye Shot negates the drawback of Deadly Aim and ready is a long range killer ...
Race: Tiefling (Daemon-Spawn, +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Wis)
Class: Alchemist
Level: 8th
Pointbuy 20:
STR: 10
DEX: 18 (+1 @ 8th Level) = 19
CON: 13 (+1 @ 4th Level) = 14
INT: 16
WIS: 10
CHA: 10
Feats:
1st: Point-Blank Shot
3rd: Precise Shot
5th: Deadly Aim
7th: Bullseye Shot
Discoveries:
2nd: Infusion
4th: Explosive Missile
6th: Precise Bombs
8th: Confusion Bomb or Force Bomb
Depending on how high this character will be played i would exchange discoveries. Poison bomb can kill even at high level with a singel shot.
Breiti
Something I'm surprised no one has mentioned...If you truly want the possibility of one shot, one kill, Ninja with Assassinate at 10th level is probably your best bet. Unlike the Assassin prestige class, Assassinate doesn't specify melee so as long as your shot qualifies as a sneak attack and they are denied dexterity then you have a chance of killing them in one shot. At 10th level the DC is 15+Cha mod and even if they make the save they still got hit with a sneak attack.
Alchemists can get bomb damage on ranged attacks.
I don't like that bombs are a 20 ft range, and I didn't see anything to increase that. That's much too close for me. I want a long-range sniper.
So, I have two valid ideas so far:
Halfling Zen Archer 6/Ninja 14(Stealth, Build around Flurry of Shots). Swift as Shadows, Sniper's Eye, Stealthy Sniper,Vanishing Trick, Invisible Blade, Assassinate. Use Sniper's Goggles.
Kobold Bushwhacker 7/Ninja 13(Stealth, Build around Deadshot). Kobold Sniper, Kobold Ambusher, Sniper's Eye, Stealthy Sniper, Vanishing Trick, Invisible Blade. Use Sniper's Goggles.
Thoughts? Right away I see the Bushwhacker/Ninja won't have enough levels in Ninja to afford Stealthy Sniper, Invisible Blade, and Assassinate as Major Tricks. That seems like almost a dealbreaker. Any way to overcome this?
Not sure why you mentioned mad with the ZAM and Ninja, there really isn't any.If you really want to do the one-shot, bucket's o' dice thing, Myrmidarch Magus is pretty stout. 7d6 shocking arrows at level 5 is pretty mean. They go up to 15d6 by level 10.
That said, I think ZAM is the best 'sniper' of the lot, mostly because RPGs don't favor the one-shot-one-kill school of snipering. The whole 'stay invis and get sneak attacks with every shot' trick is so easy to defeat that by the time you can do it it's really not so effective. It's much harder to counter tons of arrows with high damage bonuses flying at your face...
Mostly mentioned MAD because I'd want to stack Cha for Assassinate.
Myrmidarch Magus is nice, but much too fighter-ish for me.
Alchemists can get bomb damage on ranged attacks.I don't like that bombs are a 20 ft range, and I didn't see anything to increase that. That's much too close for me. I want a long-range sniper.
Explosive Missile
Prerequisite: Alchemist 4
Benefit: As a standard action, the alchemist can infuse a single arrow, crossbow bolt, or one-handed firearm bullet with the power of his bomb, load the ammunition, and shoot the ranged weapon. He must be proficient with the weapon in order to accomplish this. When the infused ammunition hits its target, it deals damage normally and detonates as if the alchemist had thrown the bomb at the target. If the explosive missile misses, it does not detonate.
So you can fire (and load) you crossbow or bow as a standard and you can deal weapon + bomb damage with this shot at any range the weapon can reach.
Damage = weapon damage (with all modifiers like deadly aim..) + Bomb damage + Int + any optional effect the bomb might have (knock phrone, confusion, poison etc.)!
Breiti
Alchemists can get bomb damage on ranged attacks.I don't like that bombs are a 20 ft range, and I didn't see anything to increase that. That's much too close for me. I want a long-range sniper.
Explosive Missile
Prerequisite: Alchemist 4
Benefit: As a standard action, the alchemist can infuse a single arrow, crossbow bolt, or one-handed firearm bullet with the power of his bomb, load the ammunition, and shoot the ranged weapon. He must be proficient with the weapon in order to accomplish this. When the infused ammunition hits its target, it deals damage normally and detonates as if the alchemist had thrown the bomb at the target. If the explosive missile misses, it does not detonate.
So you can fire (and load) you crossbow or bow as a standard and you can deal weapon + bomb damage with this shot at any range the weapon can reach.
Damage = weapon damgage (with all modifiers like deadly aim..) + Bomb damage + Int + any optional effect the bomb might have (knock phrone, confusion, poison etc.)!
Breiti
That seems nice, plus add in sneak attack damage with Ninja levels, but just like the Deadshot mechanic, it seems too one-trick pony to base an entire character off of.
At least the Zen Archer/Ninja has plenty of options and can beat the crap out of anyone who actually catches up to him. Plus, if there is a caster protected from missiles, I can just sneak up and Assassinate him manually (and probably survive).
Plus, a Halfling or Kobold can completely negate the -20 Sniping penalty.
I think Zen Archer/Ninja is a winner here.
An Alchemist with Explosive Missile can get Bomb damage with a Bow, Crossbow, or Firearm.
You might even be able to infuse the ammo ahead of the time out of battle and then full-attack with them. Or even use Fast Bombs with it. Though that might require GM fiat.
I did something similar for a recent campaign, while it wasn't as min maxed as your trying to make it, in order to fit with storyline I made a dwarf and it was a gestalt campaign and made a rogue (Sniper) and Fighter (Crossbowman) and he does very well. Currently level 10 but as soon as you hit level 7, the Fighter (Crossbowmen) lets you negate dex from your target as long as you fire as a readied action, therefore always getting sneak attack. Something you may want to clear with your gm but it was cool with mine was the ability to take a Large warcrossbow which does 2d8 (medium) and 3d8 large crit of 18-20x2 and make it larger but with a set up time of 1 round for each size increase, up to 3 sizes larger maximum. He made a bipod so when lying down and fireing with the bipod he does not incur any penalties for firing that large of a weapon. The setup time is a bit of a hassle but again if I have enough time before combat and clear view its over. Also make sure you get the snipers goggles so you can get sneak attack from any distance. Don't know if there is a feat like this in PF but we found one in 3.5 that let you change your SA damage from d6 to d8 so I took that one as well. Also you want to know if your gm is using distance rules for perception checks, we use them in mine and its 1 per 10 feet. This should help you on your countersniping idea, something that so far has not been an issue for my group. If you want any help or my exact build I can send it, but he currently does 6d8+5d8 Sneak Attack. So 11d8 per shot with the crossbowman mastery feat. Clustered Shots is also great so you add up DR only once if you fire more then one shot per round. (something I know you dont want to do but just for further notice) He is a lot of fun to play.
Hmm, does anyone know if the Dead Shot Deed would stack with the Vital Shot feat chain? (If I went the Bushwhacker/Ninja route?) Seems like that would be one hell of a lot of damage in one boom, especially if it was a Critical Hit...
I don't think it does...
A Rogue with the Scout & Sniper archetypes would be pretty good.
I did something similar for a recent campaign, while it wasn't as min maxed as your trying to make it, in order to fit with storyline I made a dwarf and it was a gestalt campaign and made a rogue (Sniper) and Fighter (Crossbowman) and he does very well. Currently level 10 but as soon as you hit level 7, the Fighter (Crossbowmen) lets you negate dex from your target as long as you fire as a readied action, therefore always getting sneak attack. Something you may want to clear with your gm but it was cool with mine was the ability to take a Large warcrossbow which does 2d8 (medium) and 3d8 large crit of 18-20x2 and make it larger but with a set up time of 1 round for each size increase, up to 3 sizes larger maximum. He made a bipod so when lying down and fireing with the bipod he does not incur any penalties for firing that large of a weapon. The setup time is a bit of a hassle but again if I have enough time before combat and clear view its over. Also make sure you get the snipers goggles so you can get sneak attack from any distance. Don't know if there is a feat like this in PF but we found one in 3.5 that let you change your SA damage from d6 to d8 so I took that one as well. Also you want to know if your gm is using distance rules for perception checks, we use them in mine and its 1 per 10 feet. This should help you on your countersniping idea, something that so far has not been an issue for my group. If you want any help or my exact build I can send it, but he currently does 6d8+5d8 Sneak Attack. So 11d8 per shot with the crossbowman mastery feat. Clustered Shots is also great so you add up DR only once if you fire more then one shot per round. (something I know you dont want to do but just for further notice) He is a lot of fun to play.
Thanks for the input! I'm ok with the full attack action and then hide as opposed to just one attack. As long as I can come out of hiding, make my attack action (full or standard, doesn't matter), and then go back into hiding. I'd also like to be able to do sneak attack on all the attacks.
The only thing I know of that pushes the SA dice up to d8 is Knifemaster Archetype for Rogue.
You might even be able to infuse the ammo ahead of the time out of battle and then full-attack with them. Or even use Fast Bombs with it. Though that might require GM fiat.
Raw Explosive Missile is a standard action that infuses, load AND fires. So you can't store this missles.
I think Zen Archer/Ninja is a winner here.
Good luck with this and i hope you have fun.
But let me point out one last tought: This build needs sniper googles to do any sniping. If i look at the wealth by level guidelines and i asume you only want to spend half you total wealth on this googles. You can get this at about level 9. With a multiclass build (and so with lesser sneak attack dice) is it realy worth to spend 20k of gold to get 2d6 sneak on a sniper shot? Sniper googles 20k = Ring of Invis 20k = +3 Weapon (18k)
The alchimist sniper gets "online" at level 4th. He is not a one trick pony. With mutagens, infusions and the ability to still use bombs normaly. He can do good damage, buff, debuff and battlefield control at close range.
Yea it was in 3.5, I think it was Deadly Sneak or something, but I did it so I could get more damage and so I could only worry about rolling one type of die when I shot, (I might be weird in that but oh well haha) Also with you being willing to fire multiple shots as a full round action, the Crossbowman Mastery feat allows you to reload as free action and allowing you to make a full attack, at my level its 3 attacks in one round, so pretty much anything I hit is dead. This character is a giant/ogre slayer so he loves shooting down the biggest monster he can find. :)
But let me point out one last thought: This build needs sniper googles to do any sniping.
Not if he gets Deadly Range from either the Rogue's Sniper Archetype or the Ninja Talent.
Both versions of Deadly Range expand their sneak attack range significantly.
Alchemist is great, to be sure, but not as a sniper. Because they'd need the Sniper goggles plus so much more to be effective in what I want to do.
Also the lesser version of sniper goggles allow SA from any range and only cost 5k so thats not bad... the Sniper archetype allows for +10 feet for every 3 levels so its not really that great for a true sniper.
Alchemist is great, to be sure, but not as a sniper. Because they'd need the Sniper goggles plus so much more to be effective in what I want to do.
Now you have lost me. The alchemist only needs one discovery Explosive Missile in fact he does not need Sniper goggles and he will not get any boni for said googles....
Please do not take this offensiv but mathematical the build i posted above is by far better in sniping than you choosen build. I get it you build has more fluff and can do much else than sniping but at sniping the alchemist wins against most builds...
Breiti
Alchemist is great, to be sure, but not as a sniper. Because they'd need the Sniper goggles plus so much more to be effective in what I want to do.Now you have lost me. The alchemist only needs one discovery Explosive Missile in fact he does not need Sniper goggles and he will not get any boni for said googles....
Please do not take this offensiv but mathematical the build i posted above is by far better in sniping than you choosen build. I get it you build has more fluff and can do much else than sniping but at sniping the alchemist wins against most builds...
Breiti
I think I have lost you because you have lost sight of what I want for the character. You included in your build absolutely zero Stealth mechanics for sniping.
Your alchemist is good for a long-range ranged attack in plain sight. But that's not what we're building here.
I can see the possibilities. I'm going for a full 20-level build. If you can convince me of an Alchemist build that will do huge damage in one bomb (or multiple bombs for a full-attack action) plus stealth and snipe without a -20, and the mathematics are comparable to or exceed sneak-attack dice, I'll listen.
Alchemist is great, to be sure, but not as a sniper. Because they'd need the Sniper goggles plus so much more to be effective in what I want to do.Now you have lost me. The alchemist only needs one discovery Explosive Missile in fact he does not need Sniper goggles and he will not get any boni for said googles....
Please do not take this offensiv but mathematical the build i posted above is by far better in sniping than you choosen build. I get it you build has more fluff and can do much else than sniping but at sniping the alchemist wins against most builds...
Breiti
I am inclined to believe you but can you show me what the average DPR would be for your 8th level Tiefling build you showed earlier as well as the damage you could expect at 4th level when you said:
"The alchimist sniper gets "online" at level 4th"?
ok now i get it. It is this rule that you worry about:
Sniping
If you've already successfully used Stealth at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack and then immediately use Stealth again. You take a –20 penalty on your Stealth check to maintain your obscured location.
Special
If you are invisible, you gain a +40 bonus on Stealth checks if you are immobile, or a +20 bonus on Stealth checks if you're moving.
So the alchemist can get this at level 10th and i think the ninja at level 10th at advanced trick,too.
The ninja/sniper etc. get a talant that lessers the penalty of sniping by 10.
So now we just need to get a + 10 bonus on the alchemist stealth check to be even with the ninja/zen archer and we need to get stealth as class skill. Rigth?
Race: Gnome (+4 stealth, size)
Trait: Highlander (+1 stealth, stealth is always class skill)
Spell: Elixir of Hiding + Alchemical Allocation (+10 competence bonus on stealth)
Item: Shadow, Improved (+10 competence bonus on stealth, 15 000 gp)
Spell: Reduce person (+4 stealth, -2 damage)
I fact is is realy simple to snipe. The opponets perception check takes a +1/ 10 ft. distance. Maybe i was a bit confused because sniping is nice but the alchemist realy only gets a minor drawback if detected because he does not relay on sneak attack dice ;)
So lets see the best senario at level 4th:
4 dex + 4 class skill + 4 ranks +10 competence (Elixir of Hiding, not consumed) + 4 size (gnome) + 10 (100 ft. distance) - 20 sniping = + 16 on the stealth ckeck for sniping
I like the ninja stuff for fluff but i am still the option that the alchemist is better at "sniping" even if he gets detected he still gets the damage (does not need sneak attack dice).
I am inclined to believe you but can you show me what the average DPR would be for your 8th level Tiefling build you showed earlier as well as the damage you could expect at 4th level when you said:
"The alchimist sniper gets "online" at level 4th"?
Damage level 4th:
1d10 (heavy crossbow) + (2d6+3+2) bomb = 5.5 + 12 = 18.5Damage level 8th:
1d10 (heavy crossbow) + (4d6+4+4) bomb + 4 Deadly Aim = 5.5 + 22 + 4 = 31.5
All without magic items/spell. That seams not to be much but do not forget at vitaly any range and the bomb may have an extra effect (knock prone, stagger, poison etc). I am quite sure if i switch to gnome (Pyromaniac) and if i add magic items/spells the average damage will be around 25 @ 4th level and above 40 at 8th level.
Breiti
ok now i get it. It is this rule that you worry about:
Sniping
If you've already successfully used Stealth at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack and then immediately use Stealth again. You take a –20 penalty on your Stealth check to maintain your obscured location.Special
If you are invisible, you gain a +40 bonus on Stealth checks if you are immobile, or a +20 bonus on Stealth checks if you're moving.So the alchemist can get this at level 10th and i think the ninja at level 10th at advanced trick,too.
The ninja/sniper etc. get a talant that lessers the penalty of sniping by 10.
So now we just need to get a + 10 bonus on the alchemist stealth check to be even with the ninja/zen archer and we need to get stealth as class skill. Rigth?
Race: Gnome (+4 stealth, size)
Trait: Highlander (+1 stealth, stealth is always class skill)
Spell: Elixir of Hiding + Alchemical Allocation (+10 competence bonus on stealth)
Item: Shadow, Improved (+10 competence bonus on stealth, 15 000 gp)
Spell: Reduce person (+4 stealth, -2 damage)I fact is is realy simple to snipe. The opponets perception check takes a +1/ 10 ft. distance. Maybe i was a bit confused because sniping is nice but the alchemist realy only gets a minor drawback if detected because he does not relay on sneak attack dice ;)
So lets see the best senario at level 4th:
4 dex + 4 class skill + 4 ranks +10 competence (Elixir of Hiding, not consumed) + 4 size (gnome) + 10 (100 ft. distance) - 20 sniping = + 16 on the stealth ckeck for snipingI like the ninja stuff for fluff but i am still the option that the alchemist is better at "sniping" even if he gets detected he still gets the damage (does not need sneak attack dice).
You're almost there, but yes, you understand the concept now. I want you to take away the -20 to sniping without touching the actual Stealth Skill. Because the Rogue/Ninja can pump stealth just as easily.
Using the Halfling or Kobold races get us halfway there. Stealthy Sniper gets us the other half, but requires 10 levels in Ninja or Rogue.
The alchemist invis at level 10, is it Greater Invis? Because 10 Rogue (or Ninja)/10 Alchemist might be viable.
I am interested in the concept, because Mad Scientist is much better than Firearms of any type to me.
What about Vivesectionist alchemist/rogue? Alchemist will get you invisibility potions, and rogue would get you the sniper tricks, and you could be a level ahead on sneak attack progression at some levels.
No. They stack levels.
If you go Zen Archer don't go Halfling. They take penalty to STR which you need and no bonus to WIS which you need. One race that has the right bonus and penalty is the Oread. With a Zen Archer you only need about a 13 DEX to qualify for deadly aim.
Just using 20 point buy and a +1 adaptive bow and monks robes you can be doing 8d8+39 of damage on a critical hit. You will have a 19-20 crit. range and roll 3d20 and choose which one to use for the hit(crit). You also ignore all penalties from anything less than total cover or concealment as well as ignoring armor, natural armor and shield bonus for your opponents AC.
If you want to shoot normally you will be at +12/+12/+7/+/+2 doing 2d8+13 per shot again with a 19-20 crit range and ignoring all penalties from anything less than total cover or total concealment.
This still leaves you 4 unspent feats for anything else you want to do. You will also have 60 skill points and a movement of 70.
I don't think it's possible to have everything you want any way you build it. However, I do think Ninja is a better choice with one or two levels of Shadowdancer. You can do sniper archetype things with rogue/ninja talents, so rogue levels aren't necessary.Nope. Definitely nothing will give me EVERYTHING I want, but I'm thinking a Halfling Zen Archer/Ninja will get me most of it.
Other than being MAD, are there any other obvious conflicts with this combo?
i dont see any MAD: i see dex and wis.
edit: though, for the alchemist vs. ninja thing i note: alchemist is limited by his number of bombs (only way to increase is with feats AFAIK), ninja is limited by how long he can stay invisible (via ki, magic items, etc.) or have other methods of making opponents lose dex to ac.
The best sniper will be a spellcaster, hands down.
After that, the best sniper will be a Fighter, Zen Archer, or Ranger (yeah, they're technically spellcasters, but barely). If focusing on evil targets, best sniper is a paladin with a code and god cool w/ assassinating evil for the greater good.
If your DM is willing to allow anything that's RAW legal and you can wait till mid/high levels for the payoff, a Horizon Walker with super-optimized favored terrain and a wand of Instant Enemy is the best sniper.
The best sniper will be a spellcaster, hands down.
After that, the best sniper will be a Fighter, Zen Archer, or Ranger (yeah, they're technically spellcasters, but barely). If focusing on evil targets, best sniper is a paladin with a code and god cool w/ assassinating evil for the greater good.
If your DM is willing to allow anything that's RAW legal and you can wait till mid/high levels for the payoff, a Horizon Walker with super-optimized favored terrain and a wand of Instant Enemy is the best sniper.
i'm actually curious as to how an archer spellcaster would stack up to the archer ranger, fighter, and zen archer builds (theres some great ones posted in the "ultimate archer" thread). nowadays i'm rather skeptical when someones says "spellcaster = better" without something to back it up--i've seen too many schrodinger's wizards.
that's not to say they can't be great, don't get me wrong. i'm just no sure they'd be better just from having spells (i mean any old shmuck can have ranks in UMD and wand it up).
The best sniper will be a spellcaster, hands down.
After that, the best sniper will be a Fighter, Zen Archer, or Ranger (yeah, they're technically spellcasters, but barely). If focusing on evil targets, best sniper is a paladin with a code and god cool w/ assassinating evil for the greater good.
I have to agree. In PFS, I would go spellcaster and then paladin. Bows turn smite into kill any one evil enemy once per day.
Yeah, Alchemist is great, but their limitations are too many.
Straight ZAM or ZAM/Ninja seems to fit what I want unless I went with a sniping, ray-shooting spellcaster.
And if he's found or trapped, he's a glass cannon.
Dead Shot from Gunslinger has the MECHANIC I want to build around for the "BAM, you're dead", but even that doesn't have enough OOMPH. I'd want 100+ HP of ouchies in one shot, or that many in a full-attack with Clustered Shots.
I wonder if I could do a Kobold Bushwhacker/Alchemist and make that mechanic more deadly....