How should I advance my archer?

[claudekennilol]

Right now I've got a second level Divine Hunter (paladin archetype..not the new hunter archetype) who is waiting on his third level to be applied.

Aasimar I've got precise shot and point-blank.
stats are
str 14
dex 18
int/wis/con 10
cha 16

So right now I've got the free precise shot and cha to saves. The rest of the archetype is kinda lackluster, but still [i]good enough[i/] imo. But I'm not sure if there's something I could move into that would be better for me.

any suggestions?

[Imbicatus]

Slayer. Studied Target + Ranger combat style for archery. Good skills, no reliance on wisdom for spells like a ranger, and as a bonus, you can add some sneak attack damage every once in a while.

[CKorfmann]

With those stats I'd probably just go Fighter.

[Imbicatus]

CKorfmann wrote:

With those stats I'd probably just go Fighter.

True, although I would go with a standard fighter instead of an archer. You have the dex to make full use of armor training, and you keep your real weapon training that works with gloves of dueling.

Another option would be to make a Trapper/Hooded Champion ranger. You have the CHA for Panache and can can make good use of deeds.

[claudekennilol]

CKorfmann wrote:

With those stats I'd probably just go Fighter.

What about those stats make them better for fighter than for slayer?

[Imbicatus]

claudekennilol wrote:

CKorfmann wrote:

With those stats I'd probably just go Fighter.

What about those stats make them better for fighter than for slayer?

You have the dex to qualify for ranged feats without needing the bonus feats.

[Losobal]

Ultimately it also kinda depends on how you wanna play your archer. Stay at range? In and out? Range and then switch to melee when enemies close?

[claudekennilol]

Losobal wrote:

Ultimately it also kinda depends on how you wanna play your archer. Stay at range? In and out? Range and then switch to melee when enemies close?

I do not want to engage in melee if it can be avoided. I do carry melee weapons because I'm prepared, but the str is intended to be just for bonus damage via composite bows.

[CKorfmann]

claudekennilol wrote:

CKorfmann wrote:

With those stats I'd probably just go Fighter.

What about those stats make them better for fighter than for slayer?

Personally, I think the best archer is the Zen Archer Monk, but since you can't do that with those stats, and you got what you needed from Paladin, Fighter seems like the best option for the feats and BAB. I might be nice to find something to take advantage of that CHA though. I suppose you could go Bard, but you'd lose out on a lot of feats and your archery would suffer.

I haven't studied the Slayer, but I'd say the biggest loss would be the quick pace for feats.

[Imbicatus]

Another option is either wood oracle or bard. Both have great cha synergy and give you increased spellcasting. The big problem is the slower access to feats, but spells + wood bond or performance goes a long way to offset that.

[mplindustries]

Is there some reason nobody seems to think sticking with Paladin is a good idea? You should take Rapid Shot at 3, Deadly Aim at 5, and Manyshot at 7. Smiting + Archery is unfair. Stick with it.

[CWheezy]

The archetype he picked is terrible though. Oracle sounds cool, more magic is awesome.

[mplindustries]

I agree that oath of vengeance or vanilla paladin is better, but playing from 1st as an archer without precise shot is a special kind of hell, so, I can't totally blame him.

I would sooner retrain the archetype or just suck up the weaker one in order to keep my smite damage scaling. And Litany of Righteousness is ri-damn-diculous later on unless you're fighting all neutral stuff like robots ir whatever.