I'm playing in what may be a fairly deadly E8 gestalt game, and I'm considering a ranged character as my backup. My current character is an intimidate focused oni-spawn beatstick.
So, with gestalt and 25 point buy, what are some good ways to make a single-shot archer? I'm less interested in the standard 'machine gun' archer, though I admit that what I end up is likely to be weaker.
The Myrmidarch Magus makes a nice single shot archer. Mine is a crossbow-using switch-hitter that usually uses the single shot approach but only in the opening round before the melee has begun. So I don't need feats like Precise Shot, but you would need them.
At 4th level you can add a ranged touch spell to your shot. With the Reach Spell metamagic feat, you can use regular touch spells like Shocking Grasp. (I use the usual Magical Lineage technique to memorize Intensified Reach Shocking Grasps using second level spell slots.) On a critical hit you will eventually deliver 20d6 electrical damage with a single arrow. (Bracers of Falcon's Aim will extend your critical range to 19-20.)
A Myrmidarch has so many other good options for increasing to hit and damage:
Swift Actions
-Arcane Pool to add a variety of enhancements
-Arcane Strike (eventually +5 damage; Gloves of Arcane Striking lets you also deal that damage to those adjacent to your victims)
-The Arcane Accuracy Arcana (add your Int bonus to hit)
Standard Actions
-Focused Shot (Add your Int bonus to damage, but unfortunately can't be used with Ranged Spellstrike)
Non-actions
-Weapon Training (eventually +3 to hit and damage; Gloves of Dueling can increase this by +2)
-Deadly Aim (eventually -4 to hit and +8 damage)
-Fighter Training lets you get feats like Greater Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and Greater Weapon Specialization
Spells
-Magic Weapon (+1 to hit and damage)
-Greater Magic Weapon (eventually +5 to hit and damage)
-The Spell Blending Arcana had get you access to other archery-related spells like Gravity Bow
-Keen Edge can increase the threat range of your arrows if you don't have Bracers of Falcon's Aim
I like using Tanglebolts. The entanglement is great and the Seeking enhancement compensates for my lack of Improved Precise Shot. (I think that there is a similar arrow in Elves of Golarion.)
Also the Myrmidarch's Armor Training lets you wear better armor without compromising the mobility needed to be an effective archer. So you are a glass cannon, but more of the gorilla glass type.
Dipping a couple of levels of Arcane Archer will let you also deliver area spells with your single shot.
Notes to remember in this thread:
1. Gestalt! Can we get two classes to fit together to make single-shot really shine?
2. E8. No class features after 8th level will be available.
Sorry, I'm not familiar with gestalt.
Gestalt allows you to level in two classes simultaneously. You gain the best of each class (HD, saves, skills) and the class features of both. Where both classes share a feature (such as sneak attack), you only take the best progression; they don't stack.
Then the Myrmidarch might still be an option. I think it would mesh well with the Ranger option that DinosaursOnIce mentioned: bonus archery style feats, full BAB, and ranged versions of some Swashbuckler abilities would really improve some of the Myrmidarch's weak points.
One shot archer? Let's go crazy:
Gestalt Archane archer. One martial class and one blasty (i'd go sorcerer for the bloodline's bouns to damage), and as soon as you can, change the arcane to Arcane Archer, to make for some wicked shots.
Wanna have even more damage? Make your "martial" be rouge. As long as you attack within 30 feet, you do arrow damage, plus spell damage, plus sneak attack. That's more than an arcane trickster would.
Named Bullet (despite the name, it applies to ammunition and thrown weapons) is perfect for a single-shot kill.
With traits Quickened True Strike can be a 3rd level spell.
Efreeti's suggestion is compatible. Something like Guide Ranger 8 // Sorcerer 6 / Arcane Archer 2 could be a truly scary sniper. With preparation it can land an automatic critical threat from 1100' away and have a very good chance of confirming the threat, also adding a substantial damage bonus which is multiplied by the crit. It can drop area effects at that range instead if desired.
My GM considers Named Bullet to be cheating. :P
I looked at Crossbow Ranger and saw it can skip the prereqs for Crossbow Mastery. Wow! At the cost of one feat it can almost be as good as using a bow! :P
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if your looking to only take one shot, maybe be a crossbowman fighter/sniper rogue.
Crossbowman denies dex when he readies to attack at 7
sniper rogue gets 50 ft of sneak attack range
sniper goggles for +2 damage per sneak attack dice.
if you use a merciful crossbow with blunt bolts you can use sap adept for bonus damage equal to double your sneak attack dice. sadly sap master says flat footed.
maybe vital strike as well.
Edit:so it would look like this when you ready an attack with everything
2d8+2d8(vital strike)+4+1d6 (Merciful)+4d6(sneak attack)+8(sniper goggles)+8(Sap adept)
Condensed: 4d8+5d6+20
is it the best, probably not. but i don't expect many casters to make that concentration check.
If you looking to only shoot once a round, focused shot lets you add your int bonus to damage. That plus vivisectionist/mind chemist alchemist lets you add a big bonus to your int, and sneak attack. Combines well with crossbow man fighter archetype or ranger.