Which martial adept is best for an archer?

[Anarchy_Kanya]

The choice is between Stalker or Warlord, seeing as they're the only adepts that get both Solar Wind and Tempest Gale. I guess you could also consider Zaelot or Hawkguard Warder, but they only get Solar Wind, sadly (although between Solar wind and Tempest Gale I'd prefer the former better, for unlimited ammunition).

[Sundakan]

Tempest Gale, at a glance, is Solar Wind but not fire. I wouldn't worry about it.

Hawkguards get it as their additional Discipline instead of being able to pick between Eternal Guardian and Piercing Thunder. Coincidentally, that's my personal favorite if you want to be more of a team player. Defend The Sky is AMAZING.

[Anarchy_Kanya]

Some maneuvers overlap, sure, but overall both disciplines together give nice versatility. Tempest Gale provides ranged combat maneuvers, while Solar Wind gives damage.

[Sundakan]

Solar Wind gives ranged combat maneuvers too. And arguably better. Focused Solar Lance is RIDICULOUSLY good.

They both do both, is my main point. I'd pick one and stick with it rather than dipping into both. Do you like Grapple/Trip or Disarm/Dirty Trick better?

[Anarchy_Kanya]

They're different enough.

[deuxhero]

Some Silver Crane maneuvers are also compatible with ranged attacks.

[Anarchy_Kanya]

I'd like to focus more on the choice of the class, rather than discipline.

[Xerres]

You do have the options of traditions and the Unorthodox Method trait to trade out disciplines of your class. So you could have Solar Wind and Tempest Gale on other classes if you really wanted them.

Between Warlord and Stalker, I think I'd take Warlord. It gets some bonus feats and has the better BAB, so you'd be a better standard archer. And Dual Boost is great.

Though you'd probably have higher damage with a Stalker, and Veiled Moon is great to get you out of melee. I guess Warlord's Scarlet Throne and Primal Fury don't have much use for archers, though it could make for a better switch hitter.

For straight archery though, changed my mind, I recommend Stalker for damage, the ability to get out of melee, and more defenses to survive melee while you wait to get out.

[Anger Nogar]

Here is my attempt at ranged martial adept.

1. Weapon Master Fighter 1: [Deadly Aim], [Discipline Focus: Solar Wind]
2. Weapon Master Fighter 2: [Weapon Focus: Longbow], Weapon Guard +1
3. Hawkguard Warder 1: Archer Training, Ranged Defensive Focus, Aegis +1 (10 ft.), [Point Blank Shot], [Precise Shot], [Combat Reflexes]
4. Weapon Master Fighter 3: Weapon Training: Composite Longbow +1
5. Hawkguard Warder 2: Armiger's mark, [Rapid Shot]
6. Hawkguard Warder 3: [Manyshot]
7. Phoenix Champion 1: Burning Bow, [Improved Initiative]
8. Phoenix Champion 2: Eye of the Heavens (Darkvision)
9. Phoenix Champion 3: Phoenix Wing Strike, [Combat Expertise]
10. Weapon Master Fighter 4: [Advanced Weapon Training: Warrior's Spirit]
11. Phoenix Champion 4: Phoenix Cunning, [Weapon Specialization: Longbow]
12. Bounty Hunter Slayer 1: Studied target, [Track]
13. Bounty Hunter Slayer 2: Dirty Trick, [Improved Dirty Trick]
14. Bounty Hunter Slayer 3: Sneak Attack +1d6
15. Phoenix Champion 5: Eye of the Heavens (Blindsense), [Greater Dirty Trick]
16. Phoenix Champion 6: Greater Phoenix Wing Strike

Traits: Carefully Hidden, Practiced Initiator
Items: Greater Bracers of Archery, +5 Composite Longbow, Belt of Physical Might +6 (Str, Dex), Headband of Mental Prowess +6 (Int, Wis), Wayfinder with Dusty Rose Prism, +3 mirrored buckler of light fortification, Cloak of Resistance +5, some other utility items.

Strikes Readied: Stunning Solar Flare, Solar Lance
Counters Readied: Intercepting Shade
Boosts Readied: Burning Break, Searing Break, Phantom Wind Ray
Stances: Winds of Vengeance Stance, Tempest Gale Stance, Stance of Piercing Rays, Galebreaker's Stance.

It can achieve a +51 CMB for Dirty Trick with self-buffs only and can enable ranged dirty tricks for targets in sneak attack range either with stealth, Phantom Wind Ray or dirty trick imposed blindness.

In all out slugfest it can provide 2 rounds of rapid fire for 7 attacks per round (with haste) for 1d8+30 plus ~5d6 fire (6d6 the first round and 4d6 the second). Given time for preparation - Bane, Keen and Huntsman via. warrior's spirit can add 3d6+2 damage to each arrow and double the crit chance.

Stunning Solar Flare is mostly for incapacitating enemy spellcasters during the surprise round and Solar Lance is here because it's awesome to blast someone out of a window with an arrow.

It is probably a good idea to fit Clustered Shots somewhere (instead of Weapon Specialization for example).

[KahnyaGnorc]

Stalker gets a Stalker Art that grants both PBS and Precise for your chosen weapon, called Sniper's Tools. (and an additional weapon at 6th level and every 5 levels thereafter), so you don't have to use feats for it.

Plus, being Wisdom (or Intelligence if using the Vigilante archetype) based is a bit better, imo, than Charisma-based.

[relativemass]

In my experience as a GM, archers tend to do the most damage in a group during an average round of combat, while taking very little damage. I don't thing you need to have the very BEST archer because they are all very good. Personally I would just stick to a fighter with the Archer archetype and get as many archery and weapon related feats as possible. An Arcane Archers could also be good after you have all the archery feats you really want.