I am currently building an Archer Bard and wanted a few tips.
Human
Arrowsong Minstrel Bard / Arcane Archer Prestige Class
STR 14
DEX 16
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feats:
1st: Point Blank Shot
Human: Weapon Focus: Longbow
2nd: Precise Shot (Archetype Bonus)
3rd: Rapid Shot ?
5th: ?
7th: ManyShot
9th: ?
11th: ?
Trait: ?
Trait: ?
7 Skill Points per Level: Will be mostly used for "face" skills. At minimum, Diplomacy, Bluff, and Sense Motive.
I am looking for advice on which feats to take, and if there are any archery related traits that may be helpful.
Also, what are good Touch/ray spells to use with spell combat? I will be mostly trying to debuff the enemy, so spells that cause ability drain/blindness etc would be favored.
Taking 7 levels in Bard seems prudent. Having the ability to begin to Inspire Courage, and use a standard action in the opening round seems helpful.
Deadeye Bowman is a possibility, but as the Arrowsong Minstrel already gets something similar I am looking at other options.
Unless I misread it, it seems that Scorching Ray might be a great choice for the spellstrike/combat ability.
@ Firebug: I understand I can only fire one ray as part of the spell combat, but its an additional 4d6 damage, correct? Is there another spell that you would recommend over it?
And I considered the Arcane Strike, and was arguing with myself against it because once I hit Arcane Archer all my arrows will be considered magical. But, perhaps I need to reconsider.
I suggest arcane strike. The benefit of that is less of counting as magic (which you get from having a +1 bow) but more the scaling damage. For a 3/4 bab class Deadly aim is giving +2 for levels 1-6 and then giving +4 till level 11. Arcane strike is giving 1 for lv 1-4, 2 for 5-9 and 3 at 10. Thus it's a pretty solid substitute for arcane classes that don't use swift action, most of the damage boosts, no accuracy penalty.
And for archery, it's all about landing many hits and making the hits count
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Yeah, the bonus from Arcane Strike is not actually an enhancement bonus, so it stacks with Arcane Archer's ability. Plus, it will continue to scale with caster level, even after you switch to Arcane Archer.
I also second Deadly Aim. Boosting static damage will really add up for an archer.
EDIT: To clarify, I would take Arcane Strike first, then Deadly Aim at some point later.
Human
Arrowsong Minstrel Bard / Arcane Archer Prestige Class
STR 14
DEX 16
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feats:
1st: Point Blank Shot
Human: Weapon Focus: Longbow
2nd: Precise Shot (Archetype Bonus)
3rd: Arcane Strike
5th: Deadly Aim
7th: ManyShot
9th: Improved Initiative
11th: ?
Trait: Reactionary: You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. You gain a +2 trait bonus on initiative checks.
Trait: Arcane Temper: You have quick reactions and fierce concentration. You gain a +1 trait bonus on concentration and initiative checks.
2 Sorcerer/Wizard spells known: Gravity Bow, Scorching Ray
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It's too bad Snowball is Conjuration and not Evocation. Well, not really in general, because that's what lets it overcome SR. But in this instance, it would be a better choice than Scorching Ray, if you could take it.
One alternative to Scorching Ray to consider is to take an area effect spell, like Fireball, not to use with Spellstrike, but with the Arcane Archer Imbue Arrow ability. You'll have lots of area effect options from Bard that you could use with that, though, and not many (any?) ranged touch attacks, so Scorching ray may still be the best option. It's unfortunate that it won't ever give you more than 4D6 when used with Spellstrike (not until 18th level, anyway).
Shouldn't you get a 3rd Wizard spell at 4th level? If you get a 3rd spell, look at something to combine with Imbue Arrow.
As KitsuneWarlock mentioned, the initiative bonuses aren't going to stack from the two traits. Also, I don't think Concentration checks are going to be a big worry for you. You're an archer, so you shouldn't be using your bow inside of someone's threat range often anyway. That will be a very little used bonus.
I'd suggest either something to help with Fort or Will Saves, or possibly Maestro of the Society if you own the Faction Guide. Since you'll stop accumulating Bardic Performance rounds at some point, that may be useful.
Yes, I will be picking up additional Sorcerer/Wizard spells but hadn't bothered looking them over yet. However, something with an AoE sounds like the right thing to do.
I picked that trait in hopes that the initiative bonuses would stack. Knowing they will not I have selected :Life of Toil: which gives +1 to Fortitude saves.
I will look into Maestro of the Society.
it triples your round if you're willing to activate it every 3 rounds. pretty annoying to me before it's a swift action.
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It may also be worth it to squeeze Lingering Perofrmance into your build somewhere. It effectively triples your rounds of Insoire Coursge.
I thought about recommending that one. The reason I didn't is because it takes a standard until level 7 and a move after that to start a performance back up. As an archer, he'll be getting full attacks pretty much every round. So relying on dropping his performance and starting it back three rounds later means every three rounds he'd be sacrificing at least one attack (from Rapid Shot) and eventually 3, 4, or even 5.
I like the feat. I just think it's less useful for an archer. A melee bard isn't going to even have more than 1 attack (not counting haste/allegro) until 8th level.
Actually, I just noticed that Rapid Shot dropped out of the build... Did someone recommend cutting that? I would say take Rapid Shot at 3rd, before Arcane Strike, and push everything else. Get rid of Improved Initiative if you need to. I'd take Improved Critical over Improved Initiative. You could take it at 9th if you don't put Rapid Shot back in or 11th if you do. Arrowsong treats your Bard level as your BAB for qualifying for feats, so that's what makes it possible at 9th.
Man, archers need a lot of feats.
1st: Point Blank Shot
Human: Weapon Focus: Longbow
2nd: Precise Shot (Archetype Bonus)
3rd: Rapid Shot
5rd: Arcane Strike
7th: Deadly Aim
9th: ManyShot
11th: Improved Critical
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At higher levels, You are one of the few bards that doesn't ever ever ever have to worry about rounds of bardic performance. Look up Tuned Bowstring from Ranged Tactics Toolbox. For 18,000 gold, you can perform without spending a round of bardic performance as long as you shoot an arrow. Unlimited uses per day.
Tuned Bowstring is a fantastic item. I will be picking that up as soon as I am able.
Also, what kind of enchants should I get for archery?
+1 to make it magical?
Adaptive to always work with my current STR bonus?
What else?
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Clustered Shot is another good option for 9th or 11th. The good thing about archery is that you can buy special material ammunition relatively cheaply, and it will still be enchanted from your bow. Go with Adamantine Weapon Blanch instead of adamantine arrows. If you want to buy a few durable adamantine arrows, the that may be worth it. Especially if you plan to play any season 6 scenarios (overcoming hardness, which the blanch doesn't do). Always buy cold iron arrows for your basic arrows. Buy blunt arrows.
I don't like relying on the weapon modifier to overcome DR unless you have some way to boost that for free. A +3 adaptive longbow costs at least 19,400, and probably 19,600 to buy it as composite +2 until you can afford adaptive. That means you need 36 fame to be able to buy it, which means at least 7th level. Just to overcome cold iron and silver. To overcome adamantine, that becomes 43,600, 45 fame, and around the middle of 8th level. That's more than 80% of your expected wealth at 9th level in PFS.
So anyway, don't rely on the enhancement bonus for getting through DR. However, I think nicholas storm is correct that a straight enhancement bonus might be your best bet. I'm only guessing, but unless you wait to make it Holy, you'll probably get more out of +1 to-hit and +1 to dmg consistently than you will out of most of the ranged weapon properties. Especially with a 3/4 BAB class that's using, potentially, Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim.
I hear rumors there's a Keen longbow on a chronicle sheet somewhere, which normally can't exist. That would be an exception. Though, I don't know how that would work for getting it to the right STR modifier or adding Adaptive to it.
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I don't think that works. Neither Spellstrike nor Imbue Arrow change the casting time of the spell. You can't hold the charge on a ranged touch spell, and even if you could, you would lose the spell as soon as you cast another. The only way I can see getting two spells on the same arrow is if one of them is quickened.
EDIT: I'm not even sure a quickened spell could be put on the same arrow as an imbued spell.