Shower of Arrows (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Author:	[[User:Ghostwheel\|Ghostwheel]] ([[User talk:Ghostwheel\|talk]])
Date Created:	July 14th, 2009
Status:	Complete
Editing:	Clarity edits only please

"Light as a feather, sharp as a needle, swift as the wind."

Introduction

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): (Assuming 32 Point Buy) 10 18 14 14 10 8

Race (Templates): Elf

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Fort	Ref	Will	Feats	Class Features	Special
1st	Scout 1	+0	+0	+2	+0	Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Expeditious Dodge	Skirmish +1d6, Trapfinding
2nd	Scout 2	+1	+0	+3	+0		Battle Fortitude +1, Uncanny Dodge
3rd	Scout 3	+2	+1	+3	+1	Weapon Focus: Longbow	Fast Movement +10', Skirmish +1d6/+1 AC, Trackless Step
4th	Ranger 1	+3	+3	+5	+1	Track	Arcane Hunter, Wild Empathy
5th	Scout 4	+4	+3	+6	+1	Swift Hunter	Favored Enemy: Undead, Skirmish +2d6/+1 AC
6th	Ranger 2	+5	+4	+7	+1	Improved Skirmish, Rapid Shot	Acrobatics +2, Ki Dodge
7th	Ranger 3	+6	+4	+7	+2	Endurance	Skirmish +2d6/+2 AC
8th	Ranger 4	+7	+5	+8	+2		Animal Companion
9th	Ranger 5	+8	+5	+8	+2	Mobility	Skirmish +3d6/+2 AC
10th	Ranger 6	+9	+6	+9	+3	Manyshot	Favored Enemy: Constructs
11th	Ranger 7	+10	+6	+9	+3		Skirmish +3d6/+3 AC, Woodland Stride
12th	Ranger 8	+11	+7	+10	+3	Greater Manyshot	Swift Tracker	Build reaches full potential
13th	Ranger 9	+12	+7	+10	+4		Evasion, Skirmish +4d6/+3 AC
14th	Ranger 10	+13	+8	+11	+4
15th	Ranger 11	+14	+8	+11	+4	Elusive Target, Improved Precise Shot	Favored Enemy: Oozes, Skirmish +4d6/+4 AC
16th	Ranger 12	+15	+9	+12	+5
17th	Ranger 13	+16	+9	+12	+5		Camouflage, Skirmish +5d6/+4 AC
18th	Ranger 14	+17	+10	+13	+5	Woodland Archer
19th	Ranger 15	+18	+10	+13	+6		Skirmish +5d6/+5 AC
20th	Ranger 16	+19	+11	+14	+6		Favored Enemy: Elementals

Goggles of Foefinding (Get this ASAP to ignore soft cover)
Boost Wisdom at higher levels with an item to get access to your spells
Skirmisher Boots allow you to add skirmish damage without moving once per day. Good when in a pinch, since you can get double the attacks that round.

Use Greater Manyshot to add Skirmish damage to each arrow, firing all arrows as a Standard Action after moving.

Assumed stats at level 20:
- Dex: 18 (Base) + 2 (Racial) + 5 (Level) + 6 (Item) + 5 (Tome) = 36 (+13)
- Attack Bonus: 19 (BAB) + 13 (Dex) + 1 (Weapon Focus) + 5 (Magic) + 1 (Point Blank Shot) - 8 (Greater Manyshot) = +31/+31/+31/+31
- Damage: 1d8 (Arrow) + 5d6+5 (Magic) + 5d6 (Skirmish) + 2d6 (Improved Skirmish) + 1 (Point Blank Shot) = 1d8+12d6+6
  - Total damage per attack comes out to 52.5 (on average). Should all attacks hit, that's 210 damage, or 126 damage when weighted against an AC of 40.

Move, then use Greater Manyshot to attack foes in range, adding Skirmish damage to every arrow.
Keep foes within 30' for skirmish damage, and move at least 40' per round to gain +2 to AC from Expeditious Dodge.

Replace Woodland Archer or Elusive Target with Dead Eye (Dragon Compendium) to add your Dexterity modifier to damage.
Pick up a strength-enhancing item and a Composite Longbow.
Pick up a wand of Hunter's Eye (PHB2) and have someone cast Greater Invisibility upon you to add even more damage.
Pick up a wand of Hunter's Mercy (Spell Compendium) for an automatic critical on your next attack the following round.
Enchant your bow instead with the Splitting enhancement (Champions of Ruin) to lose 2d6 damage but double attacks.

Creatures immune to Skirmish (though Favored Enemy through Swift Hunter should help)

Defenses apart from AC (illusions, concealment, etc)
Keep enemies at a distance greater than 30' so they can't be affected by Skirmish.

If you don't care for Ranger spells, take the Champion of the Wild alternative class feature in Complete Champion for more feats.