Bard / Arcane Archer Build Advice

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               He could still start with 18 Dex and wind up with 32 Dex for an extra AB (technically minus 1 AC since he gains 1 from Dex but loses 2 from not having Armor Skin -- but his role is damage, not tanking).

Improved Critical is about a 9% increase in damage for a single feat which is completely passive so I would suggest you keep it (assuming the foe can be crit, of course).  If you decide you want more skills then drop Strength.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_PracticalKat]

               MM-Have looked again at Lingering Song and will have a go without it.  
Empyre - will go 12 Str and 12 Int, keeping 18 Dex,  and try and stretch the skill points.  Tx for note on UMD and 5 multiples. Also applies to Spellcraft and Tumble I think.
Taking Curse Song not Lingering Song gives more tactical options, as they do different things and the two can still be alternated to prolong Bard Song.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par brendonwp, 20 janvier 2014 - 04:00 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Empyre65]

               Yes, it is the same with the Spellcraft saves bonus, but the Tumble AC bonus is based on the actual ranks in Tumble, not the modified score, in multiples of 5.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_PracticalKat]

               Here is the build that I'm happy with.  I've gone the whole hog and entered it in the spreadsheet calculator on the Vault.
After bard level 16 the Perform skill achieved becomes inadequate for the Bard Song requirements (as much as -14).  In a high magic environment like SoU and HotU, I'm going to look to items to increase Perform.  In a low magic setting, bringing in Skill Focus: Perform and Epic Skill Focus: Perform would be a good solution (reduces the difference to -1).  
I like characters with different tactical options, so I've lowered Str to 10 and increased Int to 14, so that I have more skill points to play with.  Perform and Tumble are maxed.  UMD is low, but in a high magic environment not that important as lots of scrolls are available to bards anyway.  Concentration and Spellcraft at 30 ranks should make spell-casting fairly effective, even at high levels.  I've also got some points in rogue skills, enough to start off without having to have a dedicated rogue henchman.

I've briefly run through the opening of SoU and faced a few kobolds. PBS is working well '>

Adjusted "Piercing Ballad"

Bard(21), Arcane Archer(19), Elf

STR: 10
DEX: 18 (32)
CON: 12
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 14 (16)

Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Keen Sense, Low-light Vision, Skill Affinity: Listen, Skill Affinity: Search, Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Bard(1): Point Blank Shot
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Focus: Longbow
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Blind Fight
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(: DEX+1, (DEX=20)
09: Bard(9): Extend Spell
10: Arcane Archer(1)
11: Arcane Archer(2)
12: Bard(10): DEX+1, Curse Song, (DEX=21)
13: Arcane Archer(3)
14: Arcane Archer(4)
15: Bard(11): Improved Critical: Longbow
16: Arcane Archer(5): DEX+1, (DEX=22)
17: Arcane Archer(6)
18: Bard(12): Called Shot
19: Arcane Archer(7)
20: Arcane Archer(: CHA+1, (CHA=15)
21: Bard(13): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Arcane Archer(9)
23: Arcane Archer(10)
24: Bard(14): CHA+1, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=23), (CHA=16)
25: Bard(15)
26: Bard(16)
27: Bard(17): Great Dexterity II, (DEX=24)
28: Bard(18): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
29: Bard(19)
30: Bard(20): Lasting Inspiration
31: Arcane Archer(11)
32: Arcane Archer(12): DEX+1, (DEX=26)
33: Arcane Archer(13): Epic Prowess
34: Arcane Archer(14): Great Dexterity III, (DEX=27)
35: Arcane Archer(15)
36: Arcane Archer(16): DEX+1, Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=29)
37: Bard(21)
38: Arcane Archer(17)
39: Arcane Archer(18): Great Dexterity V, Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=31)
40: Arcane Archer(19): DEX+1, (DEX=32)

Hitpoints: 318
Skillpoints: 258
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 21/19/35
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +6, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 27
AB (max, naked): 28 (melee), 52 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 29/32
Spell Casting: Bard(6)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 34(35), Disable Trap 3(5), Hide 15(26), Move Silently 15(26), Open Lock 5(16), Perform 40(43), Persuade 15(18), Search 4(, Spellcraft 30(32), Spot 30(31), Tumble 40(51), UMD 15(18)


01: Concentration(2), Disable Trap(1), Open Lock(2), Perform(4), Persuade(2), Search(1), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(4), UMD(2),
02: Disable Trap(1), Perform(1), Search(1), Tumble(1),
03: Concentration(1), Open Lock(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1),
04: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(2),
05: Open Lock(1), Perform(1), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1),
06: Concentration(1), Disable Trap(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1),
07: Perform(1), Persuade(1), Search(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1),
08: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Search(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1),
09: Perform(1), Persuade(3), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
10: Hide(2), Move Silently(2), Spot(2),
11: Hide(2), Move Silently(2), Spot(2),
12: Perform(3), Tumble(3),
13: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(3),
14: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(6),
15: Concentration(2), Open Lock(1), Perform(3), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(3),
16: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(3),
17: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(6),
18: Concentration(2), Perform(3), Persuade(2), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(3),
19: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(3),
20: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(6),
21: Concentration(2), Perform(3), Persuade(2), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(3),
22: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(3),
23: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(1), Save(6),
24: Concentration(2), Perform(3), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(3), UMD(1),
25: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
26: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
27: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
28: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
29: Concentration(2), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
30: Concentration(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(1), UMD(1),
31: Spot(1), Save(5),
32: Spot(1), Save(10),
33: Spot(1), Save(15),
34: Spot(1), Save(20),
35: Spot(1), Save(25),
36: Spot(1), Save(30),
37: Concentration(13), Perform(7), Spellcraft(6), Tumble(7), UMD(3),
38: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(4),
39: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(4),
40: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spot(4),
               
               

               

                     Modifié par brendonwp, 21 janvier 2014 - 03:59 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Empyre65]

               It looks good to me.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               Concentration is pointless -- either invest fully or don't bother (and you're unlikely to be casting spells in melee range anyway).  Better to increase spellcraft for better saves or invest in another skill -- like UMD!