Advice on Arc Archer/Kensei

[Nathan17]

Hi Guys, I've started building a Longbow Specialized Elf. The idea being maximum ranged damage for low maintenance support DPS.

The STR and DEX are high for hit and damage/pre-reqs. He has *very* low health, but for the most part, he is very far away from the enemies and not really in the mix. The higher Wisdom is unnecessary, I know, but helps a lot with those Will Saves.

4 Levels of ranger give the spell pre-req for Arc Archer and 3 bonus damage from Ram's Might. It also gives more feats that pure fighter would.

I need advice though - woudl I be better off buying a single level in wiz/sorc for Pre-reqs instead, and get Fighter Kensei III for the 1 crit threat range? Or am I better off with what I have? I have 3 feats in the later levels as well, which could be changed out for anything else, I just threw Dragon marks in for some escape tactics if enemies get too close.

Level 20 True Neutral Elf Male
(16 Fighter \ 4 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 172
Spell Points: 176 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 12
Reflex: 14
Will: 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    26
Dexterity            18                    21
Constitution          6                     6
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               14                    14
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               4                     5
Bluff                -1                     1
Concentration        -2                    -2
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  6                     9
Hide                  8                    14
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  4                    24
Listen                2                     4
Move Silently         8                    12
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search                3                     8
Spot                  2                     4
Swim                  4                     8
Tumble                6                     8.5
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 4 (Ranger)


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Precise Shot
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 7 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I


Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I


Level 11 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Shadow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Mobility
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization I


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Shot on the Run
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery II


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II


Level 17 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Shadow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery III


Level 19 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy IV
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows

Thoughts/Comments/Advice?

[Pizzasoup]

Thoughts/Comments/Advice?

Well, I can't advise you strongly enough to start with a higher CON. 172 HP at level 20 is much too low, and from what I understand, if something targets you, you'd be down pretty quickly.

[Lextek]

You dont need 14 Wisdom. Lower Wisdom to 10. Raise Con to 10. Then you buy +1 wisdom tome or find one and you get enough to cast your Rams Might.

Its better to stay with Ranger/Fighter, higher BAB + Rams Might, but thats just personal preference.

[rezo]

Try,
1 / bard, 1 / ranger, and 18 / fighter Elf. Go ranger at lvl 1 and then bard. All rest fighter. You will meet Arc Archer.

Str. 16
Dex. 16
Con. 12
Int. 10
Wis. 8
Chr. 12

Put skill points in UND.