Bow Strength on an AA - correct, or no?

[Bombfish]

I started a Drow AA some time ago (right right, no Elvish bonus to Ranged damage, what can I say gimp for life. still love playing it) and keep staring at that Bow Strength feat. I have relatively good STR and I keep wondering whether that Bow Strength feat is worth considering. I'm probably forgetting something right now, but as a Lv 7 it seems like crucial feats to attain are IC:Ranged and Toughness.

I understand and fully appreciate the need to go TWF when mobs close in, but is IC: Slash/Pierce really going to be that important? Can its effectiveness be supplanted by Bow Strength? Power Attack also seems really durdley without Weapon Finesse, which I wasn't going to have anyway right?

I also happen to have this six-year old Cake that this toon has not tried to consume yet, and strongly considering making it a STR tome (currently sitting at 18/22/16/10/8/10, that's after gear + feat bonuses. can't get more specific than that, I'm at work right now and don't recall details). So if Bow Strength isn't a super waste of time then that STR tome looks delicious (but I feel I might want the CON if Bow Strength is dumb). Decisions decisions... has anyone ever actually tried this out? Or do the numbers just say it isn't worth it, and I should stick to IC: Pierce and Power Attack? Much thanks.

[honkuimushi]

If you have levels in Ranger, it's granted at level 1 and you don't need to take it. If you don't, I'm really curious about how you plan to take AA on a drow.

Bow Str is pretty much a must for all archer builds, though some hybrids may be able to get away with the Half-elf Dilly. The selectable feat is there for those who wanted to make a Fighter based archer, and use elf or half-elf to get AA.

[xoowak]

Bow Strength is pretty much mandatory. Unless you completely dumped STR it can easily be +10-15 damage per hit at level 20.

But you should already have it. It's a free feat for rangers at level 1, and you cannot have AA on a drow without ranger levels.

[Bombfish]

If you have levels in Ranger, it's granted at level 1 and you don't need to take it. If you don't, I'm really curious about how you plan to take AA on a drow.

Bow Str is pretty much a must for all archer builds, though some hybrids may be able to get away with the Half-elf Dilly. The selectable feat is there for those who wanted to make a Fighter based archer, and use elf or half-elf to get AA.

...I must be a moron. I'll have to run home and verify this, haha. Was this the case over a year ago when I made the toon? I thought I did not have it.

[honkuimushi]

...I must be a moron. I'll have to run home and verify this, haha. Was this the case over a year ago when I made the toon? I thought I did not have it.

The granted Bowstrength has been around since February of 2006. The selectable feat was added a little after AA was introduced, maybe 2008 or 2009. The Dilly was of course added about a year ago when then introduced half-elves.

[Bombfish]

Ahhh, yep, achievement unlocked: Muffinhead. Of course I already had this feat.

Well, so now I get my choice of +2 tome (still have that Six Year Old Cake to eat). My stats remain unchanged from the OP; is CON probably the best way to go, or is there a better use for the would-be tome? Much appreciate.

[Glenalth]

is CON probably the best way to go, or is there a better use for the would-be tome? Much appreciate.

On a Drow, most likely. It's +1 bow damage and some carrying capacity vs. + your level in HP and +1 fort save.

Don't fret too much about it though, +2 tomes are plentiful.