When we say 'martials', do we mean 'fighters'? Because otherwise, I include Rangers, Monks and Paladins among Martial Classes.
Anyway. So the discussion comes to 'fighter vs ranger'
Well. The Fighter is easier the play, no doubt about that. Still, for personal preference I prefer the ranger as an archer. And yes, I multi that into Assassin, but that argument will be made for a Fighter, too. I'd take six levels of fighter for the feat instead of five of ranger, but even still. I can make Gloomstalker/Assassins clear out entire maps without being spotted once. On a straight Gloomer that would take way longer, but it's easier done with one than it would be with a fighter, due to all the spells and extras you get. Because of all the skills the ranger gets, he becomes a better scout, finding traps and treasure alike. For a full 12 level class, a fighter is the better fighter, but the ranger is a better ranger.
Having said all this, my *favorite* Archer build, is in fact:
Gloom 3 / Assassin 3 / Battlemaster 6. Still get two feats, and all the best things from all the classes. I get the crits from assassin, sneak attack and the bonus action run/hide from rogue, the extra opening attack from Gloom, the invis from Gloom, fighting style twice, extra attack from fighter and the push/trip from Battlemaster. I always pick Riposte as a third, but an archer doesn't need it, so Rally might work here. Well. There you have it. ON top of all this, I get Ranger spellcasting, so Speak with Animals, Ensaring Strike, Hunter's Mark, Longstrider. All really good stuff to have when you need it. Best Archer ever.
Just, for giggles. Let's play a little Mathfinder.
There's no one else in the party. It's just me, the archer. I hide, I shoot an enemy with 18 Dex on a normal Longbow with normal arrows. That's 1d8 + 4 + 2D6 Sneak. [7-18]
I'm an assassin, so now I get that Action back. The enemy is now suprised.
My turn again, I cast hunter's mark as a bonus Action.
I shoot him again, this time for 1D8 + 4+ 2D6 Sneak + 1D6 Hunter's Mark. [8-24] AUTO CRIT, so 2D8 + 4 + 5D6 = 12-50
I shoot him again, this time for 1D8 + 4 + 1D6 Hunter's Mark. [7-18] AUTO CRIT, so 2D8 + 4 + 1D6 = 5-26
I shoot him again, this time for 1D8 + 4 + 1D6 Hunter's Mark. [7-18] AUTO CRIT, so 2D8 +4 + 1D6 = 5-26
7-18 + 12-15 + 5-26 + 5-26 =
29 - 94 in the opening round.
A 12 level pure Gloom would have done 1 times 1D8+4 and Twice at 1D8+4+1d6
So, Gloom total at 2-12 + 7-18 +7-18 =
16 - 48 in the opening round
But only Twice at 1D8+4+1d6 in consecutive rounds, which isn't all that great.
A 12 level Battlemaster would have done 3 times 1D8+4, but would have done that consecutively for the following rounds.
12-36 per round.
But, He too, can do the first round really well, because of Action Surge. So that doubles it for that round.
24-72, which is also quite respectable.
For more giggles. Let's take a pure assassin, same scenario.
Hide, shoot an unsuspecting enemy, still using longbows; our assassin is an elf, let's say.
1D8+ 4 + 10D6 Sneak = 11 - 72 Opening,
2D8 + 4 + 20D6 Sneak Autocrit First round = 26 -140
Makes for 37 - 232 in the first round, and 11 - 72 on consecutive rounds.
That is AWESOME, but much more risk/reward here. Miss, or don't have the Sneak Advantage and it's absolutely zero. Also note that the Sneak Attack will only proc once per round, so hasted this Assassin will only do an additional 1D8+4, which is moot at level 12.
Last edited by rodeolifant; 03/09/23 01:30 PM.
