Does archers need both Dex and Str?

[joonkimdmd]

I was using my mages as archers because they can't wear armors.
I put dex to increase accuracy of ranged spell/bows.
I just found out that str can affect the bow damage.
In this case, should I respec and add points to str?
or is it time to drop the bow and focus on full time casting?
The problem with full time casting is # of spells may run out before the battle is over.

Anywway, if I want high damage archers, do I need to focus on dex and str?
Is there a great class for archers?

[Sanctified Reach 420]

i normally pick elf cause of the longbow proficiency. right now i am using a monk zen archer same class as one of the beginning companions. But yea i normally put str at +2 and dex i try to max out.

[Mechalibur]

You don't *need* strength, but it's useful to have some. Most of your damage is probably going to come from deadly aim, enhancement bonuses, and class features (sneak attack, weapon training, bane, studied target, etc.). So you probably don't need to respec.

[Snefru]

And the strength should only apply if using a composite bow. So if using any other bow I don’t believe it impacts damage.

[Lightning]

You also get items later on that it can replace your Str stat with your Dex stat for dmg too

[ShivaX]

If you want a good archer, they need Strength.

But if you're giving bows to mages, it's fine because they're never going to do good damage with bows anyway. They don't have the BAB or feats to do so. It's just something you give them to do when they aren't casting spells.

To make an actual archer you generally need a martial class, preferably one with good feats. Ranger, Fighter, Zen Archer, Magus or the like. Making a wizard into one is just a waste unless you're doing some super weird multiclass build.

TLDR: Give your mages bows or crossbows. It's fine. They'll almost never hit anything, but they aren't there to be archers at the end of the day.

[joonkimdmd]

Originally posted by Snefru:

And the strength should only apply if using a composite bow. So if using any other bow I don’t believe it impacts damage.

How do we know which weapon damage is affected or not affected by str stat? The game doesn’t explain this.

[joonkimdmd]

Originally posted by ShivaX:

If you want a good archer, they need Strength.

But if you're giving bows to mages, it's fine because they're never going to do good damage with bows anyway. They don't have the BAB or feats to do so. It's just something you give them to do when they aren't casting spells.

To make an actual archer you generally need a martial class, preferably one with good feats. Ranger, Fighter, Zen Archer, Magus or the like. Making a wizard into one is just a waste unless you're doing some super weird multiclass build.

TLDR: Give your mages bows or crossbows. It's fine. They'll almost never hit anything, but they aren't there to be archers at the end of the day.

I think mages got a bow spell(?) called hurricane bow which increases minimum damage for bow.

[darksol92]

Originally posted by joonkimdmd:

Originally posted by Snefru:

And the strength should only apply if using a composite bow. So if using any other bow I don’t believe it impacts damage.

How do we know which weapon damage is affected or not affected by str stat? The game doesn’t explain this.

Strength affects ALL melee weapons damage unless you are using a finesse weapon with the feat Slashing Grace
Strength affects thrown weapon damage (Javelins, etc.)
Strength affects damage done with composite bows (both short and long)

Strength affects the chance to hit with ALL melee weapons unless they're a finesse weapon and you have the feat Weapon Finesse
Strength affects the chance to hit with thrown weapons
Dexterity affects the chance to hit with all bows and crossbows

Non-composite bows and all crossbows have a fixed damage number, your stats don't add to it.

You CAN take feats that add to the damage of course, but most of the time your casters will only want Point-Blank Shot since it's a pre-req to the other feat they will want: Precise Shot which allows them to cast ranged spells into melee without penalty.

[Viper]

Strength if they want added damage with a composite long bow.

[joonkimdmd]

Originally posted by darksol92:

Originally posted by joonkimdmd:

How do we know which weapon damage is affected or not affected by str stat? The game doesn’t explain this.

Strength affects ALL melee weapons damage unless you are using a finesse weapon with the feat Slashing Grace
Strength affects thrown weapon damage (Javelins, etc.)
Strength affects damage done with composite bows (both short and long)

Strength affects the chance to hit with ALL melee weapons unless they're a finesse weapon and you have the feat Weapon Finesse
Strength affects the chance to hit with thrown weapons
Dexterity affects the chance to hit with all bows and crossbows

Non-composite bows and all crossbows have a fixed damage number, your stats don't add to it.

You CAN take feats that add to the damage of course, but most of the time your casters will only want Point-Blank Shot since it's a pre-req to the other feat they will want: Precise Shot which allows them to cast ranged spells into melee without penalty.

Can I ask where you got this information from?
I hover over damage roll and Strength but none of them show this kind of info such as str affects composite bows but not crossbows. etc

[Bishi]

If it says composite it will factor in your strength modifier to the damage calculation. If it just says shortbow or longbow then it will not. There are ways to get around it that others have mentioned. But an arcane caster like bard that has access to shortbows, can more or less make it work if they pick up a sneak die or two. Or any caster wanting to use ranged touch spells, bows and spells will benefit from precise shot at the very least.

[darksol92]

Originally posted by joonkimdmd:

Originally posted by darksol92:

Strength affects ALL melee weapons damage unless you are using a finesse weapon with the feat Slashing Grace
Strength affects thrown weapon damage (Javelins, etc.)
Strength affects damage done with composite bows (both short and long)

Strength affects the chance to hit with ALL melee weapons unless they're a finesse weapon and you have the feat Weapon Finesse
Strength affects the chance to hit with thrown weapons
Dexterity affects the chance to hit with all bows and crossbows

Non-composite bows and all crossbows have a fixed damage number, your stats don't add to it.

You CAN take feats that add to the damage of course, but most of the time your casters will only want Point-Blank Shot since it's a pre-req to the other feat they will want: Precise Shot which allows them to cast ranged spells into melee without penalty.

Can I ask where you got this information from?
I hover over damage roll and Strength but none of them show this kind of info such as str affects composite bows but not crossbows. etc

I'm summarizing from the rulebooks. You can if you go into the encyclopedia tab find most of this information there although it is still lacking in some information.

[darksol92]

You can also mouse over the damage section in your characters equipment screen and if you right click to expand the info box it will show each + being added to your damage and the source.
I.e. -
Lann has the +1 Entrapping Longbow equipped. This is a +1 Composite Longbow.
With it he deals 16-25 damage per shot
1d10+15 Piercing
Below that it breaks down the +15 into each contributing factor:
Strength: +3
Enhancement: +1
Other: +2 [Weapon Specialization (Long Bow)]
Other: +9 [Deadly Aim]