As a Wizard, pick up feat for bow wielding or pick up 1 level of fighter for the feats? Or none?

[BoogieMan]

As a Wizard with good Dex, I think it may be useful to some degree to be able to use bows, and not just crossbows. I'm starting over from getting to just passed where you get your barony, and I know that I found more good bows than crossbows.

Is it worth it to pick up a feat for bow use, or perhaps pick 1 level of Fighter for that and a few other things, when otherwise you're planning to go full Wizard? Is there anything you lose from 1 less Wizard level?

[Lightning]

If you don't mind sacrificing a glove spot there are bracers of archery that allow you to use any bow even if you don't have the passive for it, you just won't hit level 20 in the end if you dual class at all

[SmooshieBanana]

I wouldn't waste the feat or level (especially). Crossbows are decent, and the good bows usually are composite, and as a wizard, at least for me, strength score is a dump stat, so if anything, it'd give me a minus to damage. Light Crossbows can be nastier early game as there are some with +1 Frost/Fire/Shock enchantments. Normal longbows or shortbows you are only likely to find +1 enhancement bonuses on them for a little.

[Lightning]

I think the 2 earliest bow weapons are probably the most OP for there level is the acid one from Troll Lair and the lucky bow I forgot where I found it though

[erian]

Actually no.Dont use bows or crossbows as wizard(specially not the one from troll lair,since it has attack malus),maybe only as slot filler.Autocast cantrip.Wizards have awfull attack,its far easier for them to hit with touch spell cantrip.And if you lvl persuation-use intimidation.Debuff is worth much more then measly damage you get from cantrips.

[Nightbringer]

It is a horrendous decision to sacrifice a feat or a caster level for bow proficiency.

The wizard is never going to deal relevant damage with a bow. With only 1/2 BAB he's not going to reliably hit anything, he's not going to get the iterative attacks, and without significant investment in other feats he's not going to do any significant damage when he does get lucky enough to hit.

The levels and feats are better spent making the wizard awesome at what he is already good at. Battlefield control. Invest in Spell Focus and raise those DCs. Pick up Greater Spell Penetration so you can punch through spell resistance late game. Take a couple of meta-magic feats (I like heighten spell to raise the DC on things like Slow and Web, but other choices are also good).

If the fight is not challenging enough to require the wizard's spells, don't sweat it if he does nothing. You'll be happy enough for him to have his resources available when they are needed.

[Lightning]

Yeah, i put that troll bow on Ekundayo I think it's best for rangers

[Finrod]

If you want to use longbows, you can make an elf wizard. You get by race the bow proficiency, and you don't lose any feat or level and elves give a +2 to spell penetration which is great. And elves give the +2 to intelligence.

[BoogieMan]

Nice, thanks for the info everyone. I'll probably do without then.

[Lightning]

Well I think Magus or something gets a ranged magic line I believe