Making a low bow archer, he will be starting at level 4 and will start with a +1 long bow. Trying to decide between Arcane Archer, Samurai and Eldritch Knight. Not interested in a Battle Master. Any recommendation?
1) Is the longbow important? A Crossbow Master with a hand crossbow has an additional shot, which is good across the board, but at level 4, it literally doubles your number of shots. The only level in your present or future at which the longbow beats a hand crossbow with crossbow mastery is level 5, since at 6 you can take sharpshooter, which immediately starts scaling your damage out way more with volume of fire than anything else.
2) So Arcane Archer is functionally Battle Master But Worse prior to level 15, simply because of the hard limit of 2/long rest. Eldritch Knights are always going to end up melee-focused, due to how they're made and what feats exist and so on. Of three you listed, hands down the best one with a longbow is a Samurai. 3/long rest will hurt until level 10, but that's still 1 more than the Arcane Archer base, and it gets better a lot faster. The only other archetype I'd suggest looking at would be the Rune Knight, with probably Fire and Stone out the gate.
1) Is the longbow important? A Crossbow Master with a hand crossbow has an additional shot, which is good across the board, but at level 4, it literally doubles your number of shots. The only level in your present or future at which the longbow beats a hand crossbow with crossbow mastery is level 5, since at 6 you can take sharpshooter, which immediately starts scaling your damage out way more with volume of fire than anything else.
2) So Arcane Archer is functionally Battle Master But Worse prior to level 15, simply because of the hard limit of 2/long rest. Eldritch Knights are always going to end up melee-focused, due to how they're made and what feats exist and so on. Of three you listed, hands down the best one with a longbow is a Samurai. 3/long rest will hurt until level 10, but that's still 1 more than the Arcane Archer base, and it gets better a lot faster. The only other archetype I'd suggest looking at would be the Rune Knight, with probably Fire and Stone out the gate.
While I strongly agree with a lot of this, I do feel it's worth noting that Arcane Shot uses recharge on a short rest not long rest.
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
Thanks all, I appreciate the responses. I had played him until level 4 as a fighter battle master and just wasn't feeling it so my DM let me respec which is why I didn't have battle master listed in the poll.
I actually pulled a crazy Ivan and went with a Gloomstalker Ranger. He is at level 5 now. Next I have to figure out if I want to MC into either Assassin or Fighter (or both) or just stay straight Ranger.
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Making a low bow archer, he will be starting at level 4 and will start with a +1 long bow. Trying to decide between Arcane Archer, Samurai and Eldritch Knight. Not interested in a Battle Master. Any recommendation?
1) Is the longbow important? A Crossbow Master with a hand crossbow has an additional shot, which is good across the board, but at level 4, it literally doubles your number of shots. The only level in your present or future at which the longbow beats a hand crossbow with crossbow mastery is level 5, since at 6 you can take sharpshooter, which immediately starts scaling your damage out way more with volume of fire than anything else.
2) So Arcane Archer is functionally Battle Master But Worse prior to level 15, simply because of the hard limit of 2/long rest. Eldritch Knights are always going to end up melee-focused, due to how they're made and what feats exist and so on. Of three you listed, hands down the best one with a longbow is a Samurai. 3/long rest will hurt until level 10, but that's still 1 more than the Arcane Archer base, and it gets better a lot faster. The only other archetype I'd suggest looking at would be the Rune Knight, with probably Fire and Stone out the gate.
Have you considered gunslinger?, if the DM allows it, it can provide a satisfying ranged experience similar to that of arcane archer or battle master.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
While I strongly agree with a lot of this, I do feel it's worth noting that Arcane Shot uses recharge on a short rest not long rest.
I feel like This thread explains my opinion.
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
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Thanks all, I appreciate the responses. I had played him until level 4 as a fighter battle master and just wasn't feeling it so my DM let me respec which is why I didn't have battle master listed in the poll.
I actually pulled a crazy Ivan and went with a Gloomstalker Ranger. He is at level 5 now. Next I have to figure out if I want to MC into either Assassin or Fighter (or both) or just stay straight Ranger.