[two]

Gotta respectfully disagree with the statement that the best archer is a fighter.

I'd say Bard, by far, because, well, I'm playing one. Plus, it just makes sense the way the game is set up.

Basically, you just need two feats (rapid shot, precise shot). Both Bard and Fighter can easily manage that. Oh sorry the Bard needs Proficiency-Bow as well, that's 3 feats. Advantage fighter. A human bard could finish this at level 3, however, so it's not really a huge drawback. Precise shot should be taken last, of course (proficiency, rapid shot, then precise, possibly). You can or can't take bow-focus, bow-specialization if you want, the fighter has bunches more feats, so advantage fighter.

Let's look at level 10. Fighter BAB is +10. Bard BAB is not. Advantage fighter.

Both use the same bow+arrow combo. Even.

But Bard casts Cat's Grace, putting his dex +1 or +2 vs. fighter. Lasts all day.

Bard casts Hope, giving +2 to hit, +2 to damage. This alone evens him out BAB wise with the fighter. Lasts 50 rounds. Can cast it 3-4 times a day. Also makes up for lack of weapon specialization-bow. With one spell. Nice.

Then throw in all the defensive spells the bard can cast, and it gets sick.

Plus Bard's can cast Haste, making up for a lost BAB attack with a better bonus (and defensive AC boost too, plus movement!).

As you ramp up, the Bard just gets better while the fighter just gets BAB. When the Bard can cast Improved Haste it's really all over, that's the scariest archer in the game, take your fighter and dump him. You really want to face a level 20 Bard with 3 BAB attacks +1 rapid shot *2 imp. haste = 8 attacks/round with a Level 20 5 attack/round fighter? Nah.

Plus, of course, the Bard can do a million other things well.

Sure, it's only for a few battles a day (or one-two very long battles) but really, how many are you doing per day anyway?

Plus with a Bard's defensive tricks (mirror image, invis) he won't take damage like a fighter will, or fail those will saves as much.

Trust me on this one. If you want a dedicated, pure, nasty, scary, effective archer go 100% bard. You won't regret it.

Now, if you want to make a fighter-archer and have a sorcerer dedicated to buffing him up every day and before every battle, more power to you. I never said a bard was better than a fighter+sorcerer. But then, that's 2 to 1.