[ThievingSix]

It seems to me that STR and SPR are easily the most valuable stats to an archer.

People severely underestimate the value of free-stat STR. If you go the route of 25 SPR, 50 STR by level 60, that's Fifty free damage. Free-stat strength and intelligence are not mitigated by mob defense, either. No matter what you're fighting, two equal archers, one with 0 STR and one with 50 STR the difference will be the same every time - 50 damage per hit.

That may not sound like a lot, but especially for bow users, who rely on normal bow attacks to some degree, it's a rather nice boost. If you're dealing 150 damage with a normal attack, it's now 200 damage. On the other hand, for X-Bow users, who generally will spam skills non-stop, your percentage increase will be a good deal less, due to the higher base damage of the x-bow in conjunction with spamming skills that also do more damage.

In the end, it seems to me that it is beneficial even for an x-bow user, but much more beneficial to a regular bow user to add STR. It's really a judgement call, though.

I haven't talked to many high levels (My archer is a wee level 21 right now) that say DEX helps much. Going past 25 SPR loses it's appeal, obviously. INT is out. END can help, but ideally you have a fighter there tanking for you. That leaves STR and SPR. The two ideal stats for an archer, in my relatively informed, yet completely biased and possibly unfounded opinion.

The problem with STR builds is that in higher levels it's mostly your weapons base damage that makes the most difference. 50 extra damage, isn't that much when your opponents end up haveing 3000-4000 HP.