Originally Posted by
RedMop
Q197a: Really? Deadly Shot with Vital Strike already isn't competitive with regular archery or Barrage (until very high ACs but not 20s to hit). I thought the "Special Attack Action" was still an Attack Action, and thus, would trigger Vital Strike. Losing Vital Strike damage really hurts the snipers. Spending a Standard Action with a Hornbow to do 2d6+6d10+17. 57 Damage at level 20 isn't scary, especially when Barrage is putting up 5 2d6+17 arrows (120 dmg). Vital Strike takes the Deadly Shot up to 78. It's something at least. And all of this is with the Hornbow. The disparity grows with smaller weapons.