Experiment 1: Archer

Bored at work, limited web access.  I mentioned last night to Mike that there seemed to be way more optimization tweaks for ranged combat than melee, so I'm going to attempt to build the most twinked-out ranged and melee characters I can because 1) I'm bored and 2) it'll help familiarize me with the mechanics of Pathfinder, the gritty combat details of which I didn't dig too deeply into while building a cleric focused on healing and social skills.  Going to limit this to 6th level (sticking with E6 guidelines) and only material available on the SRD, going by the same character creation guidelines used for Norben (25 point buy, level average wealth, two traits).

Shooty McShooterson
Fighter 6, Archer subtype
Race: Human

25 points:
10->17 (13)
10->16 (10)
10->12 (2)


Str:  16
Dex: 22 (17 + 2 human + 1 level bonus + 2 Belt of Dex)
Con:  12
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 10

AC:
Not like it matters, but:
+10 base
+5 armor
+1 armor enhancement
+6 dex
= 22

Feats:
H1  Weapon Focus: Longbow 
L1  Point Blank Shot
F1  Deadly Aim
F2  Rapid Shot
L3  Point Blank Master
F4  Weapon Specialization: Longbow 
L5  Precise Shot
F6  Manyshot

Traits:
Killer (+3 damage on crit)
Heirloom Weapon (+1 hit)

Gear: (16000)
Belt of Dexterity +2 (4000)
Heirloom Composite Longbow +2 (+3 Str rating) (8700)
Mithral Brigandine +1 (2250)
1050gp

To Hit (assuming within 30ft):
+6 BAB
+6 Dex
+1 Archer
+1 Weapon Focus
+1 point blank
+2 magical longbow
+1 heirloom longbow = +18

Damage:
+3 str
+2 magical longbow
+1 Archer
+1 point blank
+2 Weapon Spec = +9

Conditionals: 
Deadly Aim: -2 hit, +4 damage on all attacks
Rapid Shot: -2 hit, extra attack

I don't know what the average monster AC is supposed to be for level 6 parties (and I can't find it in the SRD) but skimming the CR6 monsters, let's go with about AC 20.

Full round attack (normal):
+18 (2d8+18) = .90*27 + .05*84 = 28.5
+13 (1d8+9) = .65*13.5 + .05*43.5 = 10.95 == 39.45 DPR

Full round attack (deadly aim):
+16 (2d8+26) = .80*35 + .05*108 = 33.4
+11 (1d8+13) =  .55*17.5 + .05*55.5 = 12.4 == 45.8 DPR

Full round attack (rapid shot):
+16 (2d8+18) = .80*27 + .05*84 = 25.8
+16 (1d8+9) = .80*13.5 + .05*43.5 = 12.975
+11 (1d8+9) = .55*13.5 + .05*43.5 = 9.6 == 48.375 DPR

Full round attack (deadly aim + rapid shot):
+14 (2d8+26) = .70*35 + .05*108 = 29.9
+14 (1d8+13) = .70*17.5 + .05*55.5 = 15.025
+9 (1d8+13) = .45*17.5 + .05*55.5 = 10.65 == 55.575 DPR

I want to stress test the matrix in a spreadsheet (which astoundingly I can't access here...no Google docs, no Office, no nothing) but I think that for the max DPR rotation with everything turned on, trading away +hit for more +damage won't pay off, especially not on the 1-for-1 basis I'd get from going to a strength item or going strength heavy at the initial stat allocation.

Anyway, here's a quick crack the ranged character, and 55 DPR seems like a good number.  Plus, he has some other useful benefits, like being able to shoot without provoking AoOs and having a ranged disarm/sunder.  Anyway, it's 5pm, going home.