The archer is a very powerful character if you play a solo game.
Who needs disarm? You've got M/GM perception. You've got all the good elemental spells except LB.
Healing him is the only problem. I boosted his bow skill past 30 and gave him a Griffin Bow of Darkness 
that works wonders. I cleared the whole Pit with just that bow and Dispel Magic as quick spell. He also shot so fast that creatures would be hit by the next arrow even before they had played their damage animation... Minotaurs had an exceptional timing; they would just stand there and play it over and over, all I had to do was stand still and hold 'A' down.Coming to think of it it's odd that no one mentioned the archer's ability to cast dispel magic; it saves SP and time for the sorceror in a party.
Paralyze is also very useful but you can just as well use wands for that.
In a parties I don't like archers as much; pure fighters/spellcasters seem better to me.
