an arcane archer question [Archive] - Wizards Community

an arcane archer question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Quarterstaff
04-28-05, 10:01 PM i apologise if this has been said anywhere else but i need to know soon.

for the arcane archer's imbue arrow ability do you have to be able to cast the spell or what.
Molitor
04-29-05, 12:36 AM I would assume so. What else would you be imbuing it with if not a spell? When in doubt ask your DM, if you ARE the DM.......... decide.
Borris
04-29-05, 01:43 AM It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted.
So, yes, you have to cast the spell.
happymoocow
04-29-05, 01:47 AM Duh that's why you cast anti magic spell in them. What do you think? With their magic disabled you can snipe down anyone on your magic carpet. It's like hello.
Molitor
05-03-05, 10:06 PM What?
Colmarr
05-03-05, 10:33 PM I'm not sure that the answer to this question is as easy as the previous posters suggest.

Borris gets closest (unsurprising given that he was the only one to quote from the ability) to a rules-based answer.

Imbue Arrow (Sp): At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell’s area is centered on where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the spell’s range. It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted.

Nothing in the ability description refers to the method of actually getting the spell onto the arrow. While it is true that the last two sentences refer to spells being cast, there is at least an arguable case that those sentences merely reflect the most common use of the ability, not the full extent if it.

Conceivably an arcane archer could try to use a wand and/or scroll to the same effect. A scroll is perhaps the easier argument, because a caster using a scroll is effectively casting the spell scribed upon it.

However, having pointed our that there is at least an argument to be made to the contrary, I think the best interpretation would be the one espoused by the previous posters: that the arcane archer must cast the spell in question, using one of their prepared spells or spell slots in the process. Allowing the use of wands and scrolls would allow arcane archers to imbue arrows with spells more powerful than they can actually cast. That seems to run contrary both to the flavour of the class and play balance.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Quarterstaff 04-28-05, 10:01 PM	i apologise if this has been said anywhere else but i need to know soon. for the arcane archer's imbue arrow ability do you have to be able to cast the spell or what.
Molitor 04-29-05, 12:36 AM	I would assume so. What else would you be imbuing it with if not a spell? When in doubt ask your DM, if you ARE the DM.......... decide.
Borris 04-29-05, 01:43 AM	It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted. So, yes, you have to cast the spell.
happymoocow 04-29-05, 01:47 AM	Duh that's why you cast anti magic spell in them. What do you think? With their magic disabled you can snipe down anyone on your magic carpet. It's like hello.
Molitor 05-03-05, 10:06 PM	What?
Colmarr 05-03-05, 10:33 PM	I'm not sure that the answer to this question is as easy as the previous posters suggest. Borris gets closest (unsurprising given that he was the only one to quote from the ability) to a rules-based answer. Imbue Arrow (Sp): At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell’s area is centered on where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the spell’s range. It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted. Nothing in the ability description refers to the method of actually getting the spell onto the arrow. While it is true that the last two sentences refer to spells being cast, there is at least an arguable case that those sentences merely reflect the most common use of the ability, not the full extent if it. Conceivably an arcane archer could try to use a wand and/or scroll to the same effect. A scroll is perhaps the easier argument, because a caster using a scroll is effectively casting the spell scribed upon it. However, having pointed our that there is at least an argument to be made to the contrary, I think the best interpretation would be the one espoused by the previous posters: that the arcane archer must cast the spell in question, using one of their prepared spells or spell slots in the process. Allowing the use of wands and scrolls would allow arcane archers to imbue arrows with spells more powerful than they can actually cast. That seems to run contrary both to the flavour of the class and play balance.