Post/Author/DateTime	Post
feartheinvinceblehamster 07-20-06, 09:36 PM	Because of my world's magic system, which I will not go into here, the Arcane Archer's Imbue Arrow ability is useless. Any ideas on what I could do to replace it?
solbergb 07-21-06, 11:41 AM	On a typical arcane archer (not the kind warped to make huge use of imbue arrow, the kind with 1 level of arcane, the rest fullbab who are archers with a plash of magic) the imbue arrow is a minor flavor feat that lets you toss weak area spells at bow length. Unless you have a massive intelligence, only grease or obscuring mist are likely to be all that useful. (and frankly, I find my spell slots too precious to be spent on imbue arrow - I want guided shot, arrow mind,etc) Now with your homebrew magic system, if you want to replace it with something equivalent consider "alchemical arrows". As a standard action the arcane archer can attach an item from the alch table and fire it....ie get bow ranges on thunderstones, smokesticks, and the three main splash weapons. You won't do arrow damage, but intead of a 10' range increment, you boost it up to 110'. It costs money, not spell slots, but fits the flavor of the feat really well for a world without prepared spells. Alternately the DM could just give a bonus feat from a restricted list - something to do with magic or archery. One that I like from a flavor standpoint would be improved crit - you are already getting the effect of GMW...it makes sense that an arcane archer could also simulate the Keen Edge spell (and in fact, that logic is the reason why my arcane archer is taking improved crit at level 9, even though there are other attractive feat options that might be more potent mechanically)
LordPendragon 07-21-06, 12:37 PM	That is officially an awesome idea. But if alchemical arrows are made available for purchase, then wouldn't that mean anyone can buy and use them?? It's a great idea, but I'm not sure it can be feasibly contained as a class feature. Maybe make it more like Poison Use. Anyone can buy the tools, and attempt to use them, but 25% of the time the alchemical arrow breaks while being fired and "lands" in the user's square. Let the Arcane Archer avoid that failure chance.
solbergb 07-21-06, 12:58 PM	Not alchemical arrows for sale. He would have to prepare them himself. Firing an arrow that has a 1lb object stuck on the end requires special training and it would have to be hand-crafted by the expert. If you want to let others try it, your "poison use" mechanic might be a good approach (with maybe craft fletcher and craft alchemy in combination lowering the odds of a catastrophic failure) Or if you allow some magic, maybe there's something magical that sticks it to the end as part of the std action and balances it for flight. Or you can pour it over the arrow and the magic holds it in stasis until the arrow hits. Not knowing the flavor of the OP's arcane archer variant, his magic system or his world, I can't speak for certain. If he's doing a lot of manipulation it may have to be a full round action instead of standard. I can say though that MY arcane archer would love the ability to toss smokesticks and tanglefoot bags around and sometimes that would be a better action than just doing an arrow volley.