Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Portuguese D. Ace 01-30-05, 03:39 PM	Hi! i registered myself just now so... i'm a noob i need help for an arcane archer in 3,5 my stats are: 15 16 18 17 14 15 ( lucky dice:) i really dont know wich progression i should take to have a great AA... can u help me please? thanks in advace Ace
Nifft 01-30-05, 03:45 PM	3.5e Arcane Archer is never optimal. Honestly, an Eldrich Knight who can cast greater magic weapon does a better job. So does an Elven Cleric who takes a few bow related feats. -- N
catharz 01-30-05, 03:52 PM	If you can't buy or make Spell storing arrows, 2 levels in AA isn't awful.
Snicker-Snack 01-30-05, 03:52 PM	Well, first of all, check the Faqs in the top of the forum. They will give you lots of useful information. And if possible, bookmark the Optimization Library (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=213480). The greatest resource on Optimization in these boards. Then try to post a build or similar, and give more information. People will respond better if you do some work by yourself. But anyway... About the Arcane Archer, it's usually considered a waste taking more than two levels in it. It's a crappy class, and the best ability comes at second level.
Kurama Youko 01-30-05, 11:49 PM	8 levels Bard 10 Levels Arcane Archer 2 Levels Bard Suggested Feats - Practiced Spellcaster There is a feat in the Complete Adventurer that allows you to use your listen check to pinpoint creatures.. There are some good points to this but nothing over powering but its something. Good luck.
Kuroi Kenshi 01-31-05, 01:56 AM	Here's a nice arcane archer build from shadow mage's gish thread. 1. Bard | Point Blank Shot 2. Bard 3. Bard | Precise Shot 4. Bard 5. Bard 6. Bard | Weapon Focus (longbow) 7. Bard 8. Bard 9. Arcane Archer | Lyric Spell or Rapid Shot 10. Arcane Archer 11. Sublime Chord 12. Sublime Chord | Snowflake Wardance or Many Shot 13. Eldritch Knight | Weapon Finesse 14. Eldritch Knight 15. Eldritch Knight | Arcane Strike 16. Eldritch Knight 17. Eldritch Knight 18. Eldritch Knight | Practiced Spellcaster 19. Eldritch Knight 20. Eldritch Knight Caster Level: 17 (20) Base Attack Bonus: + 17 / + 12 / + 7 / + 2 Tactics: against casters, Imbue Arrow with Antimagic Field. Against melee opponents who wield weapons... sunder! You'll destroy the weapon for sure if you put some strong area spell in the Imbued Arrow, and you'll hit the wielder at the same time too (it's an area spell). If you have complete adventurer, you could also get a harmony instrument and just get 7 levels of bard and 1 of fighter for the bonus feat, it'll speed up your feat progression nicely, allowing you to take practiced spellcaster or anything else earlier (and attain the same lv20 CL with sublime chord).
Rod Howard 01-31-05, 08:00 AM	Here's a nice arcane archer build from shadow mage's gish thread. If you have complete adventurer, you could also get a harmony instrument and just get 7 levels of bard and 1 of fighter for the bonus feat, it'll speed up your feat progression nicely, allowing you to take practiced spellcaster or anything else earlier (and attain the same lv20 CL with sublime chord). Thanks for mentioning my build, actually I'm kinda proud of that! :P Arcane Archer is actually a strange class: it's main and strongest ability is Imbue Arrow, being the one that holds the most potential even at epic levels. But, Imbue Arrow doesn't improve as you gain Arcane Archer levels, because it benefits only from your spellcasting ability. Seeker arrow is very situational, Arrow of Death works only on certain subjects (and not always), Imbue Arrow is pure destruction and can help in many ways. Taking only two levels of Arcane Archer while retaining both + 16 BAB and the best spellcasting progression is only possible with the Sublime Chord, so we can say that Arcane Archer got a big boost with Complete Arcane, being really unoptimal before. There's something important to mention for those who play under an heavily optimizing DM: a caster with Starmantle isn't protected from an Arcane Archer. The Starmantle spell destroys non-magical arrows aimed at the subject, but for magical weapons you are only allowed a saving throw. If the caster succeds, he takes no damage from the ARROW, but the imbued spell affects him anyway. Can't go bad with two AA levels: it's just powerful if you are a good spellcaster. P.S. Arcane Archer is only for elves and half elves: taking the first level as a Fighter, you'd have to be an half elf to avoid XP penalities and elf is normally a more powerful race. In this case, probably being an half elven fighter would be a better choice.
carnivore 01-31-05, 08:23 AM	BTW Rod, that was one of the best AA builds i have seen.........very nice job. :clap: :D