Arcane Archer, any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Archer, any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Garilario
08-07-04, 07:39 AM req:
Race: Elf or half-elf.
Base Attack Bonus: +6.
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow).
Spells: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells.

Table: The Arcane Archer
Level BAB Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +1 +2 +2 +0 Enhance arrow +1
2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Imbue arrow
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Enhance arrow +2
4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Seeker arrow
5th +5 +4 +4 +1 Enhance arrow +3
6th +6 +5 +5 +2 Phase arrow
7th +7 +5 +5 +2 Enhance arrow +4
8th +8 +6 +6 +2 Hail of arrows
9th +9 +6 +6 +3 Enhance arrow +5
10th +10 +7 +7 +3 Arrow of death

Enhance Arrow (Su): At 1st level, every nonmagical arrow an arcane archer nocks and lets fly becomes magical, gaining a +1 enhancement bonus. Unlike magic weapons created by normal means, the archer need not spend experience points or gold pieces to accomplish this task. However, an archer’s magic arrows only function for her. For every two levels the character advances past 1st level in the prestige class, the magic arrows she creates gain +1 greater potency (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level, +3 at 5th level, +4 at 7th level, and +5 at 9th level).

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.

I'm currently playing an elf sorcerer(Lv4) and is interested to take 2 levels or arcane archer when I meet the req. I'm not sure what spells are good for imbuing into an arrow. Is the effect worth the 3 feats req and 2 caster level? should I just take 2 levels then contiue on my sorcerer level or take full 10 levels of it?
kinglawngnome
08-07-04, 09:28 AM one of the cool things to do with an arcane archer is to take the leadership feat, and get tons of elven bow warriors. then, at night, imbue your arrow with a simple light spell and shoot someone via your low light vision+uber high spot. then watch all the arrows fly....

another cool thing to imbue is ice storm, because 5d6 damage no save is always nice to have handy
Ranthanas
08-07-04, 09:51 AM Avoid like the plague. The two caster levels and one spell level will always be better than the Imbue Arrow ability and the rest really aren't much use. (Arcane Archer 11 can be quite handy, but that's another issue and a Sorceror base isn't the way to get it)

2 levels can be cute as a way in to Spellsword and Eldritch Knight, but Gish are dubious at best anyway- and you're surrendering a lot of BAB. You're better off finding a PrC that adds to Sorceror casting.
Teltharis
08-07-04, 11:35 AM for the way you are wanting it to do it, I would avoid arcane archer, I made one a while back and it was nasty.

Ranger6/Wizard3/Arcane5

I loved it. Awesome Archer, rarely used the imbue thing though. The light spell was what I used it for mostly. I would sometimes get scrolls of darkness and use that. I would also get the party wizard to make me scrolls of a sonic fireball and then i would imbue the arrows with that, EL KABOOM!! That character was an awesome Drow Smiter. He had a +1 Holy Keen Composite Longbow(STR +3) and Greater Bracers of Archery. Frickin awesome against drow, really good against anything else. Before he got retired I was contemplating going for the Order of The Bow Initiate class. A Manyshot with the Precise Strike, OUCH(btw, is that possible, I can't remember if it is)
LeePriest
08-07-04, 01:28 PM What do the rest of those do? Seeker arrow and so on...
Frosty The Snowman
08-07-04, 01:45 PM Teltharis,

You can't combine Manyshot with Ranged Precision (OotBI 3.5) as both are standard actions.

Generally speaking the OotBI 3.5 is not worth taking. The only significant ability it grants is Close Combat Shot and there are better ways IMO to get it. (Exotic Weapon Master)

-Frosty
jus10
08-07-04, 02:21 PM i had made an arcane archer once, he was pretty good at dishing out damage, but it was because of the bow and arrow selection not fromt he arcane archer class...

i like the arcane archer class but it is sort of weak, if nothing else it does save money on buying arrows, since my DM does DR by arrow enchantment instead of bow enchantment it saved alot of gold not having to put the full +5 on the arrows i used.

Also being able to make your arrows auto +5 you can put more enchntments on your arrows...but thats really the only benefit.

I always tought of fixing that PrC...but i wouldnt kno how to go about doing it, maybe if Phase arrow ignored Armor...meh who knows.
Garilario
08-07-04, 02:26 PM Originally posted by Teltharis

Ranger6/Wizard3/Arcane5

[deleted]

edit oops, forgot the BAB req.

how about fighter 4 => wizard 4=> AA 10 =>more wizard or fighter?

Besides,am iI allowed to take more than 10 lvs of AA? I also found vampiric touch nice to have if I just dip 2 levels into AA and advance in wizard level. Could I imbue that spell into an arrow?(I just don't know what the 'area spell' in to imbue arrow desc means)
RaptorMax
08-07-04, 04:13 PM You may take more than 10 levels of arcane archer starting a t level 21, not before. It is actually nicely detailed for you in the epic level handbook.
catharz
08-07-04, 05:10 PM If you can't get spell storing arrows, two levels of arcane archer can be worthwhile. Any more is a waste of time--1/day abilities, and limited GMW ability? you can cast that anyway!

The PrC might have actually been decent if they had given a 1/2-2/3 spellcasting progression (still a 2 level dip). If they have given it a 9/10 casting progression, it actually wold have been good.

IMO the absolute best use is a tw-level dip for a Telflammar Shadowlord or Assassin (or other arcane spellcasting rogue/ranger): Pump your UMD and get a Staff of Vampyric touch. Then
1)Imbue arrows with Vamp touch.
2) Shoot at your enemies with Hunter's mercy/Vamp touch arrows.
3) Dimension door in and execute full melee attacks to clean up survivors.
4) Go "Muahahahaha."
SaintX
08-07-04, 05:13 PM hexblade 4
(fighter 2 if half-elf) or (ranger 2 if wood elf)
arcane archer 9
X 5
buy a nice big fancy bow without any additional enhancement bonus. all of that comes from the enhance arrow ability.
collision is a +2 market valus increase that adds 5 damage. from XPH. knockback, exit wound, and explosive are a nice combo.
mix and match until you find something you like.
Orkz
08-07-04, 05:20 PM I am playing a wannabe AA right now:

Half-Elf Rogue 3 / Fighter 1 / Monk 1 / Sorcerer 1
going to take 3 more levels in Rogue to qualify as AA and then straight 10 Levels AA.

Spell Pick's Sorcerer1:
0-Lv: Light / Mage Hand / Detect Magic / Ghost Sound
1-Lv: True Shot, Shield, Change Self (Bonus Spell)

The Spells are all rather usefull for Rogue and archer types i think.

The Monk Level is there to grant some aditional AC and be able to fight unarmed. (got a WIS bonus of +3 so why wear armour?)

The Fighter Level makes you proficient with (Composite)Longbow, enhances BAB and grants an extra Feat.

The Rogue Levels add evasion, some d6 Sneak Attack and Uncanny Dodge... as well as a lot of Skill Points for Hide / Move Silently / Search / Listen / Spot.

Back to the Discussion: The Arcane Archer is the perfect Add-on because your Bow's can be +1 enchanted (and you shoot +5 arrows) and you can use the other Boni for something usefull... Also it's a nice ability to shoot 10 targets 1/day with your BAB.
If you add some sorcere Levels later, you can use your arrows to deliver awsome touch based spells...

just my 5 cent...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Garilario 08-07-04, 07:39 AM	req: Race: Elf or half-elf. Base Attack Bonus: +6. Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow). Spells: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells. Table: The Arcane Archer Level BAB Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special 1st +1 +2 +2 +0 Enhance arrow +1 2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Imbue arrow 3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Enhance arrow +2 4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Seeker arrow 5th +5 +4 +4 +1 Enhance arrow +3 6th +6 +5 +5 +2 Phase arrow 7th +7 +5 +5 +2 Enhance arrow +4 8th +8 +6 +6 +2 Hail of arrows 9th +9 +6 +6 +3 Enhance arrow +5 10th +10 +7 +7 +3 Arrow of death Enhance Arrow (Su): At 1st level, every nonmagical arrow an arcane archer nocks and lets fly becomes magical, gaining a +1 enhancement bonus. Unlike magic weapons created by normal means, the archer need not spend experience points or gold pieces to accomplish this task. However, an archer’s magic arrows only function for her. For every two levels the character advances past 1st level in the prestige class, the magic arrows she creates gain +1 greater potency (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level, +3 at 5th level, +4 at 7th level, and +5 at 9th level). 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. I'm currently playing an elf sorcerer(Lv4) and is interested to take 2 levels or arcane archer when I meet the req. I'm not sure what spells are good for imbuing into an arrow. Is the effect worth the 3 feats req and 2 caster level? should I just take 2 levels then contiue on my sorcerer level or take full 10 levels of it?
kinglawngnome 08-07-04, 09:28 AM	one of the cool things to do with an arcane archer is to take the leadership feat, and get tons of elven bow warriors. then, at night, imbue your arrow with a simple light spell and shoot someone via your low light vision+uber high spot. then watch all the arrows fly.... another cool thing to imbue is ice storm, because 5d6 damage no save is always nice to have handy
Ranthanas 08-07-04, 09:51 AM	Avoid like the plague. The two caster levels and one spell level will always be better than the Imbue Arrow ability and the rest really aren't much use. (Arcane Archer 11 can be quite handy, but that's another issue and a Sorceror base isn't the way to get it) 2 levels can be cute as a way in to Spellsword and Eldritch Knight, but Gish are dubious at best anyway- and you're surrendering a lot of BAB. You're better off finding a PrC that adds to Sorceror casting.
Teltharis 08-07-04, 11:35 AM	for the way you are wanting it to do it, I would avoid arcane archer, I made one a while back and it was nasty. Ranger6/Wizard3/Arcane5 I loved it. Awesome Archer, rarely used the imbue thing though. The light spell was what I used it for mostly. I would sometimes get scrolls of darkness and use that. I would also get the party wizard to make me scrolls of a sonic fireball and then i would imbue the arrows with that, EL KABOOM!! That character was an awesome Drow Smiter. He had a +1 Holy Keen Composite Longbow(STR +3) and Greater Bracers of Archery. Frickin awesome against drow, really good against anything else. Before he got retired I was contemplating going for the Order of The Bow Initiate class. A Manyshot with the Precise Strike, OUCH(btw, is that possible, I can't remember if it is)
LeePriest 08-07-04, 01:28 PM	What do the rest of those do? Seeker arrow and so on...
Frosty The Snowman 08-07-04, 01:45 PM	Teltharis, You can't combine Manyshot with Ranged Precision (OotBI 3.5) as both are standard actions. Generally speaking the OotBI 3.5 is not worth taking. The only significant ability it grants is Close Combat Shot and there are better ways IMO to get it. (Exotic Weapon Master) -Frosty
jus10 08-07-04, 02:21 PM	i had made an arcane archer once, he was pretty good at dishing out damage, but it was because of the bow and arrow selection not fromt he arcane archer class... i like the arcane archer class but it is sort of weak, if nothing else it does save money on buying arrows, since my DM does DR by arrow enchantment instead of bow enchantment it saved alot of gold not having to put the full +5 on the arrows i used. Also being able to make your arrows auto +5 you can put more enchntments on your arrows...but thats really the only benefit. I always tought of fixing that PrC...but i wouldnt kno how to go about doing it, maybe if Phase arrow ignored Armor...meh who knows.
Garilario 08-07-04, 02:26 PM	Originally posted by Teltharis Ranger6/Wizard3/Arcane5 [deleted] edit oops, forgot the BAB req. how about fighter 4 => wizard 4=> AA 10 =>more wizard or fighter? Besides,am iI allowed to take more than 10 lvs of AA? I also found vampiric touch nice to have if I just dip 2 levels into AA and advance in wizard level. Could I imbue that spell into an arrow?(I just don't know what the 'area spell' in to imbue arrow desc means)
RaptorMax 08-07-04, 04:13 PM	You may take more than 10 levels of arcane archer starting a t level 21, not before. It is actually nicely detailed for you in the epic level handbook.
catharz 08-07-04, 05:10 PM	If you can't get spell storing arrows, two levels of arcane archer can be worthwhile. Any more is a waste of time--1/day abilities, and limited GMW ability? you can cast that anyway! The PrC might have actually been decent if they had given a 1/2-2/3 spellcasting progression (still a 2 level dip). If they have given it a 9/10 casting progression, it actually wold have been good. IMO the absolute best use is a tw-level dip for a Telflammar Shadowlord or Assassin (or other arcane spellcasting rogue/ranger): Pump your UMD and get a Staff of Vampyric touch. Then 1)Imbue arrows with Vamp touch. 2) Shoot at your enemies with Hunter's mercy/Vamp touch arrows. 3) Dimension door in and execute full melee attacks to clean up survivors. 4) Go "Muahahahaha."
SaintX 08-07-04, 05:13 PM	hexblade 4 (fighter 2 if half-elf) or (ranger 2 if wood elf) arcane archer 9 X 5 buy a nice big fancy bow without any additional enhancement bonus. all of that comes from the enhance arrow ability. collision is a +2 market valus increase that adds 5 damage. from XPH. knockback, exit wound, and explosive are a nice combo. mix and match until you find something you like.
Orkz 08-07-04, 05:20 PM	I am playing a wannabe AA right now: Half-Elf Rogue 3 / Fighter 1 / Monk 1 / Sorcerer 1 going to take 3 more levels in Rogue to qualify as AA and then straight 10 Levels AA. Spell Pick's Sorcerer1: 0-Lv: Light / Mage Hand / Detect Magic / Ghost Sound 1-Lv: True Shot, Shield, Change Self (Bonus Spell) The Spells are all rather usefull for Rogue and archer types i think. The Monk Level is there to grant some aditional AC and be able to fight unarmed. (got a WIS bonus of +3 so why wear armour?) The Fighter Level makes you proficient with (Composite)Longbow, enhances BAB and grants an extra Feat. The Rogue Levels add evasion, some d6 Sneak Attack and Uncanny Dodge... as well as a lot of Skill Points for Hide / Move Silently / Search / Listen / Spot. Back to the Discussion: The Arcane Archer is the perfect Add-on because your Bow's can be +1 enchanted (and you shoot +5 arrows) and you can use the other Boni for something usefull... Also it's a nice ability to shoot 10 targets 1/day with your BAB. If you add some sorcere Levels later, you can use your arrows to deliver awsome touch based spells... just my 5 cent...