Bard/Arcane Archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard/Arcane Archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
boatmanj
04-06-07, 05:19 PM Would a bard make a good arcane archer?
Jaxgaret
04-06-07, 05:30 PM A Bard8/ArcaneArcher2/SublimeChord1/EK9 is not bad.

Feel free to replace the EK levels with Abjurant Champion or other better PrCs.
StevenO
04-06-07, 06:34 PM It depends on what exactly you want. I don't think the Bard is a terrible class to use to meet the prereqs I also think is is far from ideal. If you want to focus on ranged attacks you should want some of the martial classes. If you want to continue focusing on the things a bard does well the AA doesn't help much as it doesn't even have perform.

Perhaps more than some other combinations I think a Bard-Arcane Archer should only plan on dipping into one or the other. The AA can use Bard for the spellcasting requirements while a Bard can use level is AA for the enhanced arrow and possibly even imbue arrow.

Although the video game has limitations and doesn't follow the printed rules so well I had a lot of luck with a Bard/Shadowdancer/Arcane Archer in Neverwinter Nights.
boatmanj
04-06-07, 07:03 PM I'm looking to make a good archer while still having some versatility. I'm certain my group in the campaign we're getting ready to start is going to be lacking a good healer, so I could back some of that up with bard. I think the minimum level I can be as a bard to move into AA is level 8 (if i get the required feats right away). At that point I'd probably quit getting Bard, does it seem like there'd still be enough benefits in Bard at that time or would it be better to wait? I really like the bardic music/knowledge stuff.. Seems handy and i've never got a good chance to play a bard.

The other idea would was Ranger/Wizard/Arcane Archer.. Which seems betteR?
Jaxgaret
04-07-07, 01:58 AM The Imbue Arrow ability is all you really need from the Arcane Archer, the rest of the class is pretty poor as far as I've heard.

So you want to get something good to Imbue your arrows with, you're not going to get that with straight Bard. So you go Sublime Chord to get access to Sorcerer spells.

Now, Sublime Chord has poor BAB. That's not cool if you're going to be a good archer, right? So use Eldritch Knight, or Abjurant Champion or other PrCs that grant full or close to full spellcasting and Full BAB to round out the character.

Ahem. Put that all together, and you get: the same Bard8/ArcaneArcher2/SublimeChord1/EK9 build I posted before.

There's really much better routes to go if you want to have a good archer character. If you have your heart set on an Arcane Archer, just go for it and have fun! You won't be doing it for optimization purposes, after all. Bards are fun characters, too, and can be quite good, useful party members, despite what some naysayers will tell you. I like playing them as much as Clerics, and that's saying something. Clerics own.
boatmanj
04-07-07, 05:14 PM What are some other good archery prcs?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
boatmanj 04-06-07, 05:19 PM	Would a bard make a good arcane archer?
Jaxgaret 04-06-07, 05:30 PM	A Bard8/ArcaneArcher2/SublimeChord1/EK9 is not bad. Feel free to replace the EK levels with Abjurant Champion or other better PrCs.
StevenO 04-06-07, 06:34 PM	It depends on what exactly you want. I don't think the Bard is a terrible class to use to meet the prereqs I also think is is far from ideal. If you want to focus on ranged attacks you should want some of the martial classes. If you want to continue focusing on the things a bard does well the AA doesn't help much as it doesn't even have perform. Perhaps more than some other combinations I think a Bard-Arcane Archer should only plan on dipping into one or the other. The AA can use Bard for the spellcasting requirements while a Bard can use level is AA for the enhanced arrow and possibly even imbue arrow. Although the video game has limitations and doesn't follow the printed rules so well I had a lot of luck with a Bard/Shadowdancer/Arcane Archer in Neverwinter Nights.
boatmanj 04-06-07, 07:03 PM	I'm looking to make a good archer while still having some versatility. I'm certain my group in the campaign we're getting ready to start is going to be lacking a good healer, so I could back some of that up with bard. I think the minimum level I can be as a bard to move into AA is level 8 (if i get the required feats right away). At that point I'd probably quit getting Bard, does it seem like there'd still be enough benefits in Bard at that time or would it be better to wait? I really like the bardic music/knowledge stuff.. Seems handy and i've never got a good chance to play a bard. The other idea would was Ranger/Wizard/Arcane Archer.. Which seems betteR?
Jaxgaret 04-07-07, 01:58 AM	The Imbue Arrow ability is all you really need from the Arcane Archer, the rest of the class is pretty poor as far as I've heard. So you want to get something good to Imbue your arrows with, you're not going to get that with straight Bard. So you go Sublime Chord to get access to Sorcerer spells. Now, Sublime Chord has poor BAB. That's not cool if you're going to be a good archer, right? So use Eldritch Knight, or Abjurant Champion or other PrCs that grant full or close to full spellcasting and Full BAB to round out the character. Ahem. Put that all together, and you get: the same Bard8/ArcaneArcher2/SublimeChord1/EK9 build I posted before. There's really much better routes to go if you want to have a good archer character. If you have your heart set on an Arcane Archer, just go for it and have fun! You won't be doing it for optimization purposes, after all. Bards are fun characters, too, and can be quite good, useful party members, despite what some naysayers will tell you. I like playing them as much as Clerics, and that's saying something. Clerics own.
boatmanj 04-07-07, 05:14 PM	What are some other good archery prcs?