Ranged spellsword? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ranged spellsword? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Drag0nUL
08-20-07, 08:09 PM I have this idea for a character for a new campaign that I am about to play in: an elf that combines the mastery of arcane arts with the mastery of the bow.
So I went to my collection of books and started looking for Prestige Classes to build this guy. Arcane Archer had the right flavor but pretty crappy mechanics. Spellsword was melee only and Eldritch Knight/Abjurant Champion lacked one of the thing I wanted this guy to be able to do(channel spells through arrows).

So I set up to design my own prestige class, based around the spellsword with a couple arcane archer elements.

Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Save Save Save Special
1 +1 +0 +2 +2 Enhance Arrow +1, +1 spellcasting level
2 +2 +0 +3 +3 Channel spell 2/day
3 +3 +1 +3 +3 Enhance Arrow +2, +1 spellcasting level
4 +4 +1 +4 +4 Channel spell 3/day
5 +5 +1 +4 +4 Enhance Arrow +3, +1 spellcasting level
6 +6 +2 +5 +5 Channel spell 4/day
7 +7 +2 +5 +5 Enhance Arrow +4, +1 spellcasting level
8 +8 +2 +6 +6 Channel spell 5/day
9 +9 +3 +6 +6 Enhance Arrow +5, +1 spellcasting level
10 +10 +3 +7 +7 Rain of death

Rain of death Once per day, the character can pick a single spell ; he can then shoot an arrow at each enemy in range. each arrow channels the selected spell.

This is my first attempt at building a class so I want to ask you what you think about it.

Is this class overpowered or is it too weak?
StevenO
08-20-07, 08:33 PM Forgive the sarcasm but "Wow, another spellcasting arcane archer." I know many people like saying how much better the Greater Magic Weapon spell is compared to the AA's enhance arrow ability but I believe it is a valuable ability.

Now with this class still has problems. How does Channel Spell work here? If it works here like the Spellsword you haven't gained anything except the AA's signature feature. If you can Channel Spells into your ranged you should just change the feature in the Spellsword to do the same.

It may be your level 10 ability but "Rain of Death" is ungodly powerful and will likely live up to the title. Do you realize they capped the number of targets for the similiar ability of the AA as you could now wipe out thousands of stronger units with that ability. Besides targetting so many creatures you it also function as metamagic that will copy any spell to any number of targets; imagine a thousand arrows all containing Finger of Death or Disintegrate and you should see why this is problematic.

My recommendation is to just get that two level dip into Arcane Archer for the Imbue Arrow ability which is all that class really offers a spellcaster. If that doesn't work then start off with the edit to the Spellsword's Channel Spell ability allowing it to work with ranged weapons as well.
Drag0nUL
08-21-07, 05:02 AM Forgive the sarcasm but "Wow, another spellcasting arcane archer." I know many people like saying how much better the Greater Magic Weapon spell is compared to the AA's enhance arrow ability but I believe it is a valuable ability.

I didn't claim this class to be original. Just something I needed.

Now with this class still has problems. How does Channel Spell work here? If it works here like the Spellsword you haven't gained anything except the AA's signature feature. If you can Channel Spells into your ranged you should just change the feature in the Spellsword to do the same.

It may be your level 10 ability but "Rain of Death" is ungodly powerful and will likely live up to the title. Do you realize they capped the number of targets for the similiar ability of the AA as you could now wipe out thousands of stronger units with that ability. Besides targetting so many creatures you it also function as metamagic that will copy any spell to any number of targets; imagine a thousand arrows all containing Finger of Death or Disintegrate and you should see why this is problematic.

Must have been a bit too tired yesterday.
I meant Channel Spell for ranged weapons. Still I have my doubts about 5/day being too little...with haste+rapid shot you can expend all your channels for the day. And how do you think Channel Spell should work in conjunction with Manyshot? Should all arrows get the benefit for the channel or only the first one?
As for Rain of Death, since I thought about this class for my own use never foresaw any circumstance in which I would go over a reasonable number of targets. Still, if I have to limit it, how does it sound a number of targets equal to Int bonus (minim 1)?

My recommendation is to just get that two level dip into Arcane Archer for the Imbue Arrow ability which is all that class really offers a spellcaster. If that doesn't work then start off with the edit to the Spellsword's Channel Spell ability allowing it to work with ranged weapons as well.

What i don't like about Imbue arrow is that it only allows area spells. But if I can't get this class working seems this is the only solution.

Nevertheless, thanks for your comments.
StevenO
08-21-07, 02:03 PM To specifically address the questions:
Channel Spell (ranged) should either be a standard action which limits it to one arrow per turn because you couldn't use Manyshot or would definitely be limited to the first arrow if it is allowed with Manyshot.

The AA ability to target multiple creatures is limited in number to its class level. If you allow one spell to channel into all of those arrows it is still too powerful at one target per two class levels. I wouldn't like linking it to a stat modifier because that can radically change how useful it is when comparing character; a "wizard" type would certainly have a higher Int while a "sorcerer" type may not have any Int bonus but should be just a capable of using this class as the wizard type.

As for Channels per day I wouldn't recommend increasing it. Sure you can blow them all quickly but the same is true for the Spellsword's channel ability.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drag0nUL 08-20-07, 08:09 PM	I have this idea for a character for a new campaign that I am about to play in: an elf that combines the mastery of arcane arts with the mastery of the bow. So I went to my collection of books and started looking for Prestige Classes to build this guy. Arcane Archer had the right flavor but pretty crappy mechanics. Spellsword was melee only and Eldritch Knight/Abjurant Champion lacked one of the thing I wanted this guy to be able to do(channel spells through arrows). So I set up to design my own prestige class, based around the spellsword with a couple arcane archer elements. Base Fort Ref Will Level Attack Save Save Save Special 1 +1 +0 +2 +2 Enhance Arrow +1, +1 spellcasting level 2 +2 +0 +3 +3 Channel spell 2/day 3 +3 +1 +3 +3 Enhance Arrow +2, +1 spellcasting level 4 +4 +1 +4 +4 Channel spell 3/day 5 +5 +1 +4 +4 Enhance Arrow +3, +1 spellcasting level 6 +6 +2 +5 +5 Channel spell 4/day 7 +7 +2 +5 +5 Enhance Arrow +4, +1 spellcasting level 8 +8 +2 +6 +6 Channel spell 5/day 9 +9 +3 +6 +6 Enhance Arrow +5, +1 spellcasting level 10 +10 +3 +7 +7 Rain of death Rain of death Once per day, the character can pick a single spell ; he can then shoot an arrow at each enemy in range. each arrow channels the selected spell. This is my first attempt at building a class so I want to ask you what you think about it. Is this class overpowered or is it too weak?
StevenO 08-20-07, 08:33 PM	Forgive the sarcasm but "Wow, another spellcasting arcane archer." I know many people like saying how much better the Greater Magic Weapon spell is compared to the AA's enhance arrow ability but I believe it is a valuable ability. Now with this class still has problems. How does Channel Spell work here? If it works here like the Spellsword you haven't gained anything except the AA's signature feature. If you can Channel Spells into your ranged you should just change the feature in the Spellsword to do the same. It may be your level 10 ability but "Rain of Death" is ungodly powerful and will likely live up to the title. Do you realize they capped the number of targets for the similiar ability of the AA as you could now wipe out thousands of stronger units with that ability. Besides targetting so many creatures you it also function as metamagic that will copy any spell to any number of targets; imagine a thousand arrows all containing Finger of Death or Disintegrate and you should see why this is problematic. My recommendation is to just get that two level dip into Arcane Archer for the Imbue Arrow ability which is all that class really offers a spellcaster. If that doesn't work then start off with the edit to the Spellsword's Channel Spell ability allowing it to work with ranged weapons as well.
Drag0nUL 08-21-07, 05:02 AM	Forgive the sarcasm but "Wow, another spellcasting arcane archer." I know many people like saying how much better the Greater Magic Weapon spell is compared to the AA's enhance arrow ability but I believe it is a valuable ability. I didn't claim this class to be original. Just something I needed. Now with this class still has problems. How does Channel Spell work here? If it works here like the Spellsword you haven't gained anything except the AA's signature feature. If you can Channel Spells into your ranged you should just change the feature in the Spellsword to do the same. It may be your level 10 ability but "Rain of Death" is ungodly powerful and will likely live up to the title. Do you realize they capped the number of targets for the similiar ability of the AA as you could now wipe out thousands of stronger units with that ability. Besides targetting so many creatures you it also function as metamagic that will copy any spell to any number of targets; imagine a thousand arrows all containing Finger of Death or Disintegrate and you should see why this is problematic. Must have been a bit too tired yesterday. I meant Channel Spell for ranged weapons. Still I have my doubts about 5/day being too little...with haste+rapid shot you can expend all your channels for the day. And how do you think Channel Spell should work in conjunction with Manyshot? Should all arrows get the benefit for the channel or only the first one? As for Rain of Death, since I thought about this class for my own use never foresaw any circumstance in which I would go over a reasonable number of targets. Still, if I have to limit it, how does it sound a number of targets equal to Int bonus (minim 1)? My recommendation is to just get that two level dip into Arcane Archer for the Imbue Arrow ability which is all that class really offers a spellcaster. If that doesn't work then start off with the edit to the Spellsword's Channel Spell ability allowing it to work with ranged weapons as well. What i don't like about Imbue arrow is that it only allows area spells. But if I can't get this class working seems this is the only solution. Nevertheless, thanks for your comments.
StevenO 08-21-07, 02:03 PM	To specifically address the questions: Channel Spell (ranged) should either be a standard action which limits it to one arrow per turn because you couldn't use Manyshot or would definitely be limited to the first arrow if it is allowed with Manyshot. The AA ability to target multiple creatures is limited in number to its class level. If you allow one spell to channel into all of those arrows it is still too powerful at one target per two class levels. I wouldn't like linking it to a stat modifier because that can radically change how useful it is when comparing character; a "wizard" type would certainly have a higher Int while a "sorcerer" type may not have any Int bonus but should be just a capable of using this class as the wizard type. As for Channels per day I wouldn't recommend increasing it. Sure you can blow them all quickly but the same is true for the Spellsword's channel ability.