heres the catch for this build. we need a bab of 6 and we are only going to level 10. our campaign is uber slow leveling so getting this 6 bab is a pain.
heres one thing we have going for us. our dm has homebrewed some "power races" we are only allowed to use these but if you guys could see them you would never use anything else. anyways the race he is using has 2 racial hit dice but each of these hit dice come packed full of goodness. so he gets progression in his casting class of choice and +2 bab for 2 hit dice.
so at creation we are looking at this for a 10th level character
+2 casting level spells and everything
+2 bab
+1 bonus feat
+a ton of stuff you dont need to know.
what he likes is sorcerer (god only knows why)
i want to help him out i have my idea but im looking for anyone elses. the plan is to get as many levels of arcane archer (pathfinder version) as possible in before level 10 without losing all spell progression i.e. sorcerer level1 / racial level 2/ fighter 4/ arcane archer 3. though if i was playing this is probably what id go with hes wanting something different. ive looked at prcs that give bab and spell progression like abjurant champion but they require bab 5 to get into so its just a dip at that point. if anyone has any ideas please post i apprecaite it id like to take a few routes to him b4 we play next.
Cleric with Zen Archery feat. Prestige however you want. Be an Elf. Take the War and Elf domain, and prepare divine power a bunch. You get full BAB now. If you think you can work it, go ahead and try for DMM for persisting Divine Power, but you probably won't have enough feats.
Not nearly as familiar with PF as I am with 3.X, but in a brief overview their AA looks better than 3.5, but still awful.
Racial 2/Cleric 8 is probably a solid build. Again, prestige as you feel like.
You can now cast in armor, buff yourself all day long with some of the best buffs in the game, you can use your casting stat to hit, and you essentially have full BAB. If he bucks and swears it isn't arcane enough, swap war or elf domain for magic domain.
Racial HD 2 / sorcerer 2 / fighter 1 / spellsword 1 / abjurant champion 1 / arcane archer 3? That gets you casting as an 8th level sorcerer and base attack bonus +9.
we dont allow items or spells fill our prerequisites for prcs.
What items or spells are you using in my build to fill prereq's for prestiges classes?
I didn't even specify prestige classes.
Example level 20 build: Racial 2/Cleric 18. If you want to prestige take only ones that advance casting at every level.
Do not take levels in arcane archer, because it is terrible and this build does everything it can do, without the heaping piles of suck.
we dont allow items or spells fill our prerequisites for prcs.What items or spells are you using in my build to fill prereq's for prestiges classes?
I didn't even specify prestige classes.
Example level 20 build: Racial 2/Cleric 18. If you want to prestige take only ones that advance casting at every level.
Do not take levels in arcane archer, because it is terrible and this build does everything it can do, without the heaping piles of suck.
you have completely missed the point of this exercise in my opeing line i explained that i personally dont like the prestige class. i have a friend that SPECIFICALLY wants to play an arcane archer. if all i wanted was a strong ranged attacker id have gone evoker. if all i wanted was a powerful character id have skipped this completely. he wants an arcane archer of some kind requirments are you only have 10 levels to get as far into the prc as you can. and divine power cannot be used to gain access into prcs that was the spell or ability i was referring to.
thanks for your input but kinda missing the point of this thread.
Racial HD 2 / sorcerer 2 / fighter 1 / spellsword 1 / abjurant champion 1 / arcane archer 3? That gets you casting as an 8th level sorcerer and base attack bonus +9.
i like this i was aroudn the same idea using eldritch knight. this kind or response was the purpose for this post more like this would be appreciated.
You kind of missed my point.
Take your friend aside and tell them "The arcane archer class is terribly underpowered. Here is a comparable build that will do exactly what you want, without blowing."
i didnt miss your point but you have missed mine. im trying to optimize
Nephril...can you post the requierments and abilities of the arcane archer in pathfinder? Or is it the same as the 3.5 DMG version? This would help us who don't use the pathfinder system
www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classe...
gotta love srd sites.
Racial HD 2/Sorcerer 1/Warblade 4/Arcane Archer 3
A lot of the maneuvers and stances are spell-like in flavor, and his non-Warblade levels will still help him gain more cool tricks, albeit slower than a single class martial adept.
Alternatively, something like this may be interesting:
Racial HD 2/Hexblade 4/Arcane Archer 4
His spellcasting won't be great, but his full BAB will make for a competent archer character.
How about something like this?
Racial HD 2/Sorcerer 1/Warblade 4/Arcane Archer 3
A lot of the maneuvers and stances are spell-like in flavor, and his non-Warblade levels will still help him gain more cool tricks, albeit slower than a single class martial adept.
Alternatively, something like this may be interesting:
Racial HD 2/Hexblade 4/Arcane Archer 4
His spellcasting won't be great, but his full BAB will make for a competent archer character.
both of these are good ideas the only problems im seeing with them is:
in your first you are going to walk out knowing only 2nd level spells and having a total cl of 5. i do like the maneuvers and had considered a dip in here for the bab progression as well.
in the second the main problem i am seeing is that the majority of the hexblades spells are buffs for himself so imbuing those into an arrow makes no real sense there by losing the big bonus to having an arcane archer. but i did also follow down this path the hexblade has always been a fun class to play thanks for your input.
both of these are good ideas the only problems im seeing with them is:
in your first you are going to walk out knowing only 2nd level spells and having a total cl of 5. i do like the maneuvers and had considered a dip in here for the bab progression as well.
in the second the main problem i am seeing is that the majority of the hexblades spells are buffs for himself so imbuing those into an arrow makes no real sense there by losing the big bonus to having an arcane archer. but i did also follow down this path the hexblade has always been a fun class to play thanks for your input.
The Hexblade build seems decent to me. Shove a Tasha's Hideous Laughter into the arrow. The target falls to the ground laughing. It's a Save-Or-Lose effect, plus DD. At higher levels he can shove such spells like Summon Swarm, Dispel Magic, Deep Slumber, and Baleful Polymorph into his arrows.
It's at least a more solid build than using Sorcerer for the casting class.
Racial hit die 2
Battle sorcerer 4
Insert presteige class here.
Arcane archer 3
Duskblade idea is really good. Wonder if your dm will let him arcane chanel with arrows. :p
bab 9 casting 10
anyways - I would walk strongly on the "high dex = good hitting" path:
strangebutcoolhitdice2/ranger3/wildrunner2/AA3and remainder
ranger 3 is mainly for reqs for wildrunner and rapidshot ... the casting those two hitdice provide should be sorc (hence the CHA-synergy with wildrunner)
primal scream will give the guy +6 DEX and +2 STR, both unnamed, lasts for 3+CON rounds and can be used CHA times per day ... and as a little bonus it gives him a bite attack he can use to threaten nearby quares
To optimize, you choose the better of two options. What you are doing is optimizing within a certain limit. That limit is "I want to use this class" even when certain options are presented and far superior.
He says "I want an arcane archer" you say "That stupid do this" he says "I really want to do it, make me a character" and at that point you can literally say "OK fine and present Racial 2/Fighter 2/Sorc 4/Arcane Archer 10/Sorcerer 2" as your answer without feeling obliged to do more.
I'd also consider Racial 2/Warblade 2/Battle Sorc 3/Arcane Archer 10/Jade Pheonix Mage 3.
the character is now finished what we ended up going with was
sorc 2, racial 2, spellsword 1, abjurant champion 2, arcane archer 3. this gave us a great blend of versatility and functionality. while staying true to arcane archer. we have a good ac using the abjurant champion to cast our shield but went with a set of light armor (allowed by spellsword) with a bonus enhancement on it. we also progressed to level 3 arcane archer which is what i believe to be teh best ability the class gets. they now give all arrows 1d6+1 elemental damage. we took feats that worked with the build items that worked for the build and were vary satisfied with it in the end.
if anyone has a more fun way of doing this im still checking in here to read up on all the other posts. but please dont waste time with telling me that another prc or a base class is superior as i have explained I KNOW THIS he wanted to play an arcane archer dont know why dont really care he is a player it is a game and he gets to pick. with thish we have made the most of arcane archer as far as i know.
thanks go out to all previous posters that have helped us to get to this point.
unfortunately no thanks goes out to posters that suggested we ignore players desires and offered another albeit powerful option.
hell a warlock will do as much damage and do it more consistently lol. but hey its a players market and we have to give them what they want.