Arcane Archer and Bladesinger Paragon Paths

[Falling Icicle]

Here's my conversions for two of my favorite prestige classes from past editions - the Arcane Archer and Bladesinger, hopefully much improved from those I posted last year.

Arcane Archer

Arcane Archers follow an ancient elven tradition that combines archery with arcane magic. Most Arcane archers are wizards or multiclass rangers, but a few bards, sorcerers and warlocks have been known to pursue this path.

Prerequisites: Eladrin, Elf or Half-Elf, any arcane class, proficient with the longbow or shortbow

Arcane Archery (11th level): You can use a longbow or shortbow as an implement for any of your arcane powers, adding its enhancement bonus and properties (if any) to your spells. You do not gain the bow’s proficiency bonus to attack rolls when using it as an implement. If you have the Implement Mastery class feature, choose an arcane implement you are specialized in. You can use a longbow or shortbow as if it were that type of arcane implement when casting your spells.

Extra Damage Action (11th level): When you spend an action point to take an extra action, you also add one-half your level to the damage dealt by any of your standard action attacks this turn.

Projectile Spell (16th level): You can shape arcane spells into the form of arrows, allowing you to launch them long distances. When using a bow as an implement with a ranged or area arcane power, you can use the bow’s range instead of the normal range of the power. You suffer the normal -2 penalty for attacking a target at long range.

Seeker Arrow – Arcane Archer Attack 11
You enchant an arrow to animate in flight and seek your target, even flying around corners.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action – Ranged weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a longbow or shortbow
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity or Intelligence vs. AC
Special: Ignore penalties from cover, superior cover, concealment or total concealment for this attack. You do not need line of sight to the target. Only an unavoidable obstacle or the limit of the arrow’s range prevents the arrow’s flight.
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity or Intelligence modifier damage.
Special: When you gain this power, choose Dexterity or Intelligence as the ability you use when making attack rolls and damage rolls with this power.

Conjure Arrows – Arcane Archer Utility 12
You can conjure arrows from arcane energy, providing you with limitless ammunition.
At-Will * Arcane, Conjuration
Free Action – Personal
Effect: As you attack with your bow, you create an arrow from magical energy. The conjured arrow remains in existence until the start of your next turn. You can only conjure arrows as part of a ranged attack, but you can conjure any number of arrows the attack requires (in the case of powers that let you make multiple attacks).

Phase Arrow – Arcane Archer Attack 20
You enchant an arrow to become insubstantial, passing through barriers and armor.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action – Ranged weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a longbow or shortbow
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity or Intelligence vs. Reflex
Special: Ignore penalties from cover, superior cover, concealment, total concealment, and the insubstantial property for this attack. You do not need line of sight to the target. The arrow passes through any non-magical barriers in its path.
Hit: 4[W] + Dexterity or Intelligence modifier damage.
Special: When you gain this power, choose Dexterity or Intelligence as the ability you use when making attack rolls and damage rolls with this power.

Bladesinger

The bladesong style is an ancient eladrin fighting style said to be practiced by the god Corellon himself. It is as beautiful as it is deadly, appearing as more of a dance than a fighting technique. Practitioners of this style learn to blend arcane magic into their fighting techniques, gaining the ability to cast spells defensively while performing the movements of the style. Most bladesingers are swordmages or bards, but other arcane classes are not uncommon among them.

Prerequisites: Eladrin, Elf or Half-Elf, any arcane class, proficient with the longsword

Corellon’s Implement (11th level): You can use a longsword as an implement with any of your arcane powers, adding its enhancement bonus and properties (if any) to your spells. You do not gain the longsword’s proficiency bonus to attack rolls when using it as an implement. If you have the Implement Mastery class feature, choose an arcane implement you are specialized in. You can use a longsword as if it were that type of arcane implement when casting your spells.

Bladesong Style (11th level): While wearing light or no armor and wielding a longsword in one hand and nothing in the other, you gain a +2 shield bonus to AC and Reflex defense.

Bladesong Action (11th level): When you spend an action point to take an extra action, you also gain a +4 bonus to attack rolls until the start of your next turn.

Spellsong (16th level): While wearing light or no armor and wielding a longsword in one hand and nothing in the other, you do not provoke opportunity attacks for using ranged or area arcane powers.

Song of Celerity – Bladesinger Attack 11
You blend a sword dance and spellcasting into a single, harmonious action.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action – Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wearing light or no armor and wielding a longsword in one hand and nothing in the other.
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity or Intelligence vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity or Intelligence modifier damage.
Effect: You can use an at-will arcane attack power you know as a free action immediately after resolving this attack. You do not provoke an opportunity attack for this use of the power.
Special: When you gain this power, choose Dexterity or Intelligence as the ability you use when making attack rolls and damage rolls with this power.

Song of Alacrity – Bladesinger Utility 12
You focus your mind on the movements of your sword and dance, bringing your intentions and actions into perfect harmony.
Encounter * Arcane
Free Action – Personal
Requirement: You must be wearing light or no armor and wielding a longsword in one hand and nothing in the other.
Effect: You add your Intelligence bonus to an attack roll you make with a longsword or arcane power or to your AC and Defenses against an attack. You must declare the use of this bonus prior to making the attack roll, or before the DM determines damage, if you are using it to defend against an attack.

Song of Fury – Bladesinger Attack 20
The motions of your sword dance accelerate into a blur as you unleash all the fury of the fey realms.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action – Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wearing light or no armor and wielding a longsword in one hand and nothing in the other.
Target: One or more creatures
Attack: Dexterity or Intelligence vs. AC, make five attacks, each against the same target or divided among multiple targets, as desired.
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity or Intelligence modifier damage per attack
Special: When you gain this power, choose Dexterity or Intelligence as the ability you use when making attack rolls and damage rolls with this power.

[EDIT] Changed the damage on Phase Arrow from 5[W] to 4[W] and the damage on Song of Celerity from 2[W] to 1[W]. Changed Song of Alacrity from a minor action to a free action.

 

[Nurgle84]

The damage on the Level 20 daily of the Arcane Archer is a bit to high. 4[W] is the normal damage for such a power, sometimes with a 5[W] for special circumstances. (for example the giantslayer deals 5[w] versus large targets with his Level 20 daily.) I can see why this arrow is hitting Ref, ignoring cover and all that, but why does it ignore concealment and Line of Sight? In this version its just a better Seeker Arrow. Why not making both distinct? Except this, the PP is very nice. (Little thing: Are you able to deal Half-Level extra damage on one attack or all attacks made in the next round. My english is sometimes lacking a bit.)

The Bladesinger has some problems. First the Bladesong style. As I remember, there is no shield bonus in 4th Ed. Make it, that it does not stack with the Swordmages Shield or it would make his AC extremely high. Then the bladesong action. We all know how powerful the +4 to hit for a round is, thats probably the reason I see it on most homebrew PPs. Why not changing it into something with more style? Like free thunder damage to all enemies adjacent, giving a free move action, increasing your reach for a round or something. Spellsong is excellent. Song of Celerity: I would reduce the damage to 1[W]. This attack gives you more or less a free attack every encounter, so a reduced damage would put in on par with the other Level 11 attacks. From Level 21 on, the Level 11 PP Attacks are more or less a basic attack with a small bonus, the song of celerity in this form is basically two basic attacks from Level 21 on.
Song of Alacrity has to problems: First, you can´t use a minor action in the opponents turn, so you would never be able to use it for defense. Second, an Int bonus to AC as an encounter that can be activated after the attack roll of the opponent is a free miss every encounter. Make it a free action, so it can be used defensively but make it clear, that the attack bonus as well as the defensive bonus has to be announced before the attack. Song of Fury is ok I think. As an encounter it would be broken, as a daily its powerful but not to much. Maybe make it 4 attacks but add Dex and Int to the damage.

 

[Falling Icicle]

The damage on the Level 20 daily of the Arcane Archer is a bit to high. 4[W] is the normal damage for such a power, sometimes with a 5[W] for special circumstances. (for example the giantslayer deals 5[w] versus large targets with his Level 20 daily.)

Alright, I'll lower it to 4[W] damage.

I can see why this arrow is hitting Ref, ignoring cover and all that, but why does it ignore concealment and Line of Sight? In this version its just a better Seeker Arrow. Why not making both distinct?

I basically converted them from how they worked in 3e. I figured it would ignore line of sight because you can shoot people that are behind walls and such. As for making them more distinct, they were always pretty similar to each other. I'm certainly willing to entertain suggestions on how to make them more distinct, though.

Except this, the PP is very nice. (Little thing: Are you able to deal Half-Level extra damage on one attack or all attacks made in the next round. My english is sometimes lacking a bit.)

All standard action attacks you make until your next turn. This is identical to a few other paragon paths I've seen, such as the Storm Mage. And your english is very good.

The Bladesinger has some problems. First the Bladesong style. As I remember, there is no shield bonus in 4th Ed. Make it, that it does not stack with the Swordmages Shield or it would make his AC extremely high.

The bonus is there to compensate for the style's limitation of using a one-handed weapon and nothing else. A swordmage could otherwise use a shield, so his AC is not going to be higher than a swordmage's. And there are many weapons out there much more powerful than a longsword.

Then the bladesong action. We all know how powerful the +4 to hit for a round is, thats probably the reason I see it on most homebrew PPs. Why not changing it into something with more style?

I noticed other paragon paths that had this feature, and honestly I picked it because I couldn't think of anything else.

Like free thunder damage to all enemies adjacent, giving a free move action, increasing your reach for a round or something.

Those are some interesting ideas. I'll have to think on it more.

Spellsong is excellent. Song of Celerity: I would reduce the damage to 1[W]. This attack gives you more or less a free attack every encounter, so a reduced damage would put in on par with the other Level 11 attacks. From Level 21 on, the Level 11 PP Attacks are more or less a basic attack with a small bonus, the song of celerity in this form is basically two basic attacks from Level 21 on.

I will lower the damage to 1[W] as you suggested.

Song of Alacrity has to problems: First, you can´t use a minor action in the opponents turn, so you would never be able to use it for defense. Second, an Int bonus to AC as an encounter that can be activated after the attack roll of the opponent is a free miss every encounter. Make it a free action, so it can be used defensively but make it clear, that the attack bonus as well as the defensive bonus has to be announced before the attack.

Oops! You're right, it's supposed to be a free action. The minor action part was a holdover from when it was a stance ability. As for announcing the bonus before the attack, I didn't want to do that for the defensive part because other such abilities, like Staff of Defense and Shield, let you announce it after the attack has been made.

Song of Fury is ok I think. As an encounter it would be broken, as a daily its powerful but not to much. Maybe make it 4 attacks but add Dex and Int to the damage.

4 attacks with both Dex and Int damage would be more powerful than it is now.

Thanks for all of your insights. They were very helpful.

 

[Kinneus]

The bonus is there to compensate for the style's limitation of using a one-handed weapon and nothing else. A swordmage could otherwise use a shield, so his AC is not going to be higher than a swordmage's. And there are many weapons out there much more powerful than a longsword.

Sorry, but I also feel the bonus is too high. Particularly for Swordmages. Compare it to Coronal Guard, a Swordmage prestige class that is widely considered one of the better ones. At level 16, the Swordmage's warding increases by one point, giving them +1 AC. Your class, though, gives them +2 Reflex and AC at level 11. Keep in mind that Swordmages already have some of the highest AC of any class... +2 from Leather Armor or +3 from Hide, +2 or +3 from the Armor's Enhancement Bonus, +5 or +6 from their high Intelligence, and +3 from their Swordmage's Warding class feature.

That's 26 to 29 AC at level 11... do you really want to give a class with already-excellent AC and Reflex a big bonus for doing what they already naturally do?

I'd recommend dropping it to a +1 bonus to AC and Reflex, if even that. Maybe even just a +1 to AC, like the Coronal Guard. They'll still get it five levels earlier.

Arcane Archer looks sweet. I kind of want to play one.I especially like their utility; not likely to have much impact on gameplay, but very flavorful. You might want to consider changing the 'Dexterity or Intelligence' powers to include Charisma, to open the class up to Sorcerers, Bards and Warlocks a little more.

 

[Nurgle84]

Another little Idea for the Song of Celerity: Give it a lets say Shift 3 before the at-Will attack. This would make this attack more or less into a carrier to bring the second Attack to the place were you need it. Without its just more damage. But damage with style is better

 

[ppaladin123]

Arcane Power has the "Euphonic Bow" paragon path that lets you use a bow as an implement for all arcane powers (and you can increase the range of your spells to the bow's range). The bard also gets a lot of new ranged weapon powers. This looks like 4e's version of the arcane archer.

If you want to use your paragon path anyway you can probably read its features to get a sense of how to balance your home-brewed class.

Hope this helps.