Arcane Archer as Core Class

[Angel Tarragon]

This is something I have been throwing around in my head for a couple days. Here are my thoughts on it so far.

No racial requirement. (obviously, it would be a core class)

HD: I was thinking D6 minimum.

The arcane archer gains spell levels as a wizard, but only gets access to the warmages spell list. (I'm not using warmages in my homebrew)

Would get Weapon focus (any bow), Point blank shot and Armored Mage (light) at first level.

Would get Precise shot at second level.

At third level she'd gain the ability to burn a spell slot and have it manifest as a number of magical arrows equal to half the spell slots level with a +1 bonus per 2 spell levels.

Armored Mage (medium) at 7th level

Metamagic feats at 6th, 12th, and 18th level.

Spell Bow: A class feature that would allow her to fire 'spell arrows' at her enemies. Only spells with a range of touch would be effective with this (I believe).

I just thought of this right off the top of my head: she gains the the spell advancement of a wizard, but what if the spells that she knows (from the Warmages spell list) were cast as sorcerer spells? I believe this would fit in quite nicely with the concept.

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What do you think so far? Also, what are your opinios on what other class features she would have?

 

[Kerrick]

If there's one thing the XPH taught us, it's that making core classes out of PrCs is a bad idea. Now, what I did was this - I made a class called the mageblade - just like the paladin and ranger, but for arcane spells. He gets a bonded weapon, can channel spells through it, yadda yadda, yadda. What you do is take one those and give him a bow - voila. Not quite the same, despite what people would think, and a good deal more flexible - he's not a one-trick pony like the soulblade.

 

[Khaalis]

If it were me, I would start with the Base of the Ranger class and modify it to fit the Arcane Archer class you seek.

HD, BAB, Saves: As Ranger
Spells Per Day: As Ranger but using the Sorcerer/Wizard (or Warmage) spells
Skills: As Ranger
Skill Points: Reduce to 4 to make up for the added power in class abilities.

Weapons and Armor: Proficient with all simple weapons as well as with all bows (non-cross), and with light armor but not shields.

Abilities: (18 abilities)
1 - Armored Mage (light), Weapon Focus (Bows), Point Blank Shot
2 - Rapid Shot
3 - Precise Shot
4 - Enhance Arrow +1
5 - Imbue Arrow
6 - Many Shot
7 - ---
8 - Enhance Arrow +2
9 - Seeker Arrow
10 - Evasion
11 - Improved Precise Shot
12 - Enhance Arrow +3
13 - Phase Arrow
14 - ---
15 - ---
16 - Enhance Arrow +4
17 - Hail of Arrows
18 - ---
19 - Enhance Arrow +5
20 - Arrow of Death

As compared to Ranger: (17 abilities)
1 - 1st favored enemy, Track, wild empathy
2 - Rapid Shot
3 - Endurance
4 - Animal Companion
5 - 2nd favored enemy
6 - Many Shot
7 - Woodland stride
8 - Swift tracker
9 - Evasion
10 - 3rd favored enemy
11 - Improved Precise Shot
12 - ---
13 - Camouflage
14 - ---
15 - 4th favored enemy
16 - ---
17 - Hide in plain sight
18 - ---
19 - ---
20 - 5th favored enemy

JMHO. YMMV.

 

[was]

What kind of spell progression were you considering?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

spell progression as wizard, but casts spells as a sorcerer (no material components)

 

[was]

-What then would be the primary stat for his/her saves vs. cast spells CHA. or INT.?
-I'd also like to see weapon spec. (bow) somewhere around level 6-8 followed up be close combat shot around 9th or 10th.....it's just a suggestion.....

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Cha. Thanks for your suggestion, I will use it.

 

[was]

Cha. will work, but I'd probably go with Int. In AU for example, arcane spellcasters use wands to focus their magical energies into spells with no material components needed. You might enable the arcane archer to do the same thing with the bow as their focus. It would be easier to explain. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

I made a class called the mageblade - just like the paladin and ranger, but for arcane spells. He gets a bonded weapon, can channel spells through it, yadda yadda, yadda.

You made the mageblade?

 

[Nifft]

While I think that Arcane Archer might make an interesting core class, I'd suggest that a better version of the PrC be used as its basis:

http://klimt.cns.nyu.edu/~fishman/DnD/DHE/prc.shtml#arcanearcher

So, here's what I'd do to make the Arcane Archer Core Class:

- d6 HD
- 6 skill points / level
- 3/4 BAB
- Good Reflex and Will saves
- Spellcasting, not full, say up to 6th level -- use the Sor/Wiz spell list.

Hey, it's a variant Bard!

Then, I'd spread out the abilities above, and throw on a couple of bonus feats, chosen from a small list: Weapon Focus (any Bow), Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Far Shot, Manyshot, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, Spell Focus, Dodge, Mobility, Shot on the Run, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery.

-- N