Arcane Archer question

[Dreaddisease]

You may want to lean to stick with Wizard if you are an Elf as you would get XP penalties for choosing something else.

Half Elf would be good if you wanted Sorceror.

Bard/Fighter or Paladin or Ranger 3/4 combo works well and you can use a lot of the bardic abilities to help you out (Make sure your instrument is your voice).

What a great metagaming thread.

 

[Arc]

I was very fond of a Sor/Fighter arcane archer. Took about equal levels of fighter and arcane archer, definitely put out some damage. Don't neglect melee, because if your DM drops you in a tight area, or starts 'porting or Dimension dooring baddies in, you'll be up a creek w/o a paddle if you don't have a good backup. The hp from fighter really help out, and casting shield can just improve your AC more. For higher levels, get rid of your armor, and instead get a robe of Archmagi. Hey, you are a caster after all. I never had much success w/ imbuing arrows, but that's certainly a path to go.

The Bard2/Ftr4/Ranger1 combo has benifits, but it really depends on how feat heavy you want to go. Oh, and having your instrument as your voice definitely is an advantage.

 

[BVB]

I like the idea of tweaking the class just a smidgeon and making the Arcane SLINGER for halflings or gnomes. Same set-up, same prereqs, but substitute slings and shots for bows and arrows. I don't see the harm.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Hmmmmm.....Would a cleric with the magic domain qualify to become an arcane archer...seeing as how such a cleric can cast arcane spells (off scrolls)?

Nope.

Best AA build? AA 10/ Bard 10 (IMHO).

 

[Six Hit Dice]

Nope.

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…and why not…my laconic friend?

DMG pg. 28 – Requirements to be an Arcane Archer – "Ability to cast first level arcane spells."

PH pg. 164 – Magic Domain granted power – "Use scrolls…as a wizard of one-half your level."

DMG pg. 199 – "A scroll is a spell…Using a scroll is basically like casting a spell."


Haven't found the rule to prevent it yet. Still looking.......

 

[LightPhoenix]

DMG pg. 199 – "A scroll is a spell…Using a scroll is basically like casting a spell."

I would say no as well, and there's the answer. Using a scroll isn't casting a spell, it's using a scroll. If it was, the above quote would be, "Using a scroll is equivalent to casting a spell, and is considered the same." The AA prereqs very clearly say ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells, not ability to use arcane scrolls.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Might I add that if the rumored ability of a Bard to cast spells in armor is true, the Bard/ Arcane Archer just got a whole lot better!

I have a feeling the 3.5 AA will gain some spellcasting levels, maybe at every other or every three levels. Every other fighting/spellcasting PrC has this ability.