Arcane Archers and the arrows they create

[Kai Lord]

A 9th level Arcane Archer automatically enchants any arrow he nocks in his bow with a +5 enhancement bonus. Does anyone see any reason that same AA shouldn't be able to convert the enhancement bonuses into Special Qualities?

A +3 Shocking Burst arrow is mechanically no different than a +5 arrow as far as cost and balance, and it would allow the AA a fantastic amount of flavor. All this effectively does is make him Bad Ass Instant Ammo Man, since an Order of the Bow Initiate, Deepwood Sniper, or Peerless Archer can far outshine the AA's archery abilities if they had the equivalent magic weapons to begin with.

 

[Crothian]

Interesting idea. I think you'd have to define how all arros would be enchanted from then all out. Allowing any combination of arrow enchantments thjat adds up to +5 is too good and too versatile. So, at firrst level they get +1 to all arrows. At third level they get another +1. If they chose shock, then from then all all arrows shot will be +1 shock. For abilities greater then +1 you'd have to save the + until you have enough to spend. So, for shocking burst you'd bank the extra +1 at level 3rd, so all your arrows would be only +1 at that time.

 

[Kai Lord]

Interesting idea. I think you'd have to define how all arros would be enchanted from then all out. Allowing any combination of arrow enchantments thjat adds up to +5 is too good and too versatile. So, at firrst level they get +1 to all arrows. At third level they get another +1. If they chose shock, then from then all all arrows shot will be +1 shock. For abilities greater then +1 you'd have to save the + until you have enough to spend. So, for shocking burst you'd bank the extra +1 at level 3rd, so all your arrows would be only +1 at that time.

What if every level that gained you an enhancement increment gave you an extra choice in enchanting your arrows, that had to be chosen the moment you gained the level? So at 9th level your AA could choose between five different enchantments when he knocks an arrow.

 

[Crothian]

What if every level that gained you an enhancement increment gave you an extra choice in enchanting your arrows, that had to be chosen the moment you gained the level? So at 9th level your AA could choose between five different enchantments when he knocks an arrow.

Would the five options all equal +5 total enchantment? It sounds iffy. Also, and I'm not sure about this answer, does the AA ability to fire magical arrows only work for normal arrows? Or could a 9th level AA fire +1 flaming arrows and have them be +5 flaming arrows.

If the answer to that is yes, then imagine an AA being able to fire arrow of +5 and adding shock, flaming, frost, and acid to them. The +5 could be gotten from GMW. That could be a devestating combo.

 

[Kai Lord]

Would the five options all equal +5 total enchantment?

No, they would equal +1,+2,+3, +4, and +5, respectively. Most of the time you'd think he'd just fire +5 arrows, but maybe his +4 equivalent is +2 Bane vs. Undead which he would use against undead, or maybe a lesser Burst arrow if for whatever reason he simply had to do more damage with one shot and decided to hope for a critical.

 

[Crothian]

No, they would equal +1,+2,+3, +4, and +5, respectively. Most of the time you'd think he'd just fire +5 arrows, but maybe his +4 equivalent is +2 Bane vs. Undead which he would use against undead, or maybe a lesser Burst arrow if for whatever reason he simply had to do more damage with one shot and decided to hope for a critical.

That might work. It does add a nice degree of personalization to the class. However the power increase might be a little much. Hard to say without playtesting though.

 

[Kibo]

I'd be inclined to allow it. Maybe through creative application of energy substitution, or through a specific feat or set of feats. A basic feat might not even require the prestige class, but require the use of a magic arrow, energy substitution: X, allowing one energy type to be substituded for +'s. The epic version might allow all manner of substitutions. But YMMV.

 

[Theovis]

I really like the idea of choosing as you level where to place the bonus. But I think allowing you to choose on the fly is far too strong an advantage, as is having the choice of both full enhancement bonus or your "special" arrow.

One thing to consider: why not purchase or make special arrows with the minimum +1 bonus, then lay your AA bonus on top of that (not stacking with the +1 course)?

 

[Kai Lord]

That might work. It does add a nice degree of personalization to the class. However the power increase might be a little much. Hard to say without playtesting though.

My thought is it wouldn't unbalance the Archer. Certain epic feats still trump some of his class abilities. As soon as the Archer can convert his arrows into a few different Bane weapons depending on who he's fighting, once he hits 21st level his Ranger buddy gets to take Bane of Enemies and do that damage to ALL of his favored enemies.

Then the Ranger takes Swarm of Arrows to counter the AA's Hail of Arrows ability, while the AA just continues to accrue bigger and better enhancements to keep up with the Ranger's ever-increasing DC for Death of Enemies which itself is massively more powerful than the AA's single Arrow of Death. It just seems like a good way to keep the AA interesting and competitive all around.

 

[Chun-tzu]

A 9th level Arcane Archer automatically enchants any arrow he nocks in his bow with a +5 enhancement bonus. Does anyone see any reason that same AA shouldn't be able to convert the enhancement bonuses into Special Qualities?

That's way too powerful. I cite the Blade Dancer from Oriental Adventures as precedent. The Blade Dancer has the same ability you're describing as a supernatural power (but applied only to her sword). OA lists what special abilities can be bestowed (for example, there are five types to choose from with Enchanted Blade I, and 7 with Enchanted Blade II. These powers are limited in duration and how many times per day they can be used.

Even with a limited list, I wouldn't allow this power at all. Enchant Arrow is a great power, and does not need upgrading. Greater Magic Weapon has limits that Enchant Arrow does not: no limits on the number of arrows that can be enchanted, no time limits, no need to rely on someone else to buff you, and those spell slots could go to something else just as useful.

I was thinking along the same lines as Kibo. I would be more inclined to allow a feat similar to Energy Substitution, but even then, there might be some arrow types I would not allow.

Another possibility is an Elemental Aura bow, from Magic of Faerun. It adds +1d6 of any of the 5 energy types you want, and you can change energy types at will (but you can only change energy types once per round).