Arcane Archer's Imbue Arrow ability

[Nail]

If Imbue Arrow was a feat, you could do a lot better with an ftr/wiz/eldritch knight.

So I think the challenge here is to make sure the Imbue Arrow ability isn't just a virtual feat for the class. Something that advances with level and has several skill or ability options (both of which feat can't - or shouldn't- do).

Thanks for your babble! It was quite useful! Any one else? (Zad, are you in Wizardru's game? If not, I wanna hear their Arcane Archer chime in!)

 

[Silveras]

Understood.

But you'll notice your list (short as it is) is composed of only divine touch spells. This is an arcane archer. What arcane spells would be out-of-balance, given the prereq.s of the PrC and the likely caster level of the arcane archer?

Touch of Fatigue (0 level) (Fort Save)
Shocking Grasp (1st) (NO save)
Chill Touch (1st) (Fort Partial)
Touch of Idiocy (2nd) (NO save)
Ghoul Touch (2nd) (Fort Save, but repeated uses) - bad choice for arrow
Vampiric Touch (3rd) (NO save)

Note that there is a mechanism in the PH for delivering Touch attacks at a distance: Spectral Hand (2nd level spell). The range is Medium, which at its base is slightly better than a longbow. It lasts 1 minute/level. The spell can only deliver 4th level or lower touch spells.

In comparison, the Arcane Archer can imbue an arrow as many times per day as s/he wishes, without regard to the level of the spell, and could send these "touch" spells over longer distances (accepting the -2 per additional range increment penalty). Frost Giant closing in ? No problem ... Touch of Fatigue delivered at 400 ft. Orcish Cleric bothering you from the back of that horde ? No problem ... I'll just cast True Strike and BANG ! Touch of Idiocy delivered at 400 ft.

The ability, limited to area effect spells.allows things that already strike from SOME distance to be used from GREATER distance. Allowing Touch spells the same thing is grossly upping the value of the ability.

 

[Zad]

(Zad, are you in Wizardru's game? If not, I wanna hear their Arcane Archer chime in!)

Yep, that's me.


As a group, we're leery of over-munchkining or PrC's that are just way over the top. But Wizardru and I recognized that the AA needed some tweaking. It needs more due to 3.5 but since we're epic level now, it's probably not much of a factor.

In that world, AA's are also called Elven Champions. They are a rare form of elf, touched by a special grace. They usually evolve from the trials of combat (rather than by training or being taught) and are highly respected in Celenian society. They are answerable only to the Queen, and not really even that, going where their conscience requires them to, and yet still defending their country. I point this out as added background, but also to note that the PrC is half the story - the other half is how it's woven into the world around it.