Archer Prestige Class
- Thread starter noretoc
- Start date
noretoc
First Post
First time I tried that, and not sure how it will work, so here it is in text form just in case.
The Archer
Don’t move or my arrow will find your heart.
Requirements
To qualify for an archer the character must meet all of the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Weapon Focus (any bow), Weapon specialist (any bow), Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Rapid Sho
Class Skills
Wilderness Lore, Hide, Move silently, Climb, Endurance, Craft (bow making), Spot, Listen
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int Modifier
Hit Dice: d8
Class features
Armor and Weapon Proficiency: The archer is proficient will all bows and crossbows. He is also proficient in all non-bulky armors.
Improved Weapon Focus: The archer gains an additional +1 to hit with any bow he is specialized in.
Aim: The archer can as a full round action aim. He must target his opponent for the entire round, them make a single melee attack. This attack automatically threatens a critical and the multiplier for the critical is +1. (Ex: The archer uses a long bow aims for the entire round and shoots a wandering orc with his long bow. The attack automatically threatens a critical hit. He rolls again and hits the orc’s AC, making the shot a critical. The arrow does X4 damage. ) The concentration needed for this may be disrupted as a spellcaster, casting a full round spell.
Improved Weapons Specialization: The archer gains an extra +2 damage when using any bow he is specialized in.
Field of Fire: The archer threatens an are 30’ around him with his bow. He may make attacks of opportunity to anyone in this area.
Battle Archery: The archer may make attack on adjacent enemies or fire while in a threatened area, without provoking an attack of opportunity. He may also switch attacks between melee and missile, if he has the appropriate weapons (or quick draw) He may also use an arrow as a melee weapon with the same stats as a dagger.
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Abilities
1st +1 +2 +2 +1 Improved Weapon Focus
2nd +2 +2 +2 +1 Aim
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Improved Weapon Specialization
4th +4 +3 +3 +2 Field of Fire
5th +5 +4 +4 +2 Battle Archery
The Archer
Don’t move or my arrow will find your heart.
Requirements
To qualify for an archer the character must meet all of the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Weapon Focus (any bow), Weapon specialist (any bow), Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Rapid Sho
Class Skills
Wilderness Lore, Hide, Move silently, Climb, Endurance, Craft (bow making), Spot, Listen
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int Modifier
Hit Dice: d8
Class features
Armor and Weapon Proficiency: The archer is proficient will all bows and crossbows. He is also proficient in all non-bulky armors.
Improved Weapon Focus: The archer gains an additional +1 to hit with any bow he is specialized in.
Aim: The archer can as a full round action aim. He must target his opponent for the entire round, them make a single melee attack. This attack automatically threatens a critical and the multiplier for the critical is +1. (Ex: The archer uses a long bow aims for the entire round and shoots a wandering orc with his long bow. The attack automatically threatens a critical hit. He rolls again and hits the orc’s AC, making the shot a critical. The arrow does X4 damage. ) The concentration needed for this may be disrupted as a spellcaster, casting a full round spell.
Improved Weapons Specialization: The archer gains an extra +2 damage when using any bow he is specialized in.
Field of Fire: The archer threatens an are 30’ around him with his bow. He may make attacks of opportunity to anyone in this area.
Battle Archery: The archer may make attack on adjacent enemies or fire while in a threatened area, without provoking an attack of opportunity. He may also switch attacks between melee and missile, if he has the appropriate weapons (or quick draw) He may also use an arrow as a melee weapon with the same stats as a dagger.
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Abilities
1st +1 +2 +2 +1 Improved Weapon Focus
2nd +2 +2 +2 +1 Aim
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Improved Weapon Specialization
4th +4 +3 +3 +2 Field of Fire
5th +5 +4 +4 +2 Battle Archery
Last edited:
Firstly, there are a couple of rules/technical points. The correct save progression (assuming you want good Fort and Reflex, bad Will) should be
+2/+2/+0
+3/+3/+0
+3/+3/+1
+4/+4/+1
+4/+4/+1
Look at all of the core classes and published prestige classes.
The second technical point is that you haven't made clear what is meant by 'non-bulky' armor: light armour only, or light and medium armours? This should be made clear.
There is no such skill as Endurance. Is this meant to be the feat, and should it be a prerequisite? Or perhaps the skill you had in mind goes by a different name?
Aim and Field of Fire seem a trifle strong. I understand that a vanilla fighter sacrifices a lot for this prestige class, such as heavy armour proficiency, hit points and the like, but they still seem too powerful.
Aim could be limited to a certain amount of times per day. Even the Weapon Master can only use his critical multiplier ability a limited number of times per day, and the Power Critical feat (emulating the 'auto-threat' ability) is usable just once per day. Whilst its power is slightly qualified by the drawing AoOs and subject to disruption, it may be toned down a tad: perhaps limit it to 1/day/prestige class level.
Field of Fire is incredibly powerful. Coupled with Combat Reflexes and an exceptional Dex (which is likely given the concept) it could be very unbalanced. Perhaps just restrict it to being able to take AoOs in the usual threatened range (normally, you cannot take AoOs while wielding a ranged weapon).
The other abilities seem fine to me.
+2/+2/+0
+3/+3/+0
+3/+3/+1
+4/+4/+1
+4/+4/+1
Look at all of the core classes and published prestige classes.
The second technical point is that you haven't made clear what is meant by 'non-bulky' armor: light armour only, or light and medium armours? This should be made clear.
There is no such skill as Endurance. Is this meant to be the feat, and should it be a prerequisite? Or perhaps the skill you had in mind goes by a different name?
Aim and Field of Fire seem a trifle strong. I understand that a vanilla fighter sacrifices a lot for this prestige class, such as heavy armour proficiency, hit points and the like, but they still seem too powerful.
Aim could be limited to a certain amount of times per day. Even the Weapon Master can only use his critical multiplier ability a limited number of times per day, and the Power Critical feat (emulating the 'auto-threat' ability) is usable just once per day. Whilst its power is slightly qualified by the drawing AoOs and subject to disruption, it may be toned down a tad: perhaps limit it to 1/day/prestige class level.
Field of Fire is incredibly powerful. Coupled with Combat Reflexes and an exceptional Dex (which is likely given the concept) it could be very unbalanced. Perhaps just restrict it to being able to take AoOs in the usual threatened range (normally, you cannot take AoOs while wielding a ranged weapon).
The other abilities seem fine to me.
Crothian
First Post
First off there's no skill called Endurance.
What determines a non bulky armor? You probably want to stick with familiar terms like Light Armor, Meduim Armor, and Heavy Armor.
You have some very powerful abilities here. I'd either greatly increase the Prerequites or slime down the abilities.
Aim allows any hit to become count as a threat? And it gives x4 damage? Why take mutliple attacks when you can maker one attack at your best attack and do equal or more damage? I'd get rid of the extra +1 to the multiplier and also put a range limit on it of 30'.
Improved Specialization: This is just another +2 damage that only applies within 30ft like specilaization?
Field of Fire: 30ft for AoO is way to much. Bows cannot normaly get AoO to begin with. THis is just too much.
Battle Archery is just odd. Not proviking an AoO is fine, but should be a low level ability. Switching weapons with Quick Draw: Is that pout bow away and draw a weapon as a free action? If your going to base a power off of a feat, make sure they have the feat. Add Quick Draw as a prerequite. Attacking with arrows as daggers is okay.
Saving throws are way too good. I have no problem with inventing new progression like you have. I think both Fort and Will need to be decreased.
What determines a non bulky armor? You probably want to stick with familiar terms like Light Armor, Meduim Armor, and Heavy Armor.
You have some very powerful abilities here. I'd either greatly increase the Prerequites or slime down the abilities.
Aim allows any hit to become count as a threat? And it gives x4 damage? Why take mutliple attacks when you can maker one attack at your best attack and do equal or more damage? I'd get rid of the extra +1 to the multiplier and also put a range limit on it of 30'.
Improved Specialization: This is just another +2 damage that only applies within 30ft like specilaization?
Field of Fire: 30ft for AoO is way to much. Bows cannot normaly get AoO to begin with. THis is just too much.
Battle Archery is just odd. Not proviking an AoO is fine, but should be a low level ability. Switching weapons with Quick Draw: Is that pout bow away and draw a weapon as a free action? If your going to base a power off of a feat, make sure they have the feat. Add Quick Draw as a prerequite. Attacking with arrows as daggers is okay.
Saving throws are way too good. I have no problem with inventing new progression like you have. I think both Fort and Will need to be decreased.
noretoc
First Post
last reply dissapeared.
About armor, I meant light. I figure he has to be able to move to stay out of melee. As for endurance, (doh) just some old 2ed thinking.
The save progression should be as normal with a good reflex save and fort save. I didn't have the book when I did it, and could not remember it.
The AIM ability, I don't want to limit number of times. To me it not only makes little sense ("I already aim twice today, I cant do it again") but because it is a full round action (not a full attack action) he gives up quite a bit. He won't get his hot off until right before his next turn, and during that time his concentration can be broken (which remind me, have to add concentration as a class skill). I also don't want to limit the range, because of this. After the first time anyone see what he can do, he will never get his shot off it he is in 30 feet. I am quite willing to remove the +1 modifier though. The ability at level 1 (the character will have a base attack bonus of +6/+1) basically takes the three attack he can normally do (rapid shot) and turn them into one (if he manages to make the roll a crit). He doesn’t get a -2, but instead has to take a full round action. At higher levels he is giving up even more attacks and damage cause potential. What it will be good for is creatures with damage reduction, (doing all the damage in one blow). Actually now that I think of it, it will almost be better to take the full attack option against most creatures, but this will have it's uses. The shot must still hit the armor class then it automatically threatens the a critical.
I might keep the +1 mod but up the base attack needed to +8. What do you think.
For the field of fire, reducing the range is fine. I only took 30 feet because PBS, but I I could reduce it to 20. He would still need to take combat reflexes to make this worthwhile. At this level he still can not attack adjacent foes with arrows, so reducing it too much would be useless.
For battle archery, how it would work is a bit of common sense. If the character had quickdraw he can fire an arrow, hold the bow in one hand, draw a weapon in the other attack (no two handed penalties for two weapon because he is not going over the normal attack for the round and no penalty for off hand because I'll assume he is holding the bow in his off hand. Course he cant use a shield) If he wants to fire the bow again, he would have to drop the weapon (free action) and take the bow in both hands. For someone who does not have quickdraw, he would have to resort to a using the bow as a weapon (maybe a special box that double as a staff, or one that is magic and has a blade) or use arrows. Drawing an arrow it part of using a bow, so I would call it a free action for this purpose only and he could use it as a dagger.
I think that addresses what everyone said. any more comments are welcome....
And thanks to thoes who responded. You brought up great points.
About armor, I meant light. I figure he has to be able to move to stay out of melee. As for endurance, (doh) just some old 2ed thinking.
The save progression should be as normal with a good reflex save and fort save. I didn't have the book when I did it, and could not remember it.
The AIM ability, I don't want to limit number of times. To me it not only makes little sense ("I already aim twice today, I cant do it again") but because it is a full round action (not a full attack action) he gives up quite a bit. He won't get his hot off until right before his next turn, and during that time his concentration can be broken (which remind me, have to add concentration as a class skill). I also don't want to limit the range, because of this. After the first time anyone see what he can do, he will never get his shot off it he is in 30 feet. I am quite willing to remove the +1 modifier though. The ability at level 1 (the character will have a base attack bonus of +6/+1) basically takes the three attack he can normally do (rapid shot) and turn them into one (if he manages to make the roll a crit). He doesn’t get a -2, but instead has to take a full round action. At higher levels he is giving up even more attacks and damage cause potential. What it will be good for is creatures with damage reduction, (doing all the damage in one blow). Actually now that I think of it, it will almost be better to take the full attack option against most creatures, but this will have it's uses. The shot must still hit the armor class then it automatically threatens the a critical.
I might keep the +1 mod but up the base attack needed to +8. What do you think.
For the field of fire, reducing the range is fine. I only took 30 feet because PBS, but I I could reduce it to 20. He would still need to take combat reflexes to make this worthwhile. At this level he still can not attack adjacent foes with arrows, so reducing it too much would be useless.
For battle archery, how it would work is a bit of common sense. If the character had quickdraw he can fire an arrow, hold the bow in one hand, draw a weapon in the other attack (no two handed penalties for two weapon because he is not going over the normal attack for the round and no penalty for off hand because I'll assume he is holding the bow in his off hand. Course he cant use a shield) If he wants to fire the bow again, he would have to drop the weapon (free action) and take the bow in both hands. For someone who does not have quickdraw, he would have to resort to a using the bow as a weapon (maybe a special box that double as a staff, or one that is magic and has a blade) or use arrows. Drawing an arrow it part of using a bow, so I would call it a free action for this purpose only and he could use it as a dagger.
I think that addresses what everyone said. any more comments are welcome....
And thanks to thoes who responded. You brought up great points.
Last edited:
noretoc
First Post
dangit messed up
I just realized something else. I didn;t know that you needed to be within 30 feet for the +2 on weap special, until it was pointed out above. (good thing none of my players have taken that yet, It would have been a messup). For improved weapon specialization, I am thinking instead of an extra +2, increasing the range to 60' .
I just realized something else. I didn;t know that you needed to be within 30 feet for the +2 on weap special, until it was pointed out above. (good thing none of my players have taken that yet, It would have been a messup). For improved weapon specialization, I am thinking instead of an extra +2, increasing the range to 60' .
Some of the major things I note are that any prestige class should be attainable by many classes, not just the fighter class, which the one you have created is. Only a fighter can specialize in a weapon if I am correct. Also, I would say that the high number of prereqs and high powered abilities for this one make it a class beyond a PrC. Maybe some kind of Epic PrC.
noretoc
First Post
That is a real good point, and something I was thinking about. My pc that want's to take it is a ranger. He is taking levle of fighter to get into it. I would have loved to give up that restriction, but that would make improved specialization different. It would probably give specialization if you didn;t have it, and I am not sure if that is fair for a prestige class to give a class ability like that. What do you all think?
mac1504
Explorer
Just two warnings on your PrC here:
1. Archers are all ready pretty powerful in my eyes. I've played an archer (with below average stats) and have wreaked some major damage. IMO, this prestige class is way overbalanced and gives even more power to an already powerful combat role.
2. The Quintessential Fighter has a PrC called the Master Bowman. He gets your Field of Fire (cool name, btw) at 14th level. You're potentially giving this ability to a PC at 9th level! I think you should seriously reconsider this ability- letting an archer threaten a 20' area is pretty powerful.
Some abilities you could replace it with are the Order of the Bow Initiate's Close Combat shot which removes the AoO generated by an archer shooting his bow when threatened.
Just some thoughts for you, and of course you have all rights to ignore this advice and destroy your campaign
Just kidding.
-mac1504
1. Archers are all ready pretty powerful in my eyes. I've played an archer (with below average stats) and have wreaked some major damage. IMO, this prestige class is way overbalanced and gives even more power to an already powerful combat role.
2. The Quintessential Fighter has a PrC called the Master Bowman. He gets your Field of Fire (cool name, btw) at 14th level. You're potentially giving this ability to a PC at 9th level! I think you should seriously reconsider this ability- letting an archer threaten a 20' area is pretty powerful.
Some abilities you could replace it with are the Order of the Bow Initiate's Close Combat shot which removes the AoO generated by an archer shooting his bow when threatened.
Just some thoughts for you, and of course you have all rights to ignore this advice and destroy your campaign
Just kidding.
-mac1504
