Can I get help with a 10th level Arcane Archer?

[Aluvial]

I hope this thread goes here...

I would like to design a 10th level character with two levels of Arcan Archer in the new 3.5 rules. I want this character to make use of the new archery feats and have a good attack and damage set.

His current weapon is a +1 Mighty Composite Longbow (+3 Str)

I am still using the splat books at this time for character creation.

The current stats I have at the start are: Elf

Strength............16 +3
Dexterity........**21 +5 (22 w/ fam +6)
Constitution.......10 +0
Intelligence........18 +4
Wisdom..............12 +1
Charisma............14 +2

**Both 4th and 8th level points go here. The familiar is a humming bird, which I allowed a Dex point for.

Basically my 3e character had a number of fighter levels, a few in mage, and then two in Arcane Archer.

If you can help flesh out a new version of this character, that would be great, use whatever class combo you wish, and with any feat combinations that make him a good archer.

IF Arcane Archer is a really poor choice for Prestige Class, then suggest your alternatives...

Thanks so much.

Aluvial

 

[Zad]

Is AA a poor class? That's up to you. Personally I like it but it has a few problems to be aware of.

You will always be a very weak caster. You'll have practically no spells to speak of and the ones you do have won't be much use for imbuing onto arrows. Just realize this is how it is

You said a few levels of "mage" but weren't specific. I'm assuming from the int score you meant wizard and that's a fine way to go. It really won't matter much.

You need at least 4 levels of fighter, because of course you want weapon specialization. BAB requirement for a AA is +6 so you need 2 more points of BAB.

Your choices are:

ftr4, wiz2 and go to AA at 6th or
ftr4, wiz4 and go to AA at 8th.

So at 10th level you're either

ftr4/wiz2/AA4 or
ftr4/wiz4/AA2.

Reasoning here is if you're going to take one level of wizard (which you must) you may as well take the second to boost your BAB since ftr5 gets you nothing. So the question becomes do you want access to AA sooner, or would you prefer to be casting 2nd level spells? That's up to you of course.

For feats, you want to make sure you have weapon focus, weapon spec, rapid shot, point blank shot, precise shot, and get imp. precise shot when you can and consider improved rapid shot (from dragon mag) to simplify your math. Manyshot has some uses too.

When choosing spells, stick to things that buff you generally. Anything the enemy gets a save against is likely to fail horribly since you're a weak caster. Take note of Glitterdust as a useful spell to paint invisible creatures.

As for the hummingbird, if a toad can give +2 con, then a bird can give +2 dex, although personally I think +2 to a stat is too big a benefit for a familiar, given the benefits the others give. (I haven't checked the 3.5 table tho)

 

[Technik4]

Ftr4/Wiz4/ArA2
Feats(4+3): Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (Longbow), Weapon Spec (Longbow), Rapid Shot, Weapon Finesse (Rapier), Quick Draw.

This may be the best combination to get in fast and keep a good future in arcane spellcasting. Obviously the feats are tailored for a good range of ranged combat and some back-up melee. Some things you can do to advance arcane spellcasting:

11th level Wizard- 3rd level spells + bonus Wizard Feat
12th Eldritch Knight- bonus fighter feat (+bonus character feat)
13th+ Eldritch Knight- +1 spellcasting/+1 BAB

You end up with 13 levels of spellcasting (7th level spells) and a BAB of of 17. All your arrows will always penetrate DR/Magic, so the next step is to add things like Bane or Holy to your bow, and pick up some special arrows for special occasions.

Imbue Arrow can be used more than once per day, and it is farily decent with some higher level spells. Other feats to look out for would be Imp Critical and the spell penetration feats.

Technik

 

[Aluvial]

Other Feats?

What about Manyshot, and Shot on the Run?

Aluvial

 

[Grog]

Are you playing 3.0 or 3.5? If you're playing 3.5, don't play an Arcane Archer. It's an utterly pointless class. Bow and arrow bonuses don't stack in 3.5, so the fact that the AA always shoots +whatever arrows is worthless. Anyone can do this simply by buying a magic bow. Go with Order of the Bow Initiate or Deepwoods Sniper instead.

 

[Darklone]

Lvl10?

Why not Ftr1/Wiz5, then Eldritch Knight2+2 AA?

BAB may be bad, but your spellcasting is rather ok

 

[sithramir]

Because he wouldn't meet the BAB +6 requirement ?

 

[Aluvial]

Go with Order of the Bow Initiate or Deepwoods Sniper instead.

Where are these at? I don't have my books handy....

Aluvial

 

[Darklone]

Because he wouldn't meet the BAB +6 requirement ?

Darn right, I somehow had 3 levels EK planned first...

I'd do that

 

[Zad]

It's an utterly pointless class. Bow and arrow bonuses don't stack in 3.5, so the fact that the AA always shoots +whatever arrows is worthless. Anyone can do this simply by buying a magic bow. Go with Order of the Bow Initiate or Deepwoods Sniper instead.

No question that 3.5 was a major nerf for the AA. I was really hoping they did something else to the AA to compensate but alas it was not to be.

However what the AA can do is instead of a +5 bow, use a +1 keen shocking/holy/flaming/acidic/whatever bow. Instead of buying a bow with a big enhancement bonus, it makes sense to get a bow with lots of special abilities and the AA supplies the magic ammo. It's the only smart way to get a bow for a 3.5 AA. But it's true, the class is weaker than it was, and the other archery PrC's more appealing as a result.

And yes, Eldritch Knight is a good fill-in class to go with AA.