Imbue Arrow Spells

[warderbrad]

I have been looking through the PHB and some of the other books and have found a rare few spells that are useful for an Arcane Archer's Imbue Arrow ability. What spells have you all found that are good for this use? Please include the book the spell is from and it's level, thanks.

 

[Pyrex]

What level is your AA? What casting classes does he have? What level of spells are you looking to imbue?

Some good candidates (all from the SRD):
--(Bard 2) Sound Burst (If you're a Bard)
--(Sor/Wiz 4) Black Tentacles
--(Sor/Wiz 3) Good ole Fireball
--(Sor/Wiz 3) Dispel Magic (in the right circumstances)
--(Sor/Wiz 6) Forcecage

 

[warderbrad]

I am the DM of the game, it is a player that is interested in the PrC but he feels that there are no good spells at low levels specifically, he is currently a Ranger(3)/Sorcerer(2).

 

[Pyrex]

Ah, so he'll want generally useful 2nd-4th level Sor spells then.

Given that unlike spell-storing items, you get your full caster leve & save DC's:
--(Sor 1)Color Spray (stun them, keep them at range)
--(Sor 1)Burning Hands
--(Sor 2)Web
--(Sor 4)Shout

 

[Falling Icicle]

In addition to ones already mentioned, some other good area spells for Imbue are Grease, Fog Cloud, Darkness, Daylight, Stinking Cloud, Sleet Storm, etc.

 

[Tarangil]

As I'm not too familiar with specifics on some of the rules, but Could you imbue an arrow with shocking grasp? Or lesser Acid/fire/cold/sonic Orb?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Here's what they say:

Imbue Arrow (Sp): At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell’s area is centered on where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the spell’s range. It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted.

 

[Hypersmurf]

As I'm not too familiar with specifics on some of the rules, but Could you imbue an arrow with shocking grasp? Or lesser Acid/fire/cold/sonic Orb?

An 'Area Spell' is a spell with an 'Area' entry, as distinct from a 'Target' or 'Effect' entry, in its stat block.

So no, and no/no/no/no.

-Hyp.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I would think any cone would be good. The problem with burning hands and cone of cold are that you need to move up beside the front line to cast them half the time. Hmm, Lightning has an area of 120ft line. So you could cast a lightning bolt from the back row using the ability too.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I would think any cone would be good.

Cones were spectacular with the 3E Arcane Archer.

This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the spell’s range.

And given the way the area of a cone in 3E was tied to the range, an arcane archer could catch an army in the area of effect...

Unfortunately, cones are defined differently in 3.5

-Hyp.