Please rate the Arcane Archer

[smetzger]

How good of a choice is the Arcane Archer Prestige class?

 

[Li Shenron]

How good of a choice is the Arcane Archer Prestige class?

With this new series of polls of yours, would you like a vote on a PrCl based only on strategic/power point of view, or should we also take into account the Roleplay possibilities?

If I ask you this, it is because PrCl are very different from simple feats, which are RARELY taken for flavor. To me it is important what you can do with a PrCl from every points of view, so I wish to know how should I rate one before I do.

Would you like us to rate also how well the PrCl is designed? For example, if I consider a PrCl blatantly overpowered, should I give it a high mark (10?) because everybody should take it, if the DM allows, or a low mark because it's broken and nobody should take - or should be allowed to take it - otherwise the game is less fun?

 

[Stalker0]

Hmm, I think I like the feat polls better. Feats are for the most part an easily argued thing. We can argue the power of their abilities compared to other feats, and once in a while there flavor. But Prcs are often a lot more about flavor, which is often much harder to compare.

 

[Darklone]

Pr Classes are about minmaxing and getting as many special abilities as fast as possible. Hehehehe.

I don't like Pr Classes.

 

[Gaiden]

The Arcane Archer PrC from a purely power perspective is suboptimal with the following stipulations:

Clerics are available to cast GMW
The campaign is not going to Epic levels
Other Archer PrC's are allowed
The campaign distributes wealth on par with the DMG's average allocations

The main problem with the class is the lack of spellcasting advancement. Forcing the player to first require spellcasting ability and then not further advancing it is a disincentive.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Rgr4/Wiz1/Arcx. Wand of True Strike. Wand of Shield (not even required, but just for to munchkin).

I wouldn't say that the lack of spellcasting is a bad thing. You only need the one level of sorcerer or wizard, and you might as well be able to cast True Strike a couple of times per day.

 

[Crothian]

Pr Classes are about minmaxing and getting as many special abilities as fast as possible. Hehehehe.

I don't like Pr Classes.

I think you may not truely understand them or have players that abuse them. They are neither of those things.

Arcane archer is a good, well balanced class. It's also interesting for combining the magic of the elves with their archery.

 

[Ysgarran]

Rgr4/Wiz1/Arcx. Wand of True Strike. Wand of Shield (not even required, but just for to munchkin).

I wouldn't say that the lack of spellcasting is a bad thing. You only need the one level of sorcerer or wizard, and you might as well be able to cast True Strike a couple of times per day.

If Arc X stands for 'Arcane Archer' this won't work. You need at least a 6 BAB to qualify for Arcane Archer.

It seems to me Arcane Archer is the most valuable in a low magic campaign. Then the value of the arrows begins to add up.

later,
Brian F.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

The main problem with the class is the lack of spellcasting advancement. Forcing the player to first require spellcasting ability and then not further advancing it is a disincentive.

A few HP and 1 BAB is a fair trade for the ability to use wands and a familiar, if the character is designed appropriately. That should not be a big disincentive.

I, too, have no idea how to respond to this thread. I suppose the only quantifying thing to rate is the perceived power. What is the baseline? The average PrC? The average core class?

 

[Archer]

There is just an ability mismatch with the Arcane Archer. There is little opportunity to imbed spells in the arrows because the caster level is so low and the "Arrow of Death" is lower DC than the base save of monsters fought at that level. The 2 special arrow powers are only usable once per day and the hail almost doubles the # of arrows fired from 5 to 5-8. GMW trumps the AA at every level.

The rating is just a guess at how you feel this class compares to other classes you have seen. If you would never take this class you probably shouldn't rate it higher than 5. If you have personally taken a prestige class you should probably not rate it lower than 7 unless you regret taking it.

I'd prefer not to rate NPC only prestige classes if at all possible.