Please rate the Arcane Archer

[smetzger]

Re: Re: Please rate the Arcane Archer

Well actually, I am going to use the average rating in a random character generator.

So, rate it on:
1) How well it stacks up with other classes.
2) How often a PC will go with this class.
3) How often an NPC will go with this class.
4) How 'fun' it is to play this class.
5) How much this class adds to the game.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Arcane Archer is decent, but it really works better in concert with other Archer PrCs. OotBI and Deepwood Sniper are both better, but there's a nice synergy between Arcane Archer and Deepwood Sniper that's relatively useful.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I think people realy underate the magic arows thing. GMW is cool, but tis only 50 arrows. Sounds like a lot. Why don't you work out the rate of fire for a archer of 11th+level.

taking into account they get full attacks from round 1 and fights last 5-6 rounds, that's 20-24 arows wihout haste. With haste it's 25-30 arrows fired in 1 fight.

Exaclty how many GMW buffs is the party spellcaster going to throw you?

How many fights do you get into in one day?

I know a lot of groups that get into 4-5 fights a day, and whoose fights alst longer than 5-6 rounds. For them the arcane archers magic arrows ae golden beyond belief. IMC fights last 4-5 rounds and you might have 2 in a day. There are tons of encoutners just not many solved by a weapon. If it weren't for the next sentence IMC the AA main ability would be better duplicated by GMW. Also though IMC the 1st spell cast in every fight is dispel or greater dispel, infact usually each side throws a minimum of two in the 1st round. So the AA ability stays good IMC.

 

[Endur]

Average, unless you nerf GMW

I voted average, unless you nerf GMW, then the Arcane Archer become's a great prestige class.

Best ability of the Arcane Archer is the magic arrows, and unfortunately, clerics and wizards can make their own magic arrows through GMW. And GMW'd arrows are usually better than Arcane Archer arrows.

Tom

 

[Li Shenron]

Re: Re: Re: Please rate the Arcane Archer

Well actually, I am going to use the average rating in a random character generator.

So, rate it on:
1) How well it stacks up with other classes.
2) How often a PC will go with this class.
3) How often an NPC will go with this class.
4) How 'fun' it is to play this class.
5) How much this class adds to the game.

Thanks for the guidelines.

I think it is important that you mentioned number 5, at least if understand it well, it implies also new strategic possibilities, i.e. abilities otherwise unavailable by the core classes.

A last warning about my votes: I think the line "Everyone should take this PrCl" can be very misleading. If it is to be taken by the letter, there is absolutely NO PrCl that everyone should take, because of course there are spellcasting PrCl which fighter-types don't need and viceversa. I am going to think it means "Everyone should try once this PrCl" which still means it is very very great. Is it ok for you?

 

[Li Shenron]

BALANCE:

The class is definitely combat-oriented, given full BAB, proficiencies and the special abilities, which are of course all related to archery. It requires to be an arcane spellcaster, but provides no further spellcasting advancement. It is IMHO a well balanced PrCl, probably as powerful as a core class, but somehow one of the main abilities (Imbue Arrow) does not improve with Arcane Archer levels, and requires levels in a spellcasting class to get better at higher levels; this is a drawback for the AA, but if it had +1 level in spellcasting it would be definitely overpowerful.

Many people have mentioned the problem with Enchant Arrow, which becomes of little utility if someone in the party can cast Greater Magic Weapon on ammunition. Of course, IMHO it's not a problem with Enchant Arrow but rather with Greater Magic Weapon. Easy availability of magic ammunitions in the campaign may tune down the ability as well.

FEATURES:

The PrCl offers several new abilities otherwise unavailable from the core classes: this is definitely what a PrCl should provide, and therefore it is a very good point that the AA gets a new special ability or improvement every level.

Imbue Arrow may occasionally give unprecedented possibilities, but the fact that is it restricted to area spells limits its power. If it let the AA cast e.g. touch spells from a distance (although the arrow would still need a non-touch attack) it would have given many many more new strategic tricks, and I still think the class would be balanced.

Seeker Arrow, Phase Arrow and Death Arrow are cool, and even if they require the right occasion to be useful, they may be of great effect. The limit of 1/day is not a big problem.

FLAVOR/RP:

The class can give IMHO great flavor to a PC or NPC (or a group of NPCs). It could become a good career point for a multiclass archer/spellcaster type, although he would have to manage the strongly reduced spellcasting advancement.

Notice that it is a racial-restricted PrCl. Given the fact that the DM is free to allow such a class for other races in special circumstances (such as a human raised by elves), I personally appreciate the case: I think it can give more flavor for the whole race if the PrCl is e.g. notorious in a setting, and satisfy a player's choice of race.

REQUIREMENTS:

I believe that requirements are one of the most important thing in a PrCl, after all they are what all members of the PrCl share in common (together with the 1st level benefits). Apart the racial restriction said above, the requirements here are very solid with the concept of the Arcane Archer: none of them is in fact a "burned feat" i.e. used as a "cost" to qualify, and - with the exception of at least 1 level in an arcane spellcasting class - they allow any core class to qualify, which is in line with the original ideas about PrCls (or at least the guidelines in the DMG).

DESIGN:

A final comment on design and explanation...

Possibly the proficiency list is a little too good. A single-classed Wizard can qualify, and he would get martial weapons, shields and up to medium armor prof., which IMHO do not necessarily fit with an archery training.

Some issues remain unclear about Imbue Arrow: if the character had also levels as a divine spellcaster, can it be used with divine spells as well? Can (and how) you combine spontaneously cast metamagicked spells with the standard action needed to cast & shoot?

Death spell DC is a constant. It could have been better if it improved with levels. ELH addresses this by introducing an epic feat IIRC that increases the DC every time it is taken.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OVERALL: 9

 

[kengar]

I voted "above average." I'm not a big fan of PrCs in general, but -to me- Arcane Archer probably the best PrC out there (including ALL the splatbooks). Granted, my criteria might be a bit different than most peoples'. I like the balance to the class, the fact is isn't ridiculously powerful and that it is tied to a specific culture/race. Like I say though, that's just me. YMMV