[Ronin Arts] Prestige Class Optimizer 1: Way of the Arcane Archer

[Arcane Runes Press]

Ronin Art's newest release is Prestige Class Optimizer #1: Way of the Arcane Archer

Prestige classes are a great tool for creating the ideal themed adventurer, one who has chosen to focus himself along a specific path of development in order to truly master his skills.

Unfortunately, the new mechanics of a prestige class can be daunting, and it can be difficult to design a character to truly play to the strengths of the chosen class.

Enter the Prestige Class Optimizer sourcebooks, the newest line of product from Ronin Arts. Each book in this series focuses on one of the core prestige classes presented in the DMG with laser-focus, providing you with a breakdown of the class, and advice for creating the ultimate prestige warrior.

The first book in the series is the Way of the Arcane Archer, an exacting look at one of the most underused prestige classes in D20 fantasy. Within the pages of this book, you'll find:

1) A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the arcane archer

2) Straightforward advice for selecting the ideal mix of race, skills, and classes when creating an arcane archer

3) A complete, 20 level progression that shows you the power of the arcane archer

4) New feats designed specifically with the abilities of the arcane archer in mind

5) A support prestige class, the archer mage, which takes the arcane archer to new heights of power and versatility. Support prestige classes are a new concept in D20 fantasy, a framework of abilities designed to slot into an existing prestige class at different stages of its progression, and flesh out its abilities in a logical, useful way.

Thanks to the new feats and options in the Way of the Arcane Archer, your characters will finally be able to cast spells at a useful level, supercharge their arrows with raw spell energy, and, best of all, combine the arcane archer's enhance arrow class ability with the enhancement bonus of a magical bow.

The Way of the Archer is written by Patrick Younts, author of the multiple 5-star reviewed Visions series, and of December's #1 selling PDF at RPGNOW, (Fantasy Player's Companion: Higher Level Feats for the Fighting Man .

Prestige Class Optimizer #1: The Way of the Arcane Archer, is available now at RPGNOW. 18 pages for only $3.25. Buy it Today!

And don't forget the rest of Ronin Art's expansive catalogue. Big ideas in convenient sizes.

 

[Psion]

3) A complete, 20 level progression that shows you the power of the arcane archer

Fully statted out and ready to play, perchance?

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Fully statted out and ready to play, perchance?

The 20 level progression has:

Race - Half Elf in this case
Beginning ability scores - the standard elite array, arranged as I consider optimal for the build
1st level hit points

Following that is a chart showing:

Class level(s)

Melee attack bonus

Ranged attack bonus

Saving throw progression

Skill choices and skill ranks

Feats selected at appropriate levels (1st, 3rd, etc)

Attribute increases at appropriate levels (4, 8, etc), with a note marking the new ability score

New special abilities at the level they are gained

Caster levels - in this case, ranger levels, sorcerer levels, and the caster level of imbued arrows


The melee attack, ranged attack, saving throw, and skill bonus totals are modified by race, by abiilty score modifiers, and by relevant class abilities (in this case, the ranged attack progression includes enhancement bonuses from the Enhance Arrow class ability). All the information on each chart is totalled by level, so you can see the totals a character will have at each level.

Following the chart is a listing of the archer's final ability score totals, as well as 20th level hit points.

Magic items are not preselected, as I was concerned that the chart would be less functional as a guide, if that were done - I wanted to show the raw power of the class, and my concern was that listing specific magic items might make things difficult for those who do not have full access to all DMG magic items in their campaign.

I also did not assign basic equipment to the character, and did not put hit point totals at each level, as the chart was already threatening to overflow the document.


This is the first book in the series, and Phil and I are still feeling things out a bit. So, it goes without saying, suggestions are always appreciated.

Patrick Y.