Greetings! This is my second pass (on November 27th) at a prestige class I'm designing. It's a version of the arcane archer that is much more spell focused, with a lower BAB. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, and that which was already given really has helped! Namely to really emphasize that full casting progression classes need limits!! For those who have already seen this class, note that celestial cascade and arrows of light now require 2nd and 3rd level spell slots (respectively) that cannot be substituted for higher level spell slots, and that to gain any enhancement to arrows a spell slot must be used (no passive abilities, they must all be activated with the exception of the bow attack bonus). Here goes:
Shooting Stars of Morwel
Queen Morwel, ruler of the Court of Stars and the eladrin people, seems like a pretentious beauty with little interest in the lives of mortals. Yet, as focused on her home realm and the luxuries of life as she is, her gaze still manages to linger upon those who keep up the fight against evil upon the Prime Materials. When the forces of darkness start to rise, her divine heart touches upon those elven archers who would stand against injustice.
Potential candidates are usually discovered by agents of Morwel, who watch over a chosen figure before sending their recommendation to the celestial realms. Some tailor themselves into holy warriors, and others find themselves thrown into the role through their love of the fey. The first type is fully aware of the blessings they receive, while the second is usually mystified by the powers they begin to manifest. All Shooting Stars of Morwel learn their starlight abilities in their dreams, and feel an intense connection to the heavens whenever under the tapestry of lights in the night sky.
Hit Dice: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a shooting star, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and one of the following: Knight of the Stars or Nymph's Kiss
Special: Arcane caster level 5th and the ability to spontaneously cast magic missile
Class Skills
The shooting star's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are features of the shooting stars prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shooting stars gain no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.
Spellcasting: At first level and every level thereafter, a shooting star gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of turning or destroying undead, metamagic or item creation feats, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a shooting star, he must decide to which class he he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Starfletching (Su): A shooting star of first level may draw upon their arcane power as they fire an arrow to transform it into a a tool against evil. As a full round action that includes the expenditure of a 1st level arcane spell slot, a single arrow fired bursts into the form of a glowing star. The arrow retains all of its qualities as well as the qualities of the bow that fired it, and is always considered magical and good aligned for the purposes of damage reduction. Additionally, the arrow gains one of the following magical weapon special abilities, chosen as the spell slot is expended: ghost touch, merciful or seeking. Spells, magic items, abilities or feats that grant additional attacks do not work with this ability.
Eladrins' Grace (Ex): Shooting stars gradually become more in tune with their bows, with their skill augmented by the power of the Court of Stars. They gain a +1 sacred bonus to attack with all bows at 2nd level, which increases to a +2 sacred bonus at 4th level.
Celestial Cascade (Su): A third level shooting star may alter their arrows so that they gain additional projectiles with each one fired. To do so, the starfletching ability is used as per normal, but a second level arcane spell slot must be expended instead of the normal investment of a first level spell slot. The one arrow fired splits off into three, with one being the primary and two being secondary arrows. Secondary arrows ignore the properties of the primary arrow fired to activate the ability and are one size category smaller, yet are still modified by the bow and starfletching ability properties. Each projectile requires a separate attack roll using at the shooting star's highest attack bonus, and precision damage only applies to the primary arrow. The secondary arrows may target the same or different target as the primary, as long as no two targets are more than 15 feet apart.
Arrows of Light (Su): Upon reaching 5th level, a shooting star may channel the might of their patron queen into their arrows. Instead of a first or second level arcane spell slot, a third level spell slot must be used, but the starfletched arrows gain further enhancement on top of the normal effects for celestial cascade and starfletching. The shooting star chooses one of the following additional options to apply to the primary and secondary arrows, chosen when the spell slot is expended: brilliant energy OR blessed, holy, and bane (evil outsider).
Shooting Stars of Morwel
Queen Morwel, ruler of the Court of Stars and the eladrin people, seems like a pretentious beauty with little interest in the lives of mortals. Yet, as focused on her home realm and the luxuries of life as she is, her gaze still manages to linger upon those who keep up the fight against evil upon the Prime Materials. When the forces of darkness start to rise, her divine heart touches upon those elven archers who would stand against injustice.
Potential candidates are usually discovered by agents of Morwel, who watch over a chosen figure before sending their recommendation to the celestial realms. Some tailor themselves into holy warriors, and others find themselves thrown into the role through their love of the fey. The first type is fully aware of the blessings they receive, while the second is usually mystified by the powers they begin to manifest. All Shooting Stars of Morwel learn their starlight abilities in their dreams, and feel an intense connection to the heavens whenever under the tapestry of lights in the night sky.
Hit Dice: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a shooting star, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and one of the following: Knight of the Stars or Nymph's Kiss
Special: Arcane caster level 5th and the ability to spontaneously cast magic missile
Class Skills
The shooting star's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Code:
[b] Base
Attack Fort Ref Will
[u]Level Bonus Save Save Save Spellcasting Special[/b][/u]
1 +0 +0 +2 +0 +1 Existing Arcane Starfletching
2 +1 +0 +3 +0 +1 Existing Arcane Eladrins' Grace +1
3 +1 +1 +3 +1 +1 Existing Arcane Celestial Cascade
4 +2 +1 +4 +1 +1 Existing Arcane Eladrins' Grace +2
5 +2 +1 +4 +1 +1 Existing Arcane Arrows of LightAll of the following are features of the shooting stars prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shooting stars gain no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.
Spellcasting: At first level and every level thereafter, a shooting star gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of turning or destroying undead, metamagic or item creation feats, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a shooting star, he must decide to which class he he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Starfletching (Su): A shooting star of first level may draw upon their arcane power as they fire an arrow to transform it into a a tool against evil. As a full round action that includes the expenditure of a 1st level arcane spell slot, a single arrow fired bursts into the form of a glowing star. The arrow retains all of its qualities as well as the qualities of the bow that fired it, and is always considered magical and good aligned for the purposes of damage reduction. Additionally, the arrow gains one of the following magical weapon special abilities, chosen as the spell slot is expended: ghost touch, merciful or seeking. Spells, magic items, abilities or feats that grant additional attacks do not work with this ability.
Eladrins' Grace (Ex): Shooting stars gradually become more in tune with their bows, with their skill augmented by the power of the Court of Stars. They gain a +1 sacred bonus to attack with all bows at 2nd level, which increases to a +2 sacred bonus at 4th level.
Celestial Cascade (Su): A third level shooting star may alter their arrows so that they gain additional projectiles with each one fired. To do so, the starfletching ability is used as per normal, but a second level arcane spell slot must be expended instead of the normal investment of a first level spell slot. The one arrow fired splits off into three, with one being the primary and two being secondary arrows. Secondary arrows ignore the properties of the primary arrow fired to activate the ability and are one size category smaller, yet are still modified by the bow and starfletching ability properties. Each projectile requires a separate attack roll using at the shooting star's highest attack bonus, and precision damage only applies to the primary arrow. The secondary arrows may target the same or different target as the primary, as long as no two targets are more than 15 feet apart.
Arrows of Light (Su): Upon reaching 5th level, a shooting star may channel the might of their patron queen into their arrows. Instead of a first or second level arcane spell slot, a third level spell slot must be used, but the starfletched arrows gain further enhancement on top of the normal effects for celestial cascade and starfletching. The shooting star chooses one of the following additional options to apply to the primary and secondary arrows, chosen when the spell slot is expended: brilliant energy OR blessed, holy, and bane (evil outsider).
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(Sig -> Gathered Nifftyness -> Arcane Archer.) It's got full BAB and reasonable spellcasting, and can be used to create something similar to what you've got here -- but without the full spellcasting progression.
