Hello! This thread started out with me trying to once more design a Prestige Class for my SO that is a version of the arcane archer. My first try was the Shooting Stars of Morwel. However, I came across the thought of turning the PrC into a mix between a racial substitution level and a template... for classes. Which got me thinking of the rumored 4e Paragon and Epic paths which will be replacing prestige classes. This post contains the standard class, and feel free to let me know what you think of it so far. Down a few posts you'll find my path concept. Thanks for checking them out!
Spellfletcher
While it is common for spellcasters who specialize in archery to focus on infusing their arrows with arcane energies, spellfletchers instead learns to channel their spells through a bows directly. They do not neglect their arrows, with both physical and arcane based ammunition kept separate yet working synergistically.
What spellfletchers gives up in their martial mastery of the bow, they make up for in their unrelenting pursuit of magical talent. They tend to pace themselves when it comes to spellcasting, alternating their arrow firing with their spellcrafting to maximize their power.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: 8 ranks of Concentration
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Special: Ability to cast 2nd level arcane spells
Class Skills
The spellfletcher's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level
2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the spellfletcher prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Spellfletchers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spellcasting: At second level and every level thereafter, a spellfletcher gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She 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 spellfletcher, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Spellshot (Sp): A spellfletcher may cast spells through their bows starting at first level. This requires a bow to be wielded, and adds a (or substitutes an existing) somatic component that mimics the motion of firing an arrow. Any spell requiring an attack roll or attack rolls may use the attack bonus of a held bow in place of their normal ranged attack bonus. A bow's enhancement bonus, and applicable feats or abilities that modify bow attack bonuses are thus added to the attack roll. For instance, a spellfletcher wielding a +2 longbow with the Weapon Focus (longbow) feat would gain an additional +3 to her attack roll(s) with a spellshot spell. Spells that do not require an attack roll do not benefit from this ability, yet spellfletchers tend to cast all their spells in this fashion regardless.
Residual Infusion (Su): The wielding of magical energies begins to benefit a spellfletcher's bow attacks upon reaching second level. Whenever a spellfletcher successfully casts a spell of 1st level or higher, she gains an insight bonus to all attack and damage rolls with fired arrows equal to the spell slot expended the following round. If multiple spells are cast, only the highest spell slot expended is used to calculate the bonus.
Lingering Focus (Su): At thrid level, a spellfletcher's archery talents manifest in greater spellcasting power. Each successfully fired arrow grants a +1 bonus to the caster level of spells cast the following round, up to a maximum bonus of +2.
Bow Ward (Su/Sp): Fourth level spellfletcher's gain a remarkable affinity with held bows that affords them two levels of protection. Firstly, they may use their caster level instead of their base attack bonus when making opposed rolls for disarm and sunder attempts made against them, and are considered to be one size category larger in terms of such rolls. In addition, held bows have double their normal hardness and hit points so long as they remain in the hands of the spellfletcher. Secondly, once per day as an immediate action, a ward may be enabled that functions as a self targeted protection from arrows spell with a caster level equal to ones class level.
Spellfletching Matrix (Su): Spells launched from a spellfletcher's bow become increasingly dangerous and arrows fired increasingly numerous as the fifth level of this class is achieved. All spells that require an attack roll gain the x3 critical multiplier if used with the Spellshot ability, while any held bow is considered to have the speed magic weapon special ability so long as it remains in hand.
Spellfletcher
While it is common for spellcasters who specialize in archery to focus on infusing their arrows with arcane energies, spellfletchers instead learns to channel their spells through a bows directly. They do not neglect their arrows, with both physical and arcane based ammunition kept separate yet working synergistically.
What spellfletchers gives up in their martial mastery of the bow, they make up for in their unrelenting pursuit of magical talent. They tend to pace themselves when it comes to spellcasting, alternating their arrow firing with their spellcrafting to maximize their power.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: 8 ranks of Concentration
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Special: Ability to cast 2nd level arcane spells
Code:
Base
Attack Fort Ref Will
Lvl Bonus Save Save Save Special Spells/Day
1st +0 +0 +2 +0 Spellshot
2nd +1 +0 +3 +0 Residual Infusion +1 level
3rd +1 +1 +3 +1 Lingering Focus +1 level
4th +2 +1 +4 +1 Bow Ward +1 level
5th +2 +1 +4 +1 Spellfletching Matrix +1 levelThe spellfletcher's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level
2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the spellfletcher prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Spellfletchers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spellcasting: At second level and every level thereafter, a spellfletcher gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She 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 spellfletcher, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Spellshot (Sp): A spellfletcher may cast spells through their bows starting at first level. This requires a bow to be wielded, and adds a (or substitutes an existing) somatic component that mimics the motion of firing an arrow. Any spell requiring an attack roll or attack rolls may use the attack bonus of a held bow in place of their normal ranged attack bonus. A bow's enhancement bonus, and applicable feats or abilities that modify bow attack bonuses are thus added to the attack roll. For instance, a spellfletcher wielding a +2 longbow with the Weapon Focus (longbow) feat would gain an additional +3 to her attack roll(s) with a spellshot spell. Spells that do not require an attack roll do not benefit from this ability, yet spellfletchers tend to cast all their spells in this fashion regardless.
Residual Infusion (Su): The wielding of magical energies begins to benefit a spellfletcher's bow attacks upon reaching second level. Whenever a spellfletcher successfully casts a spell of 1st level or higher, she gains an insight bonus to all attack and damage rolls with fired arrows equal to the spell slot expended the following round. If multiple spells are cast, only the highest spell slot expended is used to calculate the bonus.
Lingering Focus (Su): At thrid level, a spellfletcher's archery talents manifest in greater spellcasting power. Each successfully fired arrow grants a +1 bonus to the caster level of spells cast the following round, up to a maximum bonus of +2.
Bow Ward (Su/Sp): Fourth level spellfletcher's gain a remarkable affinity with held bows that affords them two levels of protection. Firstly, they may use their caster level instead of their base attack bonus when making opposed rolls for disarm and sunder attempts made against them, and are considered to be one size category larger in terms of such rolls. In addition, held bows have double their normal hardness and hit points so long as they remain in the hands of the spellfletcher. Secondly, once per day as an immediate action, a ward may be enabled that functions as a self targeted protection from arrows spell with a caster level equal to ones class level.
Spellfletching Matrix (Su): Spells launched from a spellfletcher's bow become increasingly dangerous and arrows fired increasingly numerous as the fifth level of this class is achieved. All spells that require an attack roll gain the x3 critical multiplier if used with the Spellshot ability, while any held bow is considered to have the speed magic weapon special ability so long as it remains in hand.
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) as I try something somewhat new. Hearing talk about the proposed 4e Paragon/Epic Paths has inspired me. We'll call it... a Heroic Path! Which is similar to racial substitution levels, now that I think about it...
