Un-nerfing the Arcane Archer?

[Zerakon]

In the rules forum on this thread about the Arcane Archer the following comments were overheard:

Grog: If you're playing 3.5, don't play an Arcane Archer. It's an utterly pointless class. Bow and arrow bonuses don't stack in 3.5, so the fact that the AA always shoots +whatever arrows is worthless. Anyone can do this simply by buying a magic bow. Go with Order of the Bow Initiate or Deepwoods Sniper instead.

Zad: No question that 3.5 was a major nerf for the AA. I was really hoping they did something else to the AA to compensate but alas it was not to be.

One of my players last night expressed interest in eventually pursing the Arcane Archer prestige class (he just rolled up a 1st level elven fighter) but we are a disappointed by the fact that the enhance arrow abilities will be rather pointless if he finds a magic bow.

Has anyone experimented with changes to the arcane archer that make it a little more worthy?

-- Zerakon the Game Mage

 

[hong]

Two possibilities:

1) allow the bow and arrow bonuses to stack, as a class-specific special ability.

2) allow the arcane archer to substitute special weapon enchantments for enhancement bonuses. Eg instead of having +5 arrows at 10th level, you might have +1 shocking burst, flaming burst.

Working out the exact technical details for (2) is left as an exercise for the reader.

 

[Sejs]

Give 'em some caster level progression. 5 (at 2,4,6,8,10) or 6 levels (at 2,4,6,7,8,10).

Lets them become more versatile with their Imbue Arrow ability, and self buff a little more. I think full caster level progression would be too much, but around 1/2 caster progression would be just dandy.

 

[Wolf72]

Two possibilities:



2) allow the arcane archer to substitute special weapon enchantments for enhancement bonuses. Eg instead of having +5 arrows at 10th level, you might have +1 shocking burst, flaming burst.

Working out the exact technical details for (2) is left as an exercise for the reader.

I like that idea! ...

I'm thinking that at each level they'd gain a magic arrow ability they get a +1 market modifier choice ... if the PC wants a burst ability they first need to get the first enchantment (flaming then flaming burst).