What would be a good arcane archer build using the PFRPG core rules only? Wondering what a nice build would look like.
There is a build called fighterman. You may have to search for it, and Treantmonk made a guide to rangers. You could probably do pretty well with a rogue also.
An important question is does your group use pathfinder only or is 3.5 allowed also.
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What would be a good arcane archer build using the PFRPG core rules only? Wondering what a nice build would look like.There is a build called fighterman. You may have to search for it, and Treantmonk made a guide to rangers. You could probably do pretty well with a rogue also.
An important question is does your group use pathfinder only or is 3.5 allowed also.
He already seems to have addressed this issue.
Frankly this depends on how much spell-casting oomph you want.
Or, to put it another way, how fast to you want to imbue arrows with antimagic field? ^_^
I'm suprised no one has said ranger yet, too obvious?, just for the extra archer feats and number of attacks. I don't get why you would chose paladin and bard over src/wiz. Seems like it should look something thing like ranger 6/ sorcwiz 4/ AA 10.
Maybe someone could explain why they chose what they did?
What would be a good arcane archer build using the PFRPG core rules only? Wondering what a nice build would look like.
Since the Elf gives Int and Dex bonuses as well as Weapon Proficiency in bows, it's pretty much the no-brainer choice, as is Wizard for the spellcasting. Fighter or Ranger is preferred for the fighty component of the build.
The fastest route is Fighter 6/Wizard 1 or Fighter 5/Wizard 2. This route emphasises BaB and number of feats - as most archers will want Deadly Aim and Multishot in addition to the required 3 feats. You will be magic poor, however. At 17th level you'll be only a 8th or 9th level caster.
For more arcane oomph, Fighter 2/Wizard 8th, which lets you get to Arcane Archer 10 and still have the spellcasting power of a 15th level caster.
You could go Wizard 5/Fighter 1/Eldritch Knight 3, then Arcane Archer. You get 2 bonus combat feats and 7 caster levels, an 'inbetween' option of the previous two builds.
The ultimate spellcaster build is the longest; Wizard 12/Arcane Archer 8. You get 18 caster levels but don't get the capstone abilities of the Arcane Archer.
But there are lots of variations that work. Ranger/Bard gets lots of skill levels (or just Bard 8), while Paladin/Sorcerer get Smite Evil and double effectiveness out of a high Charisma.
The real question is how long you want to wait for the Prestige Class.
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I am thinking I'd want one that could imbue some area spells, a little more arcane. It looks like the arcane archer levels would come a little later in his career in that case. Maybe ranger for the first 2 levels, then 4 levels of wizard, then start raising Arcane Archer. That would give him the 3rd level spells at the same level he can imbue arrows. Treantmonk's ranger guild looks pretty good, something I can reference for ranged ideas.
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I am thinking I'd want one that could imbue some area spells, a little more arcane. It looks like the arcane archer levels would come a little later in his career in that case. Maybe ranger for the first 2 levels, then 4 levels of wizard, then start raising Arcane Archer. That would give him the 3rd level spells at the same level he can imbue arrows. Treantmonk's ranger guild looks pretty good, something I can reference for ranged ideas.
I also want something I can roleplay, so can't be using paladins ;) Lawful good is rough :D
I am thinking I'd want one that could imbue some area spells, a little more arcane. It looks like the arcane archer levels would come a little later in his career in that case. Maybe ranger for the first 2 levels, then 4 levels of wizard, then start raising Arcane Archer. That would give him the 3rd level spells at the same level he can imbue arrows. Treantmonk's ranger guild looks pretty good, something I can reference for ranged ideas.
Don't forget you need +6 Base Attack Bonus. So Ranger 2/Wizard 4 is only +4.
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I am thinking I'd want one that could imbue some area spells, a little more arcane. It looks like the arcane archer levels would come a little later in his career in that case. Maybe ranger for the first 2 levels, then 4 levels of wizard, then start raising Arcane Archer. That would give him the 3rd level spells at the same level he can imbue arrows. Treantmonk's ranger guild looks pretty good, something I can reference for ranged ideas.Don't forget you need +6 Base Attack Bonus. So Ranger 2/Wizard 4 is only +4.
oops! Maybe a couple more ranger early on too, or alternate them every level till Ranger 4/ Wizard 4, then start building up Arcane Archer to give him more utility early on.
What would be a good arcane archer build using the PFRPG core rules only? Wondering what a nice build would look like.There is a build called fighterman. You may have to search for it, and Treantmonk made a guide to rangers. You could probably do pretty well with a rogue also.
An important question is does your group use pathfinder only or is 3.5 allowed also.
My selective reading kicked in and I read the title as Archer Build. Oops.
I guess it just boils down to what you wanna be: An archer with arcane backup, or an arcanist with archer backup.
For an archer who has some arcane backup, Bard 11 / Arcane Archer 9 is a clean and solid approach to the class. You qualify with bard 8 (just 1 level later than other builds), have a CL of 17 (still get 6th level spells at 19), a BAB of 17, inspire courage +3, and a boat-load of skills. Personally, this is my favorite build.
For a more power-gamey approach, Fighter 1 / Wizard 6 / Eldritch Knight 10 / Arcane Archer 3 nets you elemental arrows, BAB 17, a CL of 17 (9th level spells at 20), great HP, an effective fighter level of 11 for qualifying for feats, and a really decent amount of hit points. This is a solid build, and relies more on your casting for archer *oomph* than the arcane archer class offers.
Honestly, the AA doesn't wow me. It's groovy for a 3 level dip to get elemental arrows, but with the feature to level ratio, if you've got a *caster* class you're probably better pursuing eldritch knight to grab greater weapon focus & weapon specialization (+2 to damage is nothing to sneeze at with the hail of arrows archer builds rely on).
Just my 2cp.
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1- Wizard: Point Blank Shot
Scribe Scroll (Wizard bonus)
2- Fighter Precise Shot (Fighter bonus)
3- Fighter Weapon Focus: Longbow, Rapid Shot (Fighter bonus)
4- Fighter
5- Fighter Deadly Aim, Weapon Specialisation (Fighter bonus)
6- Fighter
7- Fighter Arcane Strike, Manyshot (Fighter bonus)
8- Arcane Archer
9- Arcane Archer Arcane Armour Training
10- Arcane Archer
11- Arcane Archer Improved Initiative
12- Arcane Archer
13- Arcane Archer Improved Precise Shot
14- Arcane Archer
15- Arcane Archer Improved Critical: Longbow
Is my favorite.
A big bonus if you go wizard is the level 1-Forewarned ability for diviner specialists. Allowing you to act normally in surprise rounds. Advantages of fighter are armour training and a mass of feats to get you a flying start.
If you want to go higher than 15, finish off leveling in arcane archer, then start taking Eldritch Knight levels.
What would be a good arcane archer build using the PFRPG core rules only? Wondering what a nice build would look like.
I would take magical knack if traits are allowed and eventually get an ioun stone for another caster level boost when you need it
8 levels of bard gets you dirge of doom as a move actioncombo round 1 dirge of doom, confusion arrow
round 2 laugh as they kill eachother
round 3 pick up loot.
Your inspire courage is +2 so makes up for the 2 BAB you lost and almost full spellcasting.
Bards get blink as a spell so getting a ghosttouch bow could be an interesting idea to let you deal with incorporeal and to get a miss chance against true seeing opponents or opponents with blind fighting.
I'm suprised no one has said ranger yet, too obvious?, just for the extra archer feats and number of attacks. I don't get why you would chose paladin and bard over src/wiz. Seems like it should look something thing like ranger 6/ sorcwiz 4/ AA 10.
Maybe someone could explain why they chose what they did?
The Paladin/Bard route leverages Charisma to its fullest, so all you have to worry about, stat wise, is DEX and CHA. Both Paladins and Bards benefit greatly from high CHA. Plus this build offers other benefits of Paladins (Smite Evil, Lay on Hands, Divine Grace) and Bards (Performance, High Skill count). You have more flex in the Paladin/Bard ratio of levels as well, given the Bard has medium BaB progression. Bard 3/Paladin 4 gets you all the shiny widgets from these classes (ok, no Divine Bond, but you're not going to be enough of a Paladin to leverage it much), and you keep a decent amount of hit points and skill points for your trouble.
I'd agree that Sorcerer > Bard for an Arcane Archer build, unless you go straight to Bard 8 then Arcane Archer. This is a skill heavy build and some people (me included) love having skill points to play with.
Honestly I am suprised no-one went the typical route...
Wizard 3/Fighter 1/Eldritch Knight 4/Arcane Archer X
If you can get away with abusing SLAs though (like being a Aasimar)
W1/F1/EK5/AA X
Oha nd if your abusing the whole SLA thing it allows you to do some REALLY fun stuff with AA like:
Sorcerer 1 (the bloodline that lets you use wis va Cha)/Sohei Monk 1/EK 5/AA X
What does sla stand for
First of all, SLA=Spell-Like Ability.
Second of all...you necro'd a thread for that?
"Necro" means that you posted in a thread that has been ignored for a long time. You "brought it back to life." Personally I don't usually consider it a necro if the thread is less than a year old.
"Thou shalt not necro a thread," isn't a rule so much as a convention. It is generally considered a bad idea to bring back very old threads because the rules have often changed since they were put to rest. This can make things really confusing to people who don't notice the dates or aren't aware of the history. In this case for example, the rules regarding SLA's have changed since K177Y C47 posted about using them for early-entry. Those posts won't make a lot of sense if you weren't here for the changes.
"Necro" means that you posted in a thread that has been ignored for a long time. You "brought it back to life." Personally I don't usually consider it a necro if the thread is less than a year old.
"Thou shalt not necro a thread," isn't a rule so much as a convention. It is generally considered a bad idea to bring back very old threads because the rules have often changed since they were put to rest. This can make things really confusing to people who don't notice the dates or aren't aware of the history. In this case for example, the rules regarding SLA's have changed since K177Y C47 posted about using them for early-entry. Those posts won't make a lot of sense if you weren't here for the changes.
I would add that in some cases necros are fine. Stuff that serves a purpose, like posting in a 5 year old rules contention thread asking if anything has changed in 5 years because the rules contention came up again and the answer apparently still hasn't been found is fine.
When it becomes annoying is when it isn't obvious that the thread has been necro'd. When someone posts something like your question, it is easy for other posters to come in and begin responding to other posts, because they assumed that threads with new posts are recent threads, and you could easily get a dozen posters in the thread trying to discuss the topic with dead accounts before someone points out that "ah guys, the OP and most of the posters in this thread have been gone for 3+ years".
So yeah, don't do that. If you are necroing, make sure that you are doing it for a good reason, and clearly indicate that it is a necro.
Oh Dude... my old kitty name is in this thread!XD