1st-Level Arcane Spells or Spell-Like Ability


Advice

Dark Archive

Let's say you have a really great Human Archer in Pathfinder Society Organized Play, and you want to become an Arcane Archer. Instead of taking a level in Sorcerer or Wizard to get your 'ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells' are there good Bard, Magus, Witch, or Summoner options?

I have to admit since the Arcane Archer only get the spell progression from the class, the simple choice would be Sorcerer or Wizard, but I was wondering if anyone had luck with the other arcane casting classes as an Arcane Archer?


Maybe the thread's title is just a little misleading as your post doesn't actually mention spell-like abilities but just to be safe I think I should mention that those don't actually qualify for prerequisites anymore.

That out of the way there are very few spells the Bard, Magus, Witch or Summoner have that the Wizard or Sorcerer don't have on their own list. Let alone, for an Arcane Archer. That said, there must be some and I'm sure someone will point them out soon enough. I'd hazard a guess and say the Bard and the Summoner probably don't have enough to make it worthwhile. I hope I'm proven wrong.
If there are enough of such spells I'd still sooner look at the class features they grant to enhance your build.

Are you aware of the Myrmidarch Magus archetype? Its kind of like an Arcane Archer from the start. Granted it isn't very good but if you're not that big on optimizing it can still be a lot of fun to play. Plus, it has plenty of useful spells, if a bit bogstandard. Heck, nothing stops you from taking Arcane Archer as well!


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Typically, the main shtick for arcane archer is Imbue Arrow, for which you need to use area effect spells. So you want to have a spell list with some good area effect spells on it.

Bard can work, sort of; at least you can wear light armor and use a buckler without risking spell failure. Chord of shards and grease are pretty much your only 1st-level spells to use with Imbue Arrow (sleep is basically useless by the time you qualify for arcane archer); darkness is meh, although distracting cacophony is semi-useful, glitterdust is OK, haunting mists is a good choice to shut down enemy archers, scare isn't worth it, silence can be strong, and sound burst is a bit weak (sonic scream, because it can be used three times per casting will probably not be allowed with Imbue Arrow).

Magus is probably a better choice: can still wear light armor, but get better spells like burning hands and color spray, along with euphoric cloud, stone call, and web. Also, note that you can use Arcane Pool to enhance the bow separately from the automatic benefits of Enhance Arrows.

Summoner is not a good option. Not only are the eidolon and summon monster ability way underpowered with limited summoner levels, but the summoner spell list doesn't have many area effect spells to use with Imbue Arrow.

Witch can work, but isn't as strong a choice as a wizard; the spell list has less area effect spells and the patron spells are tied to witch level, not spell progression. Similarly, hexes will not advance with non-witch levels.

Dark Archive

Thanks! Sorry about the title. The original post was going to be to inquire about giving a spell like ability or first level arcane spell, without having a class. For example, through a feat or trait. I soon realize that you have to have an arcane class to advance the spells though... I just didn't update the thread title.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Tim Broadwater wrote:

Let's say you have a really great Human Archer in Pathfinder Society Organized Play, and you want to become an Arcane Archer. Instead of taking a level in Sorcerer or Wizard to get your 'ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells' are there good Bard, Magus, Witch, or Summoner options?

I have to admit since the Arcane Archer only get the spell progression from the class, the simple choice would be Sorcerer or Wizard, but I was wondering if anyone had luck with the other arcane casting classes as an Arcane Archer?

Outside of wizard, any other choice frankly sucks because of either the limited spells, or limited spell progression.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
LazarX wrote:
Tim Broadwater wrote:

Let's say you have a really great Human Archer in Pathfinder Society Organized Play, and you want to become an Arcane Archer. Instead of taking a level in Sorcerer or Wizard to get your 'ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells' are there good Bard, Magus, Witch, or Summoner options?

I have to admit since the Arcane Archer only get the spell progression from the class, the simple choice would be Sorcerer or Wizard, but I was wondering if anyone had luck with the other arcane casting classes as an Arcane Archer?

Outside of wizard, any other choice frankly sucks because of either the limited spells, or limited spell progression.

See my post above.

If you want to emphasize the "arcane" a bit more than the "archer," a myrmidarch magus 8/arcane archer 3/myrmidarch magus X (if your GM allows Ranged Spellstrike to work with bows, with the "free hand" wording) makes for a pretty good switch-hitter (since myrmidarchs retain the normal Spell Combat and Spellstrike abilities) with area and ranged touch effects using the bow, as well as touch and ranged touch (with the Close Range arcana that pretty much all magi take, anyway) effects in melee. Spell slots are a bit limited, but that's an issue with magi in general.

If you want the maximum spell progression, go [fighter or ranger] 1/wizard 6/eldritch knight 2/arcane archer 3/eldritch knight +8. Arcane archer is just to pick up Imbue Spell and Enhance Arrows (Elemental); eldritch knight is more useful to advance both BAB and spellcasting at the same time (the rest of the arcane archer abilities after Imbue Arrow are pretty blah compared to spells, IMO, especially since they're limited uses and/or take a standard action, preventing them from being used with Imbue Arrow).


Wait, SLAs no longer count for those prereqs?

Do mystic theurges suck again? :(


Master of the Dark Triad wrote:

Wait, SLAs no longer count for those prereqs?

Do mystic theurges suck again? :(

Yes and pretty much

Dark Archive

Where is this announcement that SLA prerequisites has changed? I've looked at the FAQs, Additional Resources, and the Guide to Organized Play and I'm not seeing anything.

Dark Archive

Oh, nevermind... it is buried at the bottom of the page of the FAQ. No wonder people are jumping to Adventure League... this website, rules, legality, etc. is a mess.

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