Arcane Archer / Area Spells and the Imbue Arrow Feature

[Reikon1]

I have looked for an hour on numerous sites and still have not found a clear answer, so if anyone can help me out this would be greatly appreciated.

Can ray's and target spells be used with the IMBUE ARROW class feature? Could I IMBUE an arrow with a magic missile? The reason I ask is because on page 215 of the Core Rulebook they have "creatures" under the AREA description. Additionly is point of orgin an area? (See the template picture)

Bottom line, is an area spell considered only to be spells with the actual AREA descirptor under the spell (like FIRABALL) and not such things as TARGET and EFFECT? (Like MAGIC MISSILE and SCORCHING RAY?

[Magicdealer]

An area spell is a spell with the area descriptor, not one with target and effect.

As long as the spell has one of these:

Area: Burst, (waves of fatigue)
Area: Emanation, (zone of truth)
Area: Spread, (word of chaos)
Area: Cone, (waves of fatigue)
Area: Cylinder, (sleet storm)
Area: Line, (sunbeam)
Area: Sphere, (globe of invulnerability, lesser)
Area: Creatures, (word of chaos)
Area: Objects, (Transmute Metal to Wood)
Area: Other (force cage)
Area: Shapeable(S) (Transmute Rock to Mud)

with Area being bolded, *included example spells*, you can use it as part of the Imbue Arrow ability.

Unfortunately, magic missile and scorching ray would not fall into these categories.

[Simon Legrande]

Wouldn't it be nice to shoot someone with an arrow then have 3 scorching rays go off with no chance of missing? But no, the ability doesn't work that way.

For an example of the creatures area look at Horrid Wilting. I would say no to imbuing an arrow with an effect like that because you must specify all the creatures to affect and not the area they're standing in.

[Eugene Nelson]

I would have to agree totally with magicdealer on this one