Arcane Archer and Imbue Arrows

[Alex_UNLIMITED]

Have a stupid arcane archer with an armor, that is using imbue arrow, the arcane spell failure percentage?
I hate this ridicouluss prestige class, I ask this to prove to my friends that this class is worse than it already shows.

Quote:

Imbue Arrow (Sp): At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell's area is centered where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow's range rather than the spell's range. A spell cast in this way uses its standard casting time and the arcane archer can fire the arrow as part of the casting. The arrow must be fired during the round that the casting is completed or the spell is wasted. If the arrow misses, the spell is wasted.

[Tels]

As far as I know, Arcane Archer and Eldritch Knight, are two of the few prestige classes worth taking. What about it is stupid, ridiculous, or bad?

[Drejk]

Alex_UNLIMITED wrote:

Have a stupid arcane archer with an armor, that is using imbue arrow, the arcane spell failure percentage?

I hate this ridicouluss prestige class, I ask this to prove to my friends that this class is worse than it already shows.

Arcane spell failure applies to arcane spells with somatic components. It does not apply to spell-like abilities.

[Mojorat]

the reason for arcane spell failure is armour often prevents proper arm movements. Spell like abilities require no arm movements ergo they are not affected by asf.

The onky issue with arcane archer is people seem to want fspellcasters with archery support. Howeve it is better for archery with spell support.

[Jiggy]

Tels wrote:

What about it is stupid, ridiculous, or bad?

This. I'm not sure what you're even asking, Alex.

[Serisan]

Jiggy wrote:

Tels wrote:

What about it is stupid, ridiculous, or bad?

This. I'm not sure what you're even asking, Alex.

Yup. I don't even consider it to be a particularly good diversion mechanically.

[Fromper]

So staying on topic of the title of the thread, but not really the original question, what spells work well with this ability? I've never played with an arcane archer, and while this seems like a cool ability in theory, most of the spells I'd want to cast from a longer distance would be served more easily with just Reach Metamagic.

[Alex_UNLIMITED]

Thanks. The archane archer is ridicoulus, because the myrmidarch magus is better.

[Jiggy]

Fromper wrote:

So staying on topic of the title of the thread, but not really the original question, what spells work well with this ability? I've never played with an arcane archer, and while this seems like a cool ability in theory, most of the spells I'd want to cast from a longer distance would be served more easily with just Reach Metamagic.

Beats me. Personally, I think the strength of the class is in Enhance Arrows.

[Shadowborn]

One of the best uses I've found is obscuring mist. Normally it's centered on the caster.

Got a bunch of enemy archers with cover and high ground picking away at your party? Or an enemy spellcaster that needs line of sight? Stick them in a big cloud and shut them down. Send the barbarian to chew them up and spit them out when the come out.

[Von Marshal]

I actually think that the myrmidarch magus combined with the archane archer is a cool idea. Magus gets ray spells at a higher crit and bow damage and the archer gets area spells at greater range and bow damage (including magus damage). Hey, you can cast all your spells at bow range now... all but personal :), that seem kinda cool to me. Workable? I haven't charted it out. The concept is cool tho.

[Tels]

Alex_UNLIMITED wrote:

Thanks. The archane archer is ridicoulus, because the myrmidarch magus is better.

This is wrong. You're comparing a 10 level prestige class, with a 20 level base class specifically designed to fill the gish role. Of course the Magus will be better, everything he is, is designed to be a caster/fighter. The Arcane Archer is also designed to be a support character, the Magus isn't.

You're trying to force a class to do something it wasn't designed to do, so of course you're going to be disappointed. I'd suggest, if you want to enjoy your character from here on out, take levels in Eldritch Knight instead, since that seems to be the path you were trying to make the Arcane Archer fulfill.

[Happler]

Fromper wrote:

So staying on topic of the title of the thread, but not really the original question, what spells work well with this ability? I've never played with an arcane archer, and while this seems like a cool ability in theory, most of the spells I'd want to cast from a longer distance would be served more easily with just Reach Metamagic.

As it has to be "area" spells, antimagic field should work. Since that one normally centers on the caster, being able to drop a ranged, 10' radius emanation of no magic up to 1100' (max longbow range) away has to be useful somewhere.

Great for shutting down summoned creatures, summoners, and generally causing casters headaches.

[Alitan]

Cloudkill the elite unit of oncoming army, Stinking Cloud the peasant conscripts. Slow the HORSES of that heavy cavalry about to charge your archers' flank. Fear the heavy infantry at the opposing army's van before your own heavies smash their formation.

Wind Wall in front of your sappers at the city wall to shield them from defending archers.

Serious conflict management and control within the range of your bow. You can turn the tide of LARGE combats.

But it really is a more supportive role than a direct dpr one.

After all this (or during) snipe the enemy officers.

Really at your best in large-scale offensives...