Retraining Class after selecting Feat

[RtrnofdMax]

Suppose a character was going for Arcane Archer and didn't want to take Weapon Focus until level 9, but they also wanted to start taking Arcane Archer levels at level 9. Could the character take any class level at 9, select Weapon Focus as their feat and then retrain the class to Arcane Archer?

*After writing this I realize that one could just retrain one of their earlier feats to WF and then select the retrained feat as their level 9 feat. I figure I will still ask the question though, in case for some reason they couldn't temporarily sacrifice a feat.

[LoneKnave]

I think there was a ruling not too long ago that you can not retrain PrCs.

However! You don't have to, as far as I can tell you can qalify with the feat you get from your level for the PrC, as it's not like skillpoints, BAB, etc. that are tied to class.

[RtrnofdMax]

Don't you have to take a level of something to get your level based feats?

[Xaratherus]

LoneKnave is correct: By RAW you can't use retraining to train into a level of a PrC at all.

And yes, you actually do have to take a level in a class in order to gain feats granted by the normal leveling process; by RAW when you level (or create a character) you select your class first, then your feats, including the ones granted by gaining your level.

[James Risner]

Just retrain away your 7th level feat at the end of 8th level to Weapon Focus and then take your 7th level feat at 9th level after taking Arcane Archer.

[KainPen]

That works provided your not in the middle of a dungon and you don't before hand. That is my problem with the PrC no retraning FAQ is that alone. The character has to level with the rest of the group when they have enough xp then he has to pick eveything that goes with that level. There is no stop I am can't level until I retrain feat x for feat y so I can get the PrC at level Z. But it is what it is. So you are screwd and can't take your PrC to level 10.

To Op
Your Best bet is to not even do the PrC you waited so long to do it, it just a serious nerf from here on out. None of the ablitys in the Prc is worth it. You should retrain your self to strait a Magus, or another class with archtype or multi class combo depending on the theme you are looking to take for.

why do you want arcane archer anyway. Most people I know that wanted it was so they can get the imbue arrow bit. That stoped being worth in pathfinder becasuse all you need is a +5 bow and arrows go through all DR. there is no need for holy or any of the other mods. If you find arrows with the ablitys good if not your not at some big loss. you still out damage just about everyone.

there only a few spell are actually useful with imbue arrow because most battle maps are not big enough to need the range you can use the bow for.

Seeker Arrow is negate by Seeking weapon ablity and improved precise shot. and you are still allowed to full attack with these.

Phase arrows the only good one and that still is limited use kind of thing

Hail of Arrows while good it one a day use really make it not that great it limited to 10 targets. which is not that bad, but it is only one shot at 10 different targets, you are much better off taking hasted, rapid many shots at choice targets taking 2 or 3 of those target or that big bad nasty spell caster in the back out in a round.

Arrow of death, bad because unless you are cha based caster the dc is going to be low and easy to make by the time you get the ablity.

[RtrnofdMax]

The thought with going AA after Myrmidarch 8 is to get a little more BAB and HP by 12th. I was already pretty 50/50 on the idea.

[KainPen]

I stick with strait Myrmidrach you are only missing 3 bab but you end up with 4th level spells at 12. Ranged spell strike looks good at level 11 with mutli target spells. I am normal a melee kind of player, but if i was a caster even half caster like Magus, I would never multi class even into prestige class for a few levels. Since the spell casting is not to important. If I were multi class into fighter as it is going to stack with Myrmidarch as far as your non casting go, you have more feats which you can use to improved your archery further or other things same bab, bigger boost in fort save and hp increase.