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I'm looking for good Wizard spells for an Arcane Archer build. I have 2 main categories I'm looking for:
1. Spells that are really good with Imbue Arrow.
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.
2. Spells that are generally useful for any archer. (Gravity Bow, Fly, Mirror Image, etc.)
For those curious, the build is:
1 - Paladin (Divine Hunter)
2 - Wizard (Scryer Subschool of Divination)
3-7 - Eldrich Knight
8-17 - Arcane Archer
18-20 - Eldrich Knight
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Glitterdust is still good at the level you get Imbue Arrow. Shifting Sand and Aqaeous Orb may be worth a look, Confusion, Fear and Phantasmal Web should be useful. Cloud/fog and pit spells might be even more awkward than usual though still effective. When you get 6th level spells Antimagic Field and Greater Dispel Magic are obvious picks.
Spells to prevent or mitigate return fire are important. Protection from Arrows, Blacklight, Stoneskin, Resist Energy.
You can't shoot what you can't see. Greater Darkvision may help here. The wording of Imbue Spell may allow you to use detection spells or arcane sight via the ability.
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Oh yeah, spells which buff normal archery. Greater Magic Weapon & Haste are obvious, Versatile Weapon saves you from carrying around multiple quivers, and Abundant Ammunition / Named Bullet is a scary combo once you have 4th level spells (if you have time to buff up.)
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If you get high enough level spells (I.E. if you took a heavy arcane build to get to Arcane Archer) Anti Magic Field is your top choice - no save, no SR, it's considered cast where the arrow "lands" (although some GMs have very strange interpretations of that line). Shoot it at a powerful caster and they're not casting for at least a few minutes.
Other spells that have an area normally starting on you: Detonate, and any cone spell.
Would a cone spell cast through this ability have the target in the area of effect, or originate from the target's square?
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Would a cone spell cast through this ability have the target in the area of effect, or originate from the target's square?
Most conservative ruling I've seen: The cone has to be facing in the direction the arrow traveled
Most liberal ruling I've seen: the cone can go in any direction from the apex the arrow lands
How do you get to Eldritch Knight at character level 3? Isn't that a little early?
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A first level wizard can only cast 0th and 1st level spells, which does not meet the prerequisites for Eldritch Knight. So you shouldn't be able to get it at level 3
EDIT: I know this is not the topic you posted, but I just thought you should know before presenting this to your GM and getting shot down or disappointed.
According to the FAQ, he could pull it off in a few ways.
Yes.
For example, the Dimensional Agility feat (Ultimate Combat) has "ability to use the abundant step class feature or cast dimension door" as a prerequisite; a barghest has dimension door as a spell-like ability, so the barghest meets the "able to cast dimension door prerequisite for that feat.
Edit 7/12/13: The design team is aware that the above answer means that certain races can gain access to some spellcaster prestige classes earlier than the default minimum (character level 6). Given that prestige classes are usually a sub-optimal character choice (especially for spellcasters), the design team is allowing this FAQ ruling for prestige classes. If there is in-play evidence that this ruling is creating characters that are too powerful, the design team may revisit whether or not to allow spell-like abilities to count for prestige class requirements.
As a Divination (Scryer) specialist, you get the
Scryer School
Associated School: Divination.
Replacement Power: The following school power replaces the diviner's fortune power of the divination school.
Send Senses (Sp): As a standard action, you place a scrying sensor at a point within medium range (100 feet + 10 feet/wizard level) that you can see and have line of effect to. You can see or hear (not both) through this sensor for number of rounds equal to 1/2 your wizard level (minimum 1). The sensor otherwise functions as a clairaudience/clairovoyance spell with a caster level equal to your wizard level. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.
And clairvoyance is a 3rd level spell, so by the official FAQ it allows early entry into the PrC. A similar concept I was working with was to use an Aasimar and go the Paladin=>Sorcerer=>EK route, as they get Daylight as an SLA.
Is it cheesy? Who knows, maybe, but even the Devs specifically acknowledged situations just like this in the FAQ itself.
The design team is aware that the above answer means that certain races can gain access to some spellcaster prestige classes earlier than the default minimum (character level 6). Given that prestige classes are usually a sub-optimal character choice (especially for spellcasters), the design team is allowing this FAQ ruling for prestige classes.
I suppose a GM could oppose it on the grounds that the FAQ says "certain races" in parts, and rule that it only applies to racial SLAs. However, the actual FAQ question simply says "creature", which kind of opens it up to everything about a creature/being.
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A first level wizard can only cast 0th and 1st level spells, which does not meet the prerequisites for Eldritch Knight. So you shouldn't be able to get it at level 3
EDIT: I know this is not the topic you posted, but I just thought you should know before presenting this to your GM and getting shot down or disappointed.
As Fomsie said, the Scryer subschool of Divination grants me a 3rd level SLA which meets the prerequisite for Eldrich Knight. I admit that it's a little bit cheesy, but my GM seems ok with it and I don't think it's particularly OP compared to going straight Wizard or straight Paladin. I really love the flavor of Arcane Archer, but it has always struck me as a little bit underpowered because many of its class features are available as weapon enchantments and some of its more flavorful ones limit you to one arrow in a round, making them pretty weak until you get Arrow of Death. The good thing is the almost full BAB and the 15 caster levels. The bad thing is armor is a hassle and you are strapped for feats. All in all, I'd recommend the build if your campaign isn't super intense on optimization and you want all of the fun flavor of being a sniper wizard.
Doesn't the '+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class' ability mean you don't get anymore free spells in your spellbook? You have to gain all spells in-game from then on, correct?
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Doesn't the '+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class' ability mean you don't get anymore free spells in your spellbook? You have to gain all spells in-game from then on, correct?
That is true. You have to use scrolls or other spellbooks and spend money on adding the spells. It's not something I'd recommend for a low magic campaign.
Doesn't the '+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class' ability mean you don't get anymore free spells in your spellbook? You have to gain all spells in-game from then on, correct?That is true. You have to use scrolls or other spellbooks and spend money on adding the spells. It's not something I'd recommend for a low magic campaign.
But early entry into MT or EK for these types of classes includes a toll on your WBL of ~10% when you get 2-3 spells of your new level, correct? How does it work in PFS?
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But early entry into MT or EK for these types of classes includes a toll on your WBL of ~10% when you get 2-3 spells of your new level, correct? How does it work in PFS?Doesn't the '+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class' ability mean you don't get anymore free spells in your spellbook? You have to gain all spells in-game from then on, correct?That is true. You have to use scrolls or other spellbooks and spend money on adding the spells. It's not something I'd recommend for a low magic campaign.
I don't know about that. I've never played a prestige class in PFS and I've never played a Wizard or Magus in PFS, so I don't know how that campaign handles adding spells to spellbooks. I know that the standard rules are that you need a scroll or spellbook with the relevant spell and you have to make a Spellcraft check and spend money on it to add the spell to your book.
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In PFS, you need the permission of your group to take the time to attempt to copy a spell or spells. This usually takes place at the end of the session.
Also, supposing that you found two scrolls and used one in the adventure, you would only be able to copy the remaining one. You can buy any scroll on the Chronicle sheet.
Fourth-level spell scrolls cost 700 GP. You can buy one for two Prestige Points. (2 Prestige Points can be used to buy something worth up to 750 GP.)
I currently have a Warpriest 1, Wizard 1, Eldritch Knight 2. After the character reaches Eldritch Knight 5, it will take a level of Wizard, followed by two levels of Arcane Archer.
Incidentally, the Warpriest follows Shelyn.