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Arcane Archer seems like a non-optimal prestige class, even considering Paizo generously allowing non-elves access and giving it 7 levels of spellcasting. To me, the key ability has always been the 2nd level one, Imbue Arrow:
Imbue Arrow (Su): 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.
By definition, areas consist of a lot of different things, including lines, cones, and spheres. Does this mean an arcane archer -given enough spellcasting levels- put a spell like Cone of Cold on an imbued arrow and fire it? If aiming for a target, who gets to choose the grid intersection the spell originates at? Who/what determines the direction if it's a line or cone?
Say you imbue detonate and shoot the arrow at an enemy, is the spell cast on them? Could they pull the arrow out and just toss it away?
What if you had a dominated ally and imbued Magic Circle on a blunt arrow and shot it at them, where is the spell considered centered?
Most Arcane Archers I've seen have used fighter or ranger levels to get the BAB necessary for the prerequisite, but a straight-classed Wizard or Sorcerer could enter the class after 12 levels just to get the unique Imbue Arrow ability and it opens up a lot of possibilities!
Arcane Archer seems like a non-optimal prestige class, even considering Paizo generously allowing non-elves access and giving it 7 levels of spellcasting. To me, the key ability has always been the 2nd level one, Imbue Arrow:
By definition, areas consist of a lot of different things, including lines, cones, and spheres. Does this mean an arcane archer -given enough spellcasting levels- put a spell like Cone of Cold on an imbued arrow and fire it? If aiming for a target, who gets to choose the grid intersection the spell originates at? Who/what determines the direction if it's a line or cone?
The who/what answer to both questions is ... the caster of the spell. Why? Because the caster always determines this information and nothing about the ability description changes that.
Say you imbue detonate and shoot the arrow at an enemy, is the spell cast on them? Could they pull the arrow out and just toss it away?
No, this "allows the archer to use the bow's range rather than the spell's range". If the arrow hits, the selection of the effect of the spell is chosen. Throwing the arrow away afterwards would do nothing, because the ability makes no mention of that being an option.
What if you had a dominated ally and imbued Magic Circle on a blunt arrow and shot it at them, where is the spell considered centered?
Whichever corner you designate at the time of casting the spell and shooting it.
Most Arcane Archers I've seen have used fighter or ranger levels to get the BAB necessary for the prerequisite, but a straight-classed Wizard or Sorcerer could enter the class after 12 levels just to get the unique Imbue Arrow ability and it opens up a lot of possibilities!
I suggest Magus instead. Especially the Myrmidarch archetype. You get to spellstrike touch spells with your weapon, ranged spellstrike touch spells with your bow AND launch area of effect spells with Imbue Arrow. You will enter the Arcane Archer at level 9 (one level later than a fighter6/caster1 build) and have Imbue Arrrow at Level 10. Take 4 levels of Arcane Archer and the rest Magus, you get 16 BAB, 19th level Magus casting and plenty of fighter focused feats to boost your effectiveness.
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I had a character in Living Greyhawk (3.5) that was Wizard 12, Arcane Archer 2 and used to shoot the antimagic field spell at bad guys to basically completely shut down their spellcasting. More often than not a GM would try to make an arbitrary ruling to not let that happen, including but not limited to:
- "He had stoneskin, the arrow didn't actually "hit" him"
- (as above) "He pulls the arrow out and throws it away"
- "The arrow never actually "landed" so the spell doesn't go off"
and many more. I'm pondering making a character like that for PFS (yes, I know it would require Seeker levels) and I'd like to be able to shoot down any arguments with clear, concise logic and rules examples.
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Wow, posted twice and deleted the post twice because I was wrong both times (but caught it myself). Just going to go to bed now.
I had a character in Living Greyhawk (3.5) that was Wizard 12, Arcane Archer 2 and used to shoot the antimagic field spell at bad guys to basically completely shut down their spellcasting. More often than not a GM would try to make an arbitrary ruling to not let that happen, including but not limited to:
- "He had stoneskin, the arrow didn't actually "hit" him"
- (as above) "He pulls the arrow out and throws it away"
- "The arrow never actually "landed" so the spell doesn't go off"
and many more. I'm pondering making a character like that for PFS (yes, I know it would require Seeker levels) and I'd like to be able to shoot down any arguments with clear, concise logic and rules examples.
I completely understand the hesitancy if you had a DM like that. It seems like those kind of responses were made to excuse the ability from functioning when the DM didnt like the results.
1) Didn't hit? I met or exceeded his AC, right? Did he have concealment or miss chance? He might not have taken damage but the arrow connected.
2) That one is a more difficult one, now that I think about it. Antimagic field is not a stationary effect, it CAN move with the caster. But, lets keep it simple. The arrow is doing nothing more than delivering the spell to the area you target. Once it strikes, the spell is there and it's not going anywhere. The enemy caster could just move out of that spot.
3) Provided you cast the spell successfully and launched the arrow, the only way the spell 'doesn't go off' or is 'wasted' is when you fail to hit your target's AC. Otherwise, there would be rules written into the ability.
As for PFS, I thought the characters got to level 12 and then retired from official PFS play. You could continue to run with him outside of that in your own games but it wouldn't be official.
Wouldn't the arrow just need to hit their touch for the spell to go off? I mean, it still made contact.
Wouldn't the arrow just need to hit their touch for the spell to go off? I mean, it still made contact.
Realistically? You are correct by definition. Legalistically? If it doesn't say touch AC, you have to assume normal AC. The rules tell us what we CAN do, not what we CAN'T do.
If I was the DM, I would accept that Touch AC is acceptable because I realize that the player can simply aim at the ground in the target's 5ft square, hit almost automatically and still deliver the effect. You wouldn't be able to do damage with the arrow if you went for either option (touch or ground). Only full AC allows for that.
If the GM does not like something he should just ban it. If my actions were wasted I would be annoyed.
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As for PFS, I thought the characters got to level 12 and then retired from official PFS play. You could continue to run with him outside of that in your own games but it wouldn't be official.
There are "Seeker" levels you can play. For example, I have a cleric of Calistria at level 17 in PFS thanks to things like Eyes of the Ten, Academy of Secrets, and Witchwar Legacy.
The arrow doesn't need to hit at all for the spell to go off. The spell is activated where it lands, be that a person or a square on the ground. Even if the arrow misses completely it lands somewhere and the spell takes effect at that location.
So I have a question as to the enhance arrow ability if you use it with a enchanted bow let's say 1d6 fire lightning cold and acid were it's enchants and you use enhance arrow to make the arrow do 1 of the elements of fire lightning cold and acid would you get the ability to have 1 additional d6 of one of the elements listed above?
OK thank you for your input