So, I have a very specific character idea in mind: an archer who uses bows to launch darkness spells from a distance and uses shadow spells to control the battlefield.
My original idea had numerous flaws, and was essentially Shadowcaster wizard/Ranger into arcane archer.
Since then, the Eldritch Archer archetype for Magus has emerged, and has brought new ideas to the forefront. I've considered going Sorcerer (Umbral Scion) and about 2 levels of EA Magus to get Ranged Spellstrike (since Darkness is on the Magus list). The main issue is, of course, wanting to get the increase to DCs from the Bloodline while also retaining the blend of magic and archery. Magus doesn't get enough of the good shadow or darkness spells for me to really think I could achieve the character goal as a solid magus, but...
I want the character to be viable enough to function as a cohort, so he doesn't need to be a showstopper, just very flavorful. I know there's some new shadow spells in the Villain Codex too (Shadow Jaunt to behind an enemy and unload arrows into their backs sounds lovely).
It just seems Pathfinder isn't set up for this sort of thing to be very functional unless I go traditional arcane archer.
As a Fetchling, the Umbral Scion's Encroaching Darkness ability will pretty much keep me in dim light for the duration of most fights, giving me that nice racial ability. On top of that, if it's a shadow descriptor spell, it'll get ANOTHER +1 to the DC.
I think Ranged Spellstrike requires using a spell from a Magus slot anyhow.
There are lots of possibilities for a shadow archer, with Shadow Mystery Oracle being maybe the coolest at the moment. But spell imbued arrows is still Arcane Archer I think.
Launching darkness spells from a distance sounds unlikely to be useful. You might blind the enemy but unless your allies can see in darkness too then it works both ways. As a cohort he shouldn't be a lone wolf. Maybe I'm missing something?
Anyway the eclipsed spell metamagic feat could turn the spotlight or daylight spells into better darkness spells. Spell blending can be used to get a spell or two off the wizard list.
The idea was to essentially force enemies to come to us by limiting the battlefields area, and using spells like shadow anchor or masochistic shadow to lock down enemies while we focus-fire specific targets.
The idea, in theory, was to have a ranged battlefield control mage with the theme of shadow caster, mixing in the shadow evocation and conjuration.
I just, in my head, love the idea of the spell-archer. Pathfinder is pretty limited in just HOW one can spell-bow, however.