Core only Arcane Archer build.

[Silverhand]

I'm considering two builds for my core Arcane Archer. Please help me decide which one's better.

Fighter 1/ Wizard 5/ Eldritch Knight 3/ Arcane Archer 3/ Eldritch Knight 2
Advantages: Only 5 levels of wizard helps with BAB and Reaching higher spell casting level faster.
Disadvantage: Multiple Ability Dependent (Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma)

Fighter 1/ Sorcerer 6/ Eldritch Knight 2/ Arcane Archer 4 etc.
Advantage: Only Dexterity and Charisma needed.
Disadvantage: slower BAB progression, slower spell level access.

So which is worse: Is Multi-Ability Dependency OR slower BAB slower spell access?

Once I have that figured out, I can tinker some more.
Thanks everyone!

[JDLPF]

First question: Why do you desire the Arcane Archer prestige? Especially with Core only, there's very few worthwhile spells to put onto an Imbue Arrow that you couldn't just cast from range. Unless your DM is the type to give you maps with hundreds of feet distance between you and your target, I think you'll be disappointed in this choice.

In any case, my advice would be Sorcerer 6/Dragon Disciple 4/Arcane Archer 2/Dragon Disciple 6. You get free stat boosts to make up your lack of stats, maintain as much of your caster level as possible, get to advance your Sorcerer bloodline and don't need to splash into a martial class. 19th and 20th level would probably be either more Sorcerer levels or more Arcane Archer, but most games never reach this high anyhow.

[Silverhand]

JDLPF wrote:

First question: Why do you desire the Arcane Archer prestige? Especially with Core only, there's very few worthwhile spells to put onto an Imbue Arrow that you couldn't just cast from range. Unless your DM is the type to give you maps with hundreds of feet distance between you and your target, I think you'll be disappointed in this choice.

In any case, my advice would be Sorcerer 6/Dragon Disciple 4/Arcane Archer 2/Dragon Disciple 6. You get free stat boosts to make up your lack of stats, maintain as much of your caster level as possible, get to advance your Sorcerer bloodline and don't need to splash into a martial class. 19th and 20th level would probably be either more Sorcerer levels or more Arcane Archer, but most games never reach this high anyhow.

That's an interesting build!

The reason I want Arcane Archer is just to do something different. Also, I like the idea of firing off an antimagic field at the foe. :)

One point of clarification for me: I thought Arcane Archer was Charisma dependent for DCs. It's not. So I might just go Wizard-build vs. Sorcerer-Build. :)

[JDLPF]

Given that Antimagic Field is 6th level, you'd need 11 caster levels for a Wizard or 12 for a Sorcerer to access this spell. Earliest entry, assuming you're sacrificing three levels of caster advancement for a wizard chassis (fighter 1, eldritch knight 1 and arcane archer 1) or two levels for a sorcerer chassis (dragon disciple 1 and arcane archer 1) puts both at character level 14 before you can do this.

Honestly, unless you're starting the game at 15th level or higher, that's a massive investment before your build comes together.

[Gisher]

Silverhand wrote:

I'm considering two builds for my core Arcane Archer. Please help me decide which one's better.

Fighter 1/ Wizard 5/ Eldritch Knight 3/ Arcane Archer 3/ Eldritch Knight 2
Advantages: Only 5 levels of wizard helps with BAB and Reaching higher spell casting level faster.
Disadvantage: Multiple Ability Dependent (Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma)

Fighter 1/ Sorcerer 6/ Eldritch Knight 2/ Arcane Archer 4 etc.
Advantage: Only Dexterity and Charisma needed.
Disadvantage: slower BAB progression, slower spell level access.

So which is worse: Is Multi-Ability Dependency OR slower BAB slower spell access?

Once I have that figured out, I can tinker some more.
Thanks everyone!

(1) Both of your builds have identical BAB progressions. They take +0 at levels 2, 4, and 6 with +1 for all other levels.

(2) The only Arcane Archer ability that is dependent on Cha is the 10th level Arrow of Death so that's not much of an issue for the Wizard build.

[justaworm]

I played an Arcane Archer to high levels once (probably 16 or so). I went Ranger / Sorcerer. It was a long time ago, but I think I had wished I went Wizard instead. However, this was with the 3.5 rules and it looks like some things may be different with the PF version (iirc, 2nd level arcane spells was the prerequisite, not 1st level).

Honestly, I got the most mileage from a ridiculous custom bow + Enhance Arrows + True Strike.

My recollection that

All of the abilities are useful / fun / cinematic, but they use a SA and I was generally better served full-round attacking with super enhanced arrows

Imbue Arrow was cool, but most of the time you are playing within range for your spells (unless you are in some sort of major battlefield situation), as dungeon-type environments are a staple of many modules.

A Core-only version of this class could get a huge boost with a house-rule that allows for seeker and phase arrow to work with the first shot of a full round attack. (I would keep Imbue at an SA for balance).

[JDLPF]

The biggest problem with Arcane Archer in 3.5e was that it was Elf or Half-Elf only. And honestly, who plays those races in 3.5e? A -2 Con race on a d4 chassis is nothing but trouble, and there's nothing in the half-blood package that was worth a bonus feat.

[Childeric, The Shatterer]

I've always liked bard/fighter for my arcane archer builds. More support, while keeping the ranged damage potential.