So, I have a plan to make my 5th level Wizard into an Arcane Archer. Just got to 6th Level, so I plan to take a level of Fighter, 2 levels of Eldritch Knight, and be an Arcane Archer by 9th level. Not sure if better options are out there though.
Reasonably, I want to take as few hits to spellcasting levels as possible, but don't want to be waiting until 12th level to have the BAB I need.
The GM has house ruled that I'll still be getting Wizard spells with Prestige classes, so that's not a worry.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
How are you set for feats? If you already have point blank shot & precise shot then you might try inspired blade swashbuckler 1 / wizard 6 / eldritch knight 2, or perhaps replace swashbuckler there with hooded champion ranger. If you need the feats then fighter, sure.
Later on you might get the favored prestige class & prestigious spellcaster feats to get back a spellcasting level or two.
I've always wanted to try building a Bloodrager/Arcane Archer.
I had an arcane archer once through all of the prestige levels. I got the most benefit from the Imbue Arrow ability to make my non-magical arrows enhanced. The rest of the abilities were nice but not really spectacular.
Having a custom bow seriously helped too, as I think I ended up with a flaming, icy, shocking burst composite shortbow and got to append all kinds of extra damage. This was in 3.5 and so I can imagine that now with the archer feats that exist the class still can be pretty strong.
From a cool and flavor perspective, I had a lot of fun. So in that sense I disagree with Matt2VK.
|
Myrimdon magus. I think thats how you spell it at least. It fits the concept better and you can even go into arcane archer if you want to.
This, seriously.
8 levels of myrmidarch (this is how you spell it) will serve you fine. A ninth level will make it epic.For the first 8 levels:
Since you're considered a 5th level fighter with weapon training 1, you can use gloves of duelling and the feat: advanced weapon training (warrior spirit), which will add bane and +2 enhancement to your bow 4/day. Also, you get your normal magus +2 enhancement to add as well. Add to that the spell combat with arrows, stacking with rapid shot and manyshot, and all you have to worry about is your amount of arrows.
The ninth level just adds some gravy in the form of your third +1 from arcane pool and a third magus arcana, which is totally worth the 1 bab loss, if you ask me.
Since you're probably, as a staple, are going to use bane (+1), +2 straight enhancement, and a +3 worth of effects on your bow, you're going to want a +4 bow that uses one plus on an enchantment. The result will be a plus 10 bow, that'll shoot those juicy arcane archer arrows.
You'll not be as good a spellcaster, but seriously, who'll care anymore once you'll loose such volleys?
What you've described is the typical caster-focused entry into Eldritch Knight. You can swap Fighter for a different class, but given how feat-hungry archery is (and you've also got the prestigious spellcaster feat tempting you too) it's a perfectly fine choice. Given that you've already got 5 levels of Wizard, I really don't see a better option for you.
Myrimdon magus.
Myrmidon isn't actually very good at archery, and its ranged spellstrike class feature is largely wasted since it doesn't have a way to use Spell Combat with ranged weapons. This takes away the primary advantage of the Magus. The Eldritch Archer Magus archetype is the one that's the competitive option here. It does the job better than Myrmidon with fewer downsides. You don't get weapon training, but it does get ranged spell combat and ranged spellstrike so it actually does what the Magus is supposed to do: be a well-oiled action economy machine. Definitely a stellar option for anyone who wants to be an archery-focused spellcaster.
The Arcane Archer vs Eldritch Archer comparison is somewhat nuanced. Even with 5 lost spellcasting levels over the course of your career, Arcane Archer will still have significanty superior spellcasting, and if you have the feats to spare for prestigious spellcaster the gulf is quite vast. You also end up with a slightly higher BAB than a Magus, although at lower levels you will be behind. On the other hand, the Eldritch Archer has ranged spell combat and ranged spellstrike to give it superior action economy and generally flow better in combat. Both are very appealing, depending on what you prioritize.
advanced weapon training (warrior spirit)
Advanced Weapon Training requires a minimum of 5 levels of Fighter (or 4 levels of Weapon Master Fighter). Just having an archetype with Weapon Training is insufficient to gain access to these abilities. You have to actually be a Fighter.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
advanced weapon training (warrior spirit)Advanced Weapon Training requires a minimum of 5 levels of Fighter (or 4 levels of Weapon Master Fighter). Just having an archetype with Weapon Training is insufficient to gain access to these abilities. You have to actually be a Fighter.
Or to count as a fighter for feat prereqs, as a myrmidiarch magus does from 7th level.
I should have mentioned that I went sorcerer/fighter, which I can't say I recommend due to how long it took to qualify. Hah.
In practical terms, I think Eldritch Knight is probably a better archer than an Arcane Archer, sadly. Easier to qualify for; delicious, nutritious bonus feats; doesn't lose so much casting, so the buff spells come sooner. Most AA abilities can't be used together (all standard attack specials) and overrule using a full attack (same reason), so...
|
|
Or to count as a fighter for feat prereqs, as a myrmidiarch magus does from 7th level.advanced weapon training (warrior spirit)Advanced Weapon Training requires a minimum of 5 levels of Fighter (or 4 levels of Weapon Master Fighter). Just having an archetype with Weapon Training is insufficient to gain access to these abilities. You have to actually be a Fighter.
This. An 8th level myrmidarch can take the feat.
Just a note on any 'combat Wizard' - if you're allowed to take the Faith Magic Arcane Discovery and worship a deity with the Nobility Domain, then you can prepare Divine Favor once per day, and use it any number of times per day depending on how many 1k Pearls of Power you have. This can be a big help to archery accuracy and damage, depending on how buffs play out.
Unfortunately, this isn't a campaign where I'll have the downtime to retrain all of my class levels, so I'm stuck with 5 levels of Wizard. I highly considered Ranger, but I need the bonus feat from fighter for Precise Shot (A necessity for any ranged character)
Given your current situation, it looks to me that you are on one of the best paths to get there.
The Fighter dip is unfortunate, but that stinking MWP (all) requirement for Eldritch Knight makes something necessary. You could forgo the spellcasting improvements to drop EK and just try and make your martial part better, like maybe with the Archer archetype for Fighter.
Is there maybe a trait that opens MWP(all) up that you could grab with the Extra Traits feat?