Arcane Archer, Spellcasting Variant (3.5e Prestige Class)

Arcane Archer (Spellcasting Variant)

The Elves who combine spellcasting prowess with archery skills are known as Arcane Archers. They are not unusual; however, most concentrate on their martial skills, to the detriment of their magical abilities. A few, however, take the compromise route.

Prerequisites

Base Attack Bonus: +6

Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow)

Race: Elf or Half-elf

Spells: Ability to cast 1st-level Arcane spells.

Table: The Arcane Archer (Spellcasting variant)

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day/Spells Known
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0	Enhance Arrow +1	+1 existing spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+0	Imbue Arrow
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+1	Enhance Arrow +2	+1 existing spellcasting class
4th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Seeker Arrow
5th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Enhance Arrow +3	+1 existing spellcasting class
6th	+4	+5	+5	+2	Phase Arrow
7th	+5	+6	+5	+2	Enhance Arrow +4	+1 existing spellcasting class
8th	+6	+6	+6	+2	Hail of Arrows
9th	+6	+6	+6	+3	Enhance Arrow +5	+1 existing spellcasting class
10th	+7	+7	+7	+3	Arrow of Death
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Craft (Int), Hide (Dex). Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Use Rope (Dex).

Class Features

All the following are class features of the Arcane Archer:

Enhance Arrow (Su): At 1st level, every nonmagical arrow an arcane archer nocks and lets fly becomes magical, gaining a +1 enhancement bonus. Unlike magic weapons created by normal means, the archer need not spend experience points or gold pieces to accomplish this task. However, an archer’s magic arrows only function for her. For every two levels the character advances past 1st level in the prestige class, the magic arrows she creates gain +1 greater potency (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level, +3 at 5th level, +4 at 7th level, and +5 at 9th level).

Imbue Arrow (Sp): 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 on 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. It takes a standard action to cast the spell and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the spell is cast, or the spell is wasted.

Seeker Arrow (Sp): At 4th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow once per day at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target, even around corners. Only an unavoidable obstacle or the limit of the arrow’s range prevents the arrow’s flight. This ability negates cover and concealment modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally. Using this ability is a standard action (and shooting the arrow is part of the action).

Phase Arrow (Sp): At 6th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow once per day at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way. (Any magical barrier stops the arrow.) This ability negates cover, concealment, and even armor modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally.

Using this ability is a standard action (and shooting the arrow is part of the action).

Hail of Arrows (Sp): In lieu of her regular attacks, once per day an arcane archer of 8th level or higher can fire an arrow at each and every target within range, to a maximum of one target for every arcane archer level she has earned. Each attack uses the archer’s primary attack bonus, and each enemy may only be targeted by a single arrow.

Arrow of Death (Sp) At 10th level, an arcane archer can create an arrow of death that forces the target, if damaged by the arrow’s attack, to make a DC 20 Fortitude save or be slain immediately. It takes one day to make an arrow of death, and the arrow only functions for the arcane archer who created it. The arrow of death lasts no longer than one year, and the archer can only have one such arrow in existence at a time.

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