Arcane Archer - how?

[Nighthawk4]

After many years here on Avlis and many many low-level characters, it is a little embarrassing to admit I have no real idea how some of the more advanced options here actually work.

Not long ago, I managed to build an Avenger. This seemed a good idea given my DM Avatar

Although probably my most recent character start, I think she is also my highest level character - up to 16 now. True Epic for me

I also have a Shadow Dancer sneaking around somewhere (about level 14), plus a couple of Druid/Ranger and Something/Psion mixed classes at very low levels. Otherwise, all of my characters are pure single class - very low-level but still single class.

I can't help feeling it is time to try some of the more complicated options, although I understand very little of builds and prerequisites and the like. Most of my characters level up by using the 'recommended' button. They are used for RP and their actual skills have never seemed that important. Consequently, they are all total wimps and could not fight their way out of a 1d6 paper bag

So what can I try? How about an Arcane Archer? I have no idea where to start here. It seems that a triple class is unavoidable. It seems I need an Elf or Half-Elf. I assume the more interesting options like Sereg, Ghost Elf and Avariel are not possible. Is this true?

Which classes should I use? Ranger/Bard? Fighter/Sorc? Rogue/Wiz? Barb/Sorc? A number of permutations I think, including one of Ranger/Fighter/Barb/Rogue and one of Bard/Sorc/Wiz. So which to go for? Since the object is to get archery skills I assume Ranger is the obvious one. Thoughts please?

In character, why do people become Arcane Archers? If you are gifted with arcane powers, why not use spells rather than a bow and arrows? If you are good with a bow, then would you play around with spells instead of shooting arrows into everything?

From a more technical point of view, what levels of each class do you need to get the prerequisites?

Advice please for an who is completely lost in this sort of thing

[Nighthawk4]

I have a level 11 Elven Ranger and a level 6 Half-Elf Bard.

Is either of those a possible Arcane Archer, purely from an OOC technical point of view?

[Hamlet]

From the Avlis wiki:

Arcane Archer Requirements

Base Attack Bonus: +6

Feats: Weapon Focus (Longbow or Shortbow), Point Blank Shot

Race: Elf (including Ghost Elf, Avariel, Drangonari) or Half-Elf

Note: Half-nymphs and half-dryads are not included since they can be either half-human or half-elf and so no way to determine if they have elf blood.

Spellcasting: Ability to cast Arcane spells (Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard)

See the Wiki also on:

Arcane Archer Imbue Arrow, Avlis modification

[Nighthawk4]

Thanks. I read the Wiki but didn't see the inclusion of Ghost Elf, Avariel and Drangonari. As it doesn't mention Sereg, does that mean they are out? They are full Elves I believe

[Hamlet]

The Avlis wiki entry on Arcane Archers was updated a few minutes ago after consulting a relevant thread in Ask the Team.

Full list of races who can become Arcane Archers:

Elf
Half-Elf
Drangonari
Ghost Elf
Avariel

Sereg'wethrin aren't on that list; someone else will have to double check.

[Nighthawk4]

Wow

Thanks - that probably explains why I didn't notice the extra information earlier

[firelife11]

I think it all depends on how you want to RP this char and how you want them to handle in battle. Do you want them to be more damage and ab and no spells.. or more buffs and sacrafice AA lvs..

Play around with it.. you can go barb/aa and not need 3rd class. The more AA classes you have, the more ab and damage you'd end up with. If you want to use your bow in groups and/or to lore someone towards you, go Ranger so you can switch to shortswords for melee combat.

But like I said, goes back to the way you wanna RP him/her. A psychotic half-elf who sings of slaughter and murder while killin anythin in his path with extreme ranged accuracy and damage. Or a tree huggin Elf who hunts with a bow to draw his enemy near and finishes them with a pair of shortswords. Haha makin me want to make one as well!!

[Brayon]

/shameless plug

http://wiki.avlis.org/User:Brayon/Arcane_Archer_Primer

IC research, that my main is doing for the Blue Order.

[firelife11]

Arcane archer is a profession most often taken up by elves and half-elves. This is not limited to just the Avlisian High Elf, but also includes Avariel, Ghost Elves, Dragonari, and Sereg’wethrin

Guess that answers it.. Should be interestin to get a handfull of Sereg AA's to terrorize the areas again. Forgot what it was like to walk around Mikona and M'Chek and walk into a group of 'em..

[Hamlet]

If a Team member can confirm that the Arcane Archer class is currently avaliable to Sereg'wethrin, please do, so that the Wiki can include this update.

*Goes to fetch MadK@*

[Brayon]

If a Team member can confirm that the Arcane Archer class is currently avaliable to Sereg'wethrin, please do, so that the Wiki can include this update.

Its already on the wiki....

PC Statistics

Base Race: Elf
ECL: 1
Ability Score Modifiers: +6 Dex, -2 Wis, -4 Cha
Feats:
Darkvision
Favoured Enemy (Humans)
Hardiness vs. Enchantments
Sleeplessness
Keen Senses
Skill Affinity: Listen
Skill Affinity: Search
Skill Affinity: Spot
Weapon Proficiency: Elf
Favored Class: Wizard
Notes:
Sereg'wethrin can only be created in the Underdark server
All Sereg'wethrin have black skin and hair through the character creation process
Sereg'wethrin can take the Arcane Archer class
All Sereg'wethrin MUST be male, it is not possible to create a female Sereg'wethrin and playing a female Sereg'wethrin is considered cheesing.

[Hamlet]

Yes, it's on the wiki; and yes, I'm asking for double check Teamside due to mixed signals.

[Nighthawk4]

To be honest, the RP side is a problem. What does this character do?

He or she could join the Green Order - but I already have a Sorc in that (about level 15 I think).

He or she could defend the Spiritland and join Le'No - but I have a level 16 Avenger there.

He or she could join the Dark Side, but I can't play Evil. Also, just between you and I, the Evil Deathplanes suck. Please don't tell anyone I said that

Unless the character is a Sereg, it doesn't make sense for a combat-based character like AA not to defend the Spiritland in one way or another - so an AA is almost certain to be stepping on the toes of one or other of my existing characters. Even a Verossan wouldn't fight against his or her Homeland, would they?

Perhaps I need to look elsewhere and think of a different PrC - or maybe an HW other than Avenger. Maybe Dwarven Defender - but Deglos is staying neutral so harder to RP there perhaps. Could be an independent Dwarf I suppose. I can't do Dwarven language, so that might not be ideal either. Are there any PrCs suitable for Halflings perhaps?

This is not going well, is it?


Edit - Wow, thanks guys. Lots of information there

Edit2 - So a Sereg AA who included Wizard would not suffer the multiclass penalties, as Wizard is its favoured class. Nice.

On second thoughts, isn't Wizard the favoured class of Elves anyway?

[Brayon]

Confirmed that Sereg'wethrin can be AA, per CoPaP .haks. It is coded for them.

[Nighthawk4]

Thanks.


So how about a female Sereg, CG, follows Dru'El, Wiz/Ranger AA? That should make for fun RP at Elf Gate




Just kidding. I know that breaks the rules and is cheesy is several ways

[Brayon]

To be honest, the RP side is a problem. What does this character do?

He or she could join the Green Order - but I already have a Sorc in that (about level 15 I think).

He or she could defend the Spiritland and join Le'No - but I have a level 16 Avenger there.

He or she could join the Dark Side, but I can't play Evil. Also, just between you and I, the Evil Deathplanes suck. Please don't tell anyone I said that

Unless the character is a Sereg, it doesn't make sense for a combat-based character like AA not to defend the Spiritland in one way or another - so an AA is almost certain to be stepping on the toes of one or other of my existing characters. Even a Verossan wouldn't fight against his or her Homeland, would they?

Perhaps I need to look elsewhere and think of a different PrC - or maybe an HW other than Avenger. Maybe Dwarven Defender - but Deglos is staying neutral so harder to RP there perhaps. Could be an independent Dwarf I suppose. I can't do Dwarven language, so that might not be ideal either. Are there any PrCs suitable for Halflings perhaps?

This is not going well, is it?


Edit - Wow, thanks guys. Lots of information there

My AA, just joined the Blue Order, and for personal IC reasons, has decided to Join Le'No. However, he easily could of not joined Le'No. AA is a racially restricted PrC, but that doesn't limit your RP.

Ni'arthin (my AA main) started off from Deglos, and came south to Elysia/T'Nanshi in search of training for AA. Joining Le'No was a personal choice for him because:

A. Talked into it by a PC ICly,
B. Had a first hand IC slap in the face of what the Shaahesk are doing.

He easily could of not joined Le'No, and Instead joined Le'Megan. However, the "Drunk on Duty" posts about Le'Megan prior to the fall, along with some rude officers, made him change his mind. Otherwise he would of been Le resistance.

Not trying to derail the thread with a personal introspection, but just giving ya an RP example.

EDIT:

Thanks.


So how about a female Sereg, CG, follows Dru'El, Wiz/Ranger AA? That should make for fun RP at Elf Gate




Just kidding. I know that breaks the rules and is cheesy is several ways

Only if her First class is Wizard (because of game Mechanics), and she wields duel scimitars.


Edit As well:

No PrC incurs an XP penalty. They are not counted towards highest class level in that regards.

[Brayon]

Mechanic wise for build, you need at least 1 level of an Arcane spellcaster (so Bard, Sorcerer, or Wizard), and then a BAB of 7. My main went Wizard/Fighter and got his AA at Wiz 4 / Fighter 5.

A pure Wiz/Sor wouldn't be able to go AA until after they reached 14th level.

A pure Bard can do so after 10th level.

If you want to use an existing PC, your 6th level bard could do so, once they reach 10th. If they have the required feats. If not, then after 12th level.

[Ringwraith]

Also, just between you and I, the Evil Deathplanes suck. Please don't tell anyone I said that

I know at least one that isn't bad at all.
In fact, a single fireball solves it ridiculously quick.

[Belasco]

PM sent

pew pew pew!
(that's the sound AA's make)

[BKrebbers]

I wouldn't think too much about what he/she joins? He or she can join the Sentinels. I know of Arcane Archers who have done so.... Leave every option open and see where it takes you.
It may look odd as a cow in a fishbowl sometimes, but you can play around that. Any life you want him/her to have is believable as long as you can explain it to yourself and your surroundings. Anything you enjoy really.
Or send him/her to ACE. Nothing nicer for an AA than fletching your own arrows eh? I heard they have a cool DM-sponsor as well BTW .

Good luck with the choices!

[Nighthawk4]

[Hawkmoon]

To be honest, the RP side is a problem. What does this character do?

Join the Elysian resistance.

Even a Verossan wouldn't fight against his or her Homeland, would they?

No we don't. We kill everyone who doesn't belong in the forest.

Perhaps I need to look elsewhere and think of a different PrC - or maybe an HW other than Avenger.

Equalizer!

Edit2 - So a Sereg AA who included Wizard would not suffer the multiclass penalties, as Wizard is its favoured class. Nice.

You can only have 2 classes with a Sereg because humanoid is your third class. So Wiz, Sorc or bard/AA and considering Sereg are not very charismatic i think Wiz/AA is your best bet there.

[Eklektikos]

Unless the character is a Sereg, it doesn't make sense for a combat-based character like AA not to defend the Spiritland in one way or another - so an AA is almost certain to be stepping on the toes of one or other of my existing characters. Even a Verossan wouldn't fight against his or her Homeland, would they?

I think you can get a fair amount of mileage out of Drotid slave and/or Avariel backgrounds in terms of having an IC rationale to join Team Drotid, if that's what you want to do.

[Pathos Street]

There are a gajillion character concepts available. Not every elf must be a CG nature-loving native of T'Nanshi... there are elves in all nations, of all outlooks, just like any race.

You could make a LN or LG AA from kuras or redgate or something. Or a CN or CE one from Malekia... could be from Jechran, there are tons of elves and half elves up that way.

As far as build goes, there are lots of options. The requirements to become an AA aren't that complicated. BAB +7, point blank shot, weapon focus (some bow), arcane spellcasting. You can get that with any class combo. You can do the heavy caster, mostly wiz or sorc, so that the archery is an outgrowth of your arcane. You can do the rogue/wiz/AA which is just a ranged sneak attack damage machine. Monk/wiz/AA can be fun with zen archery. Run around and reposition yourself with your monk speed, hit and run, sneak and ambush. Cleric/wiz/AA can be fun too.

Just think about what kind of character you want to play, and then tack on a level or two of an arcane casting class to qualify for AA.

[David A Smith]

So how about a female Sereg, CG, follows Dru'El, Wiz/Ranger AA? That should make for fun RP at Elf Gate

Isn't a female Sereg not allowed? I seem to remember a rule change a while back dis-allowing them, after initialy allowing them to be played as PC.