General Prestige Class : Arcane Archer
Master of the elven warbands, the arcane archer is a warrior skilled in using magic to supplement her combat prowess. Beyond the woods, arcane archers gain renown throughout entire kingdoms for their supernatural accuracy with a bow and their ability to imbue their arrows with magic. In a group, they can strike fear into an entire enemy army.
Fighters, rangers, paladins, and barbarians become arcane archers to add a little magic to their combat abilities. Conversely, wizards and sorcerers may take this prestige class to add combat capabilities to their repertoire. Monks, clerics, druids, rogues, and bards rarely become arcane archers.
NPC arcane archers often lead units of normal archers or form small, elite units formed entirely of arcane archers. These units are one of prime reasons that the elves are so feared in battle.
Requirements
To qualify to become an Arcane Archer, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Elf, half-elf
- Feats: Weapon Focus (any bow other than a crossbow), Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot.
- Base Attack Bonus: +6.
- Spellcasting: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells.
Class Skills
The arcane archer's class skills are Craft, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Spot, Survival, and Use Rope.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the arcane archer prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An arcane archer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields. Note that armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket, and Tumble.
Enchant Arrow: At 1st level, every nonmagical arrow an arcane archer nocks and lets fly becomes enchanted, gaining a +1 enhancement bonus. Unlike magic weapons enchanted by normal means, the archer need not spend experience points or money to accomplish this task. However, an archer's magic arrows only function for her. For every two levels of arcane archer 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: At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains this spell-like ability, allowing her to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell's area is centered upon 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 of the spell is wasted.
Seeker Arrow: At 4th level, the 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 end of the arrow's range prevents the arrow's flight. For example, if the target is within a windowless chamber with the door closed, the arrow cannot enter. This ability negates cover and concealment modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally. This is a spell-like ability. (Shooting the arrow is part of the action.)
Phase Arrow: At 6th level, the 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. (A wall of force, a wall of fire, or the like stops the arrow.) This ability negates cover, concealment, and even armor modifiers, but otherwise the attack is tolled normally. This is a spell-like ability. (Shooting the arrow is part of the action.)
Hail of Arrows: In lieu of her regular attacks, once per day the 8th-level arcane archer 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. This is a spell-like ability.
Arrow of Death: At 10th level, the arcane archer can enchant an arrow of death that forces the target, if damaged by the arrow's attack, to make a Fortitude save (DC 20) or be slain immediately. It takes one day to create an arrow of death, and the arrow only functions for the arcane archer who created it. The enchantment lasts no longer than one year, and the archer can only have one such arrow in existence at a time.
| Arcane Archer | Hit Die: d8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Enchant arrow +1 |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Imbue arrow |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Enchant arrow +2 |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Seeker arrow |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Enchant arrow +3 |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Phase arrow |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Enchant arrow +4 |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +6 | +2 | Hail of arrows |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +6 | +3 | Enchant arrow +5 |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Arrow of death |
Source: Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5