UPDATED 30/12/08

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Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (any bow, other than crossbows), and any other feat with Point Blank Shot as a prerequisite.
Spells: Arcane caster level 1st.
Special: The character must either be an elf or receive training from another arcane archer.

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Quote Level    BAB      Fort      Ref      Will      Special                                                                                              Spellcasting                                                      1 +1 +2 +2 +0 Enhance Arrow +1, Channeled power +1, Mystic strike, Ranged Channeling (one range increment) - 2 +2 +3 +3 +0 Suppress enchantment +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class 3 +3 +3 +3 +1 Enhance arrow +2, Channeled power +2, Rapid Channeling (1/round) - 4 +4 +4 +4 +1 Ranged Channeling (three range increments) +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class 5 +5 +4 +4 +1 Enhance Arrow +3, Channeled power +3, Rapid Channeling (2/round) - 6 +6 +5 +5 +2 Ranged Channeling (unlimited) +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class 7 +7 +5 +5 +2 Enhance Arrow +4, Channeled power +4, Rapid Channeling (3/round) - 8 +8 +6 +6 +2 Phase Arrow +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class 9 +9 +6 +6 +3 Enhance Arrow +5, Channeled power +5, Rapid Channeling (at will) - 10 +10 +7 +7 +3 Master's Strike +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Hit Die
d8


Class Skills
The arcane archer’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Knowledge [arcana] (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Use Rope (Dex).
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.

Spells per Day: At every even level, an arcane archer gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class before he became an arcane archer, he must decide to which class he adds each level of arcane archer for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Enhance Arrow (Su): Every 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 him. At 3rd level and every odd level thereafter, the magic arrows he creates gain +1 greater potency (+3 at 5th level, and so on). Instead of increasing his arrow's enhancement bonus, an arcane archer may instead add enchantments of equal cost to his arrows (for example, a 7th level arcane archer could treat all of his arrows as +2 flaming burst weapons). An arcane archer may change the enchantments placed on his arrows whenever he gains an arcane archer level (but see Suppress Enchantment below). Enhancement bonuses do not stack.

Ranged Channeling (Su): An arcane archer can use a standard action to cast an arcane spell and deliver it through his weapon with a ranged attack. Casting a spell in this manner does not provoke attacks of opportunity (though making a ranged attack might). The spell must have a casting time of 1 standard action or less. If the attack is successful, the attack deals damage normally, then the effect of the spell is resolved. If the spell normally affects an area, the arcane archer may choose to have it affect only the target. The target of this attack must be within one range increment. At 3rd level, he may use this ability against a target within three range increments, and at 5th level he may use this ability against any target within range.

Mystic Strike (Su): An arcane archer adds his primary spellcasting modifier as a bonus on damage rolls with ranged attacks. If he can cast spells from multiple sources he chooses the primary spellcasting modifier of one class.

Channeled Power (Su): When casting a spell as part of his ranged chanelling ability, an arcane archer adds half his class level to his caster level.

Suppress Enchantment (Su): At 3rd level, an arcane archer may suppress part of the enchantment of his weapons. Whenever he uses a magic bow or magic arrow, he may choose whether or not to apply each enchantment to his attacks. For instance, an arcane archer fighting a shambling mound with a +1 shocking longbow could suppress the bow's electrical damage to avoid healing the creature. This ability also allows an arcane archer to ignore the penalties applied by an oathbow.

Rapid Channeling (Su): Once per round, an arcane archer of 3th level or higher may channel a spell through any ranged attack he makes. This allows him to channel a spell through one of the attacks in a full attack. The casting time of the spell is reduced to a free action taken before the attack. He may still only channel one spell through each attack. This otherwise functions as the Ranged Channeling class feature. An arcane archer may use this ability twice per round at 5th level, three times per round at 7th level, and any number of times per round at 9th level.

Phase Arrow (Sp): At 8th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow 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. An arcane archer may use this ability with any attack he makes with a bow, but after using it he must wait 1d4 rounds before using it again.

Master's Strike (Su): Once per encounter as a swift action, an arcane archer of 10th level or higher can make his next ranged attack a touch attack. In addition, he may lose any prepared arcane spell or spell slot to charge the attack with deadly energy. The target is affected by the finger of death spell - calculate the save DC as if it were cast by you, but use the level of the spell sacrificed instead of finger of death's level. Unlike the spell, this ability can affect non-living creatures (who are destroyed if they fail the saving throw). These bonuses can be applied only on an attack made before the beginning of your next turn. This ability may be combined with Ranged Channeling.

Personally, I leave the Arcane Archer as is and just add 5/10 or 8/10 caster to it (losing CL at 1 and 6). I would also expand the channel area spell ability to include touch and ranged touch spells as well at level 8.

This is because I can think of tasty, tasty things you can do with a bow ranged Expanded Wings of Flurry...

I wasn't sure whether the class should have full or 3/4 BAB, and I figured 3/4 BAB was safer. I've changed it now.


The class is now based on the channeling abilities of the duskblade, spellsword and enlightened fist. If you are entering as a duskblade, you can only channel touch spells until 4th level.


I was going to add an ability similar to Hail of Arrows, but I figured there are plenty of ways to get that with spells and enchantments (it is already possible to treat all your arrows as +2 splitting arrows or +2 speed arrows even without them).

What if I also create a feat which lets any spellcaster channel spells a limited number of times per day, and each level of arcane archer increases the uses per day by 1?

The duskblade is very elven, Strat. I see your point, though.

I believe Swiftblade-casting works better than ½ casting. How many ½ casting classes do you really see people take beyond level 1? 6/10 hurts much less, especially early on as the loss of levels doesn't kick in as fast. Potentially you could also add an extra casting level on 10th for 7/10, but that seems a bit illogical. The other alternative is giving 10th some incredible ability.

I did a version of this on Xmax, here. The Master Fletcher-ability is probably unnecessary (I wanted some of the Peerless Archer-feel into it and to showcase how an AA improves not only in Magic and Arcane Archery, but also in good ol' Archery), but other than that I'm really happy with it and would take the class all the way without a second thought, without still breaking the game (although since it's balanced against Swiftblade, it may be a rather strong Gish).


Isn't the feat you created pretty much Smiting Spell without adjustment? Also, I feel the short range on channeling is an unnecessary drawback; Precision Archers already cover the 'shortrange archery'-role. Arcane Archer's DMG version specifically covers the 'long range'-role with just about all of the abilities being directed at using potent abilities at incredible ranges. Removing that just makes AA yet another Precision Archer; I feel if you're remaking it, you should make it the "long range archer" made right.

QFT

Or honestly, just don't make PRCs with less than full caster advancement.  Or maybe losing 1 CL at 1st and otherwise full caster advancement.  Full BAB is virtually *meaningless*.  The idea that Full BAB means something is part of what got 3e into many of its problems in the first place.  Ie, the Cleric Archer laughs at you.

*bump*

Needs more than half caster.

Full for all but 2 levels, perhaps the 1st and 6th levels only would be 'dead' for casting.

Remember that your benchmark is the Full Cleric Archer, a character still superior in defense, mobility, and ranged attack buffs.

OK then you have it mentioned yet again.
Gawd.

Sounds better. Why limit the channeling per day, though?