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Spectral Archer

Developed by Frogarth Sten when he learned he could never become an Arcane Archer because he is not an elf. This classpath is intended to make Frogarth the most deadly archer in the world. So far, he seems pleased with the program.

The Spectral Archer classpath works best for humans who can pick up feats like Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus or Far Shot, at 1st level. Feat progression continues along those lines adding anything that improves accuracy.  The first Diviner spell learned is true strike and this remains the  core of the Spectral Archer's arcane arsenal.  (Other spells like magic weapon, keen edge and shield are also favorites.)

This classpath works best for humans and half-elves. Elves can easily follow it as straight wizards rather than as specialists. Halflings and dwarves can follow it with relatively minor tweaks, or take the survivable 20% penalty to earned XP.  Gnomes and half-orcs will probably not want to follow this classpath at all with the 40% earned XP penalty, although gnomes could substitute bard levels for wizard levels and require no changes to the path, and half-orcs could substitute barbarian for fighter and be in the same situation as the halflings and dwarves.

Character Level

Class Levels

Base Attack Bonus

Fort Save

Ref Save

Will Save

Average HP

Abilities Gained or Taken

1

Rog1

+0*

+0

+2

+0

6

Weapon Focus (any bow), Sneak Attack +1d6

2

Rog1/ Ftr1

+1

+2

+2

+0

11

Point Blank Shot

3

Rog1/ Ftr2

+2

+3

+2

+0

17

Rapid Shot, Precise Shot

4

Rog1/ Ftr2/ Wiz(Div)1

+2

+3

+3

+2

19

Scribe Scroll, 1st-level arcane spells, Improved Ability

5

Rog1/ Ftr2/ Wiz(Div)2

+3

+3

+3

+3

22

 

6

Rog2/ Ftr2/ Wiz(Div)2

+4

+3

+4

+3

25

Far Shot, Evasion

7

Rog3/ Ftr2/ Wiz(Div)2

+5

+4

+4

+4

29

Sneak Attack +2d6

8

Rog3/ Ftr2/ Wiz(Div)3

+5

+5

+5

+4

32

2nd-level arcane spells, Improved Ability

9

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)3

+6

+5

+6

+5

38

Feat

10

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)4

+7

+5

+6

+6

40

 

11

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)5

+7

+5

+6

+6

43

3d-level arcane spells, Bonus Feat

12

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6

+8

+6

+7

+7

45

Feat, Improved Ability

13

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld1

+9

+8

+7

+7

48

Eldritch Knight prestige class, Bonus Feat

14

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld2

+10

+9

+7

+7

52

4th-level arcane spells

15

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld3

+11

+9

+8

+8

55

Feat

16

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld4

+12

+10

+8

+8

58

5th-level arcane spells, Improved Ability

17

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld5

+13

+10

+8

+8

62

 

18

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld6

+14

+11

+9

+9

65

6th-level arcane spells, Feat

19

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld7

+15

+11

+9

+9

69

Bonus Feat

20

Rog3/ Ftr3/ Wiz(Div)6/ Eld8

+16

+12

+9

+9

72

Improved Ability

* Due to space constraints, I did not write out the iterative attacks for Base Attack Bonus. The character has two attacks with a full attack action at level 8, three at level 14, and four at level 20.

The original Spectral Archer classpath was designed specifically for Frogarth with the 3e rules and balanced his spell caster level against his Intelligence.  His caster level never progressed faster than his ability to cast higher level spells.  His low starting Int meant that this was slow at best, such that Wiz3 was at level 8 (Int 12), and Wiz5 at level 12 (Int13). After that, I went with straight Fighter levels for the BAB.

With the release of the 3.5e rules, including the Eldritch Knight prestige class, I have revised the Spectral Archer classpath to take advantage of it. I also threw out the artificial constraint of Frogarth's Int, as any character, especially smarter ones, might want to take this classpath.  Frogarth can use magic devices like a headband of intellect to increase the level of spell he can prepare, or he can just use higher level slots to prepare lower level spells and just go off and pout at the "inefficiency" of it.

Original Class Progression from level 1 to 20:  Rogue, Fighter, Fighter, Rogue, Diviner, Diviner, Rogue, Diviner, Fighter, Fighter, Diviner, Fighter, Rogue, Fighter, Fighter, Fighter, Fighter, Fighter, Fighter, Rogue


Copyright © 2001, 2004 by Patric L. Rogers.  All rights reserved.
Last updated 02 October 2004 by
Patric L. Rogers.
Send comments and suggestions to
morpheus_unbound@patric.net.

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