Editing Arcane Archer (section)

==D&D 3rd & 3.5 Edition==

Debuting as one of the six original prestige classes in the 3rd edition Dungeon Master's Guide, the Arcane Archer may have been a little interesting, but easily overshadowed by the Assassin, Blackguard, and Shadowdancer prestige classes. With the move to 3.5, it was again one of the first Prestige classes printed, but competing with fifteen other (better) prestige classes in the DMG (honestly an Eldritch Knight specialising in longbows is better for the concept of magical archery) plus anything ported from 3.0 splatbooks.

Arcane Archer is accessible only to Elves and Half-Elves with a BAB of +6, the ability to cast 1st level Arcane spells, and the following feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Weapon Focus Longbow/Shortbow.

It offers no spell progression, full BAB, good Fort & Reflex saves, 4 + Int skillpoints, and access to special abilities focused on arrows.

;Enhanced Arrows: Starting from 1st level and increasing every odd level, every you can add +1 enhancement bonus to non-magical arrows you possess, however this only applies to you.
;Imbue Arrow: At 2nd level you can imbue an arrow with an area spell. 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, however the arrow must be fired in the turn the spell was cast, although this is a bit redundant considering casting the spell and firing the arrow is just combined into one standard action. The problem is that unless you're making up for lost caster levels some way (the DM adding some caster level progression hint, hint), thats going to be only level 1 spells you're poking with. Although it does open up the possibility of healing arrows, grease arrows, anti-magic field arrows.
;Seeker Arrow: At 4th level, once per day an arcane archer can shoot a target known to then 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. Note that this is 4 levels into a prestige class that requires +6 BAB and 1st level arcane spells, meaning you can probably find a spell/feat combo that can do this with more damage, or targeting Will saves, or multiple times per day, probably the worst aspect is that you can still roll a miss on the attack roll.
;Phase Arrow: 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 armour modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally. Just like the Seeker Arrow, you could whiff with an attack roll of 1, though by this point you're going to have good enough attack bonus with the bow to snipe anything man-sized a mile away. Still, 
;Hail of Arrows: In lieu of 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 they have. Each attack uses the archer’s primary attack bonus, and each enemy may only be targeted by a single arrow.
;Arrow of Death: 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.


TL;DR: Mostly a flavourful class, it doesn't care about what your casting stat is, and could be fun if you can negotiate some kind of Caster Level progression onto it with the DM, and honestly if your DM thinks that would make it overpowered, get them to read literally any spellcaster from the PHB...

{{D&D3e-Prestige Classes}}