Arcane archer

[jchaosmaster]

To build an Arcane Archer in Neverwinter Nights, you typically need to start as an elf or half-elf character with levels in both the wizard and ranger classes. Here's a general guide:

1. **Race**: Choose elf or half-elf for racial bonuses.

2. **Classes**: Start as a wizard, then multiclass into a ranger. Focus on the necessary skills for each class.

3. **Feats**: Prioritize feats that enhance your archery and spellcasting abilities. Examples include Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (Longbow), and Spell Focus (Transmutation).

4. **Skills**: Invest in skills like Concentration, Spellcraft, and Spot for spellcasting and archery effectiveness.

5. **Abilities**: High Dexterity is crucial for archery, and Intelligence helps with spellcasting. Consider a good balance between the two.

6. **Alignment**: Choose a neutral alignment, as it aligns well with the requirements for both wizard and ranger classes.

7. **Arcane Archer Prerequisites**: Meet the prerequisites for the Arcane Archer class, which include base attack bonus, feats, and the ability to cast arcane spells.

8. **Spellcasting**: As an Arcane Archer, you'll be able to imbue your arrows with spells. Focus on spells that complement your archery, such as Haste or Enervation.

Remember to plan your character progression carefully to meet the prerequisites for the Arcane Archer class at the right levels.

This was what ChatGPT told me but I was wondering how fast can I unlock arcane archer. And is their any thing else I need to know or go for.

Also I'm wanting to try to play darkness over daggerfer for the first time. If anyone has any advise it would be great.

Oh how do I get traits out on thr command bar.

[allenayen96]

Level 8 using Ranger or Fighter type builds.
For traits Right click on command bar slot.
left click on Assign Special Abilities

[wendigo211]

Chat GPT was pretty moronic with this advice.

Fighter is better than Ranger (in NWN, since the 3.0 Ranger doesn't get to pick archery style) as a basis for AA since you need some feats (Weapon Focus (Longbow or Short bow) and Point Blank Shot.

If you're going for an Elf archer (Elf's advantage is the +2 dex modifier and Keen Senses) then Wizard is sort of the choice spell casting class, because you avoid the XP penalty. For this type of character I like to go caster heavy. Fighter 2/Wizard 8/AA 10 pre-epic, Ending as a Fighter 4/Wizard 26/AA 10 at level 40. That said, the character doesn't really shine until epic levels, when you get all your casting power.

For an Elf/2, Bard is probably a better choice because you get better skill options and the Bard Song damage bonus applies to your ranged attacks as well. For an archery heavy AA, something like Fighter 2/Bard 8/AA 10 works really well to level 20. Ideally you want to go Fighter 2/Bard 6 before taking AA and then use the Bard levels for skill boosts (at levels 12 and 17 since AA doesn't have Concentration or Discipline as class skills). In epic levels you want to go at least 16 Bard for the strong Bard/Curse Song and the rest can go to AA.

It's been a while since I played DoD, but I think I ended around level 15-17 so a casting AA is out of the queston. I would recommend the Elf/2 Bard build as being better. That said, I don't recall DoD being very archer friendly, so maybe a strength based melee or cleric build would give you an easier time.

[jchaosmaster]

Lol that's why I asked the forms because already DoD threw a massive rench in my plan. I was going to go wizard but found unlike in howling death aka main game I couldn't just Rest where ever I wanted which kinda stunk sense the game doesn't give you the unlimited ice beam want right out of the way. So I was thinking maybe try a different class.

[allenayen96]

For AA caster you would go to HotU. The game will let you level up to 15. You won't have equipment or gold, It would be better to go from OC or SoU. You still start out with no equipment but you keep your gold.

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by allenayen96:

For AA caster you would go to HotU. The game will let you level up to 15. You won't have equipment or gold, It would be better to go from OC or SoU. You still start out with no equipment but you keep your gold.

OK so it's 15/16 I can get to that class. Thank you. Honestly I mostly been trying to find out what level can I get to those extra classes

[allenayen96]

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

Originally posted by allenayen96:

For AA caster you would go to HotU. The game will let you level up to 15. You won't have equipment or gold, It would be better to go from OC or SoU. You still start out with no equipment but you keep your gold.

OK so it's 15/16 I can get to that class. Thank you. Honestly I mostly been trying to find out what level can I get to those extra classes

In HotU you start around level 15, you end up around level 30+ IIRC

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by allenayen96:

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

OK so it's 15/16 I can get to that class. Thank you. Honestly I mostly been trying to find out what level can I get to those extra classes

In HotU you start around level 15, you end up around level 30+ IIRC

Lol
No that's not what meant. I meant like if hi hyper focus how fast can I unlock any or all protégé classes like black gaurd or dragon knight. The wiki says what skills are required but not when I should unlock said class

[allenayen96]

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

Originally posted by allenayen96:

In HotU you start around level 15, you end up around level 30+ IIRC

Lol
No that's not what meant. I meant like if hi hyper focus how fast can I unlock any or all protégé classes like black gaurd or dragon knight. The wiki says what skills are required but not when I should unlock said class

How fast depends on what class you start out with. For AA a Fighter class will get you there in 8 levels. A Wizard or Sorcerer will take at lease 10 levels. I am not sure about Bard.

[Shiroi Ren]

Well, if you want spellcasting AA... I think Bard or Sorc is slightly better choice in the long run. Basically, you will rely only on buffs so ability to cast whatever you want right away is better in some cases.

[allenayen96]

Originally posted by Shiroi Ren:

Well, if you want spellcasting AA... I think Bard or Sorc is slightly better choice in the long run. Basically, you will rely only on buffs so ability to cast whatever you want right away is better in some cases.

I am trying a Wizard and I can see what you means, the limited amount of spells I can cast makes me a support character.

[Shiroi Ren]

Originally posted by allenayen96:

I am trying a Wizard and I can see what you means, the limited amount of spells I can cast makes me a support character.

Wizard about preparation while bard/sorc is about versatility without preparation. Wizard have to memorize spells while bard/sorc can cast whatever spell she or he knows.

On other hand, Wizard INT stat is generally useful while CHA is kind of generally dump stat.

P.S.
It is pretty bad for offensive and control magecraft to multi-class.

[fenke]

Ranger doesn't add much, double wield in melee and a companion, it' s playable (I did SoU+HotU a long time ago with it), but that much was clear already.

Bard, Wizard or Sorcerer + Fighter
Obvious but watch multi-class penalties, wizard is elf preferred so might be preferable with elf (+2 dex). Fighter brings various damage bonus feats and heavy armor

Bard -> 8 levels of Bard as basis leaves one class free for an additional prestige class. Bard brings UMD (loads of wands to use), bard song and some mildly useful spells; grease is useful for any archer

I am having a lot of fun in the OC with Bard/RDD/AA - has decent melee ability which is quite useful in the OC, high attack bonus with Finesse and rapier, and RDD adds some needed bonuses to strength for melee damage.

[Shiroi Ren]

I played Bard/Cleric/Monk/Fighter/AA after last major update.

[Balkoth]

Elf

Start with 6 levels of fighter, then 1 level of wizard, then 10 AA levels (alternatively you can go 1 level of bard and eat the 20% XP penalty or half-elf which avoids the XP penalty but costs you 2 dex and stuff like Keen Senses).

Starting stats can be like 14 str, 20 dex, 12 con, 10 int, 8 wis, 8 cha (can drop dex to 18 and put points in something else if you wish).

You start off heavy armor firing a bow, can even use it in melee with feats like Point Blank Shot. Weapon Specialization at level 4 is big. But it'll be a bit lackluster until you start getting AA levels, at which point you gain 1 AB/damage every odd level.

You'll be something like 9 fighter/1 wizard/10 AA pre-epic, and if you go to 40 you'd wind up as 10 fighter/1 wizard/29 AA, with the level 10 fighter being for Epic Weapon Specialization (make sure to take Epic Weapon Focus first).

You'll have 12 total epic feats, which will be...

Epic Weapon Focus
Epic Weapon Specialization
Armor Skin
Epic Prowess
Great Dexterity VII (8)

In theory you could go Great Dex X (10) which means 1 less AC but 1 more reflex/stealth/etc.

Or if you don't want to start with 20 Dex could start with 19 and then go Great Dex IX (9) and drop Armor Skin.

[allenayen96]

Why not pure Wizard/AA?