WARRIOR-RANGER KIT

Archer

Description:  Rangers in general are very fond of missile weapons and are expert 
in their use, but there is a subset of Rangers who devote themselves totally to 
mastering all of the subtle nuances and critical aspects of the use and 
manufacture of bows and arrows.  They drill night and day to learn their special 
skills, practicing shooting in a variety of conditions, at a vast array of 
moving and stationary targets, and with bows of different strengths and arrows 
of different types, judging the best type suited for any particular occasion.  
An Archer tends to view his or her bow not as a simple tool, but as an almost 
living thing, a battle companion that must be well-treated and protected in 
order to render the best possible service for the Archer.  This is an ancient 
and respected profession among elves, and this highly refined practice of 
bowmanship has diffused over time to include numerous other races friendly to 
elves.

In addition to standard ability score requirements, an Archer must have a 
Dexterity score of at least 16.  Archers share the usual racial restrictions for 
Rangers, save that half-orcs simply do not have the delicate touch required to 
truly master the art of the bow.

Weapons & Armor:  All Archers begin play with Narrow Group Proficiency in Bows, 
Skilled Specialization in a single bow type of their choice, and proficiency in 
a single melee weapon of their choice.  A human or tiefling Archer can choose to 
use crossbows rather than bows, but this choice must be made at 1st level and 
cannot be changed thereafter.

Archers can wear any type of armor they wish, though they usually choose to wear 
light armor to enable them the freedom of movement to engage opponents at range 
and prevent them from closing to melee.  Archers spend so much time using a two-
handed weapon that they do not ever learn the use of shields.

Special Benefits:  Obviously, most of an Archer's special abilities focus in the 
area of missile combat with their chosen weapon, but they also gain many of the 
usual benefits that accrue to Rangers.

Bowmanship:  Archers are experts not only at shooting their chosen weapons but 
also in crafting them, as well as a variety of arrows to use with them.  An 
Archer's Bowyer/Fletcher proficiency gains a +1 bonus for every three levels of 
experience (rounding up), and an Archer usually prefers to make his or her own 
bow and arrows, both as a labor of love and also to ensure that they are getting 
the highest possible quality.

In addition to their superior craftsmanship, an Archer can attempt a check 
against this proficiency to identify the precise magical bonus of any bow or 
arrows that he or she can examine and test for 1d10 rounds.  An Archer has a 
similar chance of evaluating the quality of mundane bows and arrows and the 
power of Strength-enhanced bows, regardless of whether they themselves are 
strong enough to pull them.

Followers:  As a standard Ranger, but an Archer will attract only half the 
normal number of Followers.

Missile Mastery:  As a standard Ranger, but an Archer not only begins play with 
specialization in one type of bow, he or she can choose to specialize in more 
than one type of bow if desired.  In addition, when training for specialization, 
an Archer can pick up the necessary skill in only half the normal amount of 
time.

An Archer who is using a bow in which he or she is specialized (regardless of 
the level of specialization) gains two additional weapon ranges beyond those 
normally allowed.  First of all, an Archer can attempt to fire his or her weapon 
at Extreme range, which extends as far beyond Long range as Long range extends 
beyond Medium range (e.g., a light crossbow, with Medium Range 15 and Long Range 
20 would have an Extreme range of 25).  Missile fire at Extreme range suffers a 
-10 penalty to attack rolls, and a successful hit will inflict only half normal 
damage.

In addition to this long-range firing, an Archer gains a special Point Blank 
range, which is equal to 5' times the weapon's basic short range, regardless of 
whether the character is indoors or outdoors.  Within this range, all attacks 
automatically gain an extra +1 bonus to hit and inflict double normal damage.  
It is important to note that an Archer's specialization bonus should be added to 
the base damage of his or her arrows before this doubling is done.  Any other 
bonuses (e.g., strength, magic) are added after doubling the base damage plus 
specialization.

Example:  If an Archer is an Expert specialist with shortbow, he or she gains a 
base +2 bonus to hit and damage.  However, within 25' (5' x Short range of 5 for 
short bow), he or she would gain a +3 bonus to hit and would inflict 2d6+4 
points of damage with a flight arrow (1d6 for the arrow and +2 for Expert 
specialization, multiplied by 2 for being at Point Blank range).  If using a +1 
short bow, damage at Point Blank range would be 2d6+5, as the bonus for magic 
would be added after doubling.

Rapid Fire:  Archers are experts at getting their shot off with great speed and 
fluidity.  In addition to bonuses for specialization in a particular type of 
bow, an Archer reduces the speed factor of any bow that he or she uses by one 
for every four levels of experience (rounding up), though speed factor cannot be 
reduced below 0.

In addition to this reduction in weapon speed, any time an Archer is using a bow 
in which he or she is specialized, he or she is entitled to loose that arrow 
before initiative is rolled as long as the bow is held at the ready with an 
arrow nocked and a target in sight.  This shot does not count against the 
Archer's allowed shots that round.  This 'opportunity shot' is only available if 
the Archer has not fired his or her bow in the previous round (e.g., the first 
round of combat); otherwise, he or she is considered to be continuously in the 
act of drawing and firing, rather than waiting with the bow at the ready.

Archers can also boost their rate of fire far beyond the normal limit.  Through 
their lightning-fast and silky-smooth firing motion and stable aim, they are 
able to draw and fire far more quickly than possible for others using a bow.  
When using the Rapid Fire option, an Archer cannot attempt any sort of Trick 
Shot (including called shots and similar maneuvers), and he or she will also 
begin to suffer attack roll penalties as he or she continues to fire throughout 
the round, as noted on the table below.  The number of shots an Archer may 
attempt and the rate at which attack roll penalties accrue with Rapid Fire 
depend on the normal rate of fire for the bow being used, modified for the 
Archer's experience level and the level of specialization they possess with that 
type of bow:

Normal Rate	Shot			Attack Roll
of Fire		Number			Penalty
2/1		1			0
		2			-2
		3			-4
		4			-8
		5			-12
		6 (max)			-16

3/1		1			0
		2			0
		3			-2
		4			-4
		5			-8
		6			-12
		7 (max)			-16

4/1		1			0
		2			0
		3			0
		4			-2
		5			-4
		6			-8
		7			-12
		8 (max)			-16

For human or tiefling Archers who specialize in the use of a crossbow instead of 
a bow, they should consult the following chart for determining penalties 
associated with attempting Rapid Fire with the slower-firing crossbows:

Normal Rate	Shot			Attack Roll
of Fire		Number			Penalty
1/2		1 (even round)		0
		1 (odd round)		-4
		2			-8
		3			-16

3/4	use 1/2 table for first round of four and 1/1 table for next three rounds

1/1		1			0
		2			-4
		3			-8
		4			-16

3/2	use 1/1 table for odd rounds and 2/1 table for even rounds

2/1	use 2/1 table above for bow use

It should be noted that using Rapid Fire is very tiring, and an Archer 
attempting to use it more than once during a particular battle must make a 
Constitution check (with a cumulative -4 penalty for each round after the first 
that it has been done in that combat) in order to have the stamina to continue 
the furious barrage.  Once a Constitution check has been failed, the Archer will 
be unable to use Rapid Fire again in that battle.  Note that magical means of 
removing exhaustion or fatigue will allow an Archer to 'start over' without 
penalties.  The Endurance proficiency can also be used to effectively double the 
amount of time necessary between Constitution checks.

Primary Terrain:  As a standard Ranger.

Priestly Powers:  As a standard Ranger, but Archers also gain access to the 
Combat sphere.  Archers do not have much facility with living things of the 
wild, however, and do not gain access to the Animal and Plant spheres.

Roguish Repertoire:  As a standard Ranger.

Species Enemy:  As a standard Ranger.

Trick Shot:  Archers have a remarkable eye for targets and a degree of control 
over their bows that is difficult to match.  They reduce the penalties (both for 
initiative and the attack roll) for attempting a called shot with their bow by 
one for every four levels of experience (rounding up), including attempts to 
Disarm or perform other special maneuvers with their arrows.

An Archer can also attempt to fire a pair of arrows simultaneously from his or 
her bow.  This particular Trick Shot applies a +2 penalty to initiative and a -1 
penalty to attack and damage rolls with each missile.  Normally, both missiles 
are launched at a single target.  It is possible, however, to attack two targets 
within a 60 degree arc simultaneously, though the above penalties will be 
doubled (i.e., +4 to initiative and -2 to attack and damage rolls with both 
shots).  This maneuver can be undertaken only once per round, but it counts as 
only a single shot among those normally allowed for the Archer each round, but 
like any other Trick Shot it cannot be used in conjunction with Rapid Fire.

Special Hindrances:  Archers have little time to spend learning to deal with the 
living things of the wild.  Thus, they do not possess the Animal Empathy that 
other Rangers do, nor do they gain the ability to cast spells of the Animal or 
Plant spheres.  In addition, Archers devote so much time to their study and 
practice of archery that they do not gain the Pathfinding and Tracking abilities 
of a standard Ranger, nor do they have the time to spend on Superior 
Conditioning.

Archers are very attached to their special art, and they will never specialize 
in a weapon other than a bow.  They will likewise insist that any henchman or 
humanoid follower become proficient with a bow (if not already proficient) or 
else the Archer will dismiss them from service (or refuse to employ them in the 
first place), as such folk obviously lack the proper attitude to work with an 
Archer.  Their fanatical devotion to the practice of their weapon leaves them 
somewhat awkward in social situations, with a tendency toward withdrawn and 
introverted behavior.  As a result, Archers can only gain half the normal number 
of henchmen allowed by their Charisma, and they cannot retain henchmen or 
hirelings until they reach at least 10th level.  Likewise, they will attract 
only half the normal number of Followers to their service.

Bonus Proficiencies:  Bowyer/Fletcher, Survival (home terrain)
Preferred Proficiencies:  Ambush, Camouflage, Direction Sense, Disguise, 
Endurance, Gaming, Healing, Heraldry, Herbalism, Hunting, Observation, Riding 
(Land-based), Riding Specialization, Rope Use, Running, Tracking, Tumbling