Arcane archer and use any item questions

[shamrock_uk]

1) Is the arcane archer class actually worth taking for Undermountain? It seems to me that most of the benefit comes from the bonuses to unenchanted arrows, but in Undermountain there are some amazing arrows you can buy (and the money to do so).

2) What kind of level does Use Any Item have to be at in order to be effective? I've never had experience with it and need a rough idea to plan a new bardic build.

[Cloudbringer]

One of my fav characters in EfU is my ranger/aa and she's great in a party! Picks off enemies rather neatly even without plain (enhanced) arrows.

I went ranger/wiz/aa, so I don't know the details on doing it with a bard first. I chose to make her for the online game because I also am using the character in my SoU/HotU games (single player) and she's doing pretty well!

[ 01-11-2005, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

[shamrock_uk]

Thanks for the reply Cloudy [img]smile.gif[/img]

Let me clarify what I was asking slightly though:

As I won't be using unenchanted arrows and I place a minimal value on the other special feats that come with the Arcane Archer kit - are there benefits to using my longbow (just in terms of APR, attack rolls and damage) as an Arcane Archer compared to a fighter with all the same specialisations in that weapon?

Thanks [img]smile.gif[/img]

[robertthebard]

The advantage an AA would have over a fighter at the same lvl would be first and foremost, the use of buffing spells, if taken through as a bard, and the Use Magic Devices skill. As for other advantages, bard song is great to boost your attack, and damage, as well as that of party members. My personal favorite combo is bard/assassin/arcane archer, although, I am currently building a bard/aa. The other advantage is the arrow enhancement, which I have personally had to +7, using non magical arrows.
The disadvantage would be no weapon specialization, which is only available to fighters, however, using the bard/aa, I could easily take enough levels in fighter to gain that, as well as epic specialization. In this case, you'd have one very potent archer. I had a Bard/Assassin/Arcane Archer in Undermountain, back in the local vault days, and she was very successful, even against creatures that were immune to the sneak attacks/paralysis. She could grab a non magical long bow, with regular arrows, and do magic with them.

[shamrock_uk]

Thanks for your help Robert.

It's not strictly a choice between spells or no spells:

The character I have in mind will be Bard 30 / Rogue 5 / X 5 - I was thinking fighter but then seeing as I will be specialising in a longbow the possibility of AA occurred to me. But I would have the bard buffs regardless, which makes AA seem even less of a good choice in this situation.

The disadvantage would be no weapon specialization, which is only available to fighters

Nope, I've been running him through a character builder, and selected both Weapon Specialization and Epic Weapon Specialization on Bard levels...

[T-D-C]

AA's are really good if you take enough levels of them. They get awsome AB so they can hit almost anything. My AA that I have in Undermountain took down the Whirling death build (posted on the bioware epic builds page)

Levels of 10 rogue/1 level of wizard/ 29 AA and pump dex all the way.

With undermountain bows and arrows (plus access to the Truestrike spell) he can get a AB of high 80s.

[robertthebard]

Originally posted by T-D-C: With undermountain bows and arrows (plus access to the Truestrike spell) he can get a AB of high 80s.

WOW.

[shamrock_uk]

That's gotta hurt!

And yes, after finding a character creator that allows you to purchase weapons, a Bard 10/AA 5 has a significantly better attack bonus with a longbow than a Bard 10/Fighter 5.

19/14/9 against 16/11/6 (identical [rubbish] feats etc & mundane longbow)

I'm quite surprised at how different they were.

Thanks TDC and Robert for your help there. Do any veteran rogues know the answer to my Use Any Item question? I just need a rough idea - eg. is it something I'll be pumping skill points into until I'm level 40, or would it be fine to leave it with ~20 skill points...?

[ 01-11-2005, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[robertthebard]

Ooops, sorry, forgot to touch on that. I've had the most success with about 25 points in the UMD skill, the great thing about rogues, with high int, is all the skill points, if you push it to around 30, you should be ok.
edit: Bards get it too, so you could have it up around 45 or so. Some of the players in the other server I play in pushed it to the max, but they were shooting to use one specific item, which they finally got at lvl 40. I wouldn't spend too many points, depending on what your trying to use.

[ 01-11-2005, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: robertthebard ]

[T-D-C]

By the way that character of mine also has a nasty sneak attack as well (also soloed the Proving grounds in Z EfU mod)

The UAI ability is "usually" linked to the cost of the item. The higher the cost the eaiser you can use it. The Grimoire is the best NWN manual I've found. There is a table on page 98 that shows the amount you need to invest in the skill.

Basically you should be able to use all scrolls and most items.