Campaign Design - Prestige Class: Halfling Archer

Halfling Archer (adapted from Sword and Fist)

The semi-nomadic culture of the halfling race often results in sudden encounters with peril. Many halfling caravans and ships rely upon halfling archers to provide deadly defense of their family wagons , barges, and sailing vessels. Halfling archers are stealthy warriors who often open a battle by striking from hiding, catching unwary foes off their guard. Because of the famed halfling tendency for teamwork, halfling archers are used to fighting in close, working in concert with halfling rogues and scouts to take down dangerous foes.

Most halfling archers are fighters, scouts, or rogues. All classes, however, can benefit from the Armor Class bonus and defensive riding capabilities of the class. The presence of an archer whether afield or at rest usually indicates that a halfling community cannot be far away. Some halfling archers feel the pull of adventure more strongly. These individuals leave behind their clan wains and ships for a life of excitement on their own.

Hit Die: d10.
Luck Die: d4.

Requirements
To become a halfling archer, one must meet the following criteria:

• Base Attack Bonus: +5.
• Skills: Hide 5+ ranks, Move Silently 5+ ranks.
• Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, and Weapon Focus (Shortbow or Composite Shortbow).
• Proficiency: Shortbow or composite shortbow.
• Race: Halfling.

Class Skills

• The halfling archer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Craft: Bowmaking (Int), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).
• Note: Because the Three Worlds campaign uses the Skills by Character house rule, the list of class skills given here is only included for the sake of completeness, and is not used by characters in the campaign setting.
• Skill Points at each level: 4 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the halfling archer prestige class.

• Base Attack Bonus: Good. A halfling archer gains +1 base attack bonus per class level.


• Base Fortitude Save Bonus: Poor. A halfling archer gains a +¹⁄₃ base Fortitude save bonus per class level.


• Base Reflex Save Bonus: Good. A halfling archer gains a +½ base Reflex save bonus per class level.


• Base Will Save Bonus: Good. A halfling archer gains a +½ base Will save bonus per class level.


• Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Halfling archers gain no new proficiency with any weapons or armor.


• Ranged Sneak Attack: Any time the halfling archer's target would be denied his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (regardless of whether he has a Dexterity bonus), the initiate's ranged sneak attack deals extra damage. The extra damage is +1d6 at 1^st level, and +1d6 every two levels after that. This sneak attack damage only applies to the halfling archer's ranged attacks and only count as sneak attacks if the target is within 30 feet. The halfling archer cannot strike with such deadly accuracy beyond that range. In every other way, this ability is identical to a rogue's sneak attack. If the character has sneak attack ability from some other source, the bonuses stack.


• Close Combat Shot (Ex): At 2^nd level, the halfling archer can attack with a ranged weapon in a threatened area and not provoke an Attack of Opportunity.


• Skirmish Exchange (Ex): At 3^rd level, the halfling archer gains the ability to exchange 2d6 worth of ranged sneak attack for 1d6 worth of skirmish damage. Any round the halfling archer does this he deals an extra 1d6 points of damage on all attacks he makes during any round in which he moves at least 10 feet. This extra damage increases by +1d6 for every 2d6 worth of sneak attack the halfling archer has. The extra damage only applies against living creatures that have a discernible anatomy. Undead, constructs, oozes, plants, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to extra damage from critical hits are not vulnerable to this additional damage. The halfling archer must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. Halfling archers can only apply this extra damage if the target is within 30 feet. A halfling archer cannot make a sneak attack and a skirmish attack in the same round.


• Greater Weapon Focus (Ex): At 4^th level, the halfling archer gains the Greater Weapon Focus feat with a bow for which he has the Weapon Focus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.


• Free Attack (Ex): At 6^th level, a halfling archer becomes particularly adept at taking advantages of the openings his allies provide for him. Once per round, whenever an ally within line of sight gains an Attack of Opportunity against a foe, the halfling archer can make one ranged attack against the same foe, at his highest attack bonus as a free action.


• Weapon Specialization (Ex): At 8^th level, the halfling archer gains the feat Weapon Specialization as a bonus feat for a bow for which he already has the Weapon Focus feat even if he does not meet the prerequisites. If he already has the Weapon Specialization feat, he instead gains the Greater Weapon Specialization feat for a bow for which he already has the Weapon Specialization feat.


• Banked Shot (Ex): At 10^th level, a halfling archer can fire an arrow at a target within 20 feet of a wall (but not adjacent to the wall) and treat the target as if it were flat-footed for the purposes of Armor Class and damage inflicted. This is a full-round action, as it is extremely difficult.

Halfling Archer

Level	Special
1st	Ranged sneak attack +1d6
2nd	Close combat shot
3rd	Ranged sneak attack +2d6; skirmish exchange
4th	Greater Weapon Focus
5th	Ranged sneak attack +3d6
6th	Free attack
7th	Ranged sneak attack +4d6
8th	Greater Weapon Specialization
9th	Ranged sneak attack +5d6
10th	Banked shot

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