Archer class for Mystara

14 Jun, 2025

The Archer class appeared in the Dragon Magazine #45¹ along with the optional set of rules for missile fire for AD&D. While these rules are way too complex for the BECMI/RC ruleset, the class itself is quite interesting. Here are some highlights of the conversion that was done:

1. Dropping the distinction between Archers and Archer-Rangers, let's keep the primary attributes of Strength and Dexterity, as well as the limitations of plate armor, though I decided to expand the allowed weapons list to crossbows.
2. Experience Progression is nearly identical to the Magic-Users' one on lower levels, and since we drop some of the class features, we can safely use this progression all the way through.
3. Hit Dice are the same as for Clerics. All other stuff (attacks, saving throws, etc.) as Fighters.
4. Special Abilities are kept as is, but bonuses are lowered to keep with the overall BECMI/RC power level. Since we don't use the suggested missile weapon house rules, no "point-blank" bonuses are converted. Instead, a flat missile bonus is provided from the 4th level onward, increasing every three levels, up to +4 at 13th. "Crafting" abilities are kept unchanged.
5. Limited spell casting for the intelligent Archers is also kept as is, but the spell list is changed to spells available in BECMI/RC and expanded with some thematic ones from the Tome of the Magic of Mystara: Volume 1 – Arcane Magic.² Naturally, you can always expand it further with the appropriate set of spells of your choosing.

Archer Class

📝 NOTE: This character class is designed to be used with BECMI/Rules Cyclopedia³ or its free clone Dark Dungeons⁴, but could be quite easily ported to any other edition of your choice.

Class Ability Requirements:

Equipment Restrictions: Weapons allowed — bows, crossbows, axes, daggers, javelins, spears, swords. Armor allowed — any, but the use of plate armor will negate Archer's missile bonuses; shields are allowed.

Experience Progression: As a Magic-User.

Hit Points: As a Cleric.

Attack Rolls: As a Fighter.

Saving Throws: As a Fighter.

General Skills: As a Fighter.

Weapon Mastery: As a Fighter.

Magical Items: All allowed to Fighters except equipment restrictions.

Special Abilities:

• Fighter Combat Options.
• A magic missile weapon and/or a magic missile operates at +1 in an Archer’s hands, over and above any magical bonus it may already have.
• When not wearing plate armor, Archer gains additional bonuses to hit and damage when using a well-made bow and well-crafted arrows.

• 3rd Level: Archers can make missiles, assuming the proper raw material is obtained, crafting a dozen arrows in an 8-hour day.
• 5th Level: Archers can make a bow or a crossbow. This takes d6+8 days, assuming proper materials are at hand. A crude bow that is -2 to hit and from which the Archer gains no bonuses whatsoever can be crafted by an Archer in less than an hour.
• 7th Level: Archers with an Intelligence score of 9 or higher can learn some specific Magic-User spells, using the normal rules for spell research. Archers cannot read spells from scrolls in any case, and neither can they pen their own spells.

* Tome of the Magic of Mystara: Volume 1 – Arcane Magic

The first character of the Archer class — Xither the Wolfsbane, a young adventurer from Thyatis specializing in heavy crossbows.

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