Archivist Handbook

[KellKheraptis]

so i have to ask this question to see what if i am reading things right. 
sword of the arcane order gives paladins/rangers a tie to arcane magic and lets them prepare arcane spells from the wizard/sorcerer list.  thus giving archivist the abbility to cast arcane spells of 4th level and lower. 
using this an archivist can then enter prcs that require the abbility to cast x level of arcane spells as long as x is => 4

ron

Ranger slots go as high as you want them to, same with paladin if you have a source of extra feats.  Stock 5th level even for Ranger.  You would be getting 9th level arcane spells from the feat, if you have 9th level spells available to the progression SotAO is tacked onto.

Mystic Ranger gets you 5th level spells (and cantrips).

None of that really helps the Archivist. Mystic Rangers cast 5th level spells, yeah, but they're not particularly interesting. And Sword of the Arcane Order requires 4 levels of ranger or paladin. 

*sigh*

The Mystic Ranger uses Sword of the Arcane order, (not you) to get 5th level wizard spells as divine, then you get scrolls of them.

And Wizard spells of up to 9th level as Divine using DavidWL's Chameleon Stack trick (well known Extra Slot abuse), burying that question once and for all as to whether it is easy for an Archivist to snag anything on the Sor/Wiz list.  Assuming said SotAO Stack Ranger is also packing True Believer and a Tome of Ancient Lore, you're also getting the Wu-Jen list, the Duskblade list, and any other arcane list that isn't also divine.  The ironic part is that Dirty Trick #2 (I think it was #2...), the Clone Attack, provides all the free labor anyone could ever need, so going out of your way to get a cohort/buddy with all this shit is overkill, when a single spell will suffice.  Emulate it as an SLA if possible, or as a Shadow Spell, and viola, you have 95% of the versatility of my Warmages

[ksbsnowowl]

*sigh*

The Mystic Ranger uses Sword of the Arcane order, (not you) to get 5th level wizard spells as divine, then you get scrolls of them.

It's highly debatable that the spells a ranger gets from SotAO are divine.  They must be memorized from a wizard spellbook, and they use intelligence for the casting stat.  IIRC, it doesn't ever specify the arcane/divine nature of the spells, but my guess is you'd be hard pressed to find a DM that would consider them divine.

[KellKheraptis]

*sigh*

The Mystic Ranger uses Sword of the Arcane order, (not you) to get 5th level wizard spells as divine, then you get scrolls of them.

It's highly debatable that the spells a ranger gets from SotAO are divine.  They must be memorized from a wizard spellbook, and they use intelligence for the casting stat.  IIRC, it doesn't ever specify the arcane/divine nature of the spells, but my guess is you'd be hard pressed to find a DM that would consider them divine.

Also, bear in mind it's easy enough at that point to use Southern Magician or Alternate Source Spell to ensure they are divine, even if the DM rules they are Arcane.  Technically speaking, the Mystic Ranger is already in a vague area to begin with as to whether they are arcane or divine even without SotAO, so picking up one of those feats is a good investment regardless.  However, all that said, BoB obviates the need for all of this

[Oehler Quantum Tycoon]

Zomg my first post here
Recovered several of the useful archivist threads from The Wayback Machine--including the original Archivist Handbook, a suggestion of the best spells for archivists, and the lowest level diving spells per level.
So here we go, an archivist min/max archive.
The Archivist Handbook
Archivist spells to drool over
Lowest level versions of spells
 
Building an archivist for an on going campaign, would love to see this project reach completion. 

[ksbsnowowl]

Zomg my first post here
Recovered several of the useful archivist threads from The Wayback Machine--including the original Archivist Handbook, a suggestion of the best spells for archivists, and the lowest level diving spells per level.
So here we go, an archivist min/max archive.
The Archivist Handbook
Archivist spells to drool over
Lowest level versions of spells
 
Building an archivist for an on going campaign, would love to see this project reach completion. 

My browser is having problems opening those links.  You wouldn't mind posting the text would you?

(and the lowest level versions of spells is already transferred here)

[Surreal]

Check the archived version of my handy links in my sig. The archivist links in that one should work.

[Oehler Quantum Tycoon]

]My browser is having problems opening those links.  You wouldn't mind posting the text would you?

(and the lowest level versions of spells is already transferred here)

Okay the WotC boards of evil prunning lack the original versions of of the first three threads. The only functional one is Lowest level versions of spells
As for full text hmm.
The Archived Archivist Handbook
(Fear the great wall of text--note all links contained here-in are broken)
Credit: the unnamed author using the "ArchivistHandbook" account on WotC boards.
[spoiler]
Table of ContentsCredits and DetailsWhat is an Archivist? Check it out here.AttributesSkillsRacesClass FeaturesSpells

Under Construction
For now take a look at these two useful links for spell ideas:
Complete Archivist list - (by colm_l) - a very useful listing of the lowest level entry for a spell
Archivist spells to drool over - (by pfooti)

Feats

Ancestral Knowledge -- See the Races section.
Elf Dilettante -- See the Races section.
Knowledge Devotion [Domain] (CC) -- This is a purely ridiculous feat for any Archivist who cares about their Knowledge skills. Insight bonuses aren't that common, and the ability to generate them in every fight against anyone the whole fight long will make your Bard weep.
Trivial Knowledge -- See the Races section.
Breadth of Knowledge (UA) -- All knowledge checks you make are treated as traned checks, even if you do not have any ranks in them. If you have at least one rank in the specifc Knowledge skill, you gain a +1 bonus on this check. Prereqs: legend lore or vision spell. A free point in every knowledge for one feat? Much better than a +2/+2 skill.
Jack of all Trades (CAdv) -- Every skill is usable as if it had 1/2 rank in each skill. Prereqs: Int 13. Useful for skill mongers.
Research (EbCS) -- Helps with gaining spells. You can visit libraries and research spells and other things.
Insightful Reflexes (PHB) -- Your reflex saves are your worst saves, Dex is a dump stat and Intelligence is your best modifier. Simple logic, yes?

Prestige Classes

More will be added later, but some general advice for now:
1 level or more of Holt Warden will allow you to cast the Anyspell line of spells as well as give you 1 more spell of each level by giving you divine domain slots for every level of spells you can cast.

1 level of sacred exorcist gets you turn undead, which you need for divine meta-magic cheese or to qualify for contemplative, which could qualify you as a radiant servant of pelor.

The mystic theurge is an awful choice because your losing out on all of your very awesome class abilities. Don't believe the garbage about "no MAD", you still need WIS, so you might as well just go cleric/wizard.

Knight of the Raven from Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is a nice way to bring full BAB into the mix without sacrificing spell power. You gain undead turning, which opens up Divine Metamagic, and a raven familiar that can channel spells and other wonky cool stuff. However, the earliest you can enter this class is level 8, and you don't receive the really cool benefits of this class till the higher levels.

Taking Archivist 20 is still a fine build idea.

BuildsTricks and Combos
Under Construction

Other Party Members

Pre-errata artificers and 12th level warlocks can craft any divine spell you want, which you can add to your spell list.
Any other divine casters in the party can describe a spell to you and you can scribe into a scroll, which you could then learn

Items

Scrolls of Uncertain Provenance [MIC-]: +5 to all knowledge checks (8,000gp)
Tome of Worldly Memory [MIC-]: +5 to 3/day knowledge checks (1,500gp)

[/spoiler]
I hope some of this could be useful. Archivists need more love.

Oh right the Shape Soulmeld feat from MoI and the Elder Spirit soulmeld should be a damn decent feat for any archivist, seems no one else has posted about it yet.

[Oehler Quantum Tycoon]

Okay now the;
Suggested Archivist Spell List
Credit: Pfooti
[spoiler]
Okay, I've read a lot of different threads that compile "best spell" lists, but most of them are for wizards or for particular applications (gishing or persisting). Colm_l has a great thread of ALL the spells an Archivist can get, but this thread is going to be a list of what spells an archivist really NEEDS, both from the straight cleric list, and from various scrolls.

For the purpose of this thread, Archivists can learn cleric domain spells from scrolls. That's in contradiction to the Sage's mention, I think, and has been debated in the past. Please don't bring that debate in here, just post spells that are very handy for an Archivist to get into their prayerbook. I'll update this top post from time to time with compilations.

Please note the source and original caster of the spell when you discuss it. Also, feel free to evaluate choices that are on the list right now. The list doesn't have to be definitive, but I do want to keep it short-ish. My vision is to have a want-list that I can keep tucked away in my character binder for the times when we find a scroll shop, or when we run into an NPC worshipper of an obscure god.

In answer to the below questions: I won't include arcane spells that are available through Divine Magician. I'm also going to temporarily avoid Divine Bard, just because it's not available in the campaign I'm actually building a character for. I might add a second section just for divine bard and divine magician.

There are a number of excellent Sor/Wiz spells that are worth pursuing, either through abuse of Extra Spell, plain research, or levels in Prestige Classes such as Hexer, or even just use of Anyspell. This list will be focused on semi-normal divine spells: cleric, druid, paladin, adept, ranger, domains, and funny PrCs, such as Nentyar Hunter and such.

Also, as this list evolves, I'll probably separate out by spell-type and then level, since there are so many different things you might do with your archivist: archer, melee, blaster, utility caster, buffer, etc.

Level 1:
[spoiler]
Identify Oracle domain (SpC): see below. Harder domain to get a spell from, but the spell is at a lower level.
Lesser Restoration Paladin (SRD): Get it earlier and with a lower spell-level cost from the Paladin list.
Hunter's Mercy Ranger (SpC): More delicious archery-goodness.
Magic Missile Force domain (SpC): You'll have to find some hidden writings of Tharizdun, I think, but the first-level staple of a caster's offense is attainable by an Archivist.
Lay of the Land Ranger (SpC): Not every spell is about killing things. This is a very useful spell, at at 1st level, you can prepare and cast it early, when you're still messing about with horses and stuff.
Rhino's Rush Druid, Paladin, Wrath Domain (SpC): Double Damage on your charge attack. Does this stack with Lion's Charge? It's written as if it means to say the first attack on your charge doubles, but doesn't really come out and say that.
Burning Hands and Sleep Adept (SRD): I might need to put the entire Adept's spell list here. Wow.[/spoiler]


Level 2:
[spoiler]
Identify Magic domain (SRD): It's a second-level spell instead of first level, but Identify specifically has an Arcane Material Component in the spell description. That is, divine casters don't have to pay 100gp per casting of identify.
Scorching Ray Adept (SRD): The stock-in-trade of a second-level blaster.
Lion's Charge Druid (Savage Species): Pounce is a great ability for some builds, and the fact that you can buff someone with pounce (it's touch, not personal) means you don't have to be a melee archivist to really make use of it. Hmm, it seems that this was reprinted in SpC as a Druid 3 / Ranger 2, but personal buff with a swift action cast time and 1 round duration. Boo!
Splinter Bolt Druid (SpC): Like Scorching Ray, but with an 18-20 crit range, but subject to DR. Easier to get if your DM has problems with Adepts.
Divine Insight Cleric (SpC): When you can start casting it, it gives you +8 on a check, and it keeps getting better. Good to keep handy for those knowledge checks that you must-get (Dread Secret's 35 DC as early as possible, for example).
Hunter's Eye Ranger (PHB2): Gives the caster CL / 3 sneak attack dice. Pair this with your Dread Secret stunning and go to town. There's a great build that really abuses these things.
[/spoiler]

Level 3:
[spoiler]Lightning Bolt Adept (SRD): Another excellent spell if your game has no standard Wizard. Also notable as it gets you into the (very excellent) Hexer PrC.[/spoiler]

Level 4:
[spoiler]Favor of the Martyr Paladin (SpC): Notable thing here is the immunities. Situationally useful, I'd say, but even more useful if you've got a Frenzied Berserker in your crew (no nonlethal damage, and no "go kill your friends" dominations, but you still have to deal with the standard FB problems).[/spoiler]

Level 5:
[spoiler]Heal Adept (SRD): One level early? Fine by me.[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Thats about it, it seems pfooti never finished it, at-least from what's available in the archive.
Shame really, seems there should be way more spells to real amp up the class.

[Ivory Knight]

1 level or more of Holt Warden will allow you to cast the Anyspell line of spells as well as give you 1 more spell of each level by giving you divine domain slots for every level of spells you can cast.

How does this work?

I guess it uses the "Substitute Domain" Spell from CC, to swap the Plant Domain gained via Holt Warden for Spell Domain?

[Oehler Quantum Tycoon]

From what I've read in Complete Divine about bonus domains, that trick won't work, since archivists do not have domains. Further since the class lacks the domain spellcasting feature and is a prepared casting class the most a extra domain from a PrC would do is allow you use of the domain power and the ability to add the domain spells to your spellbook (prayerbook) if your a prepared caster.

However it has been suggested archivists should be able to learn and use spells from the cleric domains either the more direct and powerful route of learning it as a cleric spell per leveling up, or by scribing the spell as you would for any divine spell not on the cleric list.

[ksbsnowowl]

archivists should be able to learn and use spells from the cleric domains either the more direct and powerful route of learning it as a cleric spell per leveling up

Can't do that.

or by scribing the spell as you would for any divine spell not on the cleric list.

Can do this.

Holt Warden specifies that if you didn't already have bonus domain spells, you gain them as if you were a cleric.

[Oehler Quantum Tycoon]

archivists should be able to learn and use spells from the cleric domains either the more direct and powerful route of learning it as a cleric spell per leveling up

Can't do that.

or by scribing the spell as you would for any divine spell not on the cleric list.

Can do this.

Okay I had to do some digging for this, but how valid is the sage ruling on this subject for the purposes of character building?
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20070522a
Quoted below in spoilers just in case that archive ever dies.
[spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[ksbsnowowl]

[spoiler]

[/spoiler]
That quoted portion is what allows the Archivist to add things like Druid spells to his prayer book.  Domain spells fall in that category, as they aren't "cleric" spells, but rather domain spells.

[Phaxi]

Zomg my first post here
Recovered several of the useful archivist threads from The Wayback Machine--including the original Archivist Handbook, a suggestion of the best spells for archivists, and the lowest level diving spells per level.
So here we go, an archivist min/max archive.
The Archivist Handbook
Archivist spells to drool over
Lowest level versions of spells
 
Building an archivist for an on going campaign, would love to see this project reach completion. 

Also had problems opening those links. Thanks for posting them here!

Handbook updated.

[zaulsiin]

It seems that your "Lowest Level Versions of Spells" list is missing 5th-level.

I found the original post over at wizards.com

[ksbsnowowl]

He did neglect to edit the 5th level spells into the first start of the thread, but they are present in the list I copied over from WotC, on the second page of the thread.

[Phaxi]

He did neglect to edit the 5th level spells into the first start of the thread, but they are present in the list I copied over from WotC, on the second page of the thread.

Oops, totally missed that.. and sadly I cant seem to fix it either, too many characters

[Zemyla]

Am I the only one who noticed that the list of spells by their lowest level doesn't have 5th level spells?

[Viletta Vadim]

Am I the only one who noticed that the list of spells by their lowest level doesn't have 5th level spells?

Did you look at the posts right above yours?

[KellKheraptis]

You know, given the trick used on The Joker and Allanon, I'm tempted to make an uberbuffer Archivist War Weaver.  Pretty sexy, and gives more options on the move actions (buff on round 1 with debuff/BFC/blast on standard, double debuff round 2, etc)