[3.5] help me build Jester - a Master of masks

[Mezmote]

Hi playground.

In a week or so I'll be playing in a one-shot bounty hunter campaign/session. And we've been limited to build a level 7 character. I've wanted to play a flavorful rogue by the name of Jester, professional fool for kings (and part time assassin/bounty hunter). My initial thought was entering master of masks with 5 levels of rogue. Grabbing Masks of the assassin for extra sneak attack and gladiator for competence bonus'. But that only require 1 level in MoM, which will be taken at level 6 or 7. I gain absolutely nothing from going MoM any further so I'd like to hear your opinion on which other class that might be good for a 1 level dip for this concoction.

Material that I can use: All completes (except champion), core books + PHB 2 and spell compendium. I might be able to gain access to "Races of whatever" if I can justify the flavor/mechanic to the DM :smallbiggrin:.

In combat I want him to tumble around like a fool and have no one pay mind to him, then position for sneak attack. I'd like to pick up Quickdraw so I can take some of those sassy skill tricks like hidden blade and sudden draw. Other than that, I have no idea for which feats or classes i should take.

So how would you do it? Do your have a better alternative entrance to the class? I'm pretty set on going the MoM way for at least 1 level dip so please go with it. No cheese with my whine please :smallwink:

[Mezmote]

How about equipment? WBL

[Flickerdart]

If you have access to Spell Compendium, the core Assassin class becomes pretty damn good, since they get a number of cool and useful spells in that book.

If you want to move about the battlefield without being paid attention to, I recommend Psychic Rogue (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b), as he gets the Cloud Mind (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/cloudMind.htm) power at level 5. Sadly he will never get the mass (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/cloudMindMass.htm) version of the power. The solution, if you want it, is to go Ardent into Psychic Assassin (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d), letting you get this power at level 12.
Both Psychic Assassin and Psychic Rogue also get the Shadow Jump special ability, which would also aid your movement across the battlefield. Sadly, these classes are online, but they're far better than what XPH and CPsi has to support your idea. I mean there's Lurk but, well...it's Lurk. Also if your DM doesn't count XPH as part of core, then you're out of luck for most good psionics material.

[Telonius]

King of Jesters, Jester of Kings then? :smallbiggrin:

Cloaked Dancer (CSco) or Divine Prankster (RoS) are flavorful ways to achieve what you're going for. Master of Masks is great for one level, but if you're only going to it at Level 7 it might not be the best option.

Personally? I'd go Divine Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantDivineBard) 5/Divine Prankster2. Change one of the Bard levels to Rogue if you have to. It gives you one of the few genuine "Draw aggro" abilities in the game (other than the Knight's Challenge), Comedic Performance, and loads of skill points for converting into Skill Tricks. Versatile Performer would be nice to stack on top of it, for making your guy talented in all of the Foolish arts.

[Mezmote]

I'm pretty sure I can use the XPH, but as Psychic Rogue (and psychic assassin) are from web articles, I can't squeeze them in. My DM don't like stuff we don't have in bookform (although I might be able to print 'em :smallwink:)

Divine prankster and Cloaked Dancer looks good for the concept, but will only be executable at level 8 and beyond. We won't get there (maybe some other day in another campaign) in this campaign. Btw my DM dislikes Unearthed Arcane, unfotunately.

But keep the ideas flowing in this direction :smallbiggrin:

[hex0]

Check out the Jester base class from Dragon Compendium. It is on par with Bard for the most part.