Multi-class optimization

[chaotician375]

A friend of mine is starting up a 3.5 game, the premise is like a D&D version of the Castlevania games (go to a dungeon, kill the monsters, solve the puzzles, finally kill the boss, proceed to next dungeon). I've recently looked into the rules for Iajitsu Focus and I want to make a rogue/cleric/shadowbane stalker, and taking cosmopolitan to gain Iajitsu focus as a class skill. Any ideas to make it more effective. level 7 and we have access to basically whatever books we can find.

[chaotician375]

Ha ha ha. Thank you for pointing out my missed misspelling. So how about the class.

[prufock]

Other than Iaijutsu Focus, what is important to you in this build? What kind of character do you want it to be? There are several build options, given that you only need Rog1/Cl1/anything3 to qualify. Do you want more sneak attack or more magic? If you aren't going as hard at casting, the cloistered cleric will net you the knowledge domain along with two others, which opens the door wide open for Knowledge Devotion and Collector of Stories, giving you bonuses to both attack and damage.

If casting really isn't all that important, how about Paladin 2/Rog 3/Shadowbane 2? You want high charisma anyway, might as well get it to saves - and this will give you detect evil at will already, plus smite evil.

Or, to really pump your IF bonus, dip one (or two, if you want) into Marshall and take the motivate charisma minor aura. Now you're getting 2x your charisma bonus to IF. Say 10 ranks + 5 cha + 5 cha + 3 skill focus + 2 masterwork item of whatever (extra-fancy scabbard?) and you're looking at a +25 bonus.

All kinds of possibilities. Check out the Gnome Quickrazor as well, it (debatably) lets you full attack with Iaijutsu Focus.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

For dipping, forget the Rogue class even exists, there are much better choices. Thug (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighterVariantThug) with Sneak Attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighter) can be used to maintain your BAB without delaying your skills too severely. Spellthief in Complete Adventurer will allow you to use wands any Abjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Illusion, and Transmutation spell from the Wizard spell list, including Knock and Wraithstrike. Psychic Rogue (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) will allow you to use Dorjes (wands) of useful powers like Chameleon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/chameleon.htm) and Hustle (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/hustle.htm).

Consider using Human Paragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#humanParagon) to get IF as a class skill. Take it at level 1, and then get a Cleric level before taking any more of it so it advances your spellcasting.

Use Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVariantCloistere dCleric), and trade the Knowledge domain for Knowledge Devotion in Complete Champion. That will give you at least +1 to attack and damage with every attack as long as you put at least one rank in every relevant Knowledge skill (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Religion, Planes).

Take EWP: Gnome Quickrazor, found in Races of Stone, along with TWF. It's technically drawn immediately before every attack, so as long as your opponent is flat-footed you'll get IF damage on every attack. As per the Balance skill, anyone who's 'balancing' who has less than 5 ranks in Balance is automatically flat-footed, so spells like Grease and Ice Slick (Frostburn) are perfect for enabling IF. Prepare Ice Slick plenty of times, and maybe even get a bunch of 1st level Pearls of Power. There's also the Hidden Blade skill trick in Complete Scoundrel, and the feat Flick of the Wrist in Complete Warrior.

The Quickrazors leave your hands empty when you're not making an attack, so you can still cast spells and use wands. You can use Quick-Draw with wands and other weaponlike objects (Tanglefoot Bags, potions, etc.). You can put swift-action use wands (Wraithstrike, Hustle) on strings to quick-grab one, use it, and drop it without spending anything but a swift action, so you can still full attack the same round.

Be sure to put max ranks in Hide and Move Silently, and probably get the feat Darkstalker from Lords of Madness. A Dorje of Chameleon can be made by a Psychic Warrior so it's priced as a 1st level wand, and even if you don't have the Psychic Rogue level you can take Hidden Talent (XPH p67) and still be able to use it. Get UMD with a Wand of Camouflage, and both of those will stack to give you +20 Hide for 10 minutes at a time. With any kind of dipping in partial BAB classes, you should see if your DM will let you use the fractional BAB variant detailed in Unearthed Arcana (p73).

[chaotician375]

Other than Iaijutsu Focus, what is important to you in this build? What kind of character do you want it to be? There are several build options, given that you only need Rog1/Cl1/anything3 to qualify. Do you want more sneak attack or more magic? If you aren't going as hard at casting, the cloistered cleric will net you the knowledge domain along with two others, which opens the door wide open for Knowledge Devotion and Collector of Stories, giving you bonuses to both attack and damage.

The Cleric levels are for the spell Grave Strike so I can sneak-attack undead, and stack that onto the IF damage to waste enemies quickly. Then the shadowbane Stalker lvls continue both the spell progression and sneak attack dice (although at a clearly decreased rate)
And i like the idea of going paladin for this I hadn't thought of it(I'm not a big fan of the Paladin).

[chaotician375]

sorry doubles