[3.5] Improved Feint & How to get the most out of your 1 attack?

[A.A.King]

I'm wondering what the best way would be for a Rogue to have as main strategy that he feints first and then Sneak attacks.

Starting at level 2 the build is:
Human
Str: 12 Dex: 17: Con: 16 Int: 14 Wis: 9 Cha: 10 (Rolled Stats)
1. Rogue 1: Combat Expertise, Improved Feint
2. Fighter 1: Weapon Finesse

Because I have the proficiency and an offhand I'm not going to use for a second weapon anyway I start with a Darkwood Shield.
Now my problem is how to go after level 2, I'm wondering if I should go for a PrC class (and if so which one) or go towards Rogue 18 / Fighter 2 and if I should put some feats in shield investing,

What do you guys think? What is best for a guy who only gets to attack once per round?

[Darrin]

What do you guys think? What is best for a guy who only gets to attack once per round?

How about three attacks per round? Snap Kick (Tome of Battle) + Planar Touchstone -> Oxyrhynchus (Planar Handbook) = three attacks on a standard action.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Build an arcane trickster and/or Unseen Seer Rogue/Wizard build. Spell Compendium has a level 1 divination spell (excellent choice for specialist school, btw) called Insightful Feint.

It is a swift to cast, gives +10 on your next feint check, and lets you do it as a move action or as a free action if you also have Improved Feint feat once that round.

Then if you do go Unseen Seer, you can pick up a Ranger divination spell from PHB2 (I forget the name right now) that gives you +1d6 sneak attack per 3 CL, and add it to your wizard spell list.

[A.A.King]

I wasn't planning on going caster, but that's certainly interesting

[StreamOfTheSky]

Well, if you're using the Rules Compendium rule that wands cast at the same action as the spell they contain (previously it was a minimum of a standard action and thus no good for swift spells like Insightful Feint), you could always pump ranks in Use Magic Device, get a cheap wand of the spell, and install a Wand Chamber (Dungeonscape, really cheap...like 300 gp, iirc) into your weapon or shield. That allows you to use the wand stored in the weapon or shield as long as you're holding it as if you were holding the wand.

If you do not want to be a caster.

[Arc_knight25]

I think Invisible Blade PrC can get it down to a Move action at lvl 3 and a free action at lvl 5. Only down side is you need to use dagger/kukri/punching dagger(may as DM for other light daggery options)

[Waker]

Why not replace the levels of Fighter with a ToB class like Warblade or Swordsage? The majority of strikes are standard actions, meaning you could get their benefit on top of the sneak attack damage. And several Shadow Hand techniques work very well with Sneak Attack, such as the oft-used Assassin's Stance.

[Jack_Simth]

How about three attacks per round? Snap Kick (Tome of Battle) + Planar Touchstone -> Oxyrhynchus (Planar Handbook) = three attacks on a standard action.
The catch being Feint only works on "the next melee attack you make against the target" - so the second and third attacks on that standard action does not get sneak attack.

[Dusk Eclipse]

I think Invisible Blade PrC can get it down to a Move action at lvl 3 and a free action at lvl 5. Only down side is you need to use dagger/kukri/punching dagger(may as DM for other light daggery options)

Sadly Invisible blade free action feinting was killed in the Errata (which made it usable once per round), but if you take the feat Surprising Riposte (Drow of the Underdark) (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20070430a&page=2) any enemy who you feinted and damaged get's flat-footed until the end of the round (or his next turn whichever comes first).

Take that feat alongside Invisible blade levels and laugh like a madman with full sneak attacks (be sure to invest in a way to bypass SA immunities, Lightbringer or Penetrating strike are the best options, but you can also use magic items).

[A.A.King]

Why not replace the levels of Fighter with a ToB class like Warblade or Swordsage? The majority of strikes are standard actions, meaning you could get their benefit on top of the sneak attack damage. And several Shadow Hand techniques work very well with Sneak Attack, such as the oft-used Assassin's Stance.

Because in general we play core. Usually I can get ACF's and out-of-core feats and I think I can get a PrC if it fits with the build well but I can't get out-of-core base classes.

Another thing to consider though is that Warblade or Swordsage doesn't allow me to begin play with Weapon Finesse

EDIT: I don't like Invisible blade for this build. It's prerequisites and it's dagger focus just don't work with the character

[Darrin]

The catch being Feint only works on "the next melee attack you make against the target" - so the second and third attacks on that standard action does not get sneak attack.

Even without sneak attack, it's better than one attack per round.

[A.A.King]

I'm not sure a feat is worth getting an extra 1d3 attack

[pilvento]

The Scarlet corsair PrC can feint as a swift action with a 1d4rounds cooldown. You also have the Einhander feat if you avoid TWF: it gives +2 to ac and you can "Feint" as a swift action using sleight of hand.

Einhander works with combat expertice, so you can grab deadly defense while at it, and dont forget craven!