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SangoProduction
2015-09-18, 10:33 PM
My Shadowdancer (yes, yes, I know...it's actually been incredibly helpful though), is about to die, and I want to play as a Shadow (http://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/templates/shadowcreature.shtml) (template) Changling (http://eberron.wikia.com/wiki/Changeling), representing the more primitive, self-preserving alter ego my character had while he was alive, being cast out with the final mission of preventing betrayal to the party, until the elf's mission is complete (which is likely the entirety of the campaign).

I wanted a suspicious, kinda "dumb" character, keeping with his primary directive of preventing anyone else from betraying the party. Less dumb in the way that he can't reason, but that he lacks knowledge of most things, being a background alter-ego for about 4 years, give or take. I was thinking of Barbarian just for an easy answer, but the idea of raging didn't seem to quite fit (maybe I could make it work, I don't know), and this Shadowdancer is already a rogue/sorcerer, and we have 2 other rogues in the party, so I don't want to make another one of those (although it makes sense to be a rogue, story-wise, as in his rogue days was when this alter ego was most used, and changling rogue is delicious).

Just to be clear, the shadow dancer is going to die because I've kinda hit a dead-end story-wise, and has already had his own little story arc just becoming a shadow dancer, a couple months ago and the character is actually regressing. I just see so much more potential with this new one.
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Now that the wall of text is out of the way:

Parameters: Low to no casting. (I've been thinking of taking druid for a few levels, then focusing on the wildshaping feature through some multiclassing; idk what classes focus on wildshape aside from the warshaper, which does kinda seem cool. I like the idea of a semi-amorphous shadow who changes shape.)
I'm definitely open to some other classes though that you suggest.
Also, having some sort of animal companion or familiar would be nice, if possible, though definitely not necessary.

EDIT: Also, kinda low OP. Ideas for optimization are appreciated, as it gives me something to work down from, but this is a campaign where a shadow dancer can do decently in, if it weren't for dice rolls.

Proposed Attributes:
Str: unkonwn
Dex: Probably decent
Con: unkown
Int: Probably 8
Wisdom: Probably high [His point as an alter ego was to recognize danger and save my character, and his prime directive is to root out betrayal. I like the idea of a good wisdom.]
Cha: Probably horrendous.

Preferred skills, in order of preference (I don't think my DM rules with cross class skills, but this might help someone with deeper game knowledge than me come up with something.)

Sense Motive
Intimidate
Perception, obviously

Maybe Bluff and Stealth.

Kelb_Panthera
2015-09-18, 10:41 PM
How about wildshape ranger into master of many forms? Change into all the things with no spellcasting to worry about.

SangoProduction
2015-09-18, 10:45 PM
I don't mind the idea. Didn't even know rangers could get wildshape. I hope there's something to change out that awful favored enemy, lol. [Well, actually, with orcs being the ones that killed the shadowdancer, I guess it works. I really hate that class feature though lol.]

NomGarret
2015-09-18, 10:50 PM
How about Totemist? You get natural attacks, appropriate skill boosts, and the shifting nature of incarnum would suit a shadow-fragment creature. Plus it pairs well with your stat array.

SangoProduction
2015-09-18, 10:57 PM
How about Totemist? You get natural attacks, appropriate skill boosts, and the shifting nature of incarnum would suit a shadow-fragment creature. Plus it pairs well with your stat array.

I find I kinda like the class. Is there any sort of incarnum tutorial? lol. [I'll look more into it tomorrow after I've had breakfast.] I also don't know my DM's approval of incarnum. But I'll try.

Kelb_Panthera
2015-09-18, 11:05 PM
I find I kinda like the class. Is there any sort of incarnum tutorial? lol. [I'll look more into it tomorrow after I've had breakfast.] I also don't know my DM's approval of incarnum. But I'll try.

Here. Have a handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?287304-danzibr-s-Totemist-Handbook&highlight=totemist+handbook).

Biffoniacus_Furiou
2015-09-18, 11:09 PM
Wildshape Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger), originally from UA. Use your Ranger spell slot for Endure Elements or Rhino's Rush (SC), in case of the latter get a bunch of 1st level Pearls of Power to use it more often. In this case go Wildshape Ranger 5/ Master of Many Forms 7/ Warshaper 4/ Ranger or Nature's Warrior 1/ Master of Many Forms 3 for your final build. Use either Urban Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#rangerVariantUrbanRang er) or Skilled City-Dweller (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a) to get most of your desired class skills.

That one level before the last three of MoMF is to have the BAB to get Defensive Sweep (PH2) at 18th level, if you get that far. Choice feats should include Power Attack, Leap Attack, Frozen Wild Shape, and Robilar's Gambit. With Frozen Wild Shape you'll be able to take the form of a 12-headed Cryohydra, and Robilar's Gambit enables you to make a 12-bite AoO against anyone who attacks you while in that form. It also works well with Defensive Sweep.

With the Shadow Creature template you'll want a Darkness effect. Get a small bone pendant, apply Unguent of Timelessness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#unguentofTimelessness) to it, and wear it on a leather cord around your neck. Hire an NPC spellcaster to put Extended Deeper Darkness on the pendant at a caster level of 20th, which should cost you only 800 gp at the standard rate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#spell), and it will last forty years thanks to the unguent. You can hold the pendant in your mouth to block the darkness effect, but whenever you need to benefit from Shadow Blend you can 'drop' it as a free action by spitting it out, and it will fall back into place hanging around your neck.


If you want to go a different route, grab some Warlock levels. Get the Darkness and Devil's Sight invocations, and grab the feat Blend Into Shadows from Drow of the Underdark, which you can use your at-will Darkness invocation to activate since it's considered a spell-like ability. While you could throw a few Warlock levels into any build to incorporate this trick, it would seriously weaken the combat ability of the above build to do so.

SangoProduction
2015-09-18, 11:40 PM
With the Shadow Creature template you'll want a Darkness effect. Get a small bone pendant, apply Unguent of Timelessness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#unguentofTimelessness) to it, and wear it on a leather cord around your neck. Hire an NPC spellcaster to put Extended Deeper Darkness on the pendant at a caster level of 20th, which should cost you only 800 gp at the standard rate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#spell), and it will last forty years thanks to the unguent. You can hold the pendant in your mouth to block the darkness effect, but whenever you need to benefit from Shadow Blend you can 'drop' it as a free action by spitting it out, and it will fall back into place hanging around your neck.

LOL. Let's not go crazy here, lol. This is a fairly low-op game (where a shadow dancer can perform decently...when they aren't rolling 1's for every attack roll...by the goddess, these dice hate me!). I was actually planning to ask the DM to change that to the shadow dancer's hide in plain sight + a use or 2 of wild shape, because for our campaign, I think it might be a bit over the top (but the template is costing 2 levels, and I think this is actually a good part of it, so getting a wild shape or 2 per day shouldn't be bad).

SangoProduction
2015-09-19, 12:20 AM
After a brief glance at the Totemist handbook, it seems to be just what I want (save for wisdom thing, I think, but I think I'd keep wisdom even if it was supposed to be a dump stat), though I worry a bit about its power, but as long as I am not "trying" to break stuff, it seems it shouldn't be too big of an issue.
I didn't see it saying anything about shape changing, but that's what being a Changeling is for (more or less).

EDIT: ....and then I see the bit about getting 12 natural attacks. roflmao. Well, I simply won't try for that, lol.

Vrock_Summoner
2015-09-19, 12:25 AM
After a brief glance at the Totemist handbook, it seems to be just what I want, though I worry a bit about its power, but as long as I am not "trying" to break stuff, it seems it shouldn't be too big of an issue.
I didn't see it saying anything about shape changing, but that's what being a Changeling is for (more or less).
Don't worry, Totemist is actually super balanced unless you really try to cheese it out (or, conversely, intentionally scramble it into being terrible). Warshaper from Druid or Wildshape Ranger would in fact be stronger in pretty much any case.

SangoProduction
2015-09-19, 12:35 AM
Don't worry, Totemist is actually super balanced unless you really try to cheese it out (or, conversely, intentionally scramble it into being terrible). Warshaper from Druid or Wildshape Ranger would in fact be stronger in pretty much any case.

Oh really? Thanks for letting me know.