Quietus
2007-07-27, 09:32 PM
Alright, so I should start off by saying : Thank you, Fax. You triggered this thought in my mind, and I appreciate it.
The quote that triggered this :
Rogue 5/Spellthief 1/Assassin 1/Unseen Seer 10/Uncanny Trickster 3, and take the Master Spellthief feat.
Spellthief is in C. Adventurer, Unseen Seer is in C. Mage, and Uncanny Trickster is in C. Scoundrel. Focus the Unseen Seer "+1 spellcasting" on Assassin and Uncanny Trickster "+1 existing" on Rogue.
You'll end up with BAB +13, +10d6 Sneak Attack, full Assassin casting, and the ability to steal 7th level spells (via Spellthief and the Master Spellthief feat). It's not a bad build. I have better, but you're not allowed ToB and it's really really early late.
Now, I've played on this a bit. I like the Spellthief idea. I want the rogue and the sneak attack. But I'd also like to get full Assassin levels, because I think that since I’m starting with a 16 int, increasing to at least 20 from levels, plus a +6 headband, that’s a DC 28 save on my death attack. That isn’t all that shabby, really, when a comparable wizard could have DC 27 on his 9th level spells (10+9+8). With all five stat increases and a +5 tome, I could push the DC up to 31, while the Wizard’s packing 30 on his ninth level spells. People say Death Attack is weak, but considering it’s the equivalent of a Finger of Death heightened to 10th, it isn’t shabby.
Anyway. The build I’m looking at now is :
Rog3/Spellthief2, followed by Assassin10. Five more after this to play with.
Feats : Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Practiced Spellcaster, Master Spellthief, Greater Two-weapon Fighting, two more.
In those 15 levels, I pick up 8d6 sneak attack, 10 BAB, the ability to steal level 6 spells, and full assassin casting, plus I have two feats and five levels to play with. So far, so good – I even pick up some minor Detect Magic abilities, though my big 10 cha won’t help with that, along with +1 to saves vs spells, and the whopping ability to steal CL 1 spell effects currently in place – unless I can convince my DM to let Master Spellthief work for that.
Now all I need to do is look at options for those top few levels. I’d prefer at least 4 more arcane caster levels up there to get 8th level spell stealing, and I’d also like to get some more sneak attack. Oh, and good skills, and good BAB. No, I don’t ask for much. One possibility is looking at Arcane Trickster; that would give me plenty of what I’m asking for. 10d6 sneak attack, 8th level spell stealing, full caster level advancement (not that I gain anything but durations from that), but only 12 BAB total. Not so great for a primarily fighter-style class. I could also make it Assassin9/Arcane Trickster6, for an extra 1d6 sneak attack, and 1 point higher fort/will saves, at the cost of 1 DC lower death attack – not a bad trade off.
So, what I’m looking for, I suppose, is this : other suggestions for those last 5 levels, and a general review of my first 15 level advancement – that’s probably the more important, the character’s level 1 now.
The quote that triggered this :
Rogue 5/Spellthief 1/Assassin 1/Unseen Seer 10/Uncanny Trickster 3, and take the Master Spellthief feat.
Spellthief is in C. Adventurer, Unseen Seer is in C. Mage, and Uncanny Trickster is in C. Scoundrel. Focus the Unseen Seer "+1 spellcasting" on Assassin and Uncanny Trickster "+1 existing" on Rogue.
You'll end up with BAB +13, +10d6 Sneak Attack, full Assassin casting, and the ability to steal 7th level spells (via Spellthief and the Master Spellthief feat). It's not a bad build. I have better, but you're not allowed ToB and it's really really early late.
Now, I've played on this a bit. I like the Spellthief idea. I want the rogue and the sneak attack. But I'd also like to get full Assassin levels, because I think that since I’m starting with a 16 int, increasing to at least 20 from levels, plus a +6 headband, that’s a DC 28 save on my death attack. That isn’t all that shabby, really, when a comparable wizard could have DC 27 on his 9th level spells (10+9+8). With all five stat increases and a +5 tome, I could push the DC up to 31, while the Wizard’s packing 30 on his ninth level spells. People say Death Attack is weak, but considering it’s the equivalent of a Finger of Death heightened to 10th, it isn’t shabby.
Anyway. The build I’m looking at now is :
Rog3/Spellthief2, followed by Assassin10. Five more after this to play with.
Feats : Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Practiced Spellcaster, Master Spellthief, Greater Two-weapon Fighting, two more.
In those 15 levels, I pick up 8d6 sneak attack, 10 BAB, the ability to steal level 6 spells, and full assassin casting, plus I have two feats and five levels to play with. So far, so good – I even pick up some minor Detect Magic abilities, though my big 10 cha won’t help with that, along with +1 to saves vs spells, and the whopping ability to steal CL 1 spell effects currently in place – unless I can convince my DM to let Master Spellthief work for that.
Now all I need to do is look at options for those top few levels. I’d prefer at least 4 more arcane caster levels up there to get 8th level spell stealing, and I’d also like to get some more sneak attack. Oh, and good skills, and good BAB. No, I don’t ask for much. One possibility is looking at Arcane Trickster; that would give me plenty of what I’m asking for. 10d6 sneak attack, 8th level spell stealing, full caster level advancement (not that I gain anything but durations from that), but only 12 BAB total. Not so great for a primarily fighter-style class. I could also make it Assassin9/Arcane Trickster6, for an extra 1d6 sneak attack, and 1 point higher fort/will saves, at the cost of 1 DC lower death attack – not a bad trade off.
So, what I’m looking for, I suppose, is this : other suggestions for those last 5 levels, and a general review of my first 15 level advancement – that’s probably the more important, the character’s level 1 now.