18th level rogue campaign (3.5)

[the humanity]

so I WAS Artemis Entreri- he didn't fit a chaotic good thieves guild, he was very difficult to adjust to fit- and he was too brash and too old and really loved killing people (I didn't ever read the books, sorry Artemis lovers).

now, he is an epic npc who rules a realm of Ravenloft, and I miss him so, I'll be his son, I think. good. I'm teaming up with-

-Rogue/Ranger
-Rogue
-Rogue/Thief Acrobat
-Rogue

they are a decent force in battle. I am not required for them to destroy enemies. as I was, an NPC given control of by the DMs discretion, I want to have a niche besides sneaking and killing people. that was a terrible niche, and as a 3rd level assassin, I was useless at it. in fact, I don't want to be a rogue at all. I'd rather take one level in every class besides rogue. so... I want ideas.

mine so far-
-Beguiler
-Duskblade (with a splash of rogue so I can fit a little)
-Sorcerer
-Blood Magus
-Joker Bard, adapted for PC use
-Cleric of Olidamarra

are these good? what should I do?

(and any ideas for how to prove I'm his son?)

[NiteCyper]

Let me dig into this.

1. "so I WAS Artemis Entreri"

See point 3.

2. "he didn't fit a chaotic good thieves guild, he was very difficult to adjust to fit- and he was too brash and too old and really loved killing people"

I don't understand how any of these qualities makes a hard fit.

3. "(I didn't ever read the books, sorry Artemis lovers)."

By "the books" and "Artemis lovers", I assume you mean the series in which is the famous character of the same name as "Artemis Entreri". By this, I assume you vaguely heard of him and thus took the name with no further correlations.

4. "now, he is an epic npc who rules a realm of Ravenloft, and I miss him"

Does that mean you get epic inheritance?

5. "I am not required for them to destroy enemies."

Why would you be?

6. "as I was, an NPC given control of by the DMs discretion, I want to have a niche besides sneaking and killing people."

I can't tell if "as I was" is related to the preceding phrase. Your syntax/grammar is difficult to comprehend.

I don't understand. How is playing a DMPC turned PC motivation for diversifying?

7. Is English your native language?

8. "that was a terrible niche, and as a 3rd level assassin, I was useless at it."

Why is that a terrible niche? And why, as a 3rd level assassin, were you useless at it? I can understand in terms of the weakness of the Assassin PrC.

9. Judging by the title of the thread and your mock-up of your groups' build-stubs, it sounds as though a rule in this campaign is that one is required to take at least 1 level in the Rogue class.

10. "so... I want ideas."

For what?

11. "what should I do?"

Depends on your spiritual values.

12. "(and any ideas for how to prove I'm his son?)"

Why?

13. Please inform more on your campaign's rules, e.g. what books are allowed.

[Forevernade]

I vote Joker Bard with the touch of master-thief flavor.

[Killer Angel]

With a cleric of Olidammara you'll be similar to a rogue, fitting perfectly with the group, without being it.
Plus, 9th lev. spells.

[Heliomance]

A Paladin of Olidammara.

[term1nally s1ck]

4 replies and nobody read the OP? He doesn't want to be a rogue, he wants to be a 1-dip wonder, with 18 one-dips.

[Killer Angel]

4 replies and nobody read the OP? He doesn't want to be a rogue, he wants to be a 1-dip wonder, with 18 one-dips.

I'm not a native english speaker, so correct me if i'm wrong, but:

I don't want to be a rogue at all. I'd rather take one level in every class besides rogue.

don't strikes me as "I want a character with 18 one-dips".

and Heliomance: good link, thanks.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I'd probably go with one of the following:

Rogue (or Spellthief) 1/ Psion (Egoist, Nomad, or Seer) 4/ Psychic Assassin 6/ Elocater 9+, use TWF and Speed weapons with Mind Cripple, and be sure to take Practiced Manifester. Psychic Rogue can also get Mind Cripple, but isn't as good due to casters > all. Suggest removing the evil alignment restriction in exchange for losing Death Attack.

Illumian (Krau/anything) Beguiler 1/ Wizard 4/ Ultimate Magus 10/ Wizard 1/ Incantatrix 4+, with Practiced Spellcaster: Beguiler you can add 10/10 UM spellcasting to Wizard. Use a flaw to get Able Learner, since Illumians are Humanoid (Human) they qualify, and you can easily keep up your ranks in those useful Beguiler skills. Take another flaw to get Versatile Spellcaster, which will allow you to spend Beguiler spell slots to spontaneously cast any Wizard spell you've made the Spellcraft check to understand, even if it's not in your spellbook. At Wizard 5 get the Spontaneous Divination ACF from Complete Champion, which probably isn't even necessary with Versatile Spellcaster, so also consider getting a domain instead via that same book. Alternatively, go Human and add 9/10 UM spellcasting to Wizard, and with two flaws you'll be able to go Beguiler 1/ Wizard 1/ Master Specialist 3/ UM 10/ Master Specialist 1/ Incantatrix 4+. It's basically a Wizard with a lot of useful tricks, mostly in the form of spontaneous spells but the skills also play a part.

A Swordsage would probably fit in quite comfortably, I prefer the Arcane Swordsage variant due to versatility and character power.

[Optimystik]

2. "he didn't fit a chaotic good thieves guild, he was very difficult to adjust to fit- and he was too brash and too old and really loved killing people"

I don't understand how any of these qualities makes a hard fit.

I'm going to guess the love of killing people might not fit in with Chaotic Good.

[the humanity]

^very astute.

and I'm not feeling one dip wonder.

psionics are not allowed- too many different systems for using magic and all that is confusing.

the books we have access to:
PH
DMG
PH2
Complete Champion
C Arcane
C Divine
C Adventurer
C Scoundrel
Tome of Battle
Manual of the Planes
Planar Handbook
Monster manual 1-3
Fiendish Codex: Hell+Abyss

also, to help out Nightcyper, Artemis was an NPC given to me 2 levels ago as a 4/11/1 Rogue Fighter Assassin. he was as such not a match for a fighter without a flanking partner. his skills were lame. his sword (a homebrew called a mournblade) was the best part.

the abilities he had helped little- he could death attack, but only as a 3rd level assassin- DC 16. he was immune to poison. he could cast wraithstrike(useful) but outside of the assassin spells, feats like combat expertise, and the sword, he was useless- the rogues consistently did more in battle when I wasn't using bizarre poisons.

I think I have it a little narrowed down.

Beguiler 4
Wizard 4
Ultimate Magus 10

Beguiler 18

Bard 18 (joker variety)

RACE: Changeling/Human

which one?