Arcane trickster ray build.

[Whyte_Widow]

suggestions for a 6 sorc/3 rogue/ 4 arcane trickster (blood and tome version)

i had taken the arcane trickster prior to obtaining the 3.5 version so my GM is allowing it.

currently have these feats.
reach spell
spell pen
greater spell pen
point blank shot
weap fin (ray)
empower spell

i have done alot of research on spells feats etc. and my GM is allowing me to take training to "awaken" the dragon blood in me. essentially giving me access to retrain my spells and feats. any suggestions?

obviously this a sneak attacking ray/ touch spell build. she is obsessed with her invis... and is now teaching at a major school in our home town "ray sneak attack 101" if you will. my twin brother is the rogue in the party. my other half brother is a teifling monk whos taken the vow of poverty. me and my twin are CN while the monk is obviously, LG. the cleric is a cleric of hades/ sacred ex. rogue is 14th i am 13th, monk is 13 and the bugbear fighter, cleric are both 12.

:-D

[Superglucose]

"Orb Of" spells?

Though I must say that Scorching Ray is gorgeous with sneak attack. Picking up the Orb Of and Lesser Orb spells will help you hit things with SR or magic immunity.

Point Blank Shot could (and probably should) be dropped for Energy Substitution which you will want, along with Rapid Metamagic or Arcane Spellsurge.

Also, Weapon Finesse(ray)? That... doesn't exist. You just take Weapon Finesse, not for a specific weapon, and it wouldn't matter anyway since rays are ranged touch attacks and use Dex to begin with.

Spell Pen/Greater Spell Pen aren't necessary if you take the Orb Of spells (since they are SR: No and still grant you sneak attack).

So see if you can retrain those four feats. Energy Substitution, the other Energy metamagic feat, maybe Searing Spell, perhaps Arcane Thesis for Scorching Ray or your favorite Orb spell, and Rapid Metamagic.

[LichPrinceAlim]

I actually Suggest:

Race: Dromite or Uldra (1la for a free ray of x spell/power) or Dark Whisper Gnome (ToM and RoS)
Class: Sorcerer 3/Rogue 5/Arcane Trickster 7/Spellwarp Sniper 5

[Quirp]

It would be helpful to know which books you have access to.
Assuming core you want things like True Strike, Greater Invisibility, Scorching Ray and other Ray spells. Non-Core you should look into the orb spells (complete arcane/mage I don´t remember)
In Complete Scoundrel there is a class (Spellwarp Sniper) that allows you to use "normal" attack spells (fireball, etc.) as rays.
For your feats: Point Blank Shot is unnecessary and weapon finesse is perhaps not that important since touch armor tends to be very low. Empower spell is great. You should look into Practiced Spellcaster as it gives you your three lost caster levels back.

[Superglucose]

orb Of is Complete Arcane, iirc.

I dunno I always nabbed it from the Spell Compendium

[Wings of Peace]

I actually Suggest:

Race: Dromite or Uldra (1la for a free ray of x spell/power) or Dark Whisper Gnome (ToM and RoS)
Class: Sorcerer 3/Rogue 5/Arcane Trickster 7/Spellwarp Sniper 5

This made me smile. Not because it's a poor suggestion but because in my mind I imagined her "awakening" her dragon blood and turning into a Dromite

[RagnaroksChosen]

first off scorching ray isn't that great as you only get SA on one of the rays.

secound if you have the feats for it some of the more ray esc reserve feats are good.
Invisible needle and there's another one i can't think of.

also you may want to take spell thief instead of the rogue levels. not only does it keep up with your caster skills you can take master spell theif and get back all your lost caster levels.

Edit:
Weapon finesse is unessasary. seeing as rays are range touch attacks and use ur dex any way.
Edit Edit:
i would change it for precise shot even though its not realy needed, just helps to not have to get the -4.

Also reach spell is amazing on touch of cold. potentialy some small str drain and 1d6+SA every round is nice.

[Optimystik]

Xephs make excellent snipers - 0 LA, Dex bonus, speedy, +1 to saves and they insta-qualify for Psionic Shot and subsequent feats.

[ericgrau]

Scorching ray is ok purely for the damage, but ya you only get SA once. It's also a good idea to get a variety of energy types since most of your damage will be SA damage. Get greater invisibility or blink or the like so you can trigger your sneak attacks. Don't underestimate feats like point blank shot, precise shot and weapon focus so your rays can actually hit. Though a level 20 character may easily hit a dragon without any boosts, your AB at lower levels isn't that hot and not every monster is a low dex gargantuan beast screaming "touch attack me".

[Sinfire Titan]

I actually Suggest:

Race: Dromite or Uldra (1la for a free ray of x spell/power) or Dark Whisper Gnome (ToM and RoS)
Class: Sorcerer 3/Rogue 5/Arcane Trickster 7/Spellwarp Sniper 5

New Idea: I'm going to keep track of how many times I wish I had the Headdesk Emote from BG in my sig.




You can get Sneak Attack without losing caster levels:

Martial variant Wizard 5/Master Specialist 4/Keeper of the Cerulean Sign 2/Unseen Seer 4/Arcane Trickster 5

Feats:

Wizard 1: Martial Study (any Shadow Hand maneuver)
1st: Prereqs
3rd: Prereqs
6th: Prereqs
9th: Prereqs
Wizard 5 (9th level): Martial Stance (Assassin's Stance)
Nothing above this level matters.

Martial Variant Wizard is in the SRD. Grants Fighter Bonus feats instead of Scribe Scroll and bonus Metamagic feats. Build needs to go Wizard 4/Master Specialist 4/Wizard +1 in order to take Martial Stance. Use Unseen Seer to get Hunter's Eye from PH2 for more Sneak Attack.

[Superglucose]

first off scorching ray isn't that great as you only get SA on one of the rays.

Well in that case, orb Of.

EDIT: Doesn't Meteor Swarm have an attack roll?

[ericgrau]

The one SA per volley rule applies to all spells with multiple attacks. Quicken spell OTOH could provide a way to get a 2nd sneak attack, as well as a method to get quicken true strike for hitting those pesky dexterous buggers way in the back.

[Vizzerdrix]

Sinfire: at what level would that start sneak attacking with rays? I'm unfamiliar with ToB stuff.


Side note: UA Generic Caster can pick up sneak attack as a feat.

[Sinfire Titan]

Sinfire: at what level would that start sneak attacking with rays? I'm unfamiliar with ToB stuff.


Side note: UA Generic Caster can pick up sneak attack as a feat.

9th. Until then, play GOD and just use Glitterdust and stuff. Upon getting Martial Stance, play God and just Sneak Attack whatever gets hit by Glitterdust and stuff.

[Superglucose]

The one SA per volley rule applies to all spells with multiple attacks. Quicken spell OTOH could provide a way to get a 2nd sneak attack, as well as a method to get quicken true strike for hitting those pesky dexterous buggers way in the back.

I was just thinking that it would be hilarious to Sneak Attack with a meteor swarm.

[Optimystik]

I was just thinking that it would be hilarious to Sneak Attack with a meteor swarm.

You can - it has an attack roll, therefore it is a weaponlike spell, by CArc.

[Greenish]

The obligatory handbook.

[Whyte_Widow]

okay. these were things i was thinking of prior. i obviously cannot change my race or class structure so far. so retraining feats are okay... as well as a few slight changes to my spell book...

i am a human, female, CN with the above classes mentioned in that order.

i have access to all books excluding pathfinder and other add on books.

i was thinking of the "wings of ______" spells from the dragon books that are sorc only.

i have lesser sonic orb as one of my first level spells... alongside shield, mage armor, etc

currently my big blaster is acid orb. my level three spells are all my AOE damage.

[Sinfire Titan]

Retraining is allowed? There's two feats in Ghostwalk that raise the DCs of your spells. They stack with Spell Focus. Take them over Weapon Finesse (which you don't need, Rays use Dex all ready) and Point Blank Shot (which you don't need unless it's a requirement for Spellwarp Sniper).

[Whyte_Widow]

It would be helpful to know which books you have access to.
Assuming core you want things like True Strike, Greater Invisibility, Scorching Ray and other Ray spells. Non-Core you should look into the orb spells (complete arcane/mage I don´t remember)
In Complete Scoundrel there is a class (Spellwarp Sniper) that allows you to use "normal" attack spells (fireball, etc.) as rays.
For your feats: Point Blank Shot is unnecessary and weapon finesse is perhaps not that important since touch armor tends to be very low. Empower spell is great. You should look into Practiced Spellcaster as it gives you your three lost caster levels back.

practiced spellcaster was another that i already had.... i had forgotten to mention that.

[RagnaroksChosen]

okay. these were things i was thinking of prior. i obviously cannot change my race or class structure so far. so retraining feats are okay... as well as a few slight changes to my spell book...

i am a human, female, CN with the above classes mentioned in that order.

i have access to all books excluding pathfinder and other add on books.

i was thinking of the "wings of ______" spells from the dragon books that are sorc only.

i have lesser sonic orb as one of my first level spells... alongside shield, mage armor, etc

currently my big blaster is acid orb. my level three spells are all my AOE damage.

I would drop some of the AOE's. Just pick one nice one you like and grab other level 3 spells.

Drop weapon finese ray as technicaly it doesn't work.

I would drop penetration too. grab rapid meta magic and some other two feats. (more meta magic or mabye some metamagic reducers)

[Optimystik]

As others have said, lose spell penetration. You have orbs, which already ignore SR, if you come up against problem monsters.

Since you like Dromite (I still advise a Xeph, but they work too) you qualify for psionic feats. Get Psionic Meditation, Psionic Shot and Greater Psionic Shot for a huge damage boost at low levels.

[RagnaroksChosen]

As others have said, lose spell penetration. You have orbs, which already ignore SR, if you come up against problem monsters.

Since you like Dromite (I still advise a Xeph, but they work too) you qualify for psionic feats. Get Psionic Meditation, Psionic Shot and Greater Psionic Shot for a huge damage boost at low levels.

that is a good point i have to agree with optimystik

[Whyte_Widow]

been in the campaign for about a year now. no race changes... i didnt even bother to ask as there is deep rooted storyline between me and my twin (the rogue who is the effin batman.) lots of city politics.

anyway. i was looking into wings of cover and wings of flurry for an arcane thesis spell.

best im coming up with is to lose spell pen. and replace with rapid meta magic and a few other feats. drop the weap prof. and grab maybe which other metamagic feats?

edit. i grabbed point blank shot to allow me to fire into combat. seeing as we have alot of melee classes in the party.

[Mushroom Ninja]

Double Wand Wielder (a feat from CA) + 2 CL 11 Scorching ray wands + Sneak attack = Lots and Lots of damage. There are probably better ways of doing it, but this one's quite fun.

[Greenish]

edit. i grabbed point blank shot to allow me to fire into combat. seeing as we have alot of melee classes in the party.

Point Blank Shot doesn't do anything to firing into melee. That would be Precise Shot which I don't see on your list.

So, drop PBS. You can afford the -4 bonus, or rather it's not worth two feats to be rid of.

[Optimystik]

Point Blank Shot doesn't do anything to firing into melee. That would be Precise Shot which I don't see on your list.

So, drop PBS. You can afford the -4 bonus, or rather it's not worth two feats to be rid of.

He needs PBS to get Precise Shot.

[Greenish]

He needs PBS to get Precise Shot.

Which he doesn't have, and as I said, I don't think two feats for +4 to hit when firing into melee are worth it when you use touch attacks.

So instead of taking Precise Shot, he should drop PBS, IMO.

[Optimystik]

Ah, I see. Well, if that's all it gets then I agree with you... but some DMs use the "if you miss without PS you hit your companion" houserule - and with rays/orbs, that can definitely strain friendships.

[Whyte_Widow]

Ah, I see. Well, if that's all it gets then I agree with you... but some DMs use the "if you miss without PS you hit your companion" houserule - and with rays/orbs, that can definitely strain friendships.

i was under the assumption that you could not fire into melee without rolling a percent to hit your friend. as i guess that may be a household rule... i havent looked it up myself. he will not let me fire into melee without it. hm. ill have to look that exact ruleset up.