Dusk Blade, Supernatural rogue, or some such thing.

[jjpickar]

I am about to start a new game and I've been trying to decide what knd of character to make and how to build it. I've narrowed my concepts down to gish (via Duskblade) or Rogue with supernatural abilities like a ninja but not nearly as sucktastic as the ninja class. Which should I choose and how should I build them. I don't know anything about the game such as starting level or starting wealth but I'm sure most everything is allowed except for the Tome of Battle and any Psionics.

[kpenguin]

Rogue with supernatural abilities? Look in the same book that you found the duskblade. There's a base class designed just for that.

[jjpickar]

Rogue with supernatural abilities? Look in the same book that you found the duskblade. There's a base class designed just for that.

Do you mean the beguiler? If so, he isn't ninja-like enough (or ninja-esque) for me.

[kpenguin]

Ninja is a flavor. You could easily say, "my beguiler comes from an Asian-style society and dresses in all black." Seriously, a normal rogue could easily be a historical ninja.

[jjpickar]

But sneak attack is mechanics and I like my sneak attack. What I want is to give the rogue class a more ninja like feel through feat/skill selection, items and so forth.

[Seffbasilisk]

Rod of ropes
Slippers of spider climb.

Check out skilltricks in Complete Scoundrel. They really help.

[Jasdoif]

I've heard the psychic rogue mentioned a couple times around here. Might be worth a look.

[jjpickar]

If only psionics were allowed. It is cool though. I'll remember it for future games.

[Fenix_of_Doom]

what about the spelltheif?

It has sneak attack and magic seems perfect, doesn't it?


edit: fixed layout.

[DraPrime]

With some multi-classing you can be an Arcane Trickster from the DMG.

[jjpickar]

I hadn't thought of the spell thief. That could work. So now the question is which do I play? The Spell Thief or the the Duskbade. This isn't which party role do I prefer but rather which is better?

[Fenix_of_Doom]

I hadn't thought of the spell thief. That could work. So now the question is which do I play? The Spell Thief or the the Duskbade. This isn't which party role do I prefer but rather which is better?

In pure power perspective I honestly couldn't tell you which is more powerful and what's more usefull also depends on what the rest of the part is playing.
What I can do is point you to a guide for spelltheives (edit: by Fax)which might help you decide, good luck.

[Person_Man]

what about the spelltheif?

It has sneak attack and magic seems perfect, doesn't it?

Spellthief/Wizard/Arcane Trickster with the Master Spellthief feat is pretty useful. Fax has a really good guide to it somewhere.

Swordsage from Tome of Battle is the fixed version of the Monk or Ninja (Skills+Kills).

Factotum from Dungeonscape is also a rockin base class. Basically a Skill Monkey with a bunch of Int based abilities, half casting from a good list, and some interesting special abilities (free Standard Action once per encounter at 8th level). Put him in black pajamas, and he's a ninja.

[NullAshton]

You could use the Psychic Rogue class, but replace the psychic rogue casting with assassin casting. The rogue gets 1st level assassin casting at level 1 and 2, 2nd level at 3 and 4, and so forth.