3.0 Rouge/Ranger/Shadowdancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.0 Rouge/Ranger/Shadowdancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mosteya4
12-05-03, 03:57 PM Darian Vereeth will be a Level 9 Ranger, Level 7 Rouge, and Level 4 Shadowdancer. The ultimate form of Stealth and Acrobatics.

He weilds 2 short swords, and has a longbow.

He will take 9 levels in ranger to get the equivalent to Improved Two Weapon Fighting.
He will take 7 Levels In Rouge to get 3d6 Sneak Attack
Finally, Four levels in shadowdancing to get Shadow Jump 20 ft. Any suggestions?
DesolateCity
12-05-03, 04:02 PM first, because I know people will correct it...a lot...
its rogue not rouge
second, why not just take the two weapon fighting feats?
then you can take more shadowdancer levels
I assume its probably just core, or you dont have access to most books
Snow Savant
12-05-03, 04:17 PM Mosteya, I do not recommend you take that path. By 20th level, your investment in Shadowdancer will have gleaned you .... Shadowjump 20' ?!?!? Remember, as a 20th level non-spellcaster, you best have some amazing abilities to keep up with the near-godlike power of party spellcasters.

Also, a Shadowdancer's pre-req. feats are best supported by a build prefix predicated on Spring Attack (due to the Dodge, Mobility feats, etc.). Which of course, does not mechanically mesh well with the TWF feat chain.

I have posted on the board in the past a Rgr/Rog/SD build that uses the Spiked Chain in melee using Spring Attack. The Ranger virtual feats are of the archery variety ... which *does* mesh well with a Shadowdancers stealth & scout mode. Also, being a ranged archer with Shadowjump makes it extremely difficult for foes to reach you in melee if played properly. Yes, the build focuses on 2 weapons, but that's a good thing. As the character is really good at 3 things - spring attacking, archery, & stealthy scouting.

Human or Half-Elf or Wood Elf

Rgr6 / Ftr2 / Rog3 / Shadowdancer9

1. BAB +16
2. +2d6 SA ... and ... +4 Favoured Enemy Bonus
3. 18 levels of dedicated stealth & scout skill ranks
4. 4 Bonus Feats = 2 Rgr (Archery) & 2 Ftr

XO,
Snow
mosteya4
12-05-03, 06:01 PM My Charecter will be able to cast first level spells. With Hide in plain sight and a hide check in the twenties. Once I reach level 20, I will be able to beat most spot checks, fire arrows without been noticed, Slash enemys from behind, devastating them with my 4d6 sneak attack, and with weapon finesse short sword, and two short swords, a cats grace potion will up my to hit,

6 attacks against an enemy with that kind of stealth and accuracy....will most likely do some damage. I can evade most spells cast on me, except area effect, in which case I will have to rely on my Uber Relfex save!
Snow Savant
12-05-03, 07:00 PM My Charecter will be able to cast first level spells. With Hide in plain sight and a hide check in the twenties. Once I reach level 20, I will be able to beat most spot checks, fire arrows without been noticed, Slash enemys from behind, devastating them with my 4d6 sneak attack, and with weapon finesse short sword, and two short swords, a cats grace potion will up my to hit, 6 attacks against an enemy with that kind of stealth and accuracy....will most likely do some damage. I can evade most spells cast on me, except area effect, in which case I will have to rely on my Uber Relfex save!

At 20th level??? What you want to do, would be better accomplished as a straight Rogue-20 or Rog16/Ftr2/Rgr2. That way, you can do +10d6 SA with 6 attacks or +8d6 SA with 7 attacks.

Your 1st level spells will mean very little to you. Your HiPS ability is extremelyminor as a SD perk. A high enough Hide score, and you can accomplish much of what you want to tactically *without* HiPS. You are really getting very little out of your minor investment with SD. SD is not a combat PrC. It's great for those characters who concentrate on mobility tactics, positioning, scouting, & infiltrating. Your 20' Shadowjump at 20th level is really jack squat compared to what your party companions will be getting at those higher levels.

Having played 3 Shadowdancer builds since 3.0 (one for a full year), I've got a good feel for the combat mechanics of the SD. And I give you kudos for being brave enough to venture into the SD PrC ... it's a challenging one, and a bit underpowered in regards to combat. Your Shadows should rarely be used in combat (they really excel as non-corporeal scouts) and flanking partners for just one attack (then have them meld back into the floor/wall).

Good luck...and have fun!

Snow :cloud9:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mosteya4 12-05-03, 03:57 PM	Darian Vereeth will be a Level 9 Ranger, Level 7 Rouge, and Level 4 Shadowdancer. The ultimate form of Stealth and Acrobatics. He weilds 2 short swords, and has a longbow. He will take 9 levels in ranger to get the equivalent to Improved Two Weapon Fighting. He will take 7 Levels In Rouge to get 3d6 Sneak Attack Finally, Four levels in shadowdancing to get Shadow Jump 20 ft. Any suggestions?
DesolateCity 12-05-03, 04:02 PM	first, because I know people will correct it...a lot... its rogue not rouge second, why not just take the two weapon fighting feats? then you can take more shadowdancer levels I assume its probably just core, or you dont have access to most books
Snow Savant 12-05-03, 04:17 PM	Mosteya, I do not recommend you take that path. By 20th level, your investment in Shadowdancer will have gleaned you .... Shadowjump 20' ?!?!? Remember, as a 20th level non-spellcaster, you best have some amazing abilities to keep up with the near-godlike power of party spellcasters. Also, a Shadowdancer's pre-req. feats are best supported by a build prefix predicated on Spring Attack (due to the Dodge, Mobility feats, etc.). Which of course, does not mechanically mesh well with the TWF feat chain. I have posted on the board in the past a Rgr/Rog/SD build that uses the Spiked Chain in melee using Spring Attack. The Ranger virtual feats are of the archery variety ... which does mesh well with a Shadowdancers stealth & scout mode. Also, being a ranged archer with Shadowjump makes it extremely difficult for foes to reach you in melee if played properly. Yes, the build focuses on 2 weapons, but that's a good thing. As the character is really good at 3 things - spring attacking, archery, & stealthy scouting. Human or Half-Elf or Wood Elf Rgr6 / Ftr2 / Rog3 / Shadowdancer9 1. BAB +16 2. +2d6 SA ... and ... +4 Favoured Enemy Bonus 3. 18 levels of dedicated stealth & scout skill ranks 4. 4 Bonus Feats = 2 Rgr (Archery) & 2 Ftr XO, Snow
mosteya4 12-05-03, 06:01 PM	My Charecter will be able to cast first level spells. With Hide in plain sight and a hide check in the twenties. Once I reach level 20, I will be able to beat most spot checks, fire arrows without been noticed, Slash enemys from behind, devastating them with my 4d6 sneak attack, and with weapon finesse short sword, and two short swords, a cats grace potion will up my to hit, 6 attacks against an enemy with that kind of stealth and accuracy....will most likely do some damage. I can evade most spells cast on me, except area effect, in which case I will have to rely on my Uber Relfex save!
Snow Savant 12-05-03, 07:00 PM	My Charecter will be able to cast first level spells. With Hide in plain sight and a hide check in the twenties. Once I reach level 20, I will be able to beat most spot checks, fire arrows without been noticed, Slash enemys from behind, devastating them with my 4d6 sneak attack, and with weapon finesse short sword, and two short swords, a cats grace potion will up my to hit, 6 attacks against an enemy with that kind of stealth and accuracy....will most likely do some damage. I can evade most spells cast on me, except area effect, in which case I will have to rely on my Uber Relfex save! At 20th level??? What you want to do, would be better accomplished as a straight Rogue-20 or Rog16/Ftr2/Rgr2. That way, you can do +10d6 SA with 6 attacks or +8d6 SA with 7 attacks. Your 1st level spells will mean very little to you. Your HiPS ability is extremelyminor as a SD perk. A high enough Hide score, and you can accomplish much of what you want to tactically without HiPS. You are really getting very little out of your minor investment with SD. SD is not a combat PrC. It's great for those characters who concentrate on mobility tactics, positioning, scouting, & infiltrating. Your 20' Shadowjump at 20th level is really jack squat compared to what your party companions will be getting at those higher levels. Having played 3 Shadowdancer builds since 3.0 (one for a full year), I've got a good feel for the combat mechanics of the SD. And I give you kudos for being brave enough to venture into the SD PrC ... it's a challenging one, and a bit underpowered in regards to combat. Your Shadows should rarely be used in combat (they really excel as non-corporeal scouts) and flanking partners for just one attack (then have them meld back into the floor/wall). Good luck...and have fun! Snow :cloud9: