Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Akusokuzon 06-10-06, 10:39 AM	Ok, so I've recently started playing, and I'm making one of my first characters. I'm looking for a rogue/assassin kind of effect (IE Not great at combat per se... but very good at not being seen, killing people, dissapearing and taking very few actual hits). Here's what my plan is so far Rolls are 18, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8... put them where you want, but here's what I'm thinking: Human (LE) Str: 8 Dex: 18 Con: 12 Int: 14 Wis: 8 Cha: 14 Rogue 1: (For skills, duh); Feats: Dodge, Two-Weapon Fighting Fighter 1: (Bonus feats here for faster prestige); Bonus Feat: Weapon Finesse Fighter 2: (More Feats, nice fort save too); Feat: Combat Reflexes, Bonus Feat: Mobility Rogue 2: (Skills and sneak attack damage and Evasion) Rogue 3: (Same) Assassin 1: Death attack and "off-level" sneak attack (+1d6 when a rogue level wouldn't have given it to me); Feat: Improved Initiative Assassin 2: Either rogue4 or Ass2 would give me Uncanny Dodge, but I like the spells here Shadowdancer 1: Hide in plain sight + Mega reflex saves Shadowdancer 2: Improved Evasion and Improved uncanny dodge; Feat: Improved Critical Assassin 3-7: Dump the rest in Assassin for the spell levels and sneak attack damage; Feat: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting Any assistance... or maybe even praise for the n00b... while trying to keep the flavor of the build would be appreciated. Try to keep the build to around level 14 at the end, fairly playable throughout, and though my DM is lenient, try to keep it to basic books and completes (feel free to venture out, but leave a "second option" in case it gets denied) Thank you all so much, I appreciate the input.
EldonG 06-10-06, 10:45 AM	What you have here is a good, playable build...not spectacular, but solid. (I would actually try to avoid spectacular builds for actual gaming...) Let me take a closer look to see if there are any easy improvements I can spot...(this is close to a build I was working into, some time ago...no Asn, otherwise, similar) I would swap your Con and Cha scores...hp will be low...and fort saves, while rare for you, will be tough...Will saves won't exactly be your forte, either. Did you have a specific plan for the Cha? My second options would be a couple of prestige classes that fit well with the theme, and improve your combat effectiveness: Dread Commando, and Shadowblade...but they're less core than your mentioned classes...both combine excellently with your other choices, and either is a possibility before you hit lvl 10...Ninja is also worth looking at.
Akusokuzon 06-10-06, 11:11 AM	Forgot to mention that for all intensive purposes, my Rogue (Who has to know I'm a killing machine/Emblem of Pure Assassination?) will be the face of the party (2 Fighters (one a half-orc) and a Druid that speaks broken common at best and one other character still in creation that probably won't be able to bluff/diplo their way out of anything... doesn't look like a sociable bunch to me.). Thus the score in Cha; but at 14 the difference is +1 bluff/diplo/disguise vs 14 hp and more fort... probably should go with the Con. Mmm... Ninja looks delicious though...
villianousmorality 06-10-06, 11:23 AM	Well, good shot actually posting a build. Books available would be good. You don't seem to be trying to do too much with this build, but I think the rogue and assassin levels are a little redundant. Ranger might do you well, say, Ranger 5/Assassin 2/Shadow Dancer 2/Assassin 3-7 and maybe throw another ranger in there for improved TWF. Still get good skills though you're not a trapmonkey, can make up for lack of sneak by specializing in killing something in particular with favored enemy. Say, human +4 and elves +2 or some such. I'd rearrange stats for that though. Might as well get the nonmagical variant from Complete Warrior if you can, otherwise you'll need items to do some limited ranger casting. Don't think it's that important but it might do what you seem to be wanting to a bit better. Lets see. Ranger 6/Assassin 2/Shadow Dancer 2/Assassin 3-6 LE human Str 12 Dex 18 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 8 Cha 8 8d8+2d6+28 hp 11 BAB Good fort save, multiple good reflex saves, evasion, improved uncanny dodge and can only be flanked by a 12th level rogue, darkvision, hide in plain sight (shadows), 3rd level spells, 3d6 sneak attack, poison use, death attack, pluses versus poison, Improved TWF, Two favored enemies, an animal companion, Endurance, Track. All before feats. You seemed to be working on a 14 level build for some reason, I'm guessing use in a game. Leaves you room for 1st level Weapon Finesse, human dodge 3rd mobility 6th spring attack 9th Combat Reflexes 12th Weapon Focus (Rapier) Good amount of skill points. Dunno, just an alternative.
Akusokuzon 06-10-06, 06:18 PM	My build vs. Your Build Up: -6d6 sneak opposed to 3d6 -Improved Evasion/Improved Uncanny Dodge at 9 instead of Improved Uncanny Dodge/Reg. Evasion at 10 -Flankable by 16 Level Rogue vs 12 -Hide in Plain Sight by 9 instead of 10 --------------------------------------------- Middle: -Saves essentially the same -Basically same amount (IE Insane) of skills -8d8+2d6+28 = 66 avg. 104 max HP vs. 2d10+6d6+2d8+28 = 64 avg 100 max HP --------------------------------------------- Down: -7 BAB vs. 11 BAB -No Companion -No Favored enemy --------------------------------------------- Marginal Cost Vs. Marginal Benefit: Lose 3d6 damage | Gain 4 BAB + Companion 1 Level later | Favored Enemy Lose 2 Feats | Gain ITWF Featless Basically you turned Fighter 2/Rogue 3/Assassin 1 into Ranger 6 Since there won't be the spell benefit from the Ranger levels (I'm more into the assassin spells personally) it seems that most of the additions balance out with things you were forced to lose; normal stuff like hit more do less damage, better top-end performance while losing some early playability. I see it as a preference thing, but I appreciate the help, and I now consider dipping for favored opponent... ALSO: Thinking about armor... would a mithril breastplate actually BE light armor, or just function as it (IE Things dependent on "Light or No Armor" are still in effect in Mithril breastplate?)?