Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gastrocnemius 10-07-05, 01:53 AM	Hi guys ! I have a question. I'm playing a shadow dancer (rogue5/fighter2/shadow dancer) and have reach level 3 shadow dancer and now got my summon Shadow. How does that work. At every 3. level it gets 2HD extra. Does my first 3 level count so it gets 2HD extra at start ? And is it possibly for my shadow to get feats and in that case when ? And at last. Any suggestions how to use it best ?
Xeraph 10-07-05, 04:27 AM	Well, yes when your shadow advances HD you recalculate his ECL and find his new feats and ability increases like you do with a normal player. You use your shadow to perform tasks that you cant. I suggest feats that make him a better flanker. Or maybe buffs him up a bit. Maybe something to boost his attack. Weapon Finesse, Two-weapon Fighting, Dual Strike all comes to mind. Remember to boost your own Fortitude SAve, cus when your buddies die, you will loose alot of xp if you dont succed in that Fort DC save.
Pinky's brain 10-07-05, 04:58 AM	Im pretty sure "incorporeal touch" is a natural weapon (see the dread wraith's full attack for instance). Ideally you need to find a way to give him tremorsense or something ... so he can just go into the ground and attack people from relative safety.
Gastrocnemius 10-07-05, 05:06 AM	Im pretty sure "incorporeal touch" is a natural weapon (see the dread wraith's full attack for instance). Ideally you need to find a way to give him tremorsense or something ... so he can just go into the ground and attack people from relative safety. Under the description in the monster manual if I remember correct, it says that the normally way they attack is through the floor, so somehow they have the ability to do that. Or is it only the great shadow
Gastrocnemius 10-07-05, 05:11 AM	Well, yes when your shadow advances HD you recalculate his ECL and find his new feats and ability increases like you do with a normal player. . I have not play that long, so I'm sure about all the rules yet. A shadow start at 3HD, does that mean that it count like a level 3 character and will advance to level 5 when it get the next 2HD ?
Pinky's brain 10-07-05, 05:20 AM	Under the description in the monster manual if I remember correct, it says that the normally way they attack is through the floor, so somehow they have the ability to do that. Or is it only the great shadowWell it can sense what's in an adjacent square, but that is a pretty harsh limitation. Gastronomicus, yes (racial-)HD function the same as class levels for purposes of feats and ability increases.
SoulGamit 10-07-05, 09:56 AM	You should try and ask your DM to let you have 3 shadows. You see, while the ability's text makes no mention of more shadows, the chart clearly indecates this. You get the "Summon Shadow" ability three times, and it doesn't indecate any change. Also, the epic progression of the shadow dancer specifically states that you get 4 shadows at level 12, 5 at 15, ect. That makes no sense unless the normal shadow dancer also gets multiple shadows. Finnally, a shadow dancer having multiple shadows isn't exactly game-breaking. Compair it to master of shrouds, who can have a fricken dread wraith 3 levels before you'd get your third shadow (he can also summon 4 specters at that time). With that out of the way, go for empowered ability drain ghostly grasp and improved natural attack. Ghostly grasp is optional, but I just couldn't think of anything better. Also, with ghostly grasp you can give your shadows magic items (although I'd do this only sparingly). By the way, weapon finess is useless to an incorporeal creature as it allready uses its dexterity for attacks. Have the shadows "enter" the ground and move along behind enemy lines to the spellcasters undetected. Then they ALL converge at the same time on that caster to drain his strength. Also, your shadows make for great scouts. Basically, use selective targeting stealth and the incorporeal aspect of the shadows to their maximum. No, the first summon shadow ability does not add HD, it specifically says that by level 9 you have a 9HD shadow.
rilem 10-07-05, 10:12 AM	You should try and ask your DM to let you have 3 shadows. You see, while the ability's text makes no mention of more shadows, the chart clearly indecates this..... Nope: Text Trumps Table. The table was a holdover from 3.0, when the shadowdancer did get multiple shadows, but I don't think any of them advanced in power. This created two weird/stupid effects: 1. A Rogue PC with no undead tendencies suddenly having an army of shadows at his command (a growing army, b/c the 3.0 text didn't have a prohibition against Shadow Spawn). 2. Even more chances for the Rogue to face that XP hit when one of the weak shadows died.
SoulGamit 10-07-05, 01:56 PM	1. A Rogue PC with no undead tendencies suddenly having an army of shadows at his command (a growing army, b/c the 3.0 text didn't have a prohibition against Shadow Spawn). The 3.5 text does say the shadows can't spawn and the exp hit when the shadows die makes it even weaker. I, personally don't think it's game breaking at all as wizards/clerics can do far better at an earlier level without the exp hit when the undead die. Anyways, nothing to lose by asking. Just make sure to keep the shadow(s) away from the battle if your facing things that can hurt them.