A Sneaky Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Sneaky Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Crom_Smash
01-28-06, 01:34 PM The DM for my campaigne has finally banned the persistent+Divine Metamagic combo :weep:

Anyway, he has told us that the new champaign will be based around stealth and spying and that sort of thing.

I was wondering if anyone could help me come up with a character that deals good damage while still being able to sneak around.

The Starting level is 10 and all WOTC books are usable except psionics, the Warhulk and the Hulking Hurler.

Thanks in advanced.
Zemyla
01-28-06, 02:06 PM Allow me to be the first to recommend a skulk, from Races of Destiny. For prestige class choices, go into Umbral Disciple from Magic of Incarnum to make a great spring-attacker.
Zedraikis
01-28-06, 03:54 PM If you can use Forgotten Realms material, which I'm assuming you can, being that you said all WotC material, this is a very fun, effective melee stealth build:

Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 2/Dervish 10/Shadow Thief of Amn 2.

+18 BAB.

In addition to Swashbuckler and Dervish goodies, you get:

Lots of Rogue skills.
Trapfinding.
Evasion.
3d6 Sneak Attack damage.
Uncanny Dodge.
1 bonus feat from Shadow Thief of Amn.

Be a human and take the Able Learner feat from Races of Destiny. You're now a skill god. Max Use Magic Device. Use it, and use it well.

From there, you have lots of skills to freely use wherever.

Go Fighter 2 for the 2 bonus feats, or you can replace Fighter 2 with Ranger 2 for Track, TWF, and a little more skill points. If you go Ranger, max Search and Survival for tracking, of course, and I'd max Disable Device as well, since your Search already is, too.

Even if you max all of the suggested skills, you still have plenty to max both Hide and Move Silently.

If you don't mind waiting until level 11 to start Dervish levels, go Shadow Thief of Amn before Dervish and use the bonus feat for Weapon Focus: Scimitar. This will save you a feat to use earlier, and I recommend doing this.

May not have all the Tempest bonuses, but I don't care for Tempest in Dervish builds, personally. You're still nearly as effective as the typical Dervish-Tempest build, you're far beyond more useful skill-wise, you have some sneak attack damage, and you can max out Use Magic Device and go magic crazy.

Take the Craven feat from Forgotten Realms' Champions of Ruin. This adds your level to damage on sneak attacks. Or 3d6+20, at level 20. Spanks the Scout's 1d6 Skirmish damage.

I understand that Shadow Thief of Amn, which can be found in Player's Guide to Faerun, is a PrC tied to the Shadow Thieves of Forgotten Realms, but it was called Guild Thief in Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. A lot of players still consider it to be the generic guild-related rogue PrC it was originally called, only using the new version's requirements, etc. If your DM doesn't like it being called the Shadow Thief of Amn, try convincing him or her to go with it orignally being called Guild Thief, but simply using the revised 3.5 version of it.

Buy a Ring of Blinking. If or when you can, make this a Ring of Blinking, Greater. Use activated costs 90,000 gp. 3x/day costs 54,000 gp. No matter which ring you get, it'll greatly help you freely position yourself to pull off more sneak attacks, which is what you want, naturally. As Slyver said from another thread, no sneak attacker worth his salt would be caught dead without one. :)

Enjoy.
Crom_Smash
01-28-06, 03:57 PM Thanks for the tip Zemyla, but I don't want to have a LA.

The main problem is that my party is all rogues/scouts so my DM wanted me to make a more tanklike character who would still be able to do some sneaking around. I'm not sure if that made sense but I'm hoping that it did. I was thinking something along the lines:

3/Swashbuckler, 2/fighter, 5/Invisble blade

The main goal is to have decent HP/AC and to deal good damage while not being blatently loud and detectable.

Edit: oh yes, I forgot something about feats. MY Dm is allowing us to take one flaw in order to gain a bonus feat. Thanks for the info Zedraikis, the feat from champion of ruins was especially helpful.
ressurrector
01-28-06, 03:58 PM I like: Rogue5/Assasin10/Invis blade5
you get: 11d6 sneak attack, feint as a free action, and bluff as a main skill (great if you get caught sneaking around)
Also you have spells and are still sneaky as needed.
kraegor
01-28-06, 05:43 PM If you want stealth...

go with whisper gnome. Not only are they able to get 17 to hide and like 12 to move silent at first level..

they also get ability to cast spell like abilities

move 30 feet (even tho they are small size)

great dex and con bonuses

darkvision

and lots of other fun stuff. very powerful race if you are going to be a rogueish type
Crom_Smash
01-28-06, 07:49 PM If you want stealth...

go with whisper gnome.

What book is the whisper gnome in? Also, does it have an LA?

I finished making my halfling 3/Swashbuckler, 2/Fighter, 5/invisible blade. It was basically what I wanted: Decent HP (96), great ac (33), very good damage if he gets a full attack with sneak attack (average 120s). He's also hides decently and moves quietly. If anyone has any suggestions for feats or races (without LA's or hit dice) please tell me.
The Grand Mystic
01-28-06, 08:30 PM Whisper Gnome is in Races of Stone, but you can also find it here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3). No LA, Low-Light AND Darkvision, 30 foot land speed for a Small creature, bonuses to Listen, Spot, Hide and Move Silently... this race was pretty much built for rogues. :)
Musrum
01-28-06, 09:24 PM Not too powerfull, but a nice complement to the rest of the party:
Human Druid 10.
Feats:
Greensinger Initiate (Hide as a class skill) (ECS)
Skill Knowledge (Move Silently as a class skill) (UA pg 81).
AramilWindwalker
01-28-06, 09:29 PM A fun alternative to halfling is goblin, you get better sneaking bonuses, better land speed, and darkvision, which is better for those rogues who prefer being able to see where they are sneaking to. you also get bonus to ride, which could be useful..... who knows.
Helmed Horror
01-28-06, 09:55 PM A fun alternative to halfling is goblin, you get better sneaking bonuses, better land speed, and darkvision, which is better for those rogues who prefer being able to see where they are sneaking to. you also get bonus to ride, which could be useful..... who knows.

Goblin Rogue 5/Stonedeath Assassin 5 /Assassin 5

pure. unaldulterated. stealthage.

(stonedeath assassin is found in races of stone...)
PhoenixInferno
01-28-06, 10:12 PM You can try Nightsong Enforcer (Complete Adventurer) - full BAB, decent skill list, decent HD, some SA and bonuses when working with your teammates.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crom_Smash 01-28-06, 01:34 PM	The DM for my campaigne has finally banned the persistent+Divine Metamagic combo :weep: Anyway, he has told us that the new champaign will be based around stealth and spying and that sort of thing. I was wondering if anyone could help me come up with a character that deals good damage while still being able to sneak around. The Starting level is 10 and all WOTC books are usable except psionics, the Warhulk and the Hulking Hurler. Thanks in advanced.
Zemyla 01-28-06, 02:06 PM	Allow me to be the first to recommend a skulk, from Races of Destiny. For prestige class choices, go into Umbral Disciple from Magic of Incarnum to make a great spring-attacker.
Zedraikis 01-28-06, 03:54 PM	If you can use Forgotten Realms material, which I'm assuming you can, being that you said all WotC material, this is a very fun, effective melee stealth build: Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 2/Dervish 10/Shadow Thief of Amn 2. +18 BAB. In addition to Swashbuckler and Dervish goodies, you get: Lots of Rogue skills. Trapfinding. Evasion. 3d6 Sneak Attack damage. Uncanny Dodge. 1 bonus feat from Shadow Thief of Amn. Be a human and take the Able Learner feat from Races of Destiny. You're now a skill god. Max Use Magic Device. Use it, and use it well. From there, you have lots of skills to freely use wherever. Go Fighter 2 for the 2 bonus feats, or you can replace Fighter 2 with Ranger 2 for Track, TWF, and a little more skill points. If you go Ranger, max Search and Survival for tracking, of course, and I'd max Disable Device as well, since your Search already is, too. Even if you max all of the suggested skills, you still have plenty to max both Hide and Move Silently. If you don't mind waiting until level 11 to start Dervish levels, go Shadow Thief of Amn before Dervish and use the bonus feat for Weapon Focus: Scimitar. This will save you a feat to use earlier, and I recommend doing this. May not have all the Tempest bonuses, but I don't care for Tempest in Dervish builds, personally. You're still nearly as effective as the typical Dervish-Tempest build, you're far beyond more useful skill-wise, you have some sneak attack damage, and you can max out Use Magic Device and go magic crazy. Take the Craven feat from Forgotten Realms' Champions of Ruin. This adds your level to damage on sneak attacks. Or 3d6+20, at level 20. Spanks the Scout's 1d6 Skirmish damage. I understand that Shadow Thief of Amn, which can be found in Player's Guide to Faerun, is a PrC tied to the Shadow Thieves of Forgotten Realms, but it was called Guild Thief in Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. A lot of players still consider it to be the generic guild-related rogue PrC it was originally called, only using the new version's requirements, etc. If your DM doesn't like it being called the Shadow Thief of Amn, try convincing him or her to go with it orignally being called Guild Thief, but simply using the revised 3.5 version of it. Buy a Ring of Blinking. If or when you can, make this a Ring of Blinking, Greater. Use activated costs 90,000 gp. 3x/day costs 54,000 gp. No matter which ring you get, it'll greatly help you freely position yourself to pull off more sneak attacks, which is what you want, naturally. As Slyver said from another thread, no sneak attacker worth his salt would be caught dead without one. :) Enjoy.
Crom_Smash 01-28-06, 03:57 PM	Thanks for the tip Zemyla, but I don't want to have a LA. The main problem is that my party is all rogues/scouts so my DM wanted me to make a more tanklike character who would still be able to do some sneaking around. I'm not sure if that made sense but I'm hoping that it did. I was thinking something along the lines: 3/Swashbuckler, 2/fighter, 5/Invisble blade The main goal is to have decent HP/AC and to deal good damage while not being blatently loud and detectable. Edit: oh yes, I forgot something about feats. MY Dm is allowing us to take one flaw in order to gain a bonus feat. Thanks for the info Zedraikis, the feat from champion of ruins was especially helpful.
ressurrector 01-28-06, 03:58 PM	I like: Rogue5/Assasin10/Invis blade5 you get: 11d6 sneak attack, feint as a free action, and bluff as a main skill (great if you get caught sneaking around) Also you have spells and are still sneaky as needed.
kraegor 01-28-06, 05:43 PM	If you want stealth... go with whisper gnome. Not only are they able to get 17 to hide and like 12 to move silent at first level.. they also get ability to cast spell like abilities move 30 feet (even tho they are small size) great dex and con bonuses darkvision and lots of other fun stuff. very powerful race if you are going to be a rogueish type
Crom_Smash 01-28-06, 07:49 PM	If you want stealth... go with whisper gnome. What book is the whisper gnome in? Also, does it have an LA? I finished making my halfling 3/Swashbuckler, 2/Fighter, 5/invisible blade. It was basically what I wanted: Decent HP (96), great ac (33), very good damage if he gets a full attack with sneak attack (average 120s). He's also hides decently and moves quietly. If anyone has any suggestions for feats or races (without LA's or hit dice) please tell me.
The Grand Mystic 01-28-06, 08:30 PM	Whisper Gnome is in Races of Stone, but you can also find it here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3). No LA, Low-Light AND Darkvision, 30 foot land speed for a Small creature, bonuses to Listen, Spot, Hide and Move Silently... this race was pretty much built for rogues. :)
Musrum 01-28-06, 09:24 PM	Not too powerfull, but a nice complement to the rest of the party: Human Druid 10. Feats: Greensinger Initiate (Hide as a class skill) (ECS) Skill Knowledge (Move Silently as a class skill) (UA pg 81).
AramilWindwalker 01-28-06, 09:29 PM	A fun alternative to halfling is goblin, you get better sneaking bonuses, better land speed, and darkvision, which is better for those rogues who prefer being able to see where they are sneaking to. you also get bonus to ride, which could be useful..... who knows.
Helmed Horror 01-28-06, 09:55 PM	A fun alternative to halfling is goblin, you get better sneaking bonuses, better land speed, and darkvision, which is better for those rogues who prefer being able to see where they are sneaking to. you also get bonus to ride, which could be useful..... who knows. Goblin Rogue 5/Stonedeath Assassin 5 /Assassin 5 pure. unaldulterated. stealthage. (stonedeath assassin is found in races of stone...)
PhoenixInferno 01-28-06, 10:12 PM	You can try Nightsong Enforcer (Complete Adventurer) - full BAB, decent skill list, decent HD, some SA and bonuses when working with your teammates.