Advice on boosting my Sneak attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice on boosting my Sneak attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Byael
04-16-05, 07:19 AM I'm working on a new character after my last one died (I got knocked down to a 1 con after poison..then i failed my second save)

I'm taking the "abuse your sneak attack approach", so I'm trying to cram in as many dice of sneak attack as I can in 1-9 levels. Here's what I've come up with: 5 rog/3 assassin/1 invisible blade for 6d6 of sneak attack. I'm augmenting the SA damage with the deadly precision special feature on my dagger (complete adventurer, extra 2d6 on SA) and the screaming feature (extra 1d6 sonic).
That should give me a grand total of 8d6 of SA and an extra 1d6.

Advice would be welcome on how to get more SA (please no 1-20 builds, it's sooo demoralizing for us few who have to crawl up the level progression. Also it would be useful if advice included assassin levels, though it's not necessary)

Thanks
SigmaJargon
04-16-05, 07:41 AM Marrulurk Rogue 1 / Psychic Rogue (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) 1 / Spellthief (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050107a&page=1) 1 / Assassin 1 / Invisible Blade 1

Marrulurk is an ECL 4 (3 HD, +1 LA) creature from Sandstorm with, among other things, 2d6 sneak.

You end up with only a BAB of +2 (unless you use partial BAB, in which case your BAB is +6) but you have 8d6 sneak attack, just from your race/classes. Add deadly precision to make it 10d6.
lonewolf
04-16-05, 07:52 AM classes with +1d6 sneak attack at lvl1 (uncomplete list out of my head!!)

Guild Thief
Spellthief
Ninja(sudden strike, not really sneak attack but also ok)
Nightsong Enforcer
Psychic Rogue
Invisible Blade
Qaetar
04-16-05, 08:35 AM What creature type is the Marrulurk?

(Qaetar)
Lilt
04-16-05, 09:27 AM IMHO Abusing sneak attack is overrated unless you have some way of defeating the natural sneak-attack immunity of Undead, Constructs, Plants, ETC. Without it you're just a mook with a worse BAB than the mage in some encounters.

You can get an Imbue with Spell Like Ability or Ring of Spell Storing to use the Golem/Grave/Vine Strike spells from CA, but you can also cast them yourself with a 1-level dip into chameleon. Well worth it IMHO, as on days when you predictably won't need to sneak-attack undead or constructs you can take a different focus like Combat or Stealth.

OK: So having a spell-storing item is also useful for when you might need to attack both golems and undead on the same day, but at-least you can re-fill your own.

If you're allowed UA material then you can take the sneak-attack variant fighter to keep your BAB reasonable at the cost of 6 skill points.
Pinky's brain
04-16-05, 10:13 AM Ill just bring up polymorph abuse as usual ... splinterwaif knafe from MM3, fey with humanoid form and 11/21/12 for physical ability scores, claws, improved initiative and weapon finesse as racial bonus feats, and an extra 4d6 SA. (Of course if you plan to abuse this you should not use the Marrulurk.)

Best way to do more damage with sneak attacks is getting pounce and as many natural attacks as possible though (combined with chill touch or the hammer power so you only need touch attacks for extra cheese). Polymorph to hydra has that effect too, but you become a big target without armor or items and that isnt a good situation for a rogue.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Byael 04-16-05, 07:19 AM	I'm working on a new character after my last one died (I got knocked down to a 1 con after poison..then i failed my second save) I'm taking the "abuse your sneak attack approach", so I'm trying to cram in as many dice of sneak attack as I can in 1-9 levels. Here's what I've come up with: 5 rog/3 assassin/1 invisible blade for 6d6 of sneak attack. I'm augmenting the SA damage with the deadly precision special feature on my dagger (complete adventurer, extra 2d6 on SA) and the screaming feature (extra 1d6 sonic). That should give me a grand total of 8d6 of SA and an extra 1d6. Advice would be welcome on how to get more SA (please no 1-20 builds, it's sooo demoralizing for us few who have to crawl up the level progression. Also it would be useful if advice included assassin levels, though it's not necessary) Thanks
SigmaJargon 04-16-05, 07:41 AM	Marrulurk Rogue 1 / Psychic Rogue (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) 1 / Spellthief (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050107a&page=1) 1 / Assassin 1 / Invisible Blade 1 Marrulurk is an ECL 4 (3 HD, +1 LA) creature from Sandstorm with, among other things, 2d6 sneak. You end up with only a BAB of +2 (unless you use partial BAB, in which case your BAB is +6) but you have 8d6 sneak attack, just from your race/classes. Add deadly precision to make it 10d6.
lonewolf 04-16-05, 07:52 AM	classes with +1d6 sneak attack at lvl1 (uncomplete list out of my head!!) Guild Thief Spellthief Ninja(sudden strike, not really sneak attack but also ok) Nightsong Enforcer Psychic Rogue Invisible Blade
Qaetar 04-16-05, 08:35 AM	What creature type is the Marrulurk? (Qaetar)
Lilt 04-16-05, 09:27 AM	IMHO Abusing sneak attack is overrated unless you have some way of defeating the natural sneak-attack immunity of Undead, Constructs, Plants, ETC. Without it you're just a mook with a worse BAB than the mage in some encounters. You can get an Imbue with Spell Like Ability or Ring of Spell Storing to use the Golem/Grave/Vine Strike spells from CA, but you can also cast them yourself with a 1-level dip into chameleon. Well worth it IMHO, as on days when you predictably won't need to sneak-attack undead or constructs you can take a different focus like Combat or Stealth. OK: So having a spell-storing item is also useful for when you might need to attack both golems and undead on the same day, but at-least you can re-fill your own. If you're allowed UA material then you can take the sneak-attack variant fighter to keep your BAB reasonable at the cost of 6 skill points.
Pinky's brain 04-16-05, 10:13 AM	Ill just bring up polymorph abuse as usual ... splinterwaif knafe from MM3, fey with humanoid form and 11/21/12 for physical ability scores, claws, improved initiative and weapon finesse as racial bonus feats, and an extra 4d6 SA. (Of course if you plan to abuse this you should not use the Marrulurk.) Best way to do more damage with sneak attacks is getting pounce and as many natural attacks as possible though (combined with chill touch or the hammer power so you only need touch attacks for extra cheese). Polymorph to hydra has that effect too, but you become a big target without armor or items and that isnt a good situation for a rogue.