Arcane Trickster+level 27 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Trickster+level 27 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Groovy_Guy2005
03-26-04, 12:19 AM Hey guys. I'm sorta new to this optimization thing, I tend to play rogues or wizards or both and I concentrate on a supportive role. That has earned me the reputation of being a weak player. Of course, without me they wouldn't survive the first floor of a dungeon crawl, but they all conviniently forget it. Well this time we are playing an adventure and starting at level 27 (insane huh?) and I wanted some advice. I need to optimize (or whatever semantics you might want to call it) a level 27 rogue/wizard. Preferably an arcane trickster. Anything from spell choice, to feats, to skill selection, to weapon selection is highly appriciated. This is in a typical hombrew 3.0 rules for dandd. Nothing too special, just starting at level 27. Thanks ahead of time guys!
Hot Rod
03-26-04, 01:04 AM IM experience, most people refer to those who 'cheat' (or who are thought to be cheating) as "munchkins". Often starts flames around this board, best to avoid it.

1st: What kind of character do you want? IE: Alignment, playing style, the things that make a character colourful, but don't affect mechanics (much).

If you just want a L27 trickster, start with any L20 AT build, and add 7 epic AT levels...

My current character:
Level,.... Feats Gained, class, Class level, Abilities
(Forgive my formatting, its a Cut/paste from my Spreadsheet/planner :) )

1 1 Rog 1 Sneak Attack +1d6, trapfinding, L1Feat:_Spellcasting_prodigy_
2 1 Wiz 1 Feat:Scribe Scroll, Familiar
3 1 Wiz 2 Feat:_Point_Blank_Shot_
4 Wiz 3
5 Wiz 4
6 2 Wiz 5 Bonus Feat:_Precise_Shot_/_Craft_Wonderous_Item_
7 GT 1 Req:Gather information/Intimidate/Move Silently 3, Hide 8, Guild-
Member Grants: Sneak attack (+1D6), Doublespeak
8 AT 1 R.L. 1/Day, Req NonLawful, Decipher Script7/Disable Device7/
Escape artist7/Know:Arcana4, cast mage hand & 1 3rd
level spell, 2D6 Sneak attack
9 1 AT 2 Sneak Attack +1D6, Feat:_Eschew_Material_Components_
10 DO 1 Req: Scry: 10 ranks, Skill Focus: Scry, (or Div. Specialist 3.5 IMC)
Grants: +1 caster progression (any), Divination Domain (+2CL divinations), Scry bonus (+2)
11 DO 2 Prescient Sense (Evasion)
12 1 AT 3 I.S.A. 1/day, Feat:_Spell_Focus:_Necromacy_
13 AT 4 Sneak Attack +1D6
14 AT 5 R.L. 2/day (Ranged Legerdemain)
15 1 AT 6 Sneak Attack +1D6, Feat:_Spell_Focus:_Enchantment_
16 AT 7 I.S.A. 2/day
17 AT 8 Sneak Attack +1D6
18 1 AT 9 R.L. 3/day, Feat:_Skill_Focus:_Spellcraft_
19 Acm 1 High Arcana
Req: Know:Arcana:15 Spellcraft:15,Skill Focus:Spellcraft,
Spell focus (2 Schools of magic) Cast 7th level spells
20 Acm 2 High Arcana

Has CL18 at 20th, but still gets Evasion that you normally lose for taking Guild thief instead of 3 rogue levels. (Divination specialist is req for DO In my campaign as a house rule since scry doesn't exist post 3.0) The Archmage levels are there mainly for the arcane fire ability (Sneak attackable (Su) ability, no SR!) in case I make it to those levels. :)

I'll probably get L6 wiz in there somewhere instead of AT9, depends how long it takes me to find a Thieves Guild and become a member (currently 2nd level)

I have a page and a half of 'backstory' and philosophy, but that would be CD material not CO ;)

[edit] After 20, I'd take AT 9 & 10, possibly Acm 3 & 4, then go epic AT for the rest. Avoid melee, cast haste alot (keeps the fighters happy) and go improved invisible every combat if you can.
Laelenie
03-26-04, 06:26 AM sadly, the arcane trickster progression lacks epic bonus feats. I depends heavily if your mind is set about the AT.

Wiz 5/Incantrix10/ArchMage5/Incantrix7 is outrageously powerful

if you are set with the AT

Rogue1/Ninja1/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster10/ArchMage3 is a good AT build, a bit feat intensive but good.

Toss in 7 level of AT and you are set. You have 3 epic feat.

Go for 2 Multispell and an AutoQuicken spell.

Now toss 1 normal and 3 quickened - repeated twinned scorching ray at your target.

Use Impromptu SA.

Deal 96d6 damage + 288d6 sneak attack that repeat the round after.

Average 1344 damage per round. 2688 damage total.
Groovy_Guy2005
03-26-04, 09:42 AM laeleinie, only one thing to say...:love: :drool: ! Few problems unfortunately though. I only get to have epic handbook, dmg prestige classes, and that's about it. I won't see the DM until the day of the game so I won't be able to run any prestige classes he doesn't know by him. The reason I can use Arcane Trickster is because it is in the 3.5 PHB and we have one. We will likely only use it for prestige classes however. He dislikes 3.5 because it ruins a lot of his former character plans so he is boycotting it.

It isn't that my mind is set on arcane trickster, my mind is set on a rogue/wizard. I've already told my friends that that is what I'm building, they don't have a good spellcaster or a rogue yet so I thought AT would be good. But if there is a better PrC out there, hit me wit it or just give me a better combination. If you can link me to the stats of some of the PrC's you guys mention I could try to find a way to run them by my DM.
Laelenie
03-26-04, 09:48 AM No problem.. staying core.

Rogue 3 /wizard 5/arcane trickster 10/ archmage2

Standard arcane trickster build.

epic advancement is unchanged.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Groovy_Guy2005 03-26-04, 12:19 AM	Hey guys. I'm sorta new to this optimization thing, I tend to play rogues or wizards or both and I concentrate on a supportive role. That has earned me the reputation of being a weak player. Of course, without me they wouldn't survive the first floor of a dungeon crawl, but they all conviniently forget it. Well this time we are playing an adventure and starting at level 27 (insane huh?) and I wanted some advice. I need to optimize (or whatever semantics you might want to call it) a level 27 rogue/wizard. Preferably an arcane trickster. Anything from spell choice, to feats, to skill selection, to weapon selection is highly appriciated. This is in a typical hombrew 3.0 rules for dandd. Nothing too special, just starting at level 27. Thanks ahead of time guys!
Hot Rod 03-26-04, 01:04 AM	IM experience, most people refer to those who 'cheat' (or who are thought to be cheating) as "munchkins". Often starts flames around this board, best to avoid it. 1st: What kind of character do you want? IE: Alignment, playing style, the things that make a character colourful, but don't affect mechanics (much). If you just want a L27 trickster, start with any L20 AT build, and add 7 epic AT levels... My current character: Level,.... Feats Gained, class, Class level, Abilities (Forgive my formatting, its a Cut/paste from my Spreadsheet/planner :) ) 1 1 Rog 1 Sneak Attack +1d6, trapfinding, L1Feat:_Spellcasting_prodigy_ 2 1 Wiz 1 Feat:Scribe Scroll, Familiar 3 1 Wiz 2 Feat:_Point_Blank_Shot_ 4 Wiz 3 5 Wiz 4 6 2 Wiz 5 Bonus Feat:_Precise_Shot_/_Craft_Wonderous_Item_ 7 GT 1 Req:Gather information/Intimidate/Move Silently 3, Hide 8, Guild- Member Grants: Sneak attack (+1D6), Doublespeak 8 AT 1 R.L. 1/Day, Req NonLawful, Decipher Script7/Disable Device7/ Escape artist7/Know:Arcana4, cast mage hand & 1 3rd level spell, 2D6 Sneak attack 9 1 AT 2 Sneak Attack +1D6, Feat:_Eschew_Material_Components_ 10 DO 1 Req: Scry: 10 ranks, Skill Focus: Scry, (or Div. Specialist 3.5 IMC) Grants: +1 caster progression (any), Divination Domain (+2CL divinations), Scry bonus (+2) 11 DO 2 Prescient Sense (Evasion) 12 1 AT 3 I.S.A. 1/day, Feat:_Spell_Focus:_Necromacy_ 13 AT 4 Sneak Attack +1D6 14 AT 5 R.L. 2/day (Ranged Legerdemain) 15 1 AT 6 Sneak Attack +1D6, Feat:_Spell_Focus:_Enchantment_ 16 AT 7 I.S.A. 2/day 17 AT 8 Sneak Attack +1D6 18 1 AT 9 R.L. 3/day, Feat:_Skill_Focus:_Spellcraft_ 19 Acm 1 High Arcana Req: Know:Arcana:15 Spellcraft:15,Skill Focus:Spellcraft, Spell focus (2 Schools of magic) Cast 7th level spells 20 Acm 2 High Arcana Has CL18 at 20th, but still gets Evasion that you normally lose for taking Guild thief instead of 3 rogue levels. (Divination specialist is req for DO In my campaign as a house rule since scry doesn't exist post 3.0) The Archmage levels are there mainly for the arcane fire ability (Sneak attackable (Su) ability, no SR!) in case I make it to those levels. :) I'll probably get L6 wiz in there somewhere instead of AT9, depends how long it takes me to find a Thieves Guild and become a member (currently 2nd level) I have a page and a half of 'backstory' and philosophy, but that would be CD material not CO ;) [edit] After 20, I'd take AT 9 & 10, possibly Acm 3 & 4, then go epic AT for the rest. Avoid melee, cast haste alot (keeps the fighters happy) and go improved invisible every combat if you can.
Laelenie 03-26-04, 06:26 AM	sadly, the arcane trickster progression lacks epic bonus feats. I depends heavily if your mind is set about the AT. Wiz 5/Incantrix10/ArchMage5/Incantrix7 is outrageously powerful if you are set with the AT Rogue1/Ninja1/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster10/ArchMage3 is a good AT build, a bit feat intensive but good. Toss in 7 level of AT and you are set. You have 3 epic feat. Go for 2 Multispell and an AutoQuicken spell. Now toss 1 normal and 3 quickened - repeated twinned scorching ray at your target. Use Impromptu SA. Deal 96d6 damage + 288d6 sneak attack that repeat the round after. Average 1344 damage per round. 2688 damage total.
Groovy_Guy2005 03-26-04, 09:42 AM	laeleinie, only one thing to say...:love: :drool: ! Few problems unfortunately though. I only get to have epic handbook, dmg prestige classes, and that's about it. I won't see the DM until the day of the game so I won't be able to run any prestige classes he doesn't know by him. The reason I can use Arcane Trickster is because it is in the 3.5 PHB and we have one. We will likely only use it for prestige classes however. He dislikes 3.5 because it ruins a lot of his former character plans so he is boycotting it. It isn't that my mind is set on arcane trickster, my mind is set on a rogue/wizard. I've already told my friends that that is what I'm building, they don't have a good spellcaster or a rogue yet so I thought AT would be good. But if there is a better PrC out there, hit me wit it or just give me a better combination. If you can link me to the stats of some of the PrC's you guys mention I could try to find a way to run them by my DM.
Laelenie 03-26-04, 09:48 AM	No problem.. staying core. Rogue 3 /wizard 5/arcane trickster 10/ archmage2 Standard arcane trickster build. epic advancement is unchanged.