Best path to Arcane Trickster? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best path to Arcane Trickster? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Karlos
11-11-05, 09:06 AM The player of a gnome PC starting at 1st-level wants to work towards the Arcane Trickster PrC from the DMG. The problem is, the +2d6 sneak attack requirement and the ability to cast 3rd-level spells causes a couple of problems:

* The quickest way into the class that I can think of is Rogue 3 / Wizard 5, but this will cause an XP penalty for uneven levels for one of the levels, unless the player chooses to take another level of rogue, thus delaying entrance to the PrC for another level.

* Spellcasting takes a 3-level hit, which will really hurt.

Is there any way to either reduce the levels of rogue needed (like a feat that improves sneak attack by +1d6), a prestige class that adds to sneak attack at the same rate as rogue to avoid the XP penalty, or even better a PrC that adds to spellcasting and sneak attack to minimize the loss of caster levels prior to taking Arcane Trickster?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Eidolon Faer
11-11-05, 09:08 AM Rogue 2 / Wizard 3 (Practiced Spellcaster) / Daggerspell Mage / Arcane Trickster.

Rogue 2 / Wizard 2 / Fighter 1 / Daggerspell Mage / Spellsword 1 / Arcane Trickster.
Bopple
11-11-05, 09:45 AM 1. Halfling Rogue 1(racial substitution) / Wizard 5 / AT 10
2. Human Rogue 1 / Wizard 5 / Daggerspell Mage X(4~10 depending on your goal) / AT 10, with Able Learner feat
3. Rogue 1 / Wizard 5 / Assassin 1 or Shadow Thief of Amn 1 / AT 10
4. Rogue 1 / Spellthief 1 / Wizard 5 / AT 10

The first build loses only 1 spellcasting level.
The others lose 2 spellcasting levels.
Fundin Strongarm
11-11-05, 09:45 AM Rogue 2 / Wizard 3 (Practiced Spellcaster) / Daggerspell Mage / Arcane Trickster.

Rogue 2 / Wizard 2 / Fighter 1 / Daggerspell Mage / Spellsword 1 / Arcane Trickster.

Am I missing something? Where do you get the second part of the sneak attack damage you need? Also, where do you get the 3rd level arcane spells you need?

Anyways, I know Assassins get sneak attack at first level so you could drop 2 levels of Rogue (but would lose Evasion). I'm not sure how you get out of Wizard 5 for 3rd level arcane spells, though. Not too many PrCs allow you to pick them up at such a low level. As well, the 3 (or 2) level hit to arcane casting looks bad but only if you are the primary spellcaster. I think the AT is more of a Rogue in play style.
Sang-Drax
11-11-05, 10:27 AM Daggerspell Mage is the fast route... however, nce you pick the 1st DsM level, there's just no reason not to take all the way till 10th. The 2d6 less SA dice are more than overcome by superior skill points, hit points, BAB, and som *really* nice abilities.
ninjarabbit
11-11-05, 12:03 PM rogue3/bard7/sublimechord2/arcanetrickster8
Caelic
11-11-05, 12:14 PM One other possible route (if your DM permits the generic classes from UA) is simply Generic Spellcaster 6 into AT. This route produces extremely strong ATs, with full or nearly full spellcasting progression and 10-14d6 of Sneak Attack, depending on exactly how you tweak it.
MechaboyDos
11-11-05, 06:50 PM Rogue 1/Spellthief 1/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster 10/XYZ 3.
Rogue Newb
11-12-05, 02:16 PM I know it's not fast and doesn't allow you to blast away, but I like rogue5/assasin5/sor1/arcane trickster9. Then you can mix and match the arcane levels without wasting any and get a good set of SA and spells out of it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Karlos 11-11-05, 09:06 AM	The player of a gnome PC starting at 1st-level wants to work towards the Arcane Trickster PrC from the DMG. The problem is, the +2d6 sneak attack requirement and the ability to cast 3rd-level spells causes a couple of problems: * The quickest way into the class that I can think of is Rogue 3 / Wizard 5, but this will cause an XP penalty for uneven levels for one of the levels, unless the player chooses to take another level of rogue, thus delaying entrance to the PrC for another level. * Spellcasting takes a 3-level hit, which will really hurt. Is there any way to either reduce the levels of rogue needed (like a feat that improves sneak attack by +1d6), a prestige class that adds to sneak attack at the same rate as rogue to avoid the XP penalty, or even better a PrC that adds to spellcasting and sneak attack to minimize the loss of caster levels prior to taking Arcane Trickster? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Eidolon Faer 11-11-05, 09:08 AM	Rogue 2 / Wizard 3 (Practiced Spellcaster) / Daggerspell Mage / Arcane Trickster. Rogue 2 / Wizard 2 / Fighter 1 / Daggerspell Mage / Spellsword 1 / Arcane Trickster.
Bopple 11-11-05, 09:45 AM	1. Halfling Rogue 1(racial substitution) / Wizard 5 / AT 10 2. Human Rogue 1 / Wizard 5 / Daggerspell Mage X(4~10 depending on your goal) / AT 10, with Able Learner feat 3. Rogue 1 / Wizard 5 / Assassin 1 or Shadow Thief of Amn 1 / AT 10 4. Rogue 1 / Spellthief 1 / Wizard 5 / AT 10 The first build loses only 1 spellcasting level. The others lose 2 spellcasting levels.
Fundin Strongarm 11-11-05, 09:45 AM	Rogue 2 / Wizard 3 (Practiced Spellcaster) / Daggerspell Mage / Arcane Trickster. Rogue 2 / Wizard 2 / Fighter 1 / Daggerspell Mage / Spellsword 1 / Arcane Trickster. Am I missing something? Where do you get the second part of the sneak attack damage you need? Also, where do you get the 3rd level arcane spells you need? Anyways, I know Assassins get sneak attack at first level so you could drop 2 levels of Rogue (but would lose Evasion). I'm not sure how you get out of Wizard 5 for 3rd level arcane spells, though. Not too many PrCs allow you to pick them up at such a low level. As well, the 3 (or 2) level hit to arcane casting looks bad but only if you are the primary spellcaster. I think the AT is more of a Rogue in play style.
Sang-Drax 11-11-05, 10:27 AM	Daggerspell Mage is the fast route... however, nce you pick the 1st DsM level, there's just no reason not to take all the way till 10th. The 2d6 less SA dice are more than overcome by superior skill points, hit points, BAB, and som really nice abilities.
ninjarabbit 11-11-05, 12:03 PM	rogue3/bard7/sublimechord2/arcanetrickster8
Caelic 11-11-05, 12:14 PM	One other possible route (if your DM permits the generic classes from UA) is simply Generic Spellcaster 6 into AT. This route produces extremely strong ATs, with full or nearly full spellcasting progression and 10-14d6 of Sneak Attack, depending on exactly how you tweak it.
MechaboyDos 11-11-05, 06:50 PM	Rogue 1/Spellthief 1/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster 10/XYZ 3.
Rogue Newb 11-12-05, 02:16 PM	I know it's not fast and doesn't allow you to blast away, but I like rogue5/assasin5/sor1/arcane trickster9. Then you can mix and match the arcane levels without wasting any and get a good set of SA and spells out of it.