Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nick_Nameless 02-25-04, 10:54 AM	This guy needs to be able to hob-nob with the local upper class, pass himself off as someone that can be trusted, have good stealth, good AC unarmoured, and be decent with gentleman's weapons. He's a spy for the good guys, trying to help bring down the oppressive political system. Race: Human Alignment: Lawful Good Core Skills: Intelligence, Dexterity, Charisma, Wisdom Favored Class: Rogue Skill Points per level: 10 + Intelligence Bonus Level 1: Rogue1 - Feats: Nymph's Kiss, Dodge; BAB+0; F +0, R +2, W +0; Abilities: Sneak Attack 1D6, Trapfinding Level 2: Monk1 - Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist; BAB +0; F+2, R +4, W +2; Abilities: Flurry of Blows @ -2 Level 3: Monk 2 - Feats: Combat Reflexes, Mobility; BAB +1; F +3, R +5, W +3; Abilities - Evasion Level 4: Rogue2 - Feats: None; BAB +2; F +3, R +6, W +3; Abilities: None Level 5: Swashbuckler 1 - Feats: Weapon Finesse; BAB +3; F +5, R +6, W +3; Abilities: None Level 6: Rogue 3 - Feats: Nimble Fingers; BAB +4; F +6, R +6, W +4; Abilities: Sneak Attack +2D6, Trapsense +1 Level 7: Rogue 4 - Feats: None; BAB +5; F +6, R +7, W +4; Abilities: Uncanny Dodge Level 8: Swashbuckler 2 - Feats: None; BAB +6; F +7, R +7, W +4; Abilities: Grace +1 Level 9: ShadowDancer 1 - Feats: Spring Attack; BAB +6; F +7, R +9, W +4; Abilities: Hide in Plain Sight At Level 9, you have really reached a good point. You can strike from concealment anywhere and you can spring attack. You have good skills in Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Hide, Move Silenty, and most of the other thief skills. The path from here is a bit arbitrary, but should include levels of rogue, one more level of swashbuckler, and depending on if you want to fight with daggers or a rapier, 3 levels of Duelist or 3 levels of Invisible blade. The invisible blade levels would have to wait until you got a few more feats, but could carry you into epic levels. I can see no reason not to take both if you are going up really high in level. Suggested Magic Items: Circlet of Persuasion, Cloak of Elven Kind, Boots of Elven Kind, Bracers of Armour, Goggles of Night/Eyes of the Eagle/Goggles of Minute seeing, Gloves of Dexterity, Bag of Holding, and if your GM is really generous with the $$, Ring of X-ray vision. **My GM does not allow rings of Blinking...so it doesn't make my list.
BenjCano 02-25-04, 12:58 PM	How does making a (pretty effective) melee combatent make him a gentleman spy/court thief? If it's the flavor you're looking for, consider this: Rogue 5/Bard 2/Fighter 2/SpyMaster 10/Shadowdancer 1 The bard levels are taken early to enhance your public persona and the stylishness of your criminal activities. Fighter is there to help you overcome the opposition set against you. It is important to take Skill Focus(Bluff) and to put sufficient ranks in Bluff, Gather Information, and two of the skills required for the spymaster prestige class - a gentleman spy would probably take Diplomacy and Disguise. Your skill priorities should probably be Bluff, Gather Information, Diplomacy, Disguise, Spot, Listen, Hide, and Move Silently. Before becomming a Shadowdancer, you must have the Dodge, Mobility, and Combat Reflexes feats. This build ends with a BAB of +13, saves of +8/+16/+12, sneak attack +6d6, evasion, 1st level Bard spells, 15 levels of Uncanny Dodge, HiPS, and the Spy Master package.
jokotoko 02-25-04, 01:55 PM	There is a master spy PrC in the Song and Silence
Nick_Nameless 02-25-04, 02:11 PM	Originally posted by BenjCano How does making a (pretty effective) melee combatent make him a gentleman spy/court thief? If it's the flavor you're looking for, consider this: Rogue 5/Bard 2/Fighter 2/SpyMaster 10/Shadowdancer 1 This build ends with a BAB of +13, saves of +8/+16/+12, sneak attack +6d6, evasion, 1st level Bard spells, 15 levels of Uncanny Dodge, HiPS, and the Spy Master package. Key Skills (IMHO) are Bluff, Diplomacy, Hide, Listen, Spot, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, Spot. Disguise is not too much of a worry because I am talking about being a planted spy more than a get in/get out spy. Swashbuckler, Rogue, Monk, Shadowdancer, and Duelist have good access to these skills as a whole and, while I am not maxed out in ranks as I could be, I can have a pretty good approximation of it. secondary skills, almost as important, are Gather Information, Forgery, Slight of Hand, and Intimidate At 9th level I still have decent ranks in these skills from my rogue levels. Taking Shadowdancer as early as possible allows me to investigate places without as much risk of being caught when there's no place to hide. Is Spymaster a 3.5 prestige class? I should have specified, but we use 3.5 rules only. I am not sure where I would find that. So...the big question...why focus at all on melee combat? Simply, if you get caught you need to be able to fight your way out of a tough spot. James Bond was never a wuss, except when played by Roger Moore. The build I am suggesting, if taken to 20th level with another level of swashbuckler, 3 levels of Duelist, and 7 more levels of rogue, has a BAB of +15, saves of F +9, R +16, W +6, +6D6 Sneak Attack, Intelligence bonus to damage, unarmoured AC of Dex + (max3) Int, + Wis, plus magic and feats, HIPS, 12 levels of Uncanny Dodge, Improved Evasion, Enhanced Mobility for sneak attacks (+8 to AC) and the ability to defend himself well with or without weapons. Will save is weak. Perhaps a feat would be well spent on Iron Will. Your build sounds interesting, don't get me wrong, but I am not sure I could actually use it in our game.