Burning Shadow Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Burning Shadow Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Toloran
02-21-07, 12:23 PM I am working on a stealth/sneak-attack type build for a low-magic type campaign I am currently playing in. The build is built around the Dragonfire Strike Feat (when sneak attacking, you have the option to deal an extra 1d6 sneak attack damage and all your sneak attack damage becomes fire damage) and the Umbral Disciple's ability to gain 20%+ concealment and hide in plain sight by investing essentia into their ability.

Here is my current build:
Human Rogue 5/Umbral Disciple 3/Hand of the Winged Masters 10/2 lvls?
1: Rogue 1(Weapon Finesse*, Some other feat i forgot XD)
2: Rogue 2
3: Rogue 3(Midnight Dodge)
4: Rogue 4
5: Rogue 5
6: Umbral Disciple 1 (Dragontouched)
7: Umbral Disciple 2
8: Umbral Disciple 3
9: Hand of the Winged Masters 1 (Draconic Senses as a bonus feat)(??)
10: Hand of the Winged Masters 2
11: Hand of the Winged Masters 3 (Dragonfire Strike as a bonus feat)
12: Hand of the Winged Masters 4 (??)
13: Hand of the Winged Masters 5
14: Hand of the Winged Masters 6
15: Hand of the Winged Masters 7 (??)
16: Hand of the Winged Masters 8
17: Hand of the Winged Masters 9
18: Hand of the Winged Masters 10 (??)
19: ??
20: ??

*My group has a houserule that negates the +1 bab requirement on weapon finesse

Note: I could have made the requirements for Umbral Disciple much easier if I was an Azurin but my DM wouldn't allow it for campaign reasons).

This nets me at lvl 18:
+12 BAB
+7d6 sneak attack (+8d6 +8 while using Dragonfire Strike)
Up to 30% Concealment at will (one more essentia will give me an extra 10%)
Hide In Plain Sight (but only while concealment is at 20% or more)
"Harmless" spells last twice as long on me.
"True Stealth" (I can take a -10 on my hide or move silently check to force enemies with Scent, Tremorsense, Blindsense, and Blindsight to make spot and listen checks to find me).

So, my question is: What feats should I use for the four feats I haven't decided on yet and what should I fill the last two levels with?

I have access to: Core, PHB2, Complete Warrior, Complete Adventurer, Complete Scoundrel, Complete Arcane, Complete Mage, Tome of Battle, Dragon Magic, and Magic of Incarnum.

Thanks for any advice you can give.
Nibbler
02-21-07, 02:59 PM If you can get access to Lords of Madness, you can get the Darkstalker feat that makes foes with scent, tremorsense, blindsense, and blindsight make a spot or listen check (whichever DC is higher) to find you (no -10 penalty as with your True Stealth).
Three levels of Swashbuckler would let you add your Int bonus to damage (in addition to Str). With the Daring Outlaw feat (CSc), these levels stack with your rogue levels to detemine your sneak attack dice. Thus you could go Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 4 and get 4 levels of D10 HD, full BAB, Str and Int to damage, and 4d6 sneak attack from this combo.
If you wanted to increase your damage output, you could consider trying to fit the two-weapon fighting feats into your build. Doubling your attacks (and therefore sneak attack damage if you hit) when flanking, blinking, etc. can just decimate your enemies.
Two levels of swordsage, alternatively, gives some nice maneuvers like Distracting Ember, Flashing Sun, and Cloak of Deception. These will increase your sneak attack opportunities.
Good hunting!
Kurama Youko
02-21-07, 07:34 PM if you play a silverbrow human you can save a feat instead of taking dragon touched.
Toloran
02-21-07, 09:23 PM If you can get access to Lords of Madness, you can get the Darkstalker feat that makes foes with scent, tremorsense, blindsense, and blindsight make a spot or listen check (whichever DC is higher) to find you (no -10 penalty as with your True Stealth).
Three levels of Swashbuckler would let you add your Int bonus to damage (in addition to Str). With the Daring Outlaw feat (CSc), these levels stack with your rogue levels to detemine your sneak attack dice. Thus you could go Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 4 and get 4 levels of D10 HD, full BAB, Str and Int to damage, and 4d6 sneak attack from this combo.
If you wanted to increase your damage output, you could consider trying to fit the two-weapon fighting feats into your build. Doubling your attacks (and therefore sneak attack damage if you hit) when flanking, blinking, etc. can just decimate your enemies.
Two levels of swordsage, alternatively, gives some nice maneuvers like Distracting Ember, Flashing Sun, and Cloak of Deception. These will increase your sneak attack opportunities.
Good hunting!

Hmm... I hadn't considered the swashbuckler angle (I don't own complete adventurer but several other members of my D&D group have it). I have a personal bias against Tome of Battle material but I'll have to look into those maneuvers.

if you play a silverbrow human you can save a feat instead of taking dragon touched.

I might have to re-read the part again, but the class specifically states you have to have the dragon-touched feat so I am not entirely sure whether being a silverbrow qualifies or not. That and I wouldn't be allowed to be one anyway =P

And thanks to both of you for the help :)
Kurama Youko
02-21-07, 09:36 PM your right i didnt notice the dragontouched feat requirement.
Nibbler
02-21-07, 09:38 PM Swashbuckler is from Complete Warrior

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Toloran 02-21-07, 12:23 PM	I am working on a stealth/sneak-attack type build for a low-magic type campaign I am currently playing in. The build is built around the Dragonfire Strike Feat (when sneak attacking, you have the option to deal an extra 1d6 sneak attack damage and all your sneak attack damage becomes fire damage) and the Umbral Disciple's ability to gain 20%+ concealment and hide in plain sight by investing essentia into their ability. Here is my current build: Human Rogue 5/Umbral Disciple 3/Hand of the Winged Masters 10/2 lvls? 1: Rogue 1(Weapon Finesse, Some other feat i forgot XD) 2: Rogue 2 3: Rogue 3(Midnight Dodge) 4: Rogue 4 5: Rogue 5 6: Umbral Disciple 1 (Dragontouched) 7: Umbral Disciple 2 8: Umbral Disciple 3 9: Hand of the Winged Masters 1 (Draconic Senses as a bonus feat)(??) 10: Hand of the Winged Masters 2 11: Hand of the Winged Masters 3 (Dragonfire Strike as a bonus feat) 12: Hand of the Winged Masters 4 (??) 13: Hand of the Winged Masters 5 14: Hand of the Winged Masters 6 15: Hand of the Winged Masters 7 (??) 16: Hand of the Winged Masters 8 17: Hand of the Winged Masters 9 18: Hand of the Winged Masters 10 (??) 19: ?? 20: ?? My group has a houserule that negates the +1 bab requirement on weapon finesse Note: I could have made the requirements for Umbral Disciple much easier if I was an Azurin but my DM wouldn't allow it for campaign reasons). This nets me at lvl 18: +12 BAB +7d6 sneak attack (+8d6 +8 while using Dragonfire Strike) Up to 30% Concealment at will (one more essentia will give me an extra 10%) Hide In Plain Sight (but only while concealment is at 20% or more) "Harmless" spells last twice as long on me. "True Stealth" (I can take a -10 on my hide or move silently check to force enemies with Scent, Tremorsense, Blindsense, and Blindsight to make spot and listen checks to find me). So, my question is: What feats should I use for the four feats I haven't decided on yet and what should I fill the last two levels with? I have access to: Core, PHB2, Complete Warrior, Complete Adventurer, Complete Scoundrel, Complete Arcane, Complete Mage, Tome of Battle, Dragon Magic, and Magic of Incarnum. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Nibbler 02-21-07, 02:59 PM	If you can get access to Lords of Madness, you can get the Darkstalker feat that makes foes with scent, tremorsense, blindsense, and blindsight make a spot or listen check (whichever DC is higher) to find you (no -10 penalty as with your True Stealth). Three levels of Swashbuckler would let you add your Int bonus to damage (in addition to Str). With the Daring Outlaw feat (CSc), these levels stack with your rogue levels to detemine your sneak attack dice. Thus you could go Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 4 and get 4 levels of D10 HD, full BAB, Str and Int to damage, and 4d6 sneak attack from this combo. If you wanted to increase your damage output, you could consider trying to fit the two-weapon fighting feats into your build. Doubling your attacks (and therefore sneak attack damage if you hit) when flanking, blinking, etc. can just decimate your enemies. Two levels of swordsage, alternatively, gives some nice maneuvers like Distracting Ember, Flashing Sun, and Cloak of Deception. These will increase your sneak attack opportunities. Good hunting!
Kurama Youko 02-21-07, 07:34 PM	if you play a silverbrow human you can save a feat instead of taking dragon touched.
Toloran 02-21-07, 09:23 PM	If you can get access to Lords of Madness, you can get the Darkstalker feat that makes foes with scent, tremorsense, blindsense, and blindsight make a spot or listen check (whichever DC is higher) to find you (no -10 penalty as with your True Stealth). Three levels of Swashbuckler would let you add your Int bonus to damage (in addition to Str). With the Daring Outlaw feat (CSc), these levels stack with your rogue levels to detemine your sneak attack dice. Thus you could go Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 4 and get 4 levels of D10 HD, full BAB, Str and Int to damage, and 4d6 sneak attack from this combo. If you wanted to increase your damage output, you could consider trying to fit the two-weapon fighting feats into your build. Doubling your attacks (and therefore sneak attack damage if you hit) when flanking, blinking, etc. can just decimate your enemies. Two levels of swordsage, alternatively, gives some nice maneuvers like Distracting Ember, Flashing Sun, and Cloak of Deception. These will increase your sneak attack opportunities. Good hunting! Hmm... I hadn't considered the swashbuckler angle (I don't own complete adventurer but several other members of my D&D group have it). I have a personal bias against Tome of Battle material but I'll have to look into those maneuvers. if you play a silverbrow human you can save a feat instead of taking dragon touched. I might have to re-read the part again, but the class specifically states you have to have the dragon-touched feat so I am not entirely sure whether being a silverbrow qualifies or not. That and I wouldn't be allowed to be one anyway =P And thanks to both of you for the help :)
Kurama Youko 02-21-07, 09:36 PM	your right i didnt notice the dragontouched feat requirement.
Nibbler 02-21-07, 09:38 PM	Swashbuckler is from Complete Warrior