Pixie question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Pixie question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_Cronos
08-08-07, 03:29 PM Would a pixie make a good rogue? If so what Prc would be good for it?
YabaTheWhat
08-08-07, 03:40 PM Pixies make insanely good rogues. The have an obscene number of tactical abilities (enough to warrant LA+8 to LA+9), all of which benefit a rogue in the right situations. Improved invisibility at will, numerous spell-like abilities (including dispel magic and permanent image 1/day each), and full flight with hovering come to mind. The pixie is a sneak attack archer in a plucky little package. The lost levels mean lower maximum skill ranks, but unless you're trying to qualify for a prestige class, the ability score bonuses easily pick up the slack.
Lord_Cronos
08-08-07, 03:44 PM cool thx I will make one quickly to see what it looks like!
Windspear
08-08-07, 03:51 PM Are you joking?!

Improved Invisibility as a free action at will means sneak attacks against everyone without Blind Fight (leathal at higher levels). It also means no one can see you. Wings sort of take away the need for move silently and tumble checks, and invisibility takes away hide, so you don't have to chose those skills and still be a great spy. Possibly even the best.
HUGE dexterity score means very high initiative and AC (especially when using the 85 point buy system (just 85 points with no penalties for high scores) witch could get you to 26 DEX on lvl 1 (+8 mod) along with Improved Initiative that's 12, and possible 20 AC (8 DEX, 1 size, 1 padded armor)).

The one and ONLY problem with pixies is actually the fact that they are tiny little elf-like tree huggers!!
If your'e willing to accept that, you have the best rogue ever.
AegriSomniaPress
08-08-07, 07:14 PM Pixies are awesome I have a friend who had some down time in his game where he players were a bit off track. He wanted to have a fun side thing for the players to get caught up in for a session or two and I suggested a pixie encounter.
The characters would get trapped in a labyrinth where a pixie would plunk them with memory loss arrows, and proceed to hunt them down for sport. The players would be left not knowing who the people with them were let alone themselves but would be forced to join together to survive the constant threat of the pixie.

regards, Seth
Cryos, Icy Manipulator
08-09-07, 03:10 PM I made a warmage(yay huge + to Int and Cha), since the DM kinda said I was only allowed a Pixie if I wasnt a rogue-type character.

One question I had with playing her was did she or did she not get the two arrow types a MM Pixie gets (Memory loss and Sleep)? Races of Savagery allowed me use of them, but that book was disallowed but I was able to use the Pixie as Charaters in the Monster's Manual.

:behold:
Orchomenos
08-10-07, 02:10 PM As for best PrC... Anything that continues (or increase) the rogue sneak attack. The huge LA means less rogue levels, so less sneak attack dices. It's a shame for a creature that is born to sneak attack!
You could build a dagger thrower with Quick-Draw, Rapid Shot and Two-Weapons fighting. The high DEX will help the 2 cumulative -2 on all attack rolls, and you will be able to use your sneak attack more often.
Tuah
08-10-07, 04:39 PM The one and ONLY problem with pixies is actually the fact that they are tiny little elf-like tree huggers!!
If your'e willing to accept that, you have the best rogue ever.

And trees provide oxygen. Without that, everyone would be dead!

Go hug a tree today! :D
BW0222
08-10-07, 09:21 PM Lord_Cronos,

Would a pixie make a good rogue?

Some would say that that is the only class which a pixie is really good at. With a +4 LA, spellcasting classes are pretty much out as are most melee types.

Whether it is good or not for you, really depends.

That +4 LA, really hurts. If you start off the game at 5th-level...

* You have to have a table willing to start play at atleast 5th-level.

* Your hit points are really low. Invisibility, SR, and DR likely keep you out of most trouble, but... if something does hit you or your SR fails, you are pretty much dead. A dire wolf with scent who hits kills you outright, spells aren't affected by SR (or get through) could kill you outright, oil or acid might be pretty lethal, anything which negates invisibility (invisibility purge, glitterdust, etc.) and most CR 5 critters can kill you in one hit, etc. It is kind of rock-paper-sissors taken to extremes. In 90% of combats, you will likely never take any damage, in 10% you are dead in one hit.

* Sneak attack damage is still pretty weak. 1d4+1d6 from a shortbow still only averages 7hp of damage. Combat could take a lot of time a 7hp of damage per round at APL 5. Against undead, plants, constructs, elementals, etc. you might as well not be there. Damage is so low for those ELs you might as well just cheer your PCs on.

* A lot of your rogue skills might not be up to snuff. Open locks, disable device, and other skills will be several points back. High dexterity might help some, but max ranks in some of the intelligence or other skills is really going to hurt. Especially considering that failing to disable certain traps could be fatal to you.

* Lack of feats is going to hurt. Non-human rogues don't get many to start with and the LA hurts.

* BAB is going to hurt. At 5th-level you have a +0 BAB and you don't gain an extra attack until 12th-level. Even with a high dex (say +6), +2 to hit for invisible, and no dex from the defender, hitting something with a high flat-footed AC might be an issue. Say (+4 natural, +3 shield, +7 platemail). Even with your +8 to hit, you still need a 16 or higher to hit.

That said, the out of combat abilities are often worth it.

If so what Prc would be good for it?

I really won't be thinking about a PrC for it. You need the all the skill points and sneak attack damage you can get. Also, many will be extremely hard to qualify for since your BAB, max ranks, and feats are extremely limited.
Cryos, Icy Manipulator
08-12-07, 08:33 PM A dire wolf with scent who hits kills you outright

Thats why you have a shortbow and hover above the wolf, but within the 30 feet needed for Sneak Attack :)

:behold:
Ikyotojin
08-12-07, 08:45 PM One problem - what the heck can a pixie carry without asking for help? I don't care what a character's strength is. Go pick up a coffee table and you'll know what a pixie feels like carrying a large amulet or a valuable spell book. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Cronos 08-08-07, 03:29 PM	Would a pixie make a good rogue? If so what Prc would be good for it?
YabaTheWhat 08-08-07, 03:40 PM	Pixies make insanely good rogues. The have an obscene number of tactical abilities (enough to warrant LA+8 to LA+9), all of which benefit a rogue in the right situations. Improved invisibility at will, numerous spell-like abilities (including dispel magic and permanent image 1/day each), and full flight with hovering come to mind. The pixie is a sneak attack archer in a plucky little package. The lost levels mean lower maximum skill ranks, but unless you're trying to qualify for a prestige class, the ability score bonuses easily pick up the slack.
Lord_Cronos 08-08-07, 03:44 PM	cool thx I will make one quickly to see what it looks like!
Windspear 08-08-07, 03:51 PM	Are you joking?! Improved Invisibility as a free action at will means sneak attacks against everyone without Blind Fight (leathal at higher levels). It also means no one can see you. Wings sort of take away the need for move silently and tumble checks, and invisibility takes away hide, so you don't have to chose those skills and still be a great spy. Possibly even the best. HUGE dexterity score means very high initiative and AC (especially when using the 85 point buy system (just 85 points with no penalties for high scores) witch could get you to 26 DEX on lvl 1 (+8 mod) along with Improved Initiative that's 12, and possible 20 AC (8 DEX, 1 size, 1 padded armor)). The one and ONLY problem with pixies is actually the fact that they are tiny little elf-like tree huggers!! If your'e willing to accept that, you have the best rogue ever.
AegriSomniaPress 08-08-07, 07:14 PM	Pixies are awesome I have a friend who had some down time in his game where he players were a bit off track. He wanted to have a fun side thing for the players to get caught up in for a session or two and I suggested a pixie encounter. The characters would get trapped in a labyrinth where a pixie would plunk them with memory loss arrows, and proceed to hunt them down for sport. The players would be left not knowing who the people with them were let alone themselves but would be forced to join together to survive the constant threat of the pixie. regards, Seth
Cryos, Icy Manipulator 08-09-07, 03:10 PM	I made a warmage(yay huge + to Int and Cha), since the DM kinda said I was only allowed a Pixie if I wasnt a rogue-type character. One question I had with playing her was did she or did she not get the two arrow types a MM Pixie gets (Memory loss and Sleep)? Races of Savagery allowed me use of them, but that book was disallowed but I was able to use the Pixie as Charaters in the Monster's Manual. :behold:
Orchomenos 08-10-07, 02:10 PM	As for best PrC... Anything that continues (or increase) the rogue sneak attack. The huge LA means less rogue levels, so less sneak attack dices. It's a shame for a creature that is born to sneak attack! You could build a dagger thrower with Quick-Draw, Rapid Shot and Two-Weapons fighting. The high DEX will help the 2 cumulative -2 on all attack rolls, and you will be able to use your sneak attack more often.
Tuah 08-10-07, 04:39 PM	The one and ONLY problem with pixies is actually the fact that they are tiny little elf-like tree huggers!! If your'e willing to accept that, you have the best rogue ever. And trees provide oxygen. Without that, everyone would be dead! Go hug a tree today! :D
BW0222 08-10-07, 09:21 PM	Lord_Cronos, Would a pixie make a good rogue? Some would say that that is the only class which a pixie is really good at. With a +4 LA, spellcasting classes are pretty much out as are most melee types. Whether it is good or not for you, really depends. That +4 LA, really hurts. If you start off the game at 5th-level... * You have to have a table willing to start play at atleast 5th-level. * Your hit points are really low. Invisibility, SR, and DR likely keep you out of most trouble, but... if something does hit you or your SR fails, you are pretty much dead. A dire wolf with scent who hits kills you outright, spells aren't affected by SR (or get through) could kill you outright, oil or acid might be pretty lethal, anything which negates invisibility (invisibility purge, glitterdust, etc.) and most CR 5 critters can kill you in one hit, etc. It is kind of rock-paper-sissors taken to extremes. In 90% of combats, you will likely never take any damage, in 10% you are dead in one hit. * Sneak attack damage is still pretty weak. 1d4+1d6 from a shortbow still only averages 7hp of damage. Combat could take a lot of time a 7hp of damage per round at APL 5. Against undead, plants, constructs, elementals, etc. you might as well not be there. Damage is so low for those ELs you might as well just cheer your PCs on. * A lot of your rogue skills might not be up to snuff. Open locks, disable device, and other skills will be several points back. High dexterity might help some, but max ranks in some of the intelligence or other skills is really going to hurt. Especially considering that failing to disable certain traps could be fatal to you. * Lack of feats is going to hurt. Non-human rogues don't get many to start with and the LA hurts. * BAB is going to hurt. At 5th-level you have a +0 BAB and you don't gain an extra attack until 12th-level. Even with a high dex (say +6), +2 to hit for invisible, and no dex from the defender, hitting something with a high flat-footed AC might be an issue. Say (+4 natural, +3 shield, +7 platemail). Even with your +8 to hit, you still need a 16 or higher to hit. That said, the out of combat abilities are often worth it. If so what Prc would be good for it? I really won't be thinking about a PrC for it. You need the all the skill points and sneak attack damage you can get. Also, many will be extremely hard to qualify for since your BAB, max ranks, and feats are extremely limited.
Cryos, Icy Manipulator 08-12-07, 08:33 PM	A dire wolf with scent who hits kills you outright Thats why you have a shortbow and hover above the wolf, but within the 30 feet needed for Sneak Attack :) :behold:
Ikyotojin 08-12-07, 08:45 PM	One problem - what the heck can a pixie carry without asking for help? I don't care what a character's strength is. Go pick up a coffee table and you'll know what a pixie feels like carrying a large amulet or a valuable spell book. ;)