3.5 Shadowdancer build. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

3.5 Shadowdancer build.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ujayim
May 02, 2009 18:34:24 I'm looking for help with a shadowdancer build, and don't really know where to start, If anyone could help that would be great.
#2
feloniousela
May 02, 2009 18:53:45 books available?
What are you looking to do?
Levels you are going to be playing?
Etc.?

Give us a lot more info so we can really help you.
#3
ujayim
May 02, 2009 19:12:57 Bah, Sorry.
We're starting at around 5, and I'm looking to be able to do a bit of sneak attacking and be slightly more... Sneak attack, disappear, sneak attack, etc.

All 3.5 Books, I guess.
#4
muertog
May 02, 2009 21:15:32 Are you going to be melee sneak attack, spell sneak attack, or ranged sneak attack? There are major differences in each.
#5
feloniousela
May 02, 2009 22:31:36 The problem with Shadowdancer is that it doesn't give you any damage to your sneak attack. If you want to be a sneak attacker, then you don't take more than the first two in Shadowdancer....if those in the first place.

Maybe try Daggerspell Mage? or Unseen Seer or Spellwarp Sniper? If you want to jump around a lot, Jaunter is cool.
#6
sofawall
May 02, 2009 22:42:18 I recommend Dark Template (gotten through Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis) and maybe Shadow Template, just for kicks.
#7
Wyvernhand
May 02, 2009 23:09:42 Maybe....

Rogue1/Wizard4/USS2/SD1/USS+8/AT4

With USS being Unseen Seer from Complete Scoundrel, SD being Shadowdancer, and AT being Arcane Trickster from the DMG. Get some Persisted Hunter's Eye (SpC) going on and use both Greater Invis and HipS to keep out of sight. Toss in some Darkstalker from LoM and even things with Trueseeing will be baffled when you suddenly turn sideways and vanish into nothingness. Then you just pew pew with some orbs from your own personal shadows created by Blacklight or whatever. Oh, and of cource, be either Illumian or take Practiced Spellcaster for Wizard.
#8
Senevri
May 03, 2009 10:54:57 Hmm...
Ranger 3/Swordsage 2/Shadowdancer 2/Bloodclaw Master 2/
is a good start.

Ranger qualifies for BCM, you qualify for Horizon Walker free, you can progress either swordsage or BCM a bit more without it being a bad idea at all, BCM3 nets you moar maneuvers, so you might wan that. No penalty for TWF, shadow hand & tiger claw goodies, HiPS from Shadowdancer...

I'm tempted to put Avenging Executioner + Dread Commando there, for effectively always going first, not taking armor penalties, not taking penalties to moving at normal speed while hiding, and causing fear with sudden strikes. Which go up to +6d6, in addition of the 2d6 sneak from assassin's stance.
All things being equal, I'd go for bloodclaw 3, AE4, DrC5, for maximum BAB.

So, Ranger 3/Swordsage 2/Shadowdancer 2/Bloodclaw Master 3/Horizon Walker X/Dread Commando Y, for an example....

In any case, if you qualify for shadowdancer, you also qualify for assassin/avenger and dread commando. Synergy.

Is it just me, or are all the classes in HoB sort of stealth-awesome?

*edit*
Ranger 3/FullBab 2/Dervish 3/Shadowdancer 2/Dread Commando 4/...
gets to move full move, while hidden without penalties, then do a full attack at the end.
Hm. Bard->Cloaked Dancer 5/Avenging Executioner 1/... but that's more of a fear build, not a shadowdancer build, so nvm.

Exemplar 4 is nice, so if you "wasted" a feat on sf:stealth (or hide/ms), you get +4 competence and 'stealthy', another +2 to sneak skill, for free.
#9
gorfnad_the_shiznit
May 04, 2009 0:41:21 Human Rogue 3/ Swashbuckler 3/ Cobra Strike Monk 2/ Shadowdancer 4/ Telfammar Shadowlord 4/ Swordsage 4
1. Craven, Combat Reflexes
3. Blindfight
4. B: Weapon Finesse
6. Carmendine Monk
7. B: Dodge
8. B: Mobility
9. Daring Outlaw
12. Spring Attack
15. Darkstalker
18. Shadow Blade

Shadowpouncing is very fun. Craven will boost the sneak attack damage. However Shadowdancer is not the most optimal entry for Telfammar, it's just one the easiest to get into. The most basic for TSL I've seen is Rogue 5/ Assassin 9/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6 (another less common one, though amusing, is Lurk 9 Ebon Saint 5/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6). There are many many many Telfammar Shadowlord builds here on the Char-Op board. Some of them use Shadowdancer to meet the prereqs, most do not.

The Shadowdancer is sub-par in my opinion unless you're restricted to core only. I second the Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis if you want to get Hide in Plain Sight and Darkvision. Evasion and Uncanny Dodge can be achieved just with rogue levels. The Summon Shadow ability is kinda weak and painful if the shadow dies. Shadowjump is okay Shadow Jaunt/Stride/Blink from Swordsage are better. Defensive Roll is situational. Improved Evasion and Slippery Mind are too little too late.

One build I've made recently for someone on the boards here was Ranger 6/ Swordsage 4/ Dread Commando 5/ Bloodclaw Master 5. It's very sneaky and very deadly with kukris or unarmed strike.

For a lot of sneak attacking with spells to back it up I like (trading in trapsense for penetrating strike from Dungeonscape) Rogue 3/ Beguiler 7/ Unseen Seer 10 that's 7d6 sneak attack from class levels another 8d6 from hunters eye (17 CL for beguiler + 3 Practiced Spellcaster + 3 divination spell power+ 1 Ioun Stone = 24 CL for hunters eye) + 1d6 Rogue's Vest, +1d6 deadly precision rapier, +2d6 Martial Study Assassin Stance + 20 Craven = 19d6+20 sneak attack without much effort plus a nice array of beguiler spells for backup and while still wearing light armor. Rogue 3/ Beguiler 2/ Unseen Seer 7/ Arcane Trickster 8 = 9d6 from class levels, 8d6 from hunters eye, 2d6 assassins stance, 1d6 rogues vest, 1d6 deadly precision rapier, 20 craven = 21d6+20 sneak attack not to bad though the build is funky and is almost just a one trick pony.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ujayim May 02, 2009 18:34:24	I'm looking for help with a shadowdancer build, and don't really know where to start, If anyone could help that would be great.
#2 feloniousela May 02, 2009 18:53:45	books available? What are you looking to do? Levels you are going to be playing? Etc.? Give us a lot more info so we can really help you.
#3 ujayim May 02, 2009 19:12:57	Bah, Sorry. We're starting at around 5, and I'm looking to be able to do a bit of sneak attacking and be slightly more... Sneak attack, disappear, sneak attack, etc. All 3.5 Books, I guess.
#4 muertog May 02, 2009 21:15:32	Are you going to be melee sneak attack, spell sneak attack, or ranged sneak attack? There are major differences in each.
#5 feloniousela May 02, 2009 22:31:36	The problem with Shadowdancer is that it doesn't give you any damage to your sneak attack. If you want to be a sneak attacker, then you don't take more than the first two in Shadowdancer....if those in the first place. Maybe try Daggerspell Mage? or Unseen Seer or Spellwarp Sniper? If you want to jump around a lot, Jaunter is cool.
#6 sofawall May 02, 2009 22:42:18	I recommend Dark Template (gotten through Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis) and maybe Shadow Template, just for kicks.
#7 Wyvernhand May 02, 2009 23:09:42	Maybe.... Rogue1/Wizard4/USS2/SD1/USS+8/AT4 With USS being Unseen Seer from Complete Scoundrel, SD being Shadowdancer, and AT being Arcane Trickster from the DMG. Get some Persisted Hunter's Eye (SpC) going on and use both Greater Invis and HipS to keep out of sight. Toss in some Darkstalker from LoM and even things with Trueseeing will be baffled when you suddenly turn sideways and vanish into nothingness. Then you just pew pew with some orbs from your own personal shadows created by Blacklight or whatever. Oh, and of cource, be either Illumian or take Practiced Spellcaster for Wizard.
#8 Senevri May 03, 2009 10:54:57	Hmm... Ranger 3/Swordsage 2/Shadowdancer 2/Bloodclaw Master 2/ is a good start. Ranger qualifies for BCM, you qualify for Horizon Walker free, you can progress either swordsage or BCM a bit more without it being a bad idea at all, BCM3 nets you moar maneuvers, so you might wan that. No penalty for TWF, shadow hand & tiger claw goodies, HiPS from Shadowdancer... I'm tempted to put Avenging Executioner + Dread Commando there, for effectively always going first, not taking armor penalties, not taking penalties to moving at normal speed while hiding, and causing fear with sudden strikes. Which go up to +6d6, in addition of the 2d6 sneak from assassin's stance. All things being equal, I'd go for bloodclaw 3, AE4, DrC5, for maximum BAB. So, Ranger 3/Swordsage 2/Shadowdancer 2/Bloodclaw Master 3/Horizon Walker X/Dread Commando Y, for an example.... In any case, if you qualify for shadowdancer, you also qualify for assassin/avenger and dread commando. Synergy. Is it just me, or are all the classes in HoB sort of stealth-awesome? edit Ranger 3/FullBab 2/Dervish 3/Shadowdancer 2/Dread Commando 4/... gets to move full move, while hidden without penalties, then do a full attack at the end. Hm. Bard->Cloaked Dancer 5/Avenging Executioner 1/... but that's more of a fear build, not a shadowdancer build, so nvm. Exemplar 4 is nice, so if you "wasted" a feat on sf:stealth (or hide/ms), you get +4 competence and 'stealthy', another +2 to sneak skill, for free.
#9 gorfnad_the_shiznit May 04, 2009 0:41:21	Human Rogue 3/ Swashbuckler 3/ Cobra Strike Monk 2/ Shadowdancer 4/ Telfammar Shadowlord 4/ Swordsage 4 1. Craven, Combat Reflexes 3. Blindfight 4. B: Weapon Finesse 6. Carmendine Monk 7. B: Dodge 8. B: Mobility 9. Daring Outlaw 12. Spring Attack 15. Darkstalker 18. Shadow Blade Shadowpouncing is very fun. Craven will boost the sneak attack damage. However Shadowdancer is not the most optimal entry for Telfammar, it's just one the easiest to get into. The most basic for TSL I've seen is Rogue 5/ Assassin 9/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6 (another less common one, though amusing, is Lurk 9 Ebon Saint 5/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6). There are many many many Telfammar Shadowlord builds here on the Char-Op board. Some of them use Shadowdancer to meet the prereqs, most do not. The Shadowdancer is sub-par in my opinion unless you're restricted to core only. I second the Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis if you want to get Hide in Plain Sight and Darkvision. Evasion and Uncanny Dodge can be achieved just with rogue levels. The Summon Shadow ability is kinda weak and painful if the shadow dies. Shadowjump is okay Shadow Jaunt/Stride/Blink from Swordsage are better. Defensive Roll is situational. Improved Evasion and Slippery Mind are too little too late. One build I've made recently for someone on the boards here was Ranger 6/ Swordsage 4/ Dread Commando 5/ Bloodclaw Master 5. It's very sneaky and very deadly with kukris or unarmed strike. For a lot of sneak attacking with spells to back it up I like (trading in trapsense for penetrating strike from Dungeonscape) Rogue 3/ Beguiler 7/ Unseen Seer 10 that's 7d6 sneak attack from class levels another 8d6 from hunters eye (17 CL for beguiler + 3 Practiced Spellcaster + 3 divination spell power+ 1 Ioun Stone = 24 CL for hunters eye) + 1d6 Rogue's Vest, +1d6 deadly precision rapier, +2d6 Martial Study Assassin Stance + 20 Craven = 19d6+20 sneak attack without much effort plus a nice array of beguiler spells for backup and while still wearing light armor. Rogue 3/ Beguiler 2/ Unseen Seer 7/ Arcane Trickster 8 = 9d6 from class levels, 8d6 from hunters eye, 2d6 assassins stance, 1d6 rogues vest, 1d6 deadly precision rapier, 20 craven = 21d6+20 sneak attack not to bad though the build is funky and is almost just a one trick pony.