Rogue / Bard - Later Arcane Trickster build.


Advice


Hey there people I am currently multiclassing a Bard/Rogue.

This is how it went down, we didn't start off as magical users so I Rogue until level 2 favorit class. But then when I became able to become a bard I got the chose of gaining a new favorit class, so I went with bard ofcourse.

3 level rogue and 1 level bard. " I choose this but we are still in leveling/putting in skill points phase which means I can undo one level of rogue"

My stats are as following, and I raised my dex from 15-16 at level 4.

10 STR
16 DEX (2+ human racial)
11 CON
15 INT
12 WIS
18 CHA

I am currently level 4 in all. I can still choose to go 2 rogue, 2 bard. But I wanted to get atleast to level 3-4 for acess to Trickster later aswell as 1+ fortitude and 2d6 sneak attack.

What do you guys think? In what order should I obtain levels?

My plan is as following. Go level 3 rogue and level 1 bard, then contiue to level bard until level 6 where I got 3 levels in each. Then go one more rogue level or maybe sooner.

Or should I stay level 2 rogue and go all in on the bard until a later level?

I just felt that its better to do it now in the early levels then later.

I may go level four in rogue for both rogue talent + uncanny dodge since I am a very dex based character.

My feats are: Decitful, Persusive, Agile Manuvers and as Rogue talent I got Finesse Rogue/Weapon Finesse.

I feel like Uncanny dodge is not in my in interesseret to skip.

Do mind we play in a low fantasy world so that overuse of magic will have a chance of backfireing social wise.


So faar I am 2 levels of rogue and 1 level of bard.

I am wondering is if I should take one more level in rogue or keep on with bard and revisit rogue later on. Either 3 rogue 1 bard or 2 rogue 2 bard.

I plan to go 3-4 levels in rogue. Probably 4 for uncanny Dodge. I am quite dead without my DEX bonus.

My plan is to go Trickster aswell on a later point.

So yeah! Advices are greatly needed :)


Multiclass for AT is a hard job. Your char need to get AT as quick as possible


You know a prestige class that might be more in line with this class: Aspis Agent. May not be terribly appropriate for your campaign, though.

You also might want to take a look at the sandman archetype. They are bards that get sneak attack: Sandman Their stealspell ability is kind of fun, too, although probably inferior to inspire courage.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

A word of warning: Arcane trickster doesn't work very well mechanically with bard as the casting class. It has a worse BAB and fewer skill ranks; also, the bard doesn't get very many spells that can be used for Sneak Attacks and loses advancement in Bardic Knowledge/Bardic Performance with the arcane trickster levels. An arcane trickster's main strength is as a ranged touch attack blaster (using Sneak Attack to increase damage), not melee.

You're probably better off going 2-3 levels of rogue (for access to rogue talents like Bleeding Attack, the Extra Rogue Talent feat, and additional Sneak Attack dice) and straight bard (sandman can improve Sneak Attack by +1d6 at 5th, 10th, and 15th). Rogue 3/sandman bard will have less Sneak Attack damage, but more skill ranks, more hp, higher BAB, better Bardic Performance, and just as many spells.


"Casting Classes:

The most effective tricksters are wizards, followed by sorcerers. Bard tricksters really are a waste of time. Just play a sneaky archetype bard and be done with it. Combining bard with rogue in the trickster class doesn't do much of anything for either side of that combination, except reduce your hit points, BAB, and cancel your progression in the unique talents of both classes. What good targeted blast spells does a bard get? He could take the Arcane Blast feat at 10th caster level, but it’s pathetic, even with sneak damage. His other spells are equally unimpressive.

Think about it: A 20th level character with the sneak attack of a 13th level rogue, a BAB of 12, one rogue talent, minor bardic abilities, fewer skill and hit points, and the earth-shaking spellcasting of a 17th level bard. What, if anything, is he good at?

A 20th level sor/wiz trickster laughs at him, and not because he’s funny, then turns him to dust out of pity. If you want to play an AT in some sort of intrigue campaign, the sorcerer AT gets all the class skills a bard does, and will be more effective overall. Just because a bard can be a trickster, that doesn't mean he should.

I’m not knocking bards. PF bards are great, and they shouldn’t bother with this PrC." -A Highly Regarded Expert's Guide to the Arcane Trickster

I agree with Dragonchess Player. You lose too much and gain too little with bard as your casting class.

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