Hey there! Thanks for stopping in :)
The set up: So some of you are likely groaning 'not THIS again' as it comes up a bit, and I've seen several threads of wizard/rogues, like how to best qualify for Arcane trickster among others.Still, most of what I've found searching are builds focusing on levels in wizard and as few dips into rogue as possible (Wizard 3/rogue 1/assassin 1 seemed popular in my readings).
The goal: I'd like to reverse that, be more focused on stealth, back stabbing with a sword, and having a few spells to fall back on.
The numbers: Right now, I'm a level 6 half-elf, levels being Rogue 5 / Shadow dancer 1. Stats are STR 7, Dex 20, CON 14, INT 14, WIS 14, CHA 7. 3.5 material isn't allowed, but retraining is, so I can change things around. The game likely won't go past level 12. Also of note, the game is VERY low magic, with no one having a magic weapon and a wand of cure light wounds is a big deal. For the curious, the party has myself, a sword and board Fighter, a sword and board Ranger, and a life oracle. Alignment is Chaotic Neutral at moment, and party is all good aligned, so going evil (aka Assassin) is not likely to fly with the DM.
The 1st build: Rogue 7 / Shadow dancer 4 / Magus 1
When trying to do arcane magic with melee, it's hard not to start with a magus. The mixing of multiple classes lowers BAB, and a magus using spell combat + true strike can lessen that pain, though it does eat up spell slots. Mixing the shadow dancer's hide in plain sight and shadow jump with a few spells from Magus (ghost sound alone is super helpful) while still wearing light armor and a blade (scimitar, of course). It gets the job done, but I feel like it could be better.
Idea 2: Rogue 3 / Magus 4 / Arcane Trickster 5
If Magus is the first thing that comes up, Arcane trickster is the second. The requirements are steep, and the results don't seem worth it to me. For sure, it gives far better casting abilities, but I feel it loses too much natural stealth, covering for it with more magical means. Not to mention losing the Shadow dancer powers, which really hurts in my mind. I could switch it to wizard 3 for another level of trickster, but again, this is even more magic focused and i'd likely have to give up weapon/armor altogether.
Idea 3: Frankly, it was terrible. I was mixing and matching odd things from master spy to guild agent, trying to find the right mix of stealth and spells. Maybe I missed the 'best' one out there, but thew few abilities that aided stealth were so specific as to never come up, and those with spells focused too much on spells. That's when I decided to check here.
Closing thoughts: In my attempts to make a stealthy/rogue character with a few spells, I'm looking at having three (or more) classes to do all I'd like to do. I feel like there has to be a better way of doing this, and I'm missing it somehow. I'm still surprised there was no Sorcerer/Rogue hybrid for this, but... I don't know. Can anyone suggest something better than Rogue/shadowdancer/Magus, or is that really the best around?
Thanks for your time!
Straight Inquisitor or straight magus with only one level in shadow dancer for HiPS?
If you are allowed to rebuild from scratch, the bard is what you are looking for. If you really like sneak attack for flavor, then take the sandman archetype. Otherwise, look at Arcane duelist.
Alright so I normally don't recommend this but...
Magus/Alchemist(vivisectionist) might be a decent choice. You'll be armored and you options from the alchemist to help you buff. Lots of skills and you can actually fight. If you stick with half-elf you can go with a sawtooth saber as an exotic weapon. That and slashing grace will mean you can put up respectable damage with the weapon.
If not an archaeologist bard and ninja combination would be very nice too.
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A rogue-type character with some spells? Have you considered just going Archaeologist Bard? Plus a level of Shadowdancer, presumably. That'd require swapping some stats around, but just swapping Wis and Cha would do it (and still leave you with a better Will Save and Perception for everything but traps).
I mean, you do miss out on Sneak Attack (though what you wind up with is better), and will need to invest in a Trait to make Disable Device a class skill (and likely use your other Trait for Fate's Favored)...but you wind up with a pretty effective melee character who's also a full 6-level spellcaster and has all the Rogue skills at least as well as a Rogue does (better in bursts because, y'know, Luck enhances them). You don't have a lot of offensive combat spells...but if the point is to primarily be a melee character, wouldn't you be avoiding those in favor of buff spells anyway?
You can do a very similar thing with Investigator as well (and without changing your stats), but that has Alchemist-style alchemy rather than true spell casting. Vivisectionist Alchemist is also an option, though that has some serious skill issues as compared to Rogue if going with identical stats.
You could pick up Witch rather than Wizard. You get hexes, and a spell list with some spells usually on the divine side. You can be a utility caster, and can get some interesting spells and hexes.
Another thought is Ninja. While not an arcane caster, you do get some arcane SLAs. You might be able to get into Arcane Trickster with only one level of spellcaster and use the SLAs to qualify. [Don't know, as I have not looked into this.]
As a half-elf, consider the spell Blend, and for any stealth type, consider Forced Quiet.
/cevah
Oh good gods no. Never Greensting Slayer -- that is a trap of a trap. It's melee only, you give up good class features for it and it only works on one attack a round and to get this you have to spend a swift action and worse an arcane point too.
It's the worse thing since moldy bread.
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I went Rogue 3 Magus 5 arcane trickster 5 (so far no problems) you will want the 5th level of magus for keen, elemental, and etc stacks onto your weapon. I may tack in one more level of magus for 2nd arcane trick (I have arc accuracy, and I want presient attack) I did not focus on stealth, I prefer impersonation.
My associate went Rogue3 Wizard 5 AT 10 and had a better spell list. His focus was sleight of hand and stealth.
Play a Rogue, its a form of deviance.
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Take "Additional Traits" feat, pickup "Clever Wordplay" and another trait. Take "Skill Focus: UMD" and max out your UMD skill ranks. Keep leveling up as Shadow Dancer and use your now vastly improved UMD to emulate being a caster to activate any wands/scrolls you'd like.
Just a recap, the 1 trait and Skill Focus: UMD will boost your UMD up 7 points alone, add in 6 ranks and you now have a +13, which you need a 7 or better on a roll to activate any wand. Scrolls are a little harder but still not out of your reach.
You could also grab Magical Aptitude which would get you a +2 to UMD and Spellcraft checks, which later would improve to +4's at 10th level. This would also let you qualify for "False Casting" if you'd like to make everyone think you're actually casting spells and not using magical items.
You're now able to spend 1/2 your money on scrolls and wands and continue to level up in Shadowdancer. Allowing you to get your Shadow Pet, some shadow spell-like abilities, and a few extra goodies while being able to cast spells.
Another vote for straight Bard/w shadow dancer or Vivisectionist.