Entry into Shadowdancer

[Malastra]

Have yet to play Pathfinder, this weekend will be my first session.
I am not a noob to D&D, been playing this game for over 20+ yrs...

I am looking at different options to get into Shadowdancer.
1. straight up Rogue-5
2. 1 or 2 level dip into Monk, then Rogue
3. 1 level dip into Bard then Rogue

Straight rogue will give me 3d6 sneak dmg.

A level dip into Bard gives me unlimited cantrips and a few 1st level spells that can compliment my rogue skills.

Monk levels can help me out on saves and give me a few extra feats that I can use for the rogue.

Opinions on which way to go?
My style of play will be versatility, not just stealth, not just sneak attacking....

[Anauroch]

Versatility would hint at mixing bard or monk into the build.

But how worthwhile that actually is in terms of 'power' depends on the character creation rules. If you've got 25 point buy, I'd consider monk. Not so with a 15 point buy.

Remember that a rogue gets rogue talents which can be used for feats if you want more 'feat versatility'. :)

[Sgm Kobold]

some of the best shadowdancers i have seen had spell casting and a mass of skills in no3.5 notably a rouge4/illusionist5/sadowdancer2 all thow you do pay the price for that much "versatility"

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

Because Shadowdancer, by itself, is so sneaky, I don't think Rogue is the best entry at all. I played a 3.0/3.5 shadowdancer for years, and I ended up too good at sneaking, and not good enough at anything else.

I would go with Monk 5 or Ranger 5 for a really effective shadowdancer. After all, getting evasion again doesn't help you.

[seekerofshadowlight]

Ranger would work well, ya could go in any class, from sorcerer or wizard to bard or cleric. But ranger would be pretty good as could be a barbarian or fighter, after all with 5 levels of fighter ya gain 5 feats, full move in medium armor an 1 extra point of dex while wearing it and 1 less acp. So even if ya don't use medium you can wear studded leather with no ACP and a +6 dex mod, or chain shirt with -1 ACP and a +5 max DEX mod

anyhow just a thought

[angryscrub]

Malastra wrote:

...snip...

I am looking at different options to get into Shadowdancer.
1. straight up Rogue-5
2. 1 or 2 level dip into Monk, then Rogue
3. 1 level dip into Bard then Rogue

...snip...

Opinions on which way to go?
My style of play will be versatility, not just stealth, not just sneak attacking....

ooof. my main problem with any of those is the BAB cost. shadowdancer already costs you a BAB if you're planning to stick with it for 10 levels, dipping into monk or bard gets you a nice -2 to hit.

if that doesn't bother you i'd say wizard or sorcerer is better than bard for a dip.

[Sir Dante]

rkraus2 wrote:

Because Shadowdancer, by itself, is so sneaky, I don't think Rogue is the best entry at all. I played a 3.0/3.5 shadowdancer for years, and I ended up too good at sneaking, and not good enough at anything else.

I would go with Monk 5 or Ranger 5 for a really effective shadowdancer. After all, getting evasion again doesn't help you.

That's true but the rogue's Sneak attack + the talents are a good thing + always the massive skill points and class skill's it offers, depends if you want a real ass kicking combat machine then go for ranger I'd say.