i would have at least a 10 STR
probably take deceitful as the last feat before you go into the PRC (so you can get the other feats to be combat effective sooner)
otherwise i don't know rogues well
Is the APG usable?
If yes, have you looked at some of the bard options?
Is the APG usable?
If yes, have you looked at some of the bard options?
Master Spy is from the APG, so I'd assume that it's available =p
I have not played one yet, however I must say from looking over the APG I would suggest the following could be good entries:
Alchemist -- Depending on what you want out of it, the bombs and discoveries can make for a very nice poisoner, and explosions expert. You need a little time to make the extracts, but given that you can make them on the fly easier than the wizard can change spells giving you more flexibility. You'll have lots of skill points and the ability to use many good spell trigger items (as well as make potions -- an useful *anyone* ability).
An Inquisitor *Could* make a good spy but it would be an awkward fit for most inquisitor archtypes.
Bards:
The Court Bard, Detective, Sandman, and Street performer bard variants could do wonders with the master spy.
9 levels of urban Druid gets you several nice class features and wild shape for small and medium creatures -- a useful disguise most people won't even think to look for.
Monk of the Empty Hand could make good use of anything he could reach if things go badly and wouldn't have to fear a lack of armor. He has a decent amount of skill points which, if agumented with traits to get a few key skills as class skills, would make an excellent choice.
An Infiltrator Ranger with favored enemy on the various humaniods could make a really nice master spy, even if he uses the ranger skirmisher variant too, as could the urban ranger.
A plain rogue is a good choice, as is the cutpurse, investigator, poisoner, rake, spy, thug, trapsmith, and possibly the sniper.
While normally not a recommendation, if you don't mind losing the casting a conjuration or enchantment wizard could really bring in a lot of unexpected tricks to use with the class features of the master spy. Possibly mixing in some Arcane Trickster when you have the time could yield unexpected results too.
Master Spy is from the APG, so I'd assume that it's available =pIs the APG usable?
If yes, have you looked at some of the bard options?
HAHA Good point! Guess I should really wait for after the post-work haze wears off before I post...
Well, my suggestion is to determine if you want spells or not.
If you do not want to cast spells, Abe has listed some great ideas.
If you do want to cast spells, you have a lot of decisions to make. Such as, do you want to go with arcane trickster instead and be a near full caster:
Wizard 6, Rogue 1, Master Spy 1, Arcane Trickster 10, Wizard 2.
If you absolutely have to have the Master Spy prestige class, that is not a bad path, however, the Sandman Bard actually gives you almost ALL of the Master Spy abilities, with a whole slew of additional abilities.
So, which way do you want to go? Spells or no Spells.
I really wouldn't dump your wisdom.
Several reasons:
First you're a spy -- as such you need the best will save you can get -- people are going to be trying to read your mind, scry you, dominate you, etc... in order to avoid this you need to know you are going to make those saves.
Secondly -- A large part of the skills you'll need as a spy are covered with wisdom... Sense Motive and Perception are the obvious ones, but Heal is almost critically important as well -- after all if you want to make that death look natural you'll need to know the body well enough to know what to do.
Spell use in some form or fashion is going to be needed -- you can't disguise yourself as a cleric/druid/wizard/sorcerer/bard/summoner/alchemist/oracle/magus/paladin/r anger/witch/adept/etc without some means of casting spells. Considering that list is over half the possible classes out there this is an angle you'll need some means of covering -- now you don't need the uperhigh level spells -- just up through 3rd~4th level would be fine (unless you are specifically impersonating a really high level caster) and all those spells really -- really -- help with getting places/ listening in on things/ not being seen while sneaking/ lies/ etc.
Now I'm not saying these things from a mechanical stand point -- this is role play stuff primarily -- you're going to be pretending to be other people -- as such you need the means to make it believable.
Abe is 100% correct, you are going to need some spellcasting, not a lot of it though. Which is why (now knowing what you have in mind), I am going to suggest Sandman Bard 10/Master Spy 10. It'll get you a very narrow selection of spells with even less that you can cast, BUT you will get all the spells necessary for the tasks Abe mentions.
In addition, a sandman bard can...steal spells, cast spells stealthy, is a master of deception (will synergize nice with the spy's ability), can gain sneak attack bonus to save DCs (HUGE), Trap Sense, and Sneak Attack.
That is a pretty nice list of goodies, so nice, you may decide to just go straight Sandman Bard 20. But, that is up to you :)
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As a side note: Bard do not get Disable Device as a class skill, not even the Sandman Bard...so you will want to purchase the Vagabond Child trait and may Disable Device a class skill (with a +1 trait bonus). After getting that feat, you are...for all intents and purposes, an effective rogue.