ninja @ level 5 contemplating a dip in wizard or possibly wait till 11 and dip shadow dancer.

[garvdart]

Cn Female elf Ninja 5
Stats
10 str 20 dex (with belt+2) con 12 int 17 wis 9(10+1@4) cha 16
looking for advice 2000 xp away from level up...
Ki=5 ac 19 (mithril shirt)
Dagger+3,Mw Wakazachi, (ring of foe focus, was used as collateral for my ressurection/ restoration.)
Ninja tricks
forgotten trick
vanish

feats
two weapon fighting
weapon finesse
Combat Reflexes.
Skills maxed @ next level are um(9),perception,acrobatics ,bluff,stealth

party consists of a wilder with a huge umd ,sorcerer and me...
I am usually a scout when need be, or the primary lead..while they back me up with summons (wilders summuns are our tank) or keeping a flank...

alright so I have been weighing the pros and cons of dipping a level into a wizard ,spell progression 1 dip gives me a 4/2 caster list..., wand(wiz/sorcer list) use no umd (scout ahead under the cloak of invisibilty (vanish) or just make sure I sneak.. find foes, message(cantrip) party...buff up while I wait for em...wand..ala mage armor...or any others.., that kinda thing...hell detect magic and see who shines the most(cantrip) other wands heighten, my abilities even greater allowing preservation of ki,when I need it most, especcially combined with the say weapon wand or a wand compartment.

vs 10th level invisible blade,grab dodge and mobility along the way till 11 too grab shadowdancer, 4 levels companion,hide in plain sight,and so forth..at 10 umd =10+3+3 + more ranks till 14th ie umd =20 so down to around a 22% or @ 5% chance of wands not working, (no cantrips for easy message or detect magic...) but neat abilities I can use but a few times...than well my tricks are gone...

My thoughts that 1 little dip vs 4
seems to me much better..although loss of dark vision sucks (though i could have it memorized) hide in plain sight loss is the foremost on my thoughts.....thoughts let me know..

the 1 level dip hurts my bab but strengthens my abysmall will save...gives a huge number of options just with cantrips alone especially when adding in wands, a ring of spell storing and whatnaught seems like a trivial price for just 1 dip especially if he allows me too learn the spell Windy Escape: You respond to an attack by briefly becoming vaporous and insubstantial. immediate action spell,
You respond to an attack by briefly becoming vaporous and insubstantial, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly through you. You gain DR 10/magic against this attack and are immune to any poison, sneak attacks, or critical hit effect from that attack.

You cannot use windy escape against an attack of opportunity you provoked by casting a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using any other magical ability that provokes an attack of opportunity when used.
...with this + a arcane bonded item I could do so once...or thrice if preppared

Thoughts,opinions, let me know.

[Rynjin]

One question.

What is a "Wilder"?

[TheKingsportCockroach]

^Psionic Sorcerers, he probably does the astral construct thing which works really well.

[lemeres]

While I love shadow dancer, I must say: if you have two feats you could go for Eldritch heritage and Improved Eldritch Heritage if the shadow bloodline. You basically get hide in plain sight from that at level 11 without leaving your class.

Three levels of shadow dancer provides an amazing flanking partner though, since it can drain STR and even kill with it. Great stealth and scouting.

[garvdart]

thanks lemeres i recently edited the post because of a 1st level spell gave me such pause and that is
windy escape...it fits so well into me being like a shadow...and combined with a arcane bond object...is well awesome...but dm may not allow it..."Windy Escape: You respond to an attack by briefly becoming vaporous and insubstantial. immediate action spell,
You respond to an attack by briefly becoming vaporous and insubstantial, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly through you. You gain DR 10/magic against this attack and are immune to any poison, sneak attacks, or critical hit effect from that attack."

"You cannot use windy escape against an attack of opportunity you provoked by casting a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using any other magical ability that provokes an attack of opportunity when used".
Hello used acrobatics get out of jail free card...when I tried too tumble out of melee or into it...since acrobatics isn't magical.

...with this + a arcane bonded item I could do so once...or twice if preppared
since I kinda see my self as a dodge tank, it flavors so well especially at level 12 If start shadowdancer...but getting ahead of myself...the stealth partner is amazing and hey partner your my shadow...for now....this spell made me smile oh crap I sneaked the hell out of the bbeg....lol turns too attack...dr 10 buddy/magic...as a immediate action...I go poof..and immune too sneak,critical, or poison.

a 1 level dip giving me this is almost a ghost step for me getting out of combat...will have too make sure the dm lets me get this unless a sylph(from advance race guide,though it is in spell index) spell

Really starting too shine with 1 dip..access...especially since it gives me a secondary pool of resources...

[garvdart]

TheKingsportCockroach wrote:

^Psionic Sorcerers, he probably does the astral construct thing which works really well.

yeah his cha makes me want too wretch lucky rolls, and the point deduction reroll one stat hes sitting at a 26.....I am actually the lowest person on the totem poll....when it comes too ability scores...

I digress, this 1 little dip especially with a 1st level spell makes me want too reconsider this vs the shadowdancer option.....especially items like a ring of spell storing, etx... 1 dip =a bbeg vs a mook dosent hit and I still have the backups of not using ki...SD (ie shadowdancer is great and Ill look at Eld kight), but after looking at many boards any dip is usually a loss, although my stats might effect that...since I am high dex,int, and cha,charcter all suggestions welcome..items etx as well...

[garvdart]

lemeres wrote:

While I love shadow dancer, I must say: if you have two feats you could go for Eldritch heritage and Improved Eldritch Heritage if the shadow bloodline. You basically get hide in plain sight from that at level 11 without leaving your class.

"that right there" is why i am asking...vs going pure class or dipping, benifits for a 1 level dip, with feats just got more interesting via combination, of feats. it hits at level 11 dosen't matter what class, gives one of my cons a no hide in plain sight one level later.. although two feats too get too hide in plain sight no matter, gain -1 level bab, sneak damage, etx, now you see me now you dont, but concludes in what I would see as a gain especially if my party dynamics stays as is...i think the 1 level dip wizard +eld heritage+(shadow) improved eld heritage(shadow) seems too me the best bet..it nets me many same gains as a ninja/shadowdancer with just one dip+..with full wand (sorcerer/wiz)+ use..+a 4/2 in spell progression so a secondary pool of resources...i like this...

Three levels of shadow dancer provides an amazing flanking partner though, since it can drain STR and even kill with it. Great stealth and scouting.

however if it dies than I get a fort save vs dc 15 -level as Shadow dancer...

so I dont have too go through 3+ levels...hello wand...summon whatever..as a flanking partner..more attractive thanks for sharring eldricht heritage....

[blackbloodtroll]

Is it just the Hide in Plain Sight ability you want?

If so, then two feats, Skill Focus, and Hellcat Stealth will do it.

[lemeres]

Well, I can't really argue about how well the flank buddy would work out. It all depends on the defenses you are facing and whether your GM will get sick of the thing and keep on tossing magic missiles. It can pass through walls and the floor though, so it at least has the option to run if things go sour. It would give a negative energy channeling cleric something constructive to do at least.

Shadow conjuration and evocation are interesting powers though. They can often work better than the spells they are copying (since the shadow spells are of a higher level) With 4 levels of shadow dancer, you might actually get a better choice of spells than if you went wizard. If you intentionally fail the will save to disbelieve, then you can get some nice utility spells. There are even weird tricks like summoning something and just having it hit against the wall until the wall disbelieves it and lets the shadow beasty pass through. The spells are scarce, but they can be useful. It is nice that is spontaneous too. Look up the guide for these spells in the guide section. They are an interesting read at least.