Multiclass build: Rogue / Druid / Shadowdancer... comments?

[RedKing]

I'm new to Pathfinder, but not to RPG. After looking over the various race/class/prestige info, I decided to take a lengthy journey down the trail to Shadowdancer.

I started with a half-elf Rogue. I won't bore you with all the details of Feats/Skills/etc. My next level, I took a level of Druid, focused on Animal Companion. This gave me a Melanistic Leopard. My plan in general is to run back and forth each level, winding up as a level 3 Rogue level 2 Druid when I take my first level of Shadowdancer. From there, I'll go back and forth each level; Shadowdancer, then Druid, then Rogue, then Rogue/Druid/Shadowdancer. Ultimately I can heal my pet, heal my shadow, and have companions useful as lookouts/scouts and ambushers in both urban and nature settings.

I'm looking at the long term here, so I'm not worried about the various stat arguments.

Has anyone else tried this sort of build with the same or other classes? I'm curious not only about your feelings on the time investment, but on how other players and DM's react. The group I am in are supportive and intrigued by my choice. :)

[XMorsX]

From an optimization standpoint, it does not fare well. The druid companion will never scale and will become increasingly weak as you level up. For the survival feeling you should start with 6 levels of ranger (preferably guide skirmisher so you can avoid the spells and companion since you will not advance them, choose two-handed combat style for power attack and furious focus) and then go into shadowdancer. Another good starting class is 5lvls of Paladin with Oath of Vengenence.

Seriously change you plans, you won't survive the typical adventure path and your teamates will get frustated. Unless of course you have a lenient DM and completely unoptimised teamates. In the later case however, even the typical single-class Fighter with generic feats will be way stronger than you.

[LoneKnave]

If you are set in your ways, take Boon Companion, that gets you 4 more levels of animal companion at least, so it can stay relevant longer.

[Cathulhu]

A great skilled Druid build you might want to consider is Urban Druid 7(?) prestige into Master Spy.

makes a for a great assassin, with at will alter self/disguise, great skills, some sneak attack, etc.

I know its not the same build at all, just a thought.

[Nuclearsunburn]

If it's just about the RP possibilities for you, go for it. But you're likely going to feel sort of lacking in combat situations, with an anemic BaB and poor spellcasting and an animal companion that is severely underpowered.

Ultimately, it sounds like an interesting character to play, even if you're going to take the long road to get there. If your group doesn't mind carrying you in combat, I say, if you like it, play it by all means!!

[Suthainn]

Definitely consider the Shaping Focus feat, that will help bring your Wild Shape back up to a reasonable level.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/shaping-focus

As far as optimisation goes, as has been said, it has some tough flaws to overcome (but if you'll enjoy it for the rp possibilities then go for it!). Personally, I think I would go Ranger/Druid/Shadowdancer if I was intent on a build like this, there are enough ranger archtypes that can emulate rogue skills to seem similar enough, in addition you could use the Shapeshifting Hunter feat, which advances both Favoured Enemy and Wildshape uses.

In addition, if you went for the animal companion with this build your ranger and druid levels would stack for finding its level, add Boon Companion in and you'll have a full level AC most of the time until much higher levels.

[Reynard_the_fox]

I'll also advocate Ranger instead of Rogue. You need to bring your BAB up if you want any chance of hitting something. In fact, Ranger -> Shadowdancer will probably result in a much more combat-proficient character, while still having a lot of skills and an animal companion.

Could you tell us why exactly you want Rogue, Druid, and Shadowdancer? I'm sorry to say it, but pathfinder isn't as friendly towards multiclassing as some other RPGs, especially for Druids; your casting, wildshaping, and animal companion will all quickly become irrelevant unless you have almost all your levels in it or you spend feats on Boon Companion and Shaping Focus.

It's not impossible to make the build you're describing, but I think if you tell us what you're trying to accomplish with it, we can help you come up with an alternate build that is much more effective. My first character (when I was new to pathfinder) was a Rogue/Alchemist/Shadowdancer, and sadly I had to retire him around level 9 because he just couldn't keep up with the rest of the party.