Howdy folks.
I'm once again considering making an Arcane Trickster. I'll probably be going Kitsune and leaning towards a Sorc over wizard as I'm not a fan of prepared spellcasting to much. As I haven't really attempted building one before, does anyone have any advice?
I'm not really clear what it is you're trying to accomplish with him as an NPC, but if you are adding him just to find traps if neither of your characters has trap finding I'd just drop traps from your game. If you just want a support character I'd recommend a bard. Players tend to enjoy an NPC more when he is buffing them.
Aw I see, perhaps I overcomplicated the first post, I shall wipe the whole thing out and just condense it.
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I agree with Cassidius in that players tend to prefer NPCs to be more of a supporting part of the story, not a focal part. What you are suggesting sounds like an interesting character... for a player. You seem like maybe you are investing a bit too much into the character for an NPC.
I would suggest a simpler concept, something to shore up the party shortcomings, but who isn't going to compete with them... someone who can fade into the background as the players take center stage. Don't fall into the DM trap of getting too attached to an NPC and making them develop a sort of hero of the story syndrome.
While I appreciate the advise on the ways I would use a character that the party has asked me to send along with them to round out the group, if we could avoid derailing this into a completely unrelated discussion about the roles of NPC's in a campaign that would be dandy.
If I was going to make a no personality buff bot to follow them around I would just give them a magic turtleneck poncho and not waste my time putting thought into a character.
No reason to be snarky, I was simply trying to offer some advice. Also nobody is saying you should have a stump walking around using inspire courage on the party.
If trap finding isn't an issue I'd recommend ninja levels to get the sneak attack dice to enter arcane trickster for the charisma synergy. I prefer spontaneous casters as well, and my own trickster has sorcerer levels. I chose aberrant bloodline for the reach bonus on touch spells. A hard rule for me has been to choose a damaging spell for his first spell known at each new level and then taken all of my other spells known as buffing and utility spells. I find this gives me enough versatility to nearly always have something I can contribute regardless of the situation.
hmmm Ninja probably would be the best, but we already have a ninja as a pc and I'd rather not step on his toes, I had originally been considering Slayer but that has a rather slower progression and would slow things down a fair bit, Perhaps I'll look at Alchemist for the SA requirement, That would spread the stats pretty thin but thats not such a bad thing, as this guy isn't meant to be a beacon or anything.
Well I think you could get by with no more than a 12 intelligence if you went vivisectionist alchemist for the sneak attack, and that would just give you more skill points for supporting/plugging player weaknesses.
Or use the sage sorcerer bloodline and have intelligence as your casting stat instead of charisma. Then you still get the synergy bonus.
Or use the sage sorcerer bloodline and have intelligence as your casting stat instead of charisma. Then you still get the synergy bonus.
Oh that sounds like an interesting idea, I hadn't really settled on a bloodline , I don't have my books with me right now as I'm at work ,but I'll check it out when I get home.