Hey there Paizo forums.
I was thinking about a character who would just roll a load of dice when dealing damage, and I thought that the best way I could do this with an Arcane Trickster blaster since you would get spell damage dice + sneak attack dice.
I have not yet set out a full build, mostly because I am not super experienced optimizing casters, so I was looking for advice from you guys if possivble. The gist of the build is as follows:
- Ninja 3/Sorcerer 1/Arcane Trickster 10/??? (If I even get this high)
- Use Azata-blooded Aasimar (who have Glitterdust as an 2nd level Arcane SLA) to qualify for early access to Arcane Trickster.
- Crossblooded Sorcerer Orc/Draconic to add 2 damage per spell damage die
- Possibly use Tattooed Sorcerer as well to replace the mediocre 1st level bloodline power (both are pretty blah for this build) with a Familiar (hey, bonus init and free Alertness is great) and get Varisian Tatoo (Evocation) feat for free (don't know whether taking Eschew Materials later would then be a good option or not)
- Take at least 12 Int or Favored Class Sorcerer (to get the 3 skill points required at level 4). Otherwise Max Dex = Cha > Con > Wis > Int > Str
- The idea is to go invisible and toss as many spells with Targeted attack rolls (aka Scorching Ray) as possible (probably would have to used quickened Scorching Rays as well)
I don't really have any other feat list to try other than the generic Spell Focus (Evocation), GSF (Evocation), etc (for when I FINALLY get sneak attack on spells like Fireball, etc). Preferred Spell might be nice to be able to metamagic on the fly with a few spells I guess.
I'm also not super dead set on Ninja/Sorcerer (I know the obvious is Rogue/Wizard, but I do like to play weird combinations sometimes) so any other suggestions class-wise would be fine.
Finally, yes I know blasting is not optimal for a caster, but I like the idea and was wondering how to make it at least pretty good. Feel free to use any Paizo official material (no 3rd party) and assume WBL, 20 pt buy, and getting to at least level 14-15.
Thanks in advance!
I suggest you use Fiery Shuriken as a go-to attack spell. You can throw one per round for the sneak attack and then cast something else. Use vanishing trick to setup a shuriken+ray in a single turn for massive burst.
I know that someone might disagree but strictly reading RAW extra damage per die also applies to the sneak attack dices so crossblooded sorc is the best option for pure damage if you can actually survive till level 8 when you get second level spells :/ (actually you already have second level slots at level 7 even with 0 spell knowed so i suggest stacking up money to invest in 1-2 pages of spell known at that point.)
Sorry, but Scorching Ray won't work.
Sneak Attack: Can I add sneak attack damage to simultaneous attacks from a spell?
No. For example, scorching ray fires simultaneous rays at one or more targets, and the extra damage is only added once to one ray, chosen by the caster when the spell is cast.
Spell-based attacks which are not simultaneous, such as multiple attacks per round by a 8th-level druid using flame blade, may apply sneak attack damage to each attack so long as each attack qualifies for sneak attack (the target is denied its Dex bonus or the caster is flanking the target).
—Pathfinder Design Team, 06/19/13
In the same vein, make sure that you're only using one Fiery Shuriken each round, or else you won't get sneak attack damage on them all.
Another idea is to take Reach Spell and use it on touch attack spells, especially ones that grant you multiple attacks like Chill Touch. At level 7, assuming you took Magical Knack for +2 CL, you're getting 6 attacks that each deal 1d6 cold damage. On a failed Fortitude save, these also deal 1 point of strength damage, weakening enemies even further. If that wasn't good enough, it can Panic undead for 1d4+CL rounds on a failed Will save, has no cap on the number of attacks it grants, can be used during a full attack to deliver multiple charges that all gain sneak attack, AND Reach Chill Touch is only a level 2 spell!
Edit: You can use this in conjunction with Fiery Shuriken starting at Level 7 to get two sneak attacks each round, or three if you've been Hasted. Hope you have enough dice, cause that's 1d8+8d6 damage if hasted during a full attack (not counting modifiers) plus a possible 2 strength damage. You've got someone to cast Greater Invisibility by now, right?
Nice call on scorching ray and reach spell.
Would it be worth it to use Reach Shocking Grasp for this build as well for burst? Obviously with Flaming Shuriken and Chill touch for sustain, this adds a little more versatility in terms of elemental type damage but then that ruins the Draconic bloodline +1 damage per die for elemental matching (but of course Orc will work for the all).
Also yes, Magical Knack would be a must, as well as Varisian Tatoo for Evocation (or possibly Conjuration depending on my spell selection choice) to up my caster level. That would make my caster level equal to my character level for at least that school.