Trying to make a Non-Sneak Attack Shadow Dancer

[Suede]

I'm trying to figure out if there's a way I can make a Shadowdancer with a hybrid style class, such as the Magus or the Bard. I know I could probably do the Ninja if I want a class that will have a few tricks up it's sleeve to run at the SD.

However, I have a character idea floating in my head thematically, and I'm not sure if I can make it not be terribly useless in actual play due to the lack of spell progression once I go into Shadowdancer.

Anyone have any suggestions or should I figure out something else?

[blackbloodtroll]

Ranger, Slayer, or even Barbarian, or Bloodrager works.

[blackbloodtroll]

What do you want from Shadowdancer, and how many levels in the Prestige Class do you wish to take?

[Suede]

At least level 4 to pick up a lot of the tricks including the shadow and the ability to jump through shadows.

[BobtheSamurai]

If you're not set on the spellcasting aspect of the character, Swashbuckler or Daring Champion wouldn't be a bad way to go either.

[ohako]

I had an idea for a kapenia dancer (magus archetype)/shadowdancer build.

Hmm, maybe just go with kapenia dancer/bladebound for a magic talking scarf...

I saw someone had posted a sweet paladin/shadowdancer. No sneak attack there!

[Mysterious Stranger]

Have you thought of monk? If you take the feat monastic legacy and latter get a robe of the monk you will be doing the full damage of a monk. Focus on STR and take power attack, and tiger style. This will allow you to apply the penalty from power attack to AC instead of to hit. Almost all the required feats for shadow dancer are monk bonus feats so this gives you some flexibility with your other feats. Fast stealth added to the monks increased speed works really well.

[blackbloodtroll]

What is the concept in mind?

What is the Point Buy?

What Races are allowed?

[Hark]

I almost had a working Barbarian/Shadowdancer back in 3.0. With all that exists for PF you should be able to make a scary Barbarian/Shadowdancer.

[blackbloodtroll]

Hark wrote:

I almost had a working Barbarian/Shadowdancer back in 3.0. With all that exists for PF you should be able to make a scary Barbarian/Shadowdancer.

Very much so.

[Doomed Hero]

My favorite class to combine with Shadowdancer is actually Paladin. There is a surprising amount of synergy.

Requires a high point buy or good rolls though.

[Doomed Hero]

With the new Slayer class, it might actually be feat-viable to make a shadow dancer with the full Dimensional Dervish feat line. Until the ACG came out the only way to do it at a reasonable level was with Fighter, which didn't really synergize well.

[blackbloodtroll]

There are a number of ways to be stealthy, whilst Raging.

With the right investments, you can Rage, and hide in normal light, low light, bright light, darkness, against blindsense, blindsight, tremorsense, scent, all without cover, or concealment.

[666bender]

My favorites :
Monk for "blade " style character .
Lore warden for maneuver style weapon master
Barbarian for big hp shadow, grt movement and some rage powers.
My favorite - samurai or cavalier or mounted barbarian for one man army ( shadow , full ac, -1 bab front liner

[Hark]

666bender wrote:

My favorite - samurai or cavalier or mounted barbarian for one man army ( shadow , full ac, -1 bab front liner

Ooo! Are there any good ways to stealth your mount? A mounted combatant charging out of the shadows would be super scary.

[666bender]

Let's see :
Cavalier with archetype can have Dino as a mount , some got dex of 20 when large .
Use a belt slot for dex .
All skills .
Skill focus .
Armor with shadow enchant.

[Zwordsman]

Swashbuckler+shadow dancer is a build I'm eyeing so very seriously.
It'll be Flying Dagger or Inspired version. (requires agile enchantment in both cases sadly). So far it looks pretty good honestly. I'd pick up the dimensional attack feats if gm allows shadow dancer to count for it's prereq.

[Suede]

Blacktbloodtroll: It would be for PFS, and I'm eying up a a Suli for it. The concept is just a strength melee with a nice creepy shadow theme and some more tricks up his sleeve than move and hit. (IE the shadow and shadow jump, etc)

I'm debating Sword Saint Samurai after reading this for the challenge + Iaijustu attack.

[666bender]

Suede wrote:

Blacktbloodtroll: It would be for PFS, and I'm eying up a a Suli for it. The concept is just a strength melee with a nice creepy shadow theme and some more tricks up his sleeve than move and hit. (IE the shadow and shadow jump, etc)

I'm debating Sword Saint Samurai after reading this for the challenge + Iaijustu attack.

Sword Saint sucks, shy would ANYONE would ever pass a mount? it's like, doubling your DPR and survival options.

[Suede]

Because a lot of PFS is not mount friendly.

[Papa-DRB]

You may want to look HERE for some ideas on Shadowdancer.

-- david

[blackbloodtroll]

Daring Champion is much better than Sword Saint.

[666bender]

Suede wrote:

Because a lot of PFS is not mount friendly.

just go hunt master or small character...

[666bender]

let's gice it a go :

human cavalier:

arch type emissary + honor guard + beastmaster (they stack)
OR huntmaster
or something that keep tactition
lvl 1-5 cavalier
lvl 6,7,8,9,SD
lvl 10+ cavalier again.
str: 15+2=17 (+1lvl4) = 7 points
dex: 14 =5 points
con: 14 = 5 points
int, wis=10 , cha 8
order: dragon? sword? cockatrise?

full mount
shadow
nice bab

emissary allow good movement and feats, atrchtype with tactiotion allow to add team feats to shadow! (outflank, or free AOO feat).

[Suede]

I think I'm going to wind up doing Ranger after looking at the link you gave me Papa. Thank you guys for the advice!

[blackbloodtroll]

If you just want the HiPS, then you don't need Shadowdancer.

Another option, is a Heretic Inquisitor of Irori, with the Wisdom in the Flesh trait.

You can have x2 wisdom to Stealth, and with the Creeping armor enchantment, do it in Fullplate, without penalty.