Rogue / Druid build for ROTR

[Sympaticos]

I play as part of a group of people all new to Pathfinder. We have been going through Runelords and just lost every member of our party (except for my druid who managed to escape) underneath Foxglove Manor. Everyone else is going to roll new characters to keep playing the campaign. Anyway, one of the people in our group wants to play a Rogue/Druid combo and I've been trying unsuccessfully to help him come up with a build.

He wants a skill monkey rogue that specializes in Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate that can use Druid spells/abilities such as Obscuring Mist and Wildshape to help him be sneaky. I've told him I don't think it's possible to build this character and have it be viable at all at higher levels but he is convinced it's what he wants to play.

The character will start at level 7. I'm just looking for some help with the initial setup... some feats/traits that will make the build more usable and give us a foundation to build on.

[Avoron]

Nature Fang Druid (Crocodile Domain) 6/Arcane Trickster X is the standard for this sort of thing, and it works quite well.

2d6 sneak attack, mage hand from the Two-World Magic Trait. The required arcane spell-like ability can be obtained through the racial spell-like abilities of aasimar, tieflings, tengu, duergar, svirfneblin, half-elves, or elves. Humans and half-orcs can also get one with Racial Heritage (drow) and Spider Step.

If you want wild shape, I would suggest Snakebite Striker Brawler 1/Crocodile Domain Druid 6/Arcane Trickster X. With Shaping Focus, you can turn into Diminutive animals.

[KutuluKultist]

It's not that difficult. A druid has such a powerful base that even an unoptimized build can still be strong.

So, a druid gets 4 skill points per level, a human with INT 12 gets 2 more and six should suffice. You could max bluff, diplomacy, intimidate, sense motive, perception and stealth with that.

The Serpent Shaman archetype get access to the Trickery domain, which adds bluff, disguise and stealth to your druid class skills as well as a number of stealthiness spells.

Such spells can also be acquired via the Nagaji specific Naga Aspirant druid archetype.

You can also consider a swashbuckler dip, which will add bluff, diplomacy and intimidate to your class skills while at least not costing you a point of BAB.

Even a level of rogue would not be horrible and 1d6 sneak attack can be a good advantage when you get 5 attacks as a velociraptor.

A level of Inquisitor is probably your best choice, though. It gives you all the skills mentioned as class skills, a few 1st level spells per day as well as access to the Conversion inquisition, which keys social skills off wisdom instead of charisma. Taking the Sacred Huntsman archetype will stack with your druid animal companion while Sanctified Slayer will get you the studied strike ability, which is better than a 1/d judgement.

Finally, there are always traits and the Extra Traits feat, which can make most any skill a class skill.

[Sympaticos]

I really like the idea of Serpent Shaman Druid with 1 level of Inquisitor... I'll run it by him. What would stat priority be with a build like that? Obviously Wis needs to be high, what else?

Also, if the Druid part uses the Trickery Domain, don't you sacrifice the ability to have a companion?

[Magda Luckbender]

While it would not be horrible for a Druid to dip one level of Rogue, it will only weaken the character. Druid/Rogue is just a poor combination. The Druid class is much stronger than is Rogue, and they work at cross purposes. One has nothing to offer the other. They lack synchronicity.

A friend of mine insisted on making a Rogue/Druid combination. He's now 6th level, and he complains about how he's not effective in combat. Duh! This is exactly what we told him would happen ...

Remember, the Primary Optimization Rule for all primary spell casters is never give up a caster level. A Druid is a primary spell caster. When a Druid takes a level of anything that is not Druid it gives up a caster level.

[Imbicatus]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

Remember, the Primary Optimization Rule for all primary spell casters is never give up a caster level. A Druid is a primary spell caster. When a Druid takes a level of anything that is not Druid it gives up a caster level.

Well, except for the before mentioned Arcane Trickster.

[Avoron]

The standard build doesn't give up any caster levels. It's only if you want wild shape that things get tricky. But I think it's worth it, especially if it fits the theme of the character.

Having to wait until level 8 to enter Arcane Trickster is annoying, but the prestige class pays off in the long term anyway. And 6 levels of druid opens up many of the archetypes that delay wild shape.

[Sympaticos]

We aren't really trying to be totally optimized and he's not really all that concerned with how well he does in combat. He's much more into the role playing aspect of the character. Druid with 1 level of Inquisitor sounds like the play style he would enjoy the most out of the suggestions so far. He definitely wants Wild Shape.

Arcane Trickster might be something he'd enjoy too though. Will have to do more research