My first question is whether taking the Accomplished Sneak Attacker feat and one level in Rogue would satisfy the +2d6 requirement for entering the Arcane Trickster PrC. I'm looking to go Rogue 1 / Wizard 3 / AT 10 / Wizard 6. (The character is entering the game at level 9, so R1/W3/AT5 at the moment.)
Secondly, this is my first time playing a Wizard, or even an arcane caster above level 3, much less an AT. Is it more advantageous to go for a ranged approach and take Precise Shot and Point Blank Shot and use ray spells? Or go for one focused on touch attacking? I've tentatively taken Enchantment and either Abjuration or Necromancy as opposed schools, as the party already has an Oracle and Psionic-type. I'm unsure whether to go Evocation for my school and try to go blasty, or Conjuration or Transmutation. Having a 13 CON currently, the +1 bonus from Transmutation is super tempting.
Thirdly, would it be worth losing a second level of spellcasting in order to get a second level in rogue, and pick up Evasion and a rogue talent, as well as one more BAB and Ref?
Lastly, what sorts of spells would you recommend? I've read through both the AT guides and having seen an arcane caster played before I have a few ideas. Calcific Touch is amazing, Ghoul Touch is the only thing keeping me from outright choosing Necromancy as my opposed school, Fiery Shuriken looks great as a way to get a swift action sneak attack each turn in addition to the rest of your actions.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: Also just remembered another thing: Feinting and Improved Feint for the ranged sneak attacking rogue? Can you get that ranged sneak attack?
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Sure would.
Melee is a fairly dangerous game with your low HP and AC. Ranged is certainly safer, but it DOES take more feats to pull off.
I don't think so, personally. You'll already be down to sorcerer levels of acquiring new spell levels. I don't think slowing that down further is aided enough by the benefits of a second rogue level.
Don't forget scorching ray. I'm not sold on fiery shuriken, unless you have greater invisibility up. And unless you're using it to finish a foe off, what is the benefit of holding on to the shuriken and not throwing them all at once?
And as a note, don't forget about extra impromptu sneak attack. That ability is crazy powerful, and definitely worth a feat IMO.
Yes, rogue and the feat qualify.
Touching involves being closer to the enemies. So it's more dangerous.
no, not worth the loss in caster level to go another level of rogue.
There's a feat in ultimate intrigue that lets you feint with ranged attacks.
What sorts of feats would I need to consistently get ranged sneak attack with the spells? Impromptu Sneak Attack helps immensely (as does the ability to get greater invisibility a number of rounds per day, and the fact that his bonded item, a ring, will DEFINITELY be a ring of invisibility).
As for Fiery Shuriken I'd kind of forgotten that it's a ranged touch spell and his opponent would need to be flat footed to get that sneak attack each round. In regards to Scorching Ray, it gets sneak attack on only one ray, right? I remember reading about it in another thread, but now that I go back and look for it, it might be a 3.5 thing only?
Chess, do you remember the name of the feat? I can't seem to find it
Imbicatus: The original reason for going rogue was to go Rogue Unchained and get weapon finesse for free for those touch attacks, but if I can figure out how to make a ranged AT work I'll be looking at the other classes that get Sneak Attack ^^
Ranged Feint (Combat)
You can mislead foes about your aim with ranged attacks.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +2, Bluff 3 ranks.
Benefit: You can feint with a ranged weapon by
throwing a thrown weapon or firing one arrow, bolt,
bullet, or other piece of ammunition; this feint takes the
same action as normal to feint, but depending on your
weapon, you might have to reload or draw another weapon
afterward. When you successfully use a ranged feint, you
deny that enemy its Dexterity bonus to AC against your
ranged attacks as well as your melee attacks for the same
duration as normal. If your feints normally deny a foe its
Dexterity bonus to AC against attacks other than your
own, this applies only against others’ melee attacks.
Normal: You can feint only with a melee weapon, and
only against a creature you threaten with that weapon.
Unchained rogue 1/ Wizard (admixture) 3/ Arcane Trickster x VMC Magus is real nice. Pick up the Prescient attack Arcana and destroy someone with fiery shuriken.
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If you pick up a Valet familiar and take Feint Partner, your familiar can feint and you can sneak attack with one attack.
Sweet, I was going to grab the bonded item as a ring to make a ring of invisibility for cheap, but I'm definitely going for a familiar now because I love the idea there. Getting sneak attack with only one attack isn't any problem, because for the most part that's really all I need, I think? The only problem is that my familiar only has a +9 to bluff. Is there a way to boost that for familiars?
I think I'm going to swing melee and go for touch spells and evocation focus. I really /really/ want to go for that Magus VMC but I feel like I'm rather feat starved as it is, but it's a tempting offer.
The only think I'm feeling like I'm missing out by going that path is the ability to get that Ring of Invisibility for cheap, but I think I can resolve that just by throwing money around later down the road.
Sweet, I was going to grab the bonded item as a ring to make a ring of invisibility for cheap, but I'm definitely going for a familiar now because I love the idea there. Getting sneak attack with only one attack isn't any problem, because for the most part that's really all I need, I think? The only problem is that my familiar only has a +9 to bluff. Is there a way to boost that for familiars?
I think I'm going to swing melee and go for touch spells and evocation focus. I really /really/ want to go for that Magus VMC but I feel like I'm rather feat starved as it is, but it's a tempting offer.
The only think I'm feeling like I'm missing out by going that path is the ability to get that Ring of Invisibility for cheap, but I think I can resolve that just by throwing money around later down the road.
Hm, I'd have to dig up my Arcane Trickster notes when I get home, but I don't remember doing anything special to buff bluff. I think feinting is usually not too hard, but I suppose some enemies will just have naturally higher Sense Motives/Wisdom. I think there are a couple improved familiars that can get a reach attack, which is really nice for keeping them safe when they try to feint. A Wand of Mudball on your familiar is great for the same effect (have them ready it until your turn to make sure your enemy does not get their turn before then), but it won't work on targets immune to blind. Just a bit costier but generally safer.
Magus VMC is quite nice if you want to go more of a melee with tricky spells (Sense Vitals in particular) build than a evocation build. In the end, I personally don't think the extra damage from a single melee weapon attack is too noticeable if you are going for touch attacks. Other than having an expanded crit range; that alone could be worth it to you.