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So it’s been several years since the arcane trickster has been published. A ridiculous amount of content has been delivered to us and the majority of the information on this prestige class is simply outdated. For example, entry at level 5 is simple enough with rogue 1/wizard 3 and the accomplished sneak attacker feat.
My question to the boards is thus: what does the arcane trickster of modern day pathfinder look like?
I know there are likely other ways of getting the feel and doing what it does better or whatever, but I am specifically interested in producing an arcane trickster via the prestige class.
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I am currently playing one that started with Unchained Rogue 1, then moved into Warlock Vigilante 6, then finally Arcane Trickster levels. He is a blast to play. More Rogue-like than the Wizard version at the expense of some casting power. (You could do it with 1 less Warlock Vigilante level, but I wanted the extra vigilante talent at level 6)
Accomplished Sneak Attacker was the game-changer, and transformed arcane trickster from a handicap gimmick build to something that is actually an interesting and powerful choice. Now that it's a solid general-purpose caster prestige class, you can take it in pretty much any direction you want and it'll be good. It's a bit questionable to pick anything other than a 9-level caster in my opinion, and you'll probably want the magical knack trait, but beyond that and the obligatory accomplished sneak attacker the builds can go in completely divergent directions. For sneak attacking class there are plenty of options; URogue, Vivisectionist Alchemist, Snakebite Striker Brawler, probably half a dozen others that I'm not even thinking of off the top of my head; plenty of freedom there to pick and choose.
I agree that accomplished sneak attacker definitely changes the game entirely for the prestige class. Are there any other feats that greatly benefit the class? Are there any options opened up that play to the class’s strengths?
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I'm greatly enjoying my fairly vanilla Wayang PFS Arcane Trickster (URogue/Wizard). With the usual Student of Philosophy nonsense he is an incredibly versatile character, absolutely ideal for PFS (which greatly rewards versatility).
The 1st level Blend spell is insanely useful. He has a Mauler Owl familiar so he has had flight available since level 4 (pretty much non combat flight as the Owl is quite fragile).
He doesn't overpower the game (I'm strange in that I prefer my PFS characters to NOT overpower the game :-)) but he can ALWAYS contribute regardless of the mission or team. Sometimes he is essentially a rogue with some spell support, sometimes he is the face, sometimes he is essentially a sneaky wizard. He has so many options that do NOT involve spells that he can keep his spells for when they're really needed.
I love versatility and the arcane trickster has that in spades.
The versatility is what really brings me to the class. Obviously they have some damage potential, but, at least imo, the versatility is their real strength. What is your wayang’s build like? Are there any strategies you use to prepare for maintaining versatility throughout PFS scenarios? I bet the consumables PFS offers are really useful too!
An eldritch scoundrel rogue into arcane trickster loses 1/4 BAB and their few rogue talents, but doubles their rate of sneak attack gain and gets a couple of odd things from the class.
just throwing it out there. im sure many allready consider taking "Surprise Attack" from the UNrogue talents if they can (to make the enemy flat footed even if they acted so ' surprise spells' allow to sneak them with any spell.)
but if you can manage 1 more talent to sapre you might want to look at this combo:
explosive runes (no save in close preximaty) + Cunning Trigger rogue talent (triger any 1 trap you made within 30 ft as swift action) + lesser empower metamagic rod - think of Naruto-world's explosive wards tied to kunais for example.
if you manage to hit your enemy in a suprise round that is a sneak attack followed by explosive runes (empopwered) for extra 9d6 no save force and a 2nd sneak from the surprise spells ability. or if you don't think you'll hit you can always target the grid next to them (ac 5 to hit).
notice the explosive runes and their sneak attack would be delt to anyone who get in the runes radius (closer then 10 ft no save further ref for half).
best part? explosive runes has no material compunment and is permenenat untill dischared, so you can stockpile them. just keepem away so passerbay won't read them (don't go with them sticking out your pockets...)
Looking over some of the sources that seemed to have thematic connections to what I envision the role of an Arcane Trickster, Ultimate Intrigue seems to have a lot of cool options for the class. Conceal Spell, for example, really fits to the theme. Another thing I’ve noticed is that beyond accomplished sneak attacker (assuming you want level 5 entry), an Arcane Trickster build is very easy to tailor to the needs of your campaign and/or play style preferences.
EDIT: Another thing I’ve noticed is that rogue talents are off the table if you go the accomplished sneak attacker route. While I’d take spells over a rogue talent, the lack of mandatory feats for the build does make extra rogue talents a reasonable option. Any rogue talents that would be a must have for an Arcane Trickster that someone would consider in exchange for the 1 level spell delay?
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sorry to bear bad news blend is an elf only spell from the ARG meaning your wayang can not use it unless it is on a chronicle
5 Star GM boon :-). All my characters have access to blend (even the Core ones).
I sometimes feel a tiny bit guilty about it. But then I remember how much time and work I put into becoming a 5 star GM and stop feeling guilty.
@Gummy - I build pretty versatile characters at base anyway. So I have lots of scrolls, wands, etc. My spells include quite a few which are inherently multifunctional. And given that my spells aren't my only resource I can afford to actually memorize various utility spells. My base spell roll out includes control spells (eg stinking cloud, black tentacles), damage spells (snowball), utility spells (haste, Heroism, dispel magic) and rogue enhancing spells (blend, alter self, greater invisibility)
Sometimes the mission or party make up will make me memorize other spells. Eg, Summon monster if the group needs a meat shield, extra haste if the group has lots of martials, etc.
He's a conjuration specialist so I tend towards that school.
Accomplished Sneak Attacker, along with newer archetypes, have let me make my AT into a pretty effective glass cannon blaster / backstabber.
The spontaneous casting of patron spells has done wonders for versatility, and that's despite flaming sphere being a rather crap spell. (My second level spells are often the last to get used. Once I hit CL 7 I may actually start using some scorching rays instead of just wanting more snowballs, but we'll see.)
We had a session a couple weeks ago that was perfectly suited to him - we drew enemies out of their camp in three waves, I hit each with a fireball which left very little mop up work, and then on the final wave, when the big bad beat down our unmissable front line, I was able to land a couple of sneak attack shocking grasps (thanks to the +3 to hit that's still been held over from earlier editions after all these years). Basically, in combat, at 6th level, I'm either throwing 8d6 fireballs with my third level slots, or using shocking grasps or snowballs to hit for 5d6+3d6 SA. I'm easy to kill, but between Mage Armor & Shield, the rest of the party is actually easier to hit.
Meanwhile, when we get to scout around or go dungeon delving, he's highly sneaky and good enough at disable device that he can afford to accept the -5 for disarming traps from 30' away.
The only real issue has been acquiring spells since I don't get any freebies on level up.