Swift as Shadows vs. Fleet of Foot for Halfling Stealth Oracle

[Reynard_the_fox]

Opinions needed: which is better for a stealthy halfling?

Swift as Shadows: Halflings possess incredible stealth even while moving through obstructed areas. Halflings with this racial trait reduce the penalty for using Stealth while moving by 5, and reduce the Stealth check penalty for sniping by 10. This racial trait replaces sure-footed.

Fleet of Foot: Some halflings are quicker than their kin but less cautious. Halflings with this racial trait move at normal speed and have a base speed of 30 feet. This racial trait replaces slow speed and sure-footed.

The build in mind is an Oracle of the Dark Tapestry (Seeker archetype, Deafened curse) that would act as party face, scout/trapfinder, and divine caster.

I'm tempted towards Fleet of Foot, because I think with all of the things available to boost stealth, I should be able to pump my stealth so high that a -5 doesn't matter. The lowered sniping penalty is interesting, but I don't think there are many great ray spells on the oracle spell list. What about you guys?

[johnlocke90]

Fleet of foot.

You aren't sniping, so all swift of shadow does is reduce stealth penalty while moving by 5.

The thing about stealth checks is that its really easy to boost your stealth to huge levels(invisibility+silence for instance).

Movespeed on the other hand is huge. 30 feet means you are walking as fast as your other party members, so if you guys have to flee combat, you won't fall behind.

If you are walking from town to town, you don't need to be carried. Very useful.

[Heymitch]

I would personally go for Fleet of Foot myself.

And silence is a great spell for you, since you've taken the Deaf curse, and it doesn't hamper your own spell casting.

[I Hate Nickelback]

I've always preferred the tongues curse, but that's just me. Being deaf makes it hard to be the party face IMO. Of course, if the party has another charisma based person (sorc or pally for instance), you could ditch being the face. As for your mystery, that's a good choice.

[Heymitch]

A little off topic, but maybe your character heard the roar of an otherworldly creature, and lost his hearing as a result?

Might explain why (besides the specific limitation of Oracles Curse) a remove blindness/deafness doesn't simply remove the effects of the curse?

It's fluff, but it sounds cool for someone with ties to the Dark Tapestry...