Vote for this Shadowdancer Variant.

[Uber Dungeon]

keeping in mind that it is more of a caster then a rogue type class. I would give it the sorceror hit die, bab and saves (+ rogue's reflex). drop Evasion, uncanny dodge and Defensive roll.
then I'd give it Sneak attack on 1st and every third level there after (4th, 7th, 10th) and full progression spell casting class.
I may consider adding an ability like the arcane archers Imbue arrow (but maybe "Imbue Dagger") I don't think that ability would make it over powered but maybe fancy it up a bit :b

 

[Empirate]

This is, in actuality, no caster: the prereqs put a greater focus on sneak attack than casting, and so do the class' mechanics. The changes you suggest totally get rid of the PrC's concept, as far as I can see.

 

[Jimlock]

Didn't the original Shadow Dancer have Evasion?

He does. But you get evasion from the rogue anyway. Even more Evasion does not stuck to make for improved evasion. This only happens with uncanny dodge.

 

[anest1s]

The best spells you will ever cast are lvl 4 arcane spells with 7 caster levels.

I feel I would be a better wizard as an assassin, and also a better rogue at the same time.

Summon Shadow and Shadow Jump are interesting, but you can get magic items to do the jump think and I don't find summon Shadow that good.

I am sure that if one can try hard, he can play it without being underpowered...but he would have to use feats spells and whatever from every book available, just to be good at it. And then he will be good when fighting in shadows.

To sum up, its not too bad; but its limited, demanding and not good enough to justify all the complexity of it.

As a DM I would use them, because they would choose the time and place they would hit- but as a player I would find tiring to play them. I voted as a player btw.

 

[Visigani]

This is effectively a rogue that is eternally flanking with better saves, fewer skill points and lots and lots of special abilities.

It's the Assassin with an Undead Animal Companion and a host of other goodies.

 

[Empirate]

True enough, although Sneak Attack, casting and HD all take a hit to make up for it. Even going in with Assassin to fulfill the casting prereq, you'll only max out Assassin spellcasting at rather high levels.

 

[Jimlock]

The best spells you will ever cast are lvl 4 arcane spells with 7 caster levels.

Yep...I'm kinda feeling that this is the major drawback...

I feel I would be a better wizard as an assassin, and also a better rogue at the same time.

hmm well. IMO wizard's spells are better that the assassin's (up to 4th lvl that is). Moreover, the wizards spell list is bigger.

Summon Shadow and Shadow Jump are interesting, but you can get magic items to do the jump think and I don't find summon Shadow that good.

No offense, honestly, but this is an argument i could never understand... and it is one used by many...:

"THIS class ability is not valuable/powerful, because you can get THIS magical item to do the same thing"

I imagine this can be said for most, if not all, class abilities....right?

....

Visigani, is it me or did you forget to vote?

 

[anest1s]

hmm well. IMO wizard's spells are better that the assassin's (up to 4th lvl that is). Moreover, the wizards spell list is bigger.

Yeah like I said it isn't that the class is bad...it is that you will need to optimize and plan everything to the finest detail to make it good for a PC

No offense, honestly, but this is an argument i could never understand... and it is one used by many...:

"THIS class ability is not valuable/powerful, because you can get THIS magical item to do the same thing"

I imagine this can be said for most, if not all, class abilities....right?

Well its just that this is a rather cheap one...and you lose spells to do get that...and the cost from the magic you lose is higher than the benefit of that ability. Or maybe I am wrong...I haven't calculated it. But thats how I feel about it

 

[Jimlock]

Well its just that this is a rather cheap one...and you lose spells to do get that...and the cost from the magic you lose is higher than the benefit of that ability. Or maybe I am wrong...I haven't calculated it. But thats how I feel about it

ok...now that is a different argument, and to that i do not object

 

[Visigani]

Visigani, is it me or did you forget to vote?

Mlarg.


This class feels too "gamey" for me. It wouldn't feel fair to vote on it.

By "gamey" I mean it uses fluff to cover up crunch weaknesses by trading them for other less valuable crunch weaknesses.


d4 is zomg terribad!

but... a rogue that is landing sneak attacks with almost every strike?

And has a toolbox of spells... including many of the arguably most potent low level abilities?

It becomes even more gamey when you note that even the traded in weaknesses (such as the reduction in skill points which is easily offset by the focus on intelligence) aren't really all that substantial.