Advice on "Arcane Rogue"

[zaarbuc]

I am starting a new 3.5 game this Sunday we are currently at the "what class does every one want to play?" stage. I want to play an "arcane/rogue". I am currently thinking spellthief 3/wizard 3 then pick up the master spellthief feat and PrC into daggerspell mage. Resources allowed core, complete, PH2, DMG2 and compendiums, other w/ approval. Comments, concerns, suggestions?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

So... by Arcane Rogue, do you want all the Rogue flavor with more spell options?

Would You Consider A Similar Alternative?

 

[parinho7]

Human Spellthief(1)/Conjurer(4)/Mindbender(1)/Unseen Seer(4)/Arcane Trickster(10)

ACF: Abrupt Jaunt
Feats: Able Learner, Craven, Extend Spell, Master Spellthief, Mindsight, Darkstalker, Persistent Spell, 2WF

Advanced Learning: Hunter's Eye

Weapons: Two Feycraft Speed Daggers
Equipment: Gloves of Balanced Striking

Persist: Wraithstrike, Hunter's Eye

 

[James the Newbie]

Any plans on looking at beguiler?

If you havnt looked at it before, its in the PBH II

It is basically a rogue with a useful set of illusion and enchantment spells as well as a few divinations.

 

[TKDB]

Any plans on looking at beguiler?

If you havnt looked at it before, its in the PBH II

It is basically a rogue with a useful set of illusion and enchantment spells as well as a few divinations.

Seconded. Spellthief/wizard might be more optimized, but personally I love the beguiler for this sort of thing. Mainly because I don't care for the hassle of picking out spell lists

 

[Wyvernhand]

It depends on what the OP wants. It soumds like he wants something more combat oriented. Beguiler is more of an intrigue style manipulator, while a rogue/wiz blend is more "I stab you in the back with my Scorching Ray" pew pew caster.

First rule of optimization is: thou shalt not lose more caster levels than required.

About your best builds here are:
Human
Rogue1/Wiz4/UnseenSeer2/StuffX
Spellthief1/Wiz4/UnseenSeer2/StuffX

Stuff can be more USS, Arcane Trickster, Spellwarped Sniper, and I've even seen Archmage in there for the Reach Spell High Arcana. I personally love USS, and recommend all 10 levels. The expanded learnings are awesome, and the persistant Nondetection is very nice.

As for feats, that depends on your level range. At low levels, Acid Splatter powered by Melt's Acid Arrow gives you an at will ranged touch attack that you can SA with, but at high levels it really loses its need as you get more and more spells per day. At high levels, I really like Persist Spell. Even without MM reducers, Persist + Hunters Eye and Cloud of Knives is pretty sexy for 8th level slots.

Otherwise, the usual rogue stuff. Darkstalker, Improved Initiative, etc.

 

[zaarbuc]

Thanks for the advice, I'll comment on some of the posts so far to give you a better idea what I'm looking for. I doubt my DM will approve the psychic rogue. I looked at begiuler before making the op but its not quite what I want. The rule I'm going for is more like: thou shalt not lose more skill points than required, also I'm looking at more melee oriented. Thanks again and keep 'em coming.

 

[Wyvernhand]

Unseen Seer has 6+int skill points per level on top of its already awesome class features. That's about the most you are going to get while still keeping full casting and 3/4 BAB. Thats more than Arcane Trickster, more than Spellwarped Sniper, and more than Daggerspell Mage. Its the clear winner as far as a truely skilled arcane rogue would go. You can also use the Advanced Learning feature to pick up some really awesome divinations. My highest recommendation is Divine Insight from Complete Divine. Its a Clr2 divination that lasts for CL/lvl HOURS. It can be discharged at will for a 5+CL (max 15) INSIGHT bonus on any skill check. That is the ultimate boost, if you ask me. Need to make that REALLY critical Disable Device roll vs the UBER TRAP OF DOOM ^TM? Pop this. Critical bluff? Done deal. Tricky UMD for strange artifact? BONUS. Diplomancy the pants off the bad guy? In the bag. Its so universally useful, you'd be foolish not to get it. Other great Divinations to pick up with Unseen Seer are Hunter's Eye (PBHII) which is a Ranger2 divination that gives you CL/3 bonus Sneak Attack dice. Oh, and its Persistable. If your game is undead heavy, Gravestrike (CDivine/SpC) is a Clr1 divination that lets you Sneak Attack undead for 1 round as if they were not.

Lots to love with this class. Its probably the biggest rogue bang for your buck. The other class features are awesome. The CL boost is really helpful for squeezing an extra SA die out of Hunter's Eye, while the CL penalty is offset by either Practiced Spellcaster or Master Spellthief, depending on which base you go with.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

The rule I'm going for is more like: thou shalt not lose more skill points than required, also I'm looking at more melee oriented. Thanks again and keep 'em coming.

Factotum. They make Rogues cry 'cause they can do everything better. Plus cast spells. Plus accomplish brief melee awesomeness. Plus can use Iajitsu Focus.

 

[zaarbuc]

Factotum. They make Rogues cry 'cause they can do everything better. Plus cast spells. Plus accomplish brief melee awesomeness. Plus can use Iajitsu Focus.

I know Factotum was my 1st choice but my DM said no.

My comment about not losing skill points wasn't directed at unseen seer but at taking 4 levels of wizard.

One concern about unseen seer though: your CL for all non-divination arcane spells is reduced. Comments?

Currently thinking rogue 2/spellthief 2/wizard 1/unseen seer 2/daggerspell mage