Advice on Bard/shadowdancer

[Manzanita]

I'm thinking of starting a new PC who is a half-elf bard, planning to take the shadowdancer prestige class at level 8. It looks like he'll only have a 10 str (12@most), and won't have the extra feat to use for combat, so he'll be using a longsword say, for melee, and probably no shield.

This makes for a pretty weak melee character. Nor does it appear he'll gain much melee power in his class progression. Is this something I just need to accept? Or does anyone have some advice on him.

Is the bard not a good choice to progress to shadowdancer? Any advice for setting him up?

thanks.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

What will be your strengths?

Once you ditch the bard progression, you lose out of Bardic music, Bardic Lore, spells, and Bard-specific social skills.

Once you progress in the shadowdancer class, you get... a little sneakier.

I, for one, think that the shadowdancer class is pretty weak for the harsh requirements (ie almost all, if not all, of your available feats). Woop dee doo, shadow companions. Woop dee doo, very limited dimension door ability. Head for Horizon Walker instead if you want to dimension door to your heart's content

AR

 

[RangerWickett]

I feel that Shadowdancer should just be a high-level feat, prereq: Hide 12 ranks, Perform (dance) 6 ranks, Dodge, Mobility. I don't know anyone who'd take more than just 1 level in the class, seriously.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I feel that Shadowdancer should just be a high-level feat, prereq: Hide 12 ranks, Perform (dance) 6 ranks, Dodge, Mobility. I don't know anyone who'd take more than just 1 level in the class, seriously.

If you get there from Rogue, your Shadow Companions can practically guarantee you flanking every round.

 

[Rallets2]

As a shadowdancer you get hide in plain sight. very useful unless you are fighting creatures with blindsight Here is a use for it.

you can hide within 10 foot of a shadow big enough to hide in. So you could hide in your opponants shadow. I tend to run in. hide when i get within 10 foot. they have to spot me or they lose their dex. Ok so im at -20 but I have +28 to my skill curerntly.

but you will NEVER get to go toe to toe. Playing with finesse needed to play a bard / shadowdancer takes RPG skills. And can be more rewarding though slower going.

 

[sdt]

The Shadow Dancer seems like a poor choice for a non-mele bard.