Arcane Screwball

[Eltern]

I've been out of the D&D loop for about 8 months, and so I don't know if this is the right place to post this or not:

I'm wanting to make an "Arcane Screwball," gnome rouge/wizard. I've got 12, 10, 17, 17, 18, and 14 for stats. I rolled 160 gold. Now, what's your opinion on how to set up the character. I'm wanting to go to the Arcane Trickster p-class, I haven't actually read it, but from the description in the Epic Level download, it sounds like what I want.

I don't see any reason to not do rogue first, that way I get lots 'o' skill points. I also vaguely remember a "spell-casting prodigy" feat, which I think was really broken, that would be good, don't remember quite what it did, though.

(I only have the 3 core rule books, FYI.)

Eltern

 

[Vaxalon]

gnome rouge/wizard

I don't know what this "rouge wizard" thing is. Wizards don't usually have much to do with cosmetics. There's a "red wizard" in the FRCS, but I don't think they allow gnomes.

Or do you mean a multiclass between a wizard and a ROGUE?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

ok basically when working with a PrC in mind you'll want to work towards the requirements starting at first level if possible.

Arcane Trickester:

Alignment: Any Non lawful

Decipher Script: 7 ranks

Disable device:7 ranks

Escape Artist: 7 ranks

Knowledge (arcana): 4 ranks

Spells: Mage hand and one other of at least 3rd level.

Special: Sneak Attack +2d6


So as you go through levels make sure you keep covering those bases entill you meat them.

There is , IMO, nothing broken about spellcasting prodogy. I just started a new character that has it, works fine.

Basically it adds two points to your primary spellcasting stat to determine bonus spells and save DC's. You have to buy it at first level, even if you're not a spellcaster yet, and pick one class to apply it to.

Hope that helps, good luck with your character.

 

[Velenne]

The prereq's for Arcane Trickster are going to mandate that you be a Rog4/Wiz5, allowing you to take the PrC at 10th level. You can find it in Tome & Blood.

It's a good class because it picks up your Sneak Attack where you would have been if you had gone straight rogue. The tradeoff is that you get mage HD and BAB. Still, you'll continue to get your wizard spellcasting levels. What all this means is that you can rule out being a melee combatant. So if you're going to be using that sneak attack, best to use a ranged weapon and have a high dex. (Because you're a mage anyway. Don't let anyone tell you to use a feat on weapon finesse. You won't have what it takes to stand in melee at any level.)

If you want to be a thiefly rogue, specialize in Transmutation spells which offer a huge variety of spells useful to thieves. If you want a charsimatic rogue, specialize in Enchantment and get the Spell Focus and GSF feats. Either way you choose, Conjuration is a good barred school because it offers the least in the way of use for rogues of any type. (Yes, you could use a summon spell to give you a flanking ally, but you'd better not be in melee with your d4 hit points.)

I'll leave the rest to you. Hope that helps!

 

[Eltern]

Ack! Yes, I ment the thief, not the makeup.

Ah, thank you very much for those requirments for the Trickster, I never would have taken disable device, otherwise.

Eltern

 

[Velenne]

I don't know what this "rouge wizard" thing is.

Don't you love useless smartasses?

 

[Eltern]

Velenne, would there be any benefits to going illusionist, other than it being the gnome's favored class? I'm trying to think of specific spells in the two schools you mentioned, plus illusion, and thinking what would be most useful.

Because if illusion is not the school to go in, then I may alter my race. Possibly not, but I might.

Eltern

 

[SableWyvern]

I had a player make up a gnome heading for arcane trickster two days ago.

He's starting at 8th, and went:

Rogue
Illusionist
Rogue
Ilusionist
Rogue
Illusionist
Illusionist
Illusionist

Stats were: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 8. Bonus ability points both went into Wis.

He'll be able to take Arcane Trickster at 9th.

Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse (Dagger), Extend Spell, Spell Focus (Illusion).

End result is that he's decent with Rogue skills, has great a great selection of utility spells, and although he's mediocre in combat, his bab is ok (11 with all bonuses added in), and he's actually potentially useful in battle when sneak attacking with hand crossbow or dagger.

With your stats, you could easily give your character good Str and do damage when not sneak attacking.

 

[SableWyvern]

Just noticed your new question.

If you want the quickest path to Arcane Trickster without XP penalties, Illusionist is the way to go.

Also, there are plenty of handy spells therein, and if you want to focus on thievy stuff, it's not hard to give up evocation, conjuration or abjuration. Depending on what you're after, dropping Enchanment or Necromancy and Divination is also viable.

Illusion and Transmutation are probably the most useful rogue-aiding schools, followed by Divination and Enchanment.

 

[Eltern]

Looked at the Spell lists for transmutation and illusion, and I think transmutation wins. :-D Which means I'll want to change my race, because I do not want those penalties. So now the question is, elf, halfling, or human? The difference, number wise, between halfling and elf will be minimal, I think. But human is always a good standby....

Eltern