D&D 3E/3.5 Arcane Trickster Spell and Feat Suggestions (3.5e)

[Rashak Mani]

Didn't find any threads covering suggestions... so I'll start one.. We are starting a high level campaign... and I'm not all up to date with 3.5e spells too. So I'd appreciate spell suggestions for an Arcane Trickster. (or should I chose something else besides AT ?)

I know that ray and ranged touch spells are optimal for Arcane Tricksters to deal sneak attacks. Especially scorching ray and melf acid arrow. Are there other (higher level too) ones ?

Any suggestions for a combat oriented Arcane Trickster ? Especially those that complement Rogue abilities and help sneak attack. We already have a high level pure Arcane magic wielder. So no need to cover some areas.

What about Feats ? I'm thinking about Combat Reflexes, Impr Invis. and Enlarged in order to get a lot of free sneaks.

( 14th lvl... so I'll be 3 rogue / 5 Wizard / 6th Arcane Trickster = 6th lvl spells)

Thanks...

 

[Voadam]

improved feint and touch attack spells is one path.

Combat reflexes, invis, and a reach weapon works just as well as enlarge person and takes a round less to buff up.

Improved precise shot removes the miss chance for partial cover so you can still sneak attack.

Going all missile fire feats is a viable combat path so you have ray spells and a bow you can cast magic weapon on and use either improved invis or impromptu sneak attacks. The arrow types come in handy against outsiders.

Also buffing yourself up with cat's grace heroism and greater invis can make you a pretty good archer despite your low BAB.

 

[niastri]

Disintigrate is a ranged touch damage dealing spell.... 6th level as well.

I think your best bet is the ranged touch spells, maybe take Create Wand as a feat and use that for offense, and use your own spells for buffs.

But Improved Invisibility, Sneak attack and Ranged Touch spells cast from a wand is a very nasty combo. The damage done by the wand doesn't have to be much either, the 0 level spell ray of frost still gives you your sneak attack dice, and you can save your higher power spells for later, when the more powerful baddies come out. It is also the next best thing to free for a 14th level character...

 

[shilsen]

You can't beat Enervation. Negative levels and (on a spellcaster) loss of one or more of the caster's highest level spells (or slots).

 

[Rashak Mani]

Do I need precise shot feat to fire rays and ranged touch spells into Melee ?

Can I get a second sneak attack if I cast a quickened spell ?

 

[Pielorinho]

Moved to rules.

I'm playing a character leading up to an arcane trickster; here are some of the things I've thought about:
* It's a lot easier to gain sneak-attacks via melee than via range: in melee, you can bluff to SA, and you can flank to SA, neither of which is an option in a ranged attack. I'm therefore choosing some feats and spells that are good for melee.
* Weapon Finesse is a strong choice: your character is going to need a good dex and a good int, and you don't want to have to have a good str as well. Also, your touch attacks won't get a str damage bonus, for the most part. Consider weapon finesse in order to get your attack bonus way up there.
* Point Blank Shot is good for that extra point of attack and damage on all your ranged attacks w/in 30', coincidentally the same range you'll need for your SA ranged attacks.
* Precise Shot is also valuable. Note that improved precise shot is a great idea for your character, but your character won't have access to it (your BAB is +8, and the feat has a +11 BAB requirement).
* Find out how your DM is going to rule the whole hide-and-attack-in-combat routine: the rules are not crystal-clear on this subject (specifically on whether you can SA from hiding, and under what conditions you can do so), and an unfavorable ruling can dramatically change the tactics you use.

Daniel

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Do I need precise shot feat to fire rays and ranged touch spells into Melee ?

Yes.

Can I get a second sneak attack if I cast a quickened spell ?

Also yes.

EDIT: To add:

Consider flipping through a copy of Tome and Blood. The Orb spells are particularly good for a ranged sneak-attack type.

Look into the feats in Tome and Blood like Arcane Specialization (a wizard's version of the level 4 fighter feat).

Consider working in a level of Monk, and delivering your touch attacks as part of a normal attack. It'd be the same as delivering all of your touch attacks with short swords.

Holding the Charge: If you don’t discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely. You can continue to make touch attacks round after round. You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates.

Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this case, you aren’t considered armed and you provoke attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. (If your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this attack.) If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Do I need precise shot feat to fire rays and ranged touch spells into Melee ?

Yes.

Or, more precisely (heh), No... but you'll take a -4 penalty without it.

-Hyp.

 

[Patlin]

Blink, Improved Blink (complete divine) and Improved Invisibility are great ways to get sneak attacks.

Point blank shot and precise shot help land them.

Practiced Spellcaster (also complete divine) allows you to take up to 4 rogue levels without giving up a single spellcasting level. (Read that twice. This is the A#1 feat to take. Doesn't help on number available, but it helps on a huge number of things.)

There are lots of ranged touch spells out there. Dragon had a water burst spell a while back that's a good first level option. Scorching ray is good at second. Disintegrate and Enervation have been mentioned, but did you know you can sneak attack with a meteor swarm?

I went with some item creation feats on mine. If your heading for epic (and you are Wizard based), I'd recomend Craft Staff. Master Staff is an excellent epic feat.

 

[uzagi_akimbo]

some more nice ray and touch spells

Negativ energy ray (1s t level necromancy, T&B) has pretty decent range and goes by touch and up to 5D6 damage.

Ice Daggers (Frostburn) will work nicely (ranged touch missiles) as well. There are also a bunch of higher level ray spells found in that book.

Spectral hand and Vampiric touch (or Ghoul touch, and whatever spells in that direction from the R&D series your GM willl allow ). Shocking Grasp, too.

Bestow Curse (espcecially in combination with spectral hand ) can get very nasty - a -4 debuff anyone, no save, permanent duration ?

If you had the ability to use bard spells, "Phantom Threat" (1st level, bard, CW) could get really out of hand, as the opposition would always be flanked....