D&D 3.x Arcane Trickster Spell and Feat Suggestions (3.5e)

[Saeviomagy]

I'd suggest:

Polymorph self, so you can turn into a 12 headed hydra and really rip loose.

Chill touch, so you can get multiple sneak attacks in melee

Mirror image, because it rocks.

Grease, because suddenly your opponent is balancing (and therefore flat-footed).

That spell that lets you see through magical darkness - ebon eyes I think, from a recent dragon. Combined, of course, with a darkness spell. All sneak attack, all the time.

 

[Pielorinho]

Yes--chill touch is an awesome Arcane Trickster spell. Basically gives you lots of sneak attacks useable by touch, along with a sweet little bonus effect of strength damage. Start the battle with a ray of enfeeblement, and then wade in with chill touch while flanking the enemy, and you can (hopefully) watch their combat ability plummet.

Edit: Ooh, I never realized that Grease led to flatfootedness! I would rule that the affected character is only flatfooted while moving, since it's only the attempt to move that provokes a balance check; therefore, they're not flatfooted when it's not their turn. However, I'm not sure if that ruling would be accurate; can anyone elaborate on this idea? Certainly as a player of an arcane trickster-in-training, I'd love it if the effect were constant on anyone standing in the area of a grease spell .

Daniel

 

[Darklone]

Don't forget that 5 ranks in Balance are enough to avoid being flat-footed (you may still fall though).

 

[Thanee]

One important hint: Do not overdo it with touch attacks. While they are a nice way and a good way to deal sneak attacks, you will have to make use of the utility spells at your disposal and your skills as well.

Practiced Spellcaster is a feat you do not want to go without for sure, especially if you are going to rely on spells to deal damage (SR issues).

Metamagic is not very good, since you lack the high spell levels to make decent use of it. Improved Initiative is always good. Combat Reflexes doesn't seem like a good idea, and would cover the same area as Improved Initiative, but the latter is simply better for this type of character.

The arcane trickster I'm playing right now (on these boards) has Spell Mastery and Signature Spell (Scorching Ray). This way I always have a good touch attack spell handy and still can prepare those nice utility spells.

So far, I have played two arcane tricksters from 1st to high level (19th and 15th) and I found the bow (coupled with nice buff spells) to be of good use in general (the archery feats are of double use, since they work for those touch spells, too), but sometimes you simply won't be able to make those sneak attacks via Blink/Greater Invisibility, therefore it's good to have a backup ready (either spell or melee (Weapon Finesse)). But be prepared, that you won't hold out long in melee, therefore ranged attacks are generally the better idea, I think.

I found the elf to be a the perfect race for the arcane trickster, because there is plenty synergy (Dex, Weapon Proficiencies or skill bonuses, searching for secret doors, Wiz favored class, etc), and I like elves. The halfling is also pretty good (especially now that Polymorph has no size restriction anymore). I'd also take a look at the Whisper Gnome from Races of Stone, but you will suffer multiclass penalties there, unless you get an extra rogue level, or a random wizard PrC for the 5th wizard level.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Li Shenron]

If not just for the image of it, I would follow the route of sneak + ranged spellcasting.

Spectral Hand is very useful because it will let you deliver touch attack spells (up to lv 4) from far away: Touch of Fatigue, Shocking Grasp, Chill Touch, Ghoul Touch, Touch of Idiocy...
Weapon Finesse will still help a lot since the spell isn't turn into a ranged touch attack, just a touch attack from range.

 

[Thanee]

Kinda OT: You use your Str modifier to hit with Spectral Hand!? How silly is that?

I'd probably house rule that to use the caster attribute instead (like Telekinesis).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Li Shenron]

Kinda OT: You use your Str modifier to hit with Spectral Hand!? How silly is that?

Well you get a +2 to the attack, but it's still a touch attack per RAW. For the rest, it seems to use your total modifier to the roll. It doesn't make more sense in fact as much as it doesn't make sense to use Str for touch attacks at all (but I cannot honestly say if it would make more sense to use Dex or nothing at all).

 

[Pielorinho]

For spectral hand, imagine that you manipulate the distant hand by actually moving your real hand as you want the spectral hand to move. Greater strength means you can move your hand faster.

Daniel

 

[Rashak Mani]

Thanee,

Your a big help... we've never had an arcane trickster played in our gaming groups... so I feel like I'm building a character without any previous references or basis.

I was thinking of doing a human being... not to into halflings...

Thanks for the tips and if you could just quickly tell me what your Arcane Tricksters were and what they had I'd appreciate it.

Jose Guilherme

 

[atom crash]

Feint: Deny your opponent the Dex bonus to AC and sneak attack away.

Combat Expertise + Improved Feint + Skill Focus (Bluff)

An Arcane Trickster is sure to meet that Int 13 requirement for Combat Expertise. Improved Feint makes feint a move-equivalent action: feint and attack in a single round, then take a 5-foot step if needed. Put max ranks in Bluff, for (level)+6 points without any Charisma modifier.

For more fun, the Persuasive feat adds a +2 to your check to feint.