Compensating for Low Str/Dex

[Wippit Guud]

The quick version.

Bard 8/Rogue 1/Lasher 1 - will take 10 levels in Arcane Trickster.
He has a Str of 7 and a Dex of 8

How can I make up for that shortfall, beyond using Str/Dex enhancers.

 

[hong]

The iconic compensatory mechanism is a red sports car; failing that, a small blue pill.

But other than that, damn, how on earth did you end up with Str and Dex like that? Even if you were a typical boom mage who doesn't worry about Str, a low Dex means crap AC, which means short-lived mage.

 

[Wippit Guud]

But other than that, damn, how on earth did you end up with Str and Dex like that? Even if you were a typical boom mage who doesn't worry about Str, a low Dex means crap AC, which means short-lived mage.

Being the multi-decade veterenn that I am, I prefer random rolling to stat buy. And hey, I got two low rolls, lets try a low physical character he utterly sucks in combat, but he's a god when it comes to city stuff.

But the combat stuff tends to hurt him.

 

[hong]

Heh. Personally, I would forget about trying to be a rogue, lasher or arcane trickster. That 8 Dex is just going to cripple you for most roguish work, in addition to making Weapon Finesse useless and nerfing your ranged attacks. Instead, play up the charm/suggestion/mind control side of being a bard, and get all the Enchantment spells you can. In combat, in addition to spells, you should hide behind the rest of the party and sing to buff up the group. Bards in 3.5 are awesome for that role, and even in 3.0 they're not half bad.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Well, the goal was to increase the combat stuff a bit (sneak attack) while retaining higher casting ability, so Arcane Trickster works. Plus, with the 1 level of lasher, he can threaten with the whip, so can stand behind the more combat-oritented people and still get in sneak attacks.

 

[Darklone]

Uhm, how do you get the +2d6 sneak attack damage prerequ for Arcane Trickster? Or did that change in 3.5? Duh...

Otherwise I agree with hong. Spells with Area of Effect and saves are your friends, use Colour Spray and similar stuff in low levels and boost your DCs like hell. For combat: Get yourself a tower shield and hide behind it. Use full defense with high Tumble and Combat Expertise and provide flanking bonuses for your buddies.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Uhm, how do you get the +2d6 sneak attack damage prerequ for Arcane Trickster? Or did that change in 3.5? Duh...

Level 1 Rogue: +1d6 sneak attack
Level 1 Lasher: +1d6 sneak attack with a whip (Arcane Trickers doesn't say where the sneak attack comes from, just that you need +2d6, and the DM agreed to it).

 

[jgsugden]

Either make good friends with the party wizard or bull a wand and use magic device: polymorph is the way for this fellow to go. You need combat stats to be effective in melee combat. Polymorph is the best way to gain huge amounts of combat stats.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Zen Archery (S&F) might help if your PC has a high Wisdom. It allows you to apply your wisdom bonus to ranged weapon attack rolls, in place of your dex. In 3.0 it would even apply to your whip.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Plus, with the 1 level of lasher, he can threaten with the whip, so can stand behind the more combat-oritented people and still get in sneak attacks.

Is this 3E or 3.5?

In 3.5, you don't need to threaten to Sneak Attack with a whip via flanking.

In 3E, you can't technically Sneak Attack with a whip via flanking even as a Lasher, except on an AoO.

-Hyp.