Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="StreamOfTheSky" data-source="post: 5944412" data-attributes="member: 35909">Definitely get Craven.  But OP's DM already lets him SA undead and undead are half the enemies (and unless the DM's an ass, that means by sheer odds, most of the other stuff they fight can already be sneak attacked).  So, if there is any other decent trap sense trade out there at all, get that over Penetrating Strike, IMO.  Spell Sense might be a good idea.For other feats, you absolutely must get staggering strike as soon as you can.  Any foe you hit with a melee sneak attack must save vs. a DC based on damage dealt (ie, stupidly high) or be staggered for 1 round.  You get to full attack, but they do not!I would not have wasted a feat on Martial Study.  You should just dip Swordsage.  It is so very much worth it.  For two levels of dip, you get: 1) weapon focus with spiked chain, daggers, and unarmed strike (and some other junk) by picking Shadow Hand for the weapons group; 2) maneuvers to help you either full attack or sneak attack, namely: sudden leap (move up to melee as a swift action), distracting ember (instant flanking buddy), and cloak of deception (greater invisibility till end of turn); 3) Assassin's Stance and one other stance of your choice -- Island of Blades and Chld of Shadow are both excellent; 4) Wisdom to AC...possibly not useful to you; 5) The ability to re-use your maneuvers in the same encounter (base recovery ability sucks, but Adaptive Style feat fixes it well).Pretty worth it to me.  You lose 2 rogue levels of progression, and thus 1d6 SA, but the stance is giving you back 2d6 anyway.Other cool feats:Backstab - From dragon magazine / crystalkeep.  Anytime you're flanking and the foe doesn't attack you, he provokes an AoO for you.  ...An AoO from a position of flanking...Darkstalker - From Lords of Madness.  Makes hide and move silently actually practical to use.Shadow Blade - Tome of Battle.  If you're using a Shadow Hand weapon and in a shadow hand stance anyway...why not add dex to damage on top of strength?Also consider dipping Hit and Run Fighter (Fighter alternate class from Drow of the Underdark) for 1-2 levels.  Gains bonus feats (as a normal fighter), +2 intiative, and the ability to add Dex to damage against flatfooted foes within 30 ft.EDIT: Sample buildRogue 1 / HaR Fighter 2 / Rogue +3 / Swordsage 2 (and then continue in rogue)At ECL 8, has sneak attack of +4d6 in assasin's stance, next level, rogue 5, gains another +1d6 and adds dex to damage (shadow blade).  In addition, he adds dex to damage against FF foes.  He has a nice initiative mod of d20 +3 +dex mod.</blockquote>

Verification