Feat suggestions for aspiring Arcane Trickster?

[Gnome]

I have a player with a Halfling Rogue 3 / Sorcerer 3 planning on taking the Arcane Trickster prestige class who just got the 3rd level of sorcerer. I am looking for suggestions for her for a good 6th-level feat and/or future feats to consider. Currently she has Improved Initiative and Practiced Spellcaster. Stats are:

STR: 6 DEX: 16 CON: 15 INT: 14 WIS: 8 CHA 17

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Arkhandus]

Do you have Complete Arcane, Complete Adventurer, Complete Scoundrel, or Complete Mage? There's bound to be something good for that PC in one or more of those.

She could rely on invisibility spells and a shortbow for ranged sneak attacks.....taking Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (she's going to have a poor BAB), and Maximize Spell or Empower Spell (for any Scorching Rays, Magic Missiles, Acid Arrows, Lightning Bolts, Shouts, Disintegrates, or whatever).

From the Tome of Battle, Martial Study (Cloak of Deception) could be handy, allowing her to go invisible on her turn once per encounter, which'd provide an opportunity for sneak attacks. Probably best used in combination with a shortbow for her, making multiple ranged sneak attacks in one turn. It'd also open the way for her to gain Martial Stance (Assassin's Stance) later, at 12th-level. That'll give her +2d6 more Sneak Attack damage once she gets it.

Rapid Reload could be taken at 9th-level, in order to use a light crossbow or hand crossbow at the full normal rate of attacks instead of 1/round, replacing her shortbow for more damage. Then Weapon Focus (light crossbow, or hand crossbow) could be taken at 12th or 15th level, and Crossbow Sniper (from Player's Handbook II) at 15th or 18th level, as appropriate, for more damage and more range with sneak attacks.

If she's interested in just getting good with a crossbow, she could take Rapid Reload at 6th, Weapon Focus at 9th, Crossbow Sniper at 12th, Point Blank Shot at 15th, and Rapid Shot at 18th. Of course, with the poor BAB of sorcerers and arcane tricksters, she'll need to turn invisible with spells in order to have any decent chance of hitting stuff. And try dispelling any True Seeing or See Invisible spells that enemies are using, of course.

 

[Andion Isurand]

If you have Spell Compendium, Player's Handbook 2 or Expanded Psionics Handbook...

here are a few more ideas.

I would also recommend taking a look at Deadly Precision (EPH 45) and Telling Blow (PH2 83) which will help you make the most of sneak attacks, and trigger them with any critical hit you make with weapon or spell.

For one of your 3rd level spells known (when they arrive), one good choice might be Dolorus Blow (sor/wiz 3, SpC 70) to double your crossbow's threat range and autoconfirm its threats, adding your sneak damage to the crit (after the multiplier) via the Telling Blow feat.

I would also point out Seeking Ray (sor/wiz 2, PH2 124) as a good possiblity. It deals 4d6 electricity damage (no save), ignoring cover and concealment (concealment that normally prevents sneak attacks), and can be fired into melee at no penalty. A successful hit that deals damage also grants an unnamed +4 bonus on attack rolls with successive spell rays at that target for 1 round/level, including with more of itself.

If you take Eschew Components instead of Improved Initative... Heroics (sor/wiz 2, SpC 113) might also be a good spell for you, so you can grant yourself (or an ally) any useful fighter feat as the situations demand, as long as you qualify for it... such as Improved Initative and Rapid Reload. (Deadly Precision and Telling Blow are not fighter feats.)
If you take Point Blank Shot, you'd then qualify for quite a few ranged feats you can aquire via Heroics.

Also, Sniper's Shot (wiz/sor 1, CAd 157) is a good spell for making a sneak attack from any distance with weapon or spell, and its a swift action to cast. Guided Shot (sor/wiz 1, CAd 150, swift action casting) may also help you remove penalties from cover or distance.

 

[Gnome]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I was unaware of the Sniper's Shot spell; seems like it would go well with her Improved initiative feat to get in at least one sneak attack before closing with the enemy.

Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot seem like good options, too, and I found another good one that use these as prerequisites: Deadeye Shot from PHB II, which allows reading of an action to let off a ranged attack when an opponent is damaged by an ally, and have it count is a sneak attack.

Too bad that Switft Invisiblity isn't on The Sorcerer/Wizard list.

 

[moritheil]

Allow me to second the recommendation for Telling Blow, provided that you use a rapier or other suitable weapon.

 

[Deset Gled]

Silent Spell and Still Spell would be at the top of my list. Critical to when you need to be stealthy, or escape a grapple.