Idea ... Wizard / Assassin

[Demoquin]

I am playing at around lvl 5-6. Starting race possibly Drow (La buy off) or something with Darkvision. (Going through Underdark)



I am envisioning a Mage that is able to deal extra damage on spells through sneak attack. Able to flee from a fight, if needed. (Either HIPS or invis) and able to Death Attack (high int bonus



Thoughts so far are

Rog 5 WIZ 6 Assassin 8 ... bab 12

Craft wand
finesse
silent spell
practised spellcaster

whatever else you think it might need. Arcane Trickster may intrique me but i am away from my books.

 

[FalcWP]

Unseen Seer (Complete Mage) might be of use to you. You snag Silent Spell for free, its a full casting class, rogue's BAB, and an increase to sneak attack damage. More than two levels means everything other than divinations takes a hit, but this can be worked around with the Practiced Spellcaster feat (which you want anyway if you're taking levels of rogue and assassin).

One handy bit is that neither Assassin nor Unseen Seer has any major requirements beyond skill points. Something like a Wizard 3/Rogue 2 should get you in to either one. If you wanted 8 levels of Assassin (which you mentioned), you might look at a final build of Assassin 8/Unseen Seer 7/Wizard 3/Rogue 2, or, alternately, Unseen Seer 8/Assassin 7/Wizard 3/Rogue 2 (to get you 6th level spells).

Another option is to take Spellthief (Complete Arcane) rather than Rogue. It'll cost you a few skill points and evasion, but if you toss in Master Spellthief (Complete Scoundrel), you get a number of benefits. For starters, it means your spellthief levels stack with *any* arcane spellcaster classes for the purposes of caster level and spells you can steal. Wizards are arcane casters, unseen seers are arcane casters, *and* assassins are arcane casters. Hello, caster level 20 for *all* spells... since "your spellthief and arcane spellcaster levels also stack when determining your caster level for all arcane spells". Steal 9th level spells, cast 6th level wizard spells as a 20th level caster, heck, even get some 4th level Assassin spells in there. Plus, decent sneak attack and a death attack.

 

[Demoquin]

I dont have Complete Mage so what does the Unseen Seer do? Basic rundown would be acceptable or a complete listing



How would i get to 20th lvl caster in your example? Or what is supplying it?

 

[Winding Road]

How vital is the Assassin prestige class to your build? Of the elements you listed that you wanted, the only one unique to the Assassin is the Death Attack. A wizard can easily use save or die spells to the same effect, and without the three round wait time.

If you're interested on precision damage with spells, you might want to look at the Scout from CompAdv rather than the Rogue. Skirmish is easier to pull off than sneak attack, and if attacking with spells, you're only getting one use of precision damage per round anyway.

As far as prestige classes go, Unseen Seer is good for a couple of levels, but I'd also look at Spellwarp Sniper from CompScoundrel. It has 3rd-level spells, SA +1d6, and Point Blank Shot as prereqs. In five levels, it gives you 3/4 BAB, full casting progression, added sneak attack damage on rays, the ability to warp area effect spells into rays, Precise Shot as a bonus feat, the ability to coup de grace with rays, and 1/day free Empower Spell on rays.

I'd go with Scout 3/Wizard 2/Unseen Seer 2/Spellwarp Sniper 5/Arcane Trickster x. At 19th level, you're looking at the following:
* BAB +11 (not good, but if you're using ranged touch attacks and have a good Dex, you should be fine.)
* Skirmish damage +3d6 (+5d6 with rays), +3 AC (take the feat Improved Skirmish from CompScoundrel to increase it to 4d6 and 4 AC after moving 20 ft.)
* Caster level 16, 8th level spells (Practiced Spellcaster can bring it to CL 20.)

Feat-wise, Point Blank Shot has to be taken early on, either 1st or 3rd. Improved Skirmish can be taken at 6th and should be. That pushes Practiced Spellcaster off until 9th, with your added precision damage, you should be okay with a lower caster level until then. Everything else is wide open.