Ideas for a too-multiclassed character

[Herobizkit]

First, I'd trade those shortswords for scimitars. Better chance for a crit, even if the paired scimitars is hackneyed.

I'd almost drop the Ranger altogether and go Monk instead. Monk 4/Rogue 5 and all Sorc the rest of the way. If you're gonna cast spells, cast spells. If not, I'd go all Monk/Rogue.

 

[Shin Okada]

First, I'd trade those shortswords for scimitars. Better chance for a crit, even if the paired scimitars is hackneyed.

I'd almost drop the Ranger altogether and go Monk instead. Monk 4/Rogue 5 and all Sorc the rest of the way. If you're gonna cast spells, cast spells. If not, I'd go all Monk/Rogue.

Unless she takes Dervish prestige class, short swords are better than scimitars as she can use weapon finesse with them. Remember this is a Dex based build.

And Monk/Rogue? That seems to be a really bad idea. Rogue already has mediocre BAB. Multiclassing with Monk will make it even worse.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm. Ranger4/Rog3/Sorcerer4?

Here's what I would do. Retain all those rogue levels into scout levels, take the Swift Hunter feat and later the Improved Skirmish feat. That'll do for damage.

Now spellcasting... That's tough, I'd second the Daggermage and Arcane Trickster options. Practiced Spellcaster will help a lot concerning damage. If she uses ray spells, she can add the skirmish damage to the spells... that'll help a lot against single opponents.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Given that he can only retrain ONE level
ranger 4 gives only+1 bab, animal companion 1 spell, and skill points

As was suggested trade it for Sor5, take Sor6 as the new level, combat casting if you dont have it and head for abjurant champion. I consider this PrC too strong, but since the rest of the character is not optimized, it is the best solution.

I have had to use that kind of balance before, like giving a bard/rogue/shadowdancer a spiked chain of tripping, because otherwise he was just completely ineffectual in combat.
The same player made a rg/wizard with a con penalty, speclized in all knowlege skills. He was great for mystries, and RP, but not so much for getting hit. He tried a level of fighter, and improved toughness. This nearly doubled his hit points, but he was still shredded like a wet paper bag in 1 round of an ambush, after making it all the way to 7th level.

 

[Shin Okada]

Given that he can only retrain ONE level
ranger 4 gives only+1 bab, animal companion 1 spell, and skill points

As was suggested trade it for Sor5, take Sor6 as the new level, combat casting if you dont have it and head for abjurant champion. I consider this PrC too strong, but since the rest of the character is not optimized, it is the best solution.

But that will make her into Rogue 3/Rgr3/Sor 5. As sorcerer is not her favored class, it does not seem to be a good idea.

Without retrain, she can take another level of rogue and then start the Abjurant Champion class (If she does not already have Combat Casting, she can take it at character level 9).

 

[moritheil]

Depending on how far you want to take Abjurant Champion, if you take the entire 5 level progression you will get the martial arcanist ability which allows you to use your BAB as your Caster Level. So based on those two things, very difficult to dispel with a Shield spell that gives a +9 shield bonus. And being able to swiftly cast Abj. 2nd level and below. Or do you round up? Which would be 3rd level.

It's 3rd level when you max out the class.

 

[carborundum]

Thanks for all the tips, folks - I'd sent so many tips and ideas he almost fainted when he checked his mailbox

He's decided to go for Abjurant Champion - I think it was the imminent +9AC from the Shield spell that did the trick! That puts her AC one above the paladins

 

[Herobizkit]

And Monk/Rogue? That seems to be a really bad idea. Rogue already has mediocre BAB. Multiclassing with Monk will make it even worse.

You can use Weapon Finesse with Unarmed Attacks, plus a Flurry of Blows which gives you another attack as if you had TWF. In fact, many DM's (and I think even RAW) allows you to Flurry with TWF for an additional attack on top of the regular flurry. That's four attacks at d8 apiece - Dex fighters aren't built for damage so much as multiple hits. When she successfully uses Stunning Fist on an opponent, all subsequent attacks deal Sneak Attack damage. 3 extra hits at 1d8 + 3d6 + STR is pretty decent. PLUS, those 4 attacks a round all do Sneak Attack in a Flanking position. It's not a dumb idea at all, IMO.

 

[Darklone]

You can use Weapon Finesse with Unarmed Attacks, plus a Flurry of Blows which gives you another attack as if you had TWF. In fact, many DM's (and I think even RAW) allows you to Flurry with TWF for an additional attack on top of the regular flurry. That's four attacks at d8 apiece - Dex fighters aren't built for damage so much as multiple hits. When she successfully uses Stunning Fist on an opponent, all subsequent attacks deal Sneak Attack damage. 3 extra hits at 1d8 + 3d6 + STR is pretty decent. PLUS, those 4 attacks a round all do Sneak Attack in a Flanking position. It's not a dumb idea at all, IMO.

Ascetic Rogue is a nice feat for this build.

 

[phindar]

I played a Ranger/Rogue/Sorcerer in my friend's pirate game, and even though I knew it was a multiclass trainwreck going into it, it actually turned out okay for me. I went Ranger 3/Rogue 3/Sorcerer 1, though, and the sorcerer levels were just for Mage Armor, the occasional Shield, and Disguise Self. (One of the conceptual ideas for the character was he would use D. Self to camouflage his body when he was sneaking, although we never sat down and hashed out any specific bonus to his Hide checks.) Being a low magic campaign, his 0-levels spells were surprisingly useful, particularly Mage Hand and Message. Also, he got a lot of mileage out of wands like Jump and Ex. Retreat. The character was never going to win any awards for overall power, but was good at what I built him for, being a swashbuckling skill monkey.