Need advice on an Arcane Trickster

[Dr Lucky]

Trust me, you only need three levels of Rogue

1: Rogue (max skill ranks 4)
2: Wizard (5)
3: Rogue (6)
4: Rogue (7, giving you 7 ranks in decipher script, escape artist, and the other one you need)
5: Wizard

That's just wrong. Since decipher script is class-exclusive to rogues, you cannot spend skill points on it as a wizard. Also, it's max ranks are based on your rogue levels only.

Check the 2nd paragraph on page 56 of the PHB.

 

[bret]

Trust me, you only need three levels of Rogue

1: Rogue (max skill ranks 4)
2: Wizard (5)
3: Rogue (6)
4: Rogue (7, giving you 7 ranks in decipher script, escape artist, and the other one you need)

Check again.

PHB p. 59 clearly shows the Decipher Script is a Rogue and Bard exclusive skill.

PHB p. 56 clearly states "If a skill is unavilable to a class (that is, if it's an exclusive skill that a multiclass character's other class doesn't have access to), then levels in that class don't increase the multiclass character's maximum ranks."

They give an example of Use Magic Device, but if you check the skill table you will find that Decipher Script is also an exclusive skill.

You need for levels in a class that has Decipher Script as a class skill. Although this is provided by a few different PrCs (such as LoreMaster), the easiest way to get it is to take 4 levels of rogue and/or bard.

The build that tleilaxu gave doesn't work.

Never trust someone that says "Trust me."



By the way, the requirements for Arcane Trickster are:
Any non-lawful alignment
Decipher Script, Disable Device, and Escape Artist: 7 ranks
Knowledge (Arcana): 4 ranks
Spells: Ability to cast Mage Hand and at least one arcane spell of 3rd level or higher.
Special: Sneak Attack 2d6

The easist way to do it with Wizard is Rogue 4 / Wizard 5.

Edit: Forgot closing quotes.

 

[Apok]

Ah, yes. The reason I forgot about that minor point is because no DM that I know of actually uses the exclusive skill max ranks rule. If you have the skill as a class skill then your total character level determines max ranks regardless of weather or not it's exclusive to only one of your classes. Also, if a skill is a class skill, you always pay 1 for 1 cost on it regardless of what class level you decided to advance in. Technically, the above are House Rules but everyone around here that I know of uses them.

If you think that seems radical, one DM I know is contemplating making all skills class skills (with a few exceptions) and giving all classes the same number of skill points across the boards. He's also trying to condense some skills that he feels are redundant which I sort of agree with (ie, Hide & Move Silent become Stealth and Spot & Listen become Perception).