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General Tabletop Discussion
Character Builds & Optimization
Optimization Advice Sought for a Knife-Fighter
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<blockquote data-quote="Qik" data-source="post: 5663867" data-attributes="member: 6673727"><p>I've been contemplating a similar build for a while now. Although I'm not sure if I'm going to wind up using it (primarily because it relies so much on getting sneak attack + full attack in order to achieve high amounts of damage, which I fear is too conditional for my liking), here are a few thoughts I've had. Take what you will.</p><p></p><p>- The Knife Master archetype is nice - d8 sneak attack isn't huge, but every bit helps.</p><p></p><p>- I had considered going two levels of rogue, then vivisectionist/preservationist from there. This nets you:</p><p>----Full sneak attack progression.</p><p>----Evasion.</p><p>----An extra combat feat (if you take combat trick as your lvl 2 rogue talent).</p><p>----A summonable flanking buddy (via the preservationist - I would rely primarily on the animals with the highest hit dice/AC, since I'm looking for them to survive as long as possible, rather than do damage).</p><p>----Access to a mutagen, which gives you +4 dex (likely your key attribute) and +2 natural armor.</p><p>----Discoveries such as spontaneous healing (heal 5 HP/day per 2 alchemist levels, kicks in automatically when you reach 0 HP) and tumor familiar (which gives Alertness, say, +2 will saves if you choose a hedgehog).</p><p>----The River Rat trait gives +1 damage when using daggers; not huge, but again, every bit helps.</p><p>----The Craven racial trait gives +1 attack when flanking; I think I prefer Underfoot, personally (+1 AC when fighting foes larger than yourself, which is probably often), but that's another option.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, just some thoughts I had had. Not sure if going straight alchemist isn't better (you lose a combat feat, evasion, and some handy class skills, but you gain full spell progression), but if I were to do this build, this is probably how I would approach it at this point (I think I'd find it more interesting than a straight rogue). Here's the build I had sketched out for myself, if it helps any; as you can see, it's not completely finalized.</p><p></p><p>str: 10 (2) -2 racial </p><p> dex: 19 (13) +2 racial</p><p> con: 14 (5) </p><p> int: 13 (3)</p><p> wis: 9 (-1) </p><p> cha: 10 (-2) +2 racial</p><p> </p><p></p><p> <u>Feats/Talents/Discoveries</u>:</p><p> - Weapon Finesse (lvl 1)</p><p> - Two-weapon Fighting (rogue 2 - combat trick - *at lvl 2)</p><p> - Weapon Focus (Dagger) (lvl 3)</p><p> - Discovery: Tentacle (place as tail) (*at lvl 4)</p><p> - Piranha Strike (lvl 5)</p><p> - Discovery: Tumor familiar (*at lvl 6)</p><p> ---- Compsognathus (+4 initiative)</p><p> <strong> ---- Hedgehog (+2 Will Saves)</strong></p><p> ---- Turtle (+1 Natural Armor Bonus)</p><p> - Dazzling Display? (lvl 7)</p><p> - Discovery: Bottled Ooze (*at lvl 8)</p><p> - Improved Two-weapon Fighting (lvl 9)</p><p> - Shatter Defenses?</p><p></p><p> <u>Possible Feats</u>:</p><p> - Quick Draw (if using a sling)</p><p> - Iron Will (lvl 5? or 3?)</p><p> - Dazzling Display & Shatter Defenses - latter makes opponents flat-footed for one round when struck if shaken</p><p> </p><p></p><p> <u>Racial Traits</u>:</p><p> - Underfoot : +1 Dodge bonus to AC when fighting an opponent who's medium or larger</p><p> - Sure-footed: +2 acrobatics and climb</p><p> - Keen Senses: +2 Perception</p><p> - Small: +1 AC, +1 attack, -1 CMB, -1 CMD, +4 Stealth</p><p> - Fearless: +2 against fear</p><p> </p><p></p><p> <u>Possible Traits</u>:</p><p> - Blade of the Society: +1 damage bonus to sneak attacks</p><p> <strong>or</strong> Dirty Fighter: +1 damage when flanking</p><p> - River Rat: +1 Swim, Swim as class skill, +1 damage with a dagger</p><p> - Magical Knack (if Preservationist)</p><p> - Indomitable Faith</p><p> </p><p></p><p> <u>Skills</u>: Acrobatics +10 (1), Diplomacy +4 (1 rank), Disable Device +8 (1 rank), Intimidate +4 (1 rank), Knowledge (Local) +5 (1 rank), Perception +5 (1 rank), Sense Motive +3 (1 rank), Sleight of Hand +8 (1 rank), Stealth +12 (1 rank)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Qik, post: 5663867, member: 6673727"] I've been contemplating a similar build for a while now. Although I'm not sure if I'm going to wind up using it (primarily because it relies so much on getting sneak attack + full attack in order to achieve high amounts of damage, which I fear is too conditional for my liking), here are a few thoughts I've had. Take what you will. - The Knife Master archetype is nice - d8 sneak attack isn't huge, but every bit helps. - I had considered going two levels of rogue, then vivisectionist/preservationist from there. This nets you: ----Full sneak attack progression. ----Evasion. ----An extra combat feat (if you take combat trick as your lvl 2 rogue talent). ----A summonable flanking buddy (via the preservationist - I would rely primarily on the animals with the highest hit dice/AC, since I'm looking for them to survive as long as possible, rather than do damage). ----Access to a mutagen, which gives you +4 dex (likely your key attribute) and +2 natural armor. ----Discoveries such as spontaneous healing (heal 5 HP/day per 2 alchemist levels, kicks in automatically when you reach 0 HP) and tumor familiar (which gives Alertness, say, +2 will saves if you choose a hedgehog). ----The River Rat trait gives +1 damage when using daggers; not huge, but again, every bit helps. ----The Craven racial trait gives +1 attack when flanking; I think I prefer Underfoot, personally (+1 AC when fighting foes larger than yourself, which is probably often), but that's another option. Anyway, just some thoughts I had had. Not sure if going straight alchemist isn't better (you lose a combat feat, evasion, and some handy class skills, but you gain full spell progression), but if I were to do this build, this is probably how I would approach it at this point (I think I'd find it more interesting than a straight rogue). Here's the build I had sketched out for myself, if it helps any; as you can see, it's not completely finalized. str: 10 (2) -2 racial dex: 19 (13) +2 racial con: 14 (5) int: 13 (3) wis: 9 (-1) cha: 10 (-2) +2 racial [U]Feats/Talents/Discoveries[/U]: - Weapon Finesse (lvl 1) - Two-weapon Fighting (rogue 2 - combat trick - *at lvl 2) - Weapon Focus (Dagger) (lvl 3) - Discovery: Tentacle (place as tail) (*at lvl 4) - Piranha Strike (lvl 5) - Discovery: Tumor familiar (*at lvl 6) ---- Compsognathus (+4 initiative) [B] ---- Hedgehog (+2 Will Saves)[/B] ---- Turtle (+1 Natural Armor Bonus) - Dazzling Display? (lvl 7) - Discovery: Bottled Ooze (*at lvl 8) - Improved Two-weapon Fighting (lvl 9) - Shatter Defenses? [U]Possible Feats[/U]: - Quick Draw (if using a sling) - Iron Will (lvl 5? or 3?) - Dazzling Display & Shatter Defenses - latter makes opponents flat-footed for one round when struck if shaken [U]Racial Traits[/U]: - Underfoot : +1 Dodge bonus to AC when fighting an opponent who's medium or larger - Sure-footed: +2 acrobatics and climb - Keen Senses: +2 Perception - Small: +1 AC, +1 attack, -1 CMB, -1 CMD, +4 Stealth - Fearless: +2 against fear [U]Possible Traits[/U]: - Blade of the Society: +1 damage bonus to sneak attacks [B]or[/B] Dirty Fighter: +1 damage when flanking - River Rat: +1 Swim, Swim as class skill, +1 damage with a dagger - Magical Knack (if Preservationist) - Indomitable Faith [U]Skills[/U]: Acrobatics +10 (1), Diplomacy +4 (1 rank), Disable Device +8 (1 rank), Intimidate +4 (1 rank), Knowledge (Local) +5 (1 rank), Perception +5 (1 rank), Sense Motive +3 (1 rank), Sleight of Hand +8 (1 rank), Stealth +12 (1 rank) [/QUOTE]
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