Strategies for the Arcane Trickster?

[blargney the second]

Inspired by the Tactics of the Illusionist thread, I'd like to brainstorm some effective strategies for the 3.5 Arcane Trickster.

Given that you can't Sneak Attack with spells (3.5), there is already a full wizard in the party, and character level 9 (Rog 3/Wiz 5/AT 1), what tactics would serve the best?

In terms of getting Sneak Attacks:
-Invisibility is a no-brainer.
-Colour Spray is great with the blind/stun possibilities.
-Hold Person is always good.
-Pyrotechnics can work as well.

How about skills, feats, weapons, or other spells? What other strategies and combinations could be useful, both in combat and without?

-arcane blargster

 

[blargney the second]

Does anyone have any ideas? This is the first time I'll be playing a mage since OD&D.. and there was a huuuge gap without RPing in between there! I would really appreciate any advice!

-blarg

 

[Hammerhead]

Why are you unable to use sneak attacks with spells? I mean, obviously you can't use them with Fireballs and the like, but anything that requires an attack roll, such as Polar Ray, is fair game.

 

[blargney the second]

Why are you unable to use sneak attacks with spells? I mean, obviously you can't use them with Fireballs and the like, but anything that requires an attack roll, such as Polar Ray, is fair game.

House rule. He found that Sneak Attacks on ranged touch attacks was too unbalanced. I'm inclined to agree, too! I'd hate for his Rog/Wiz NPCs to be pulling that stuff on me! *shudder*

So I'm left with Sneak Attacking using regular weapons, but not a whole lot of knowledge for how to pull that particular trick off...
-blarg

 

[gamecat]

blink surpasses invisibility in garnering sneak attacks

 

[blargney the second]

blink surpasses invisibility in garnering sneak attacks

Well colour me astonished! That's one *hardcore* spell! The 20% miss chance for me is a pain in the ass, but nothing a little Haste or True Strike won't help to get around

Thank you!
-blarg

ps - Is there a prestige class/feat/spell that lets you imbue a crossbow's ammo with a spell?

pps - If I cast Shocking Grasp and hold the charge, would it go off when I try to stab someone with a dagger? Specifically, would it go off when I beat their melee touch AC?