Bog standard Assasin

[kiori]

Im sure you have seen this message before, but please read and comment.

I am one of the new players to the game and as such hope to get some help with a build. The below build is a pure rogue specializing in assasination, after a bit of thought I decided to keep it pure in the hopes that the not so exciting capstone may one day change.

For this build 4 tomes would be purchased from the store, something I gave some thought to, as outside of subscription I have never paid for something in a game before, but have enjoyed the game so much that for my first build and to achieve what I want, I have done so.

The build is simple, but possibly Im missing something, Im hoping that it be viable and will be capable of surviving at endgame, providing what you would expect from a rogue, dps and the ability to deal with traps etc.

Please any comments about how I have arranged the build would be helpeful.

Thxs from another noob.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Varius Nerva
Level 20 Lawful Neutral Drow Male
(20 Rogue)
Hit Points: 222
Spell Points: 0
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 18
Will: 8

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Stats Modified Stats
Abilities (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 13 14
Dexterity 17 23
Constitution 13 14
Intelligence 15 16
Wisdom 10 10
Charisma 10 10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 1
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 7 22
Bluff 0 6
Concentration 2 2
Diplomacy 4 23
Disable Device 7 26
Haggle 0 23
Heal 0 0
Hide 8 37
Intimidate 0 0
Jump 6 25
Listen 0 2
Move Silently 8 37
Open Lock 8 29
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 3 3
Search 7 28
Spot 4 25
Swim 2 2
Tumble 5 7
Use Magic Device 4 23

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I


Level 2 (Rogue)


Level 3 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide I
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently I


Level 4 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 5 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II


Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide II
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently II


Level 7 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I


Level 8 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III


Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 10 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Cripling Strike
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II


Level 11 (Rogue)


Level 12 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II


Level 13 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Slippery Mind
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training IV


Level 14 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing III


Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III


Level 16 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Improved Evasion
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin II


Level 17 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost III


Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Iron Will
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy IV


Level 19 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Defensive Roll
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing IV


Level 20 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Cheat Death
Enhancement: Improved Spell Resistance I
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin III

[kiori]

I have been reading around about not going pure, and it seems rogue 18 or 19, with a splash of fighter or ranger would work well.

I have had a read around and the only build I have seen so far that is similiar is a 28pt dwarf 19rogue/1ftr, the benefits of this was an extra feat and an enhancement Fighter critical accuracy I, or thats what I noticed anyway.

I had a look at ranger and 1 lvl of that seemed to provide a feat for a hated enemy, which from what I have read would best be selected as evil outsider for endgame, also they can use healing wands.

I would appreciate it if a pro could comment on splashing 1 or 2 lvls of these classes, or a combination of, and what would be lost, aside from skill pts, which I would most likely take out of balance, jump and haggle.

Cheers

[BlackRage]

Accepting that your level up stat points are going into DEX:
Move 2 points from WIS to DEX
Move 1 point from STR to INT
Move 2 points from CON to INT
Dump the CON tome
(if you really want the CON tome anyway, it maybe worth looking at that 6in1 super-tome deal – also note that store tomes are ml3)
Boosting DEX and INT are important for your to-hit, AC, reflex and assassinates.

Dump oTWF and move iTWF to lvl9
Take iCrit Pierce at lvl12
Dump Iron Will and move Pwr Atk to lvl18 (although CE might suit you better it is debatable either way)
take gTWF at lvl15

Swap Improved Evasion and Slippery Mind
Swap Defensive Roll for Skill Mastery
Slippery Mind may not be worthwhile given your Will in which case take another Skill Mastery

Barb (Fast Movement, Pwr Atk, Rage) & Ftr (Feat) are both valid 1 lvl splashes giving increased weapon selection and extra HP (Class toughness). Pal/Rng less so for single lvl splashes. I favor Barb myself for the movement increase, but if you need an extra feat, Ftr offers that.

[kiori]

Yes all lvl ups will go into Dex.

I do have a question, is 18 int that critical to the build to start with( or from what I gather your saying, I cannot use +1 tomes to lvl 3?), most other rogue builds I have seen dont even have 16 int to start with, let alone 18, I do have a +2 int hat to give it as soon as I make it, so it would be 18 int pretty much from the get go, which I thought would have been sufficent initially when I first get Assasinate ).

reducing the str from 14 to 12 I can handle, rather not do it as from what I have read dex builds struggle against some mobs due to reduced plus damage to penetrat dr, but it is going to be a finesse build after all and I will just have to look for more +str items( will have a +2 str bracer to start with ).

The final query I have about stats is reducing con below 14, from what I have read at endgame I will need every hitpoint I can get my hands on, and am loath to lower it, yet again Im new so maybe 12 con is viable?

Thanks for the input it is very much appreciated and more is always welcome, I will just have to go away to the Char generator and start over and plug in the changes you have advised.

[BlackRage]

Is INT critical? No, but INT is responsible for your Assassinate DCs, so providing you actually want to use that ability it behooves you to ensure it is as high as possible. Since Drow get an INT bonus, maximizing that benefit would seem to make sense. Essentially it is not for skill points or skills but rather for your mains stay ability; however, it will certainly help your main skills and having the extra sp/lvl is nice as it allows a little more diversity.

The STR difference is merely 1 point of damage per hit. Irrelevant in the grand scheme of things – consider that you are generally dealing out 10d6 + Backstab + Rogue Enhancements + Assassin boni in Sneak Attack (roughly 53 odd damage). Are you going to notice +1 more? That is a mere ~1.8%... Hardly seams worth it. Plus this is before all your other actual damage is calculated in addition to your SA.

CON14 is sort of the average given that it is +6 buy points into CON: Dwarfs & WF get more; Drow & Elfs get less. Humans & Halflings get the average, so it all works out. 20hp is the difference at lvl20 – sure they are nice, but you will have acceptable AC (if you put some effort into it) and plenty of other survival enhancers (iEvasion for a big one). Thus 12CON for an Elf/Drow is not that bad.

[kiori]

Well I do appreciate the help, but I couldnt force myself to make my int, or even my dex so high, its my first build that I will take to end game, so wanted something more rounded, hopefully its not gimp, stats are as below.

base stats

14 str
16 dex
14 con
16 int
8 wis
10 cha

With my current gear at 6 they are

17 str
21 dex
16 con
18 int
8 wis
10 cha

I seem to be enjoying it so far, for enhancements I have been following a build I saw from Impaqt for a 1ftr/19 dwarf rogue, just I have more pts due my int than it, I have followed that build for splash as well in that I went ftr at lvl 2 for the extra feat and the fighter enhancement that adds +2 to confirm criticals.

Feats so far taken are as below
twf
finesse
Toughness
Power attack( took this at 6, Im a bit sussed about taking it at this lvl, but I didnt see anything else except possibly +1 pierce as being useful, I have tried to use Power attack from stealth initially, then turn off, seems a bit hit or miss so far )


skills I have been increasing

Search
spot
disable
pick lock
hide
move silent
Diplomacy
UMD
balance
Haggle
jump( no points at first lvl, all fighter lvl pts at 2nd put here )
tumble( only put points in at first lvl )

All skills are maxed except balance, jump and haggle, Im working to max out jump, then balance, once done I will have enough pts available to put 1 into every skill each lvl, so haggle wont be maxed, but it will still be useful.