My first "Custom" class attempt- 12 rogue \ 6 ranger \ 2 paladin assassin

[Such755]

So when I got to do my rogue life I went with assassin (Before all the recent changes) and I fell in love with it.
Now I want to play another assassin, so I thought "What could be an even more interesting build?"
So I came up with this:

12/6/2 Rogue / Ranger / Paladin Shadar Kai*:

12 rogue will get me:
6d6 sneak attack, improved evasion and almost all the treats you can get from the assassin's tree

6 ranger will get me:
Some free feats (TWF and ITWF mostly)
3d6 sneak attack (For a total of 9d6 which is 1d6 less than a pure rogue)
Exposing strike - cooldown of 6 seconds, for 4 seconds it renders a target vulnerable to sneak attack - My main reason to add 6 ranger

2 paladin will get me:
A few extra saves (10 base charisma + 6 tome + 8 item = +7 more to all saves)

Shadar kai will get me +1 int

Starting stats (36 point):
Str: 10
Dex: 14
Con: 16
Int: 18
Wis: 8
Char: 10

All levelups into Int, +6 tomes used all across (Although only a +3 dex is mandatory for this build)

Levelup order:
lvl 1: Rogue
lvl 2-7: Ranger
lvl 8-9: Paladin
lvl 10-20: Rogue

Feats in order:
Level 1: Insightful reflexes
Level 2: Favored enemy: Evil outsider (free: Bow strength)
Level 3: Precision (free: Rapid shot, two weapon fighting)
Level 4: (free: diehard)
Level 5: (Free precise shot)
Level 6: Completionist, Favored enemy: Undead
Level 7: (Free: Improved TWF, manyshot)
Level 8: Favored by Amauntor
Level 9: Improved critical: Pierce
Level 12: Greater TWF
Level 15: Hamstring
Level 18: Past life: Rogue, improved evasoin
Level 21: Overwhelming critical
Level 24: Improved sneak attack
Level 26: Perfect TWF
Level 27: Epic reflexes
Level 28: Elusive target

Enhancements:
Assassin (37 AP Spent):
Core:
Knife in the Darkness
Dagger in the back
Assassin's trick
Nimbleness
Tier 1:
Sneak attack training
Stealthy (2/3)
Tier 2:
Sneak attack training
Venomed blade (2/3)
Tier 3:
Int
Sneak attack training
Critical accuracy (3/3)
Tier 4:
Critical damage (3/3)
Killer (3/3)
Sneak attack training
Int
Tier 5:
Assassinate
Measure the foe (3/3)
Knife specialization

Harper agent (24 total)
Core:
Agent of good I
Int
Agent of good II
Int
Tier 1:
Strategic combat I
Awareness (2/3)
Tier 2:
Versatile adept I (3/3)
Tier 3:
Highly skilled (3/3)
Versatile adept II (2/3)
Strategic combat II
Int
Tier 4:
Int

Deepwood stalker (11 total)
Core:
Far shot
Sneak attack
Exposing strike
Tier 1:
Stealthy (3/3)
Tendon cut (2/3)

Mechanic (4 total)
Core:
Arbalester
Tier 1:
Mechanics (3/3)

Shadar Kai (4 total)
Core:
Shadar Kai grit
Int
Tier 1:
Keen senses (1/3)



This is what I came up with so far.
I'd like to know what you guys think of it.

Thank you for reading :)








*I chose shadar kai for 2 reasons:
1: Will start me off at level 15, and I'm sometimes lazy
2: will get me the past life I want
Otherwise, drow will be the best option for increased int.

[Jetrule]

You may find Thief Acrobat for 12% faster running better than Mechanic for those 4 spare points especially going the Intelligence based route. You will be fine on disable with that massive int. If you are serious about using assassinate you might drop something one point for Stealthy all the way up to 3 in assassin. The faster you sneak up and away the better.

[unbongwah]

There are two big drawbacks to heavily MCing an Assassin these days:

Lethality (lvl 18 core) adds +1 crit multiplier bonus to 1H melee weapons; w/Knife Spec, it turns your daggers or kukris in 18-20/x4 weapons. That is probably a bigger boost to your melee DPS than anything you're getting from rgr 6 these days (if not going for Dance of Death).
Your Assassinate DCs take a big hit: -8 from non-rog lvls, -1 from no capstone. You might still be good enough for N/H, but I seriously doubt you'll have HE/EE-worthy DCs.


BTW, Imp Sneak Atk still req's base DEX 21; so you should start DEX 15 (+6 tome).

[Such755]

Ah... Yes, I see my mistake.
Pure level 20 drow rogue will be the best and ultimate assassin, that's it.

Thanks for letting me see that before I TRed into that myself :)

[unbongwah]

I'll let others wade in with whether INT- or DEX-based Assassins are better. My impression is DEX-based is better if playing a DEX race like SDK or halfling as a pure melee build: +3 DEX from Shadow Dodge and up to +4 DEX from racial bonuses is a significant boost to DPS & Assassinate DCs; extra racial SAs don't hurt either. While INT-based is better if you want to invest in Mechanic and use xbows as well (tho feats & AP shortage become an issue).