Master Assassin: an int based build

[hi_sa1nt]

Can't wait for the build :3

Any suggestions? Haha, kidding.

Anyway, before I tr into a human... Drow seems kinda meh, since I can get envenomed blades in either the Drow racial tree or the Assassin one... and they don't stack.

I'm still leaning towards human. Just my personal preference.

EDIT: Meant to say, before I TR... I'm going to use the +20 Heart and get another Paladin PL... then TR back into a Human Rogue. Can't argue about more heal amp.

[Auran82]

Any suggestions? Haha, kidding.

Anyway, before I tr into a human... Drow seems kinda meh, since I can get envenomed blades in either the Drow racial tree or the Assassin one... and they don't stack.

I'm still leaning towards human. Just my personal preference.

I will be heading toward human as well, it will be nice to just have the extra feat (if weapon finesse does turn out to be the best option)

[hi_sa1nt]

Also what's your opinion on the EE Backstabber's Gloves? This is a general to all question, but I'd love Mellkor's opinion.

[ed209a]

I got to play my 2nd life halfling Master Assassin the past two nights, and I really don't notice much difference in the new enhancement system.

My toon's SA seems to be in the same ballpark as before, and his Assassinates seem to be going off a little more often after Measure the Foe.

In short, I am sill having a blast with my sexy shoeless god of war!

[Auran82]

I think dex/int might be the way to go, it gives you the option of improved sneak attack, plus even if you have a +5 tome, you have to spend at least 4 points in dex anyway for two feats. Might as well go full dex and leave str low.

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

Is weapon finesse even needed? From what I can tell it just allows you to use dex as a damage mod for light weapons, but the assassin tree gives you that for daggers and kukris, is being able to use all the light weapons that important? I.E are rapiers that much better then kukris or daggers?

[Krelar]

Is weapon finesse even needed? From what I can tell it just allows you to use dex as a damage mod for light weapons, but the assassin tree gives you that for daggers and kukris, is being able to use all the light weapons that important? I.E are rapiers that much better then kukris or daggers?

It depends what weapons you have. With the top tier rogue enhancement adding +1 to the threat and crit multiplier of daggers agony does better DPS than Balizarde.

It would be nice on Celestia for dr breaking though.

[timtam]

Edited: I was wrong - knife mastery works, just doesn't show in the details section.

[Mellkor]

I havent run numbers, but just from running around using both, I still think Balizarde does better damage, certainly it crits for a lot more than Agony. It is hard to beat that 15-20 x 3 crit plus all the other good stuff. But I also think Timtam is right about knife mastery being broken, as I notice no difference before getting it and after AND no difference in the display or combat logs.

I LR'd my guy to try out dex secondary and dumped str, took weapon finese to get dex to damage, took improved sneak attack, and......hardly noticed the difference from before U19. I am seriously considering going back to STR as a secondary stat. This will allow to get more int out of the enhancements and feats and gain 2 or 3 to my assassinate DC.

[Mellkor]

Looks like knife mastery works now. definite difference now. Agony is about the same now as balizarde. very nice. I use Agony + Balizarde when not assassinating and Balizarde + EMG when I am. Celestias as needed. I dont really need anything else!

[Mellkor]

Anyone else having trouble fitting in new equipment? I am having a hard time improving the lev 25 gearset in the OP. Replacing anything just seems to gimp 2 or 3 things somewhere else

[hi_sa1nt]

Anyone else having trouble fitting in new equipment? I am having a hard time improving the lev 25 gearset in the OP. Replacing anything just seems to gimp 2 or 3 things somewhere else

What's your opinion on the ee Backstabber's gloves?

[Auran82]

Anyone else having trouble fitting in new equipment? I am having a hard time improving the lev 25 gearset in the OP. Replacing anything just seems to gimp 2 or 3 things somewhere else

Its going to need a total shuffle of most of your equipment, alot of the items you have in your list you can replicate elsewhere pretty easily. There are some pretty amazing lootgen items around, especially considering slots. Its possible to get items with Green slots, as well as multiple slots (normally a colourless and a yellow) and when you can get +8 stat items at 28, you can essentially take out whole items that are more or less there because they were a +8 Str item or whatever.

Also, look for Deadly <Item> of Accuracy in a slot you can fit it, up to +10 to hit and damage (same bonus as the dream visor, so makes that item look pretty sad)

[karl_k0ch]

I havent run numbers, but just from running around using both, I still think Balizarde does better damage, certainly it crits for a lot more than Agony. It is hard to beat that 15-20 x 3 crit plus all the other good stuff.

Actually, with Knife Mastery, Agony is a 16-20x3 weapon with a huge number of damage effects, where Balizarde has a great crit profile, but mostly defensive qualities. With enough Base damage/seeker, Balizarde should be ahead.

However, for the current Str-based incarnation of my rogue (which is quite focused on base damage and seeker), I ran the numbers and Agony surprisingly comes out before Balizarde.

As far as gear goes, a grave reshuffle will be done when I have a decent overview over the various random loot items.

[Mellkor]

What's your opinion on the ee Backstabber's gloves?

I do not use it. I have all of its abilities on other items. Using it would not give me an advantage in anyway at this time.

[Mellkor]

Actually, with Knife Mastery, Agony is a 16-20x3 weapon with a huge number of damage effects, where Balizarde has a great crit profile, but mostly defensive qualities. With enough Base damage/seeker, Balizarde should be ahead.

However, for the current Str-based incarnation of my rogue (which is quite focused on base damage and seeker), I ran the numbers and Agony surprisingly comes out before Balizarde.

As far as gear goes, a grave reshuffle will be done when I have a decent overview over the various random loot items.

The display tells me Agony is 15-20 x3 when I hover over it while it is equipped. (Yeah, I know not to rely on that....but it seems to be critting on a 15 when I whack on the training dummy with only Agony equipped.)

The gear shuffle is going to be challenging this time around. But at least Balizard, Agony, and Celestia are in no danger of being replaced :P

[Auran82]

The display tells me Agony is 15-20 x3 when I hover over it while it is equipped. (Yeah, I know not to rely on that....but it seems to be critting on a 15 when I whack on the training dummy with only Agony equipped.)

The gear shuffle is going to be challenging this time around. But at least Balizard, Agony, and Celestia are in no danger of being replaced :P

I think its important to look at your current gear, work out what items have vital abilities on them you can't replace (mainly +3 exc stats) and look at *why* you are actually wearing that item. If its just for a +8 stat, or seeker or something like that, there is a good chance you can work that in somewhere else easy enough. Its possible to get +8 stat augments at level 28 (though you need to find them) so its not vital to fit those in, you should be able to slow them somewhere.

[karl_k0ch]

The display tells me Agony is 15-20 x3 when I hover over it while it is equipped. (Yeah, I know not to rely on that....but it seems to be critting on a 15 when I whack on the training dummy with only Agony equipped.)

That's great news. This means that the extra crit range on Knife Specialization is applied before Keen, and thus, Agony has the same crit profile as Balizarde. With IC:Pierce, any Dagger becomes a Micro-Balizarde - same crit profile, slightly less base damage.

[Mellkor]

U19 changes that affect max theoretical assassinate DC:

+2 INT--drow elf racial tree
+2 INT-- assassin tree
+2 INT-- mechanic tree
+1 INT-- lev 28 feat
+3 INT-- +11 int item
------------------------------
+10 more INT than what was possible before U19.

+5 assassinate DC-- measure the foe enhancement.

U10 brings a total of +10 to assasssinate DC, adding in sources already listed in the OP that makes the max theoretical DC 80.

Am I missing anything?

[Mellkor]

I used my +20 heart to LR to all Arti (to get an Arti past life) then TR'd to Drow Elf. I like Drow Elf for its ability to get +3 more INT than human and I like drow elf racial tree for this build a tiny bit better. Human is still a good choice, tho. Basically, the only real difference is humans get an extra feat, -3 INT, and the ability to have haste and damage boost active at the same time compared to drow. I also went dex as secondary stat instead of str, after playing around a bit the last week or so, I think it really works well now with the new enhancements and you only have to put points into 3 stats instead of 4. I started with 8 STR, 16 DEX, 14 CON, 20 INT, 8 WIS, 10 CHA. (36pt build). All level-ups into INT. a +5 dex tome qualifies me for improved sneak if I decide to take it. Overall U19 brings some nice improvements to this build. (except for the TR part ).