Optimum Assassin

[Neutone]

This is a dexterity based build that requires weapon finesse. I swapped the finesse feat out for precision because the Epic Midnight Greetings grants it as a feat. The only reason for having points in strength is to keep from being overloaded. The high dex provides both AC and saves.

I really don't like having to change gear to to use skills. With the gear I have I don't have to. I think this build will pass all skill checks for skills that have points in them with the gear that is equipped. The weakest skill being spot may require GH in some epic elite quest but because traps are usually in the same place you kind of just learn where to search.

Being true neutral means receiving less aligned damage. UMD skill will be enough to equip items that require other alignments.

The EMG uses dexterity as a modifier for attack and damage. Base damage is normally in the 45 - 65 range with crits in the low to mid hundreds. Its more on helpless mobs. Sneak attack damage is in the low to mid hundereds. Its quite normal to do 200 points of damage per swing not counting crits or disintergration. This works against almost everything but does require the good DR upgrade. Even when it does not break DR it will beat the damage of a weapon that breaks DR but does not use dex for a modifier.

Assassinate is a solid 48 fort save. It's a challenge to use assassinate effectively. Enter each room first in stealth allowing a clear path from the mobs to your party members who are following you. Try to guess where they will meet and move just past that. The mobs will approach and then stop to attack your party members. That's when you strike. This is effective for two reasons. If you don't wait the mobs can run to your party and you can miss the attack altogether. It also helps to let someone else establish aggro so you can break off of your attack. You cant hide while you have aggro. You have to stop swinging, enter hide mode and strike. Not everyone can enjoy it. It has a 15 second cool down so you swing for 12 more seconds and do it again.

If I were to change something on the build I might shift some points from dex to int. It would help with the assassinate but lower the base damage. The base damage is somewhat important when fighting a boss or something that can not be assassinated. Its good to be at least moderately effective against undead, elementals and constructs. Because they don't take any back stab damage it is important to have some base damage that still works.

Its not a 'Maximum Assassin' build that's built for just a few quest and not much good in the rest. It has a good spread of usefulness that works in almost any group. I would say the weakest spot would be in quest with everything undead but even then you can carry your weight.

The character planner dump below is mostly accurate through level 20. I think the thing that is missing most is that it does not show the benefit of gear.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Ender Neutone
Level 20 True Neutral Halfling Male
(20 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 274
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 26
Will: 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             10                    12
Dexterity            18                    31
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         16                    21
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma              8                    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
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 1
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 1
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               8                    35
Bluff                 3                    34
Concentration         3                     6
Diplomacy            -1                     2
Disable Device        7                    30
Haggle               -1                     2
Heal                 -1                     2
Hide                  8                    47
Intimidate           -1                     2
Jump                  4                    28
Listen               -1                     4
Move Silently         8                    45
Open Lock             8                    35
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair                3                     7
Search                7                    30
Spot                  3                    25
Swim                  0                    19
Tumble                8                    32
Use Magic Device      3                    25


Notable Equipment
Epic Helm of the Red Dragon
Tharne's Goggles
Planer Focus
Epic Utility Vest
Epic Bracers of Deftness
Whisper Ring
Boots of the Woodsman
Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Weave Gloves of Mineral
Awanahu Sash
Epic Cloak of Night
Epic Necklace of Venom
Epic Midnight Greetings
Epic Midnight Greetings

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 2 (Rogue)

Level 3 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Precision

Level 4 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX

Level 5 (Rogue)

Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting

Level 7 (Rogue)

Level 8 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX

Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting

Level 10 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Improved Evasion

Level 11 (Rogue)

Level 12 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons

Level 13 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Opportunist

Level 14 (Rogue)

Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting

Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Skill Mastery

Level 17 (Rogue)

Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 19 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Skill Mastery

Level 20 (Rogue)

Ability Raise: DEX
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Deadly Shadow
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity I
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity II
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning II
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning III
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I
Enhancement: Halfling Guile II
Enhancement: Halfling Guile III
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking II
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking III
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin II
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy IV
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training IV
Enhancement: Improved Hide I
Enhancement: Improved Hide II
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently I
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity III
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery II

[MaxwellEdison]

I came in here expecting a rogue that could turn into a truck.

I leave dissatisfied.

[Kmnh]

If you go a little bit deeper in con (2 more build points, with a +3 tome) you can take epic toughness instead of one of the toughnesses.

[wax_on_wax_off]

Not bad, most of the criticisms that Id make have already been made.

To improved on the build I'd go to halfelf and put enough level ups in dex to qualify for ISA and the rest in int. I'd also increase starting strength by 2 (so 14/16/14/16/8/8 for a 32 point build). Halfelf gives the very powerful versatility: damage (+25% base and sneak damage simultaneously with haste boost is just amazing), healing amp (makes scroll healing easier), artificer dilettante (for a total of +2 int from race - same as drow, better scroll healing and easy access to elemental weapons scrolls for those undead quests from level 1) and finally the ability to take any PrE when the enhancement pass goes through (not sure how this will work out).

If 36 point build is available and +3 dex/con tome I'd consider including epic toughness too as the second epic feat.

[Haphazarduk]

I had a similar idea after getting hold of two Tiefling Assassin Blades, possibly the best low level weapon in the game I've found. The build is mainly inspired by wanting to have max skill points and max (or close to) assassinate.

Here's where he is currently. The idea is to swap over to Assassin at 12th although Mechanic is so useful I'm hoping I'll be able to run both when the new enhancements come out. Mechanic means I have a very viable, potent even, method of dealing with undead and constructs with a couple of crafted repeaters.

Ideally I'd have the next rank of wrack construct to help further but can't fit it in yet.

It's worth saying I have access to only half decent kit and mid level Cannith crafting having only come back to DDO a few months ago.

The character is great fun to play although currently at a bit of a zennith using the TABs so we'll see how the mid levels go. It's great knowing you have the most skills you could possibly have even if a few seem a bit redundant (my swim is decent for example!).

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 7 True Neutral Drow Male
(7 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 98
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 5\5\10
Fortitude: 3
Reflex: 9
Will: 1

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 7)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         20                    23
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             10                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 7)
Balance               7                    14
Bluff                 4                    10
Concentration         1                     1
Diplomacy             4                    10
Disable Device        9                    20
Haggle                4                    10
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  7                    14
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  3                     9
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         7                    14
Open Lock             7                    18
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                5                     8
Search                9                    20
Spot                  3                    13
Swim                  1                     6
Tumble                5                    11
Use Magic Device      4                    10

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device I


Level 2 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Fire Trap Lore I
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 3 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I


Level 4 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: INT
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost II
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device II
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock II


Level 5 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Wrack Construct I
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Reload
Enhancement: Rogue Mechanic I


Level 7 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Drow Weapon Attack I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II

[karl_k0ch]

I thought I had written a post with rather detailed feedback prior to the post of kmhn, but I must imagining things.

[Kmnh]

I thought I had written a post with rather detailed feedback prior to the post of kmhn, but I must imagining things.

I'm sure I had seen your post too.

[karl_k0ch]

I'll try to remember my vanished post. Sorry for unwarranted brevity.

I find the build generally useful, it's maybe not a min-maxed DPS build, but surely a decent idea. Personally, I'd rather run a Str-based Halfling with decent dex and int (like this), but I'd be happy to have someone with that build in my Epic Hard pug.

What's your total Dex going to be? Did you run the numbers for, say Hard Arreatrikos, to compare EMG with a Holy Burst Silver Rapier of Greater Evil Outsider Bane? (Throw in silver on EMG, and deadly on the Rapier, if needed)

Dropping Int a bit will not hurt, if needed.

I'd pick the Rogue past life and one toughness feat instead of two of them.

Undead, Elementals and Constructs are less of a problem with Shadowdancer 5 nowadays.

[HallowedOne]

Personally, I'd rather run a Str-based Halfling with decent dex and int (like this), but I'd be happy to have someone with that build in my Epic Hard pug.

If you're going for a str-rogue, then why would you take halfling? Those -2 str surely hurt.

My rogue is very similar to this one and, while I do see the logic and agree why you wouldn't take Finesse, it still limits even more your choices on weapons on an already limited rogue build, imo.

On bosses, like karl suggested, I prefer to use a pair of dr-breakers, one of which is an improved destruction one. The only thing I can tell is that SA triggers all the time, which is lovely to see.

[Haphazarduk]

FWIW I did a little more research and this time found that perhaps sneak attack does work with shield bashing. It's difficult to be 100% sure so I guess some more testing would be good but I'm also not sure the shield bash proc (from Imp/ Shield Bash feat) is tied into the attack chain at a set place anymore.

I don't want to invest too much in this before prior to the enhancement revamp but then who knows when that will be...

Hap