Frogger70’s build Thief in the Night inspired me to look further into the Cleric8/Assassin30 level split. Taking Cleric let you cast Darkness more freely. You can both buff dexterity and intelligence, the most critical stats in an Assassin build. Divine power is great (as usual) both to improve your AB when you do your death attack, and as a means to get more than one hit in the first flurry for more chances of paralyzing the victim. Hold Person is a nice spell against characters with low will saves (eg fighters below lvl 20) You have access to all cleric spells up to lvl 4, giving you some flexibility when it comes to facing different in game challenges. I took Strength domain to get Divine power at lvl 3 with the possibility to extend it at lvl 4. I took Animal domain for Cat’s grace and to get True seeing at lvl 3. I guess the “empowered” animals can help you a bit early on and will fit a ranger RP theme, but they are not essential to the build. I did not take Trickery domain because Improved invisibility comes as a lvl 5 spell. With more cleric levels, I would have chosen Trickery and perhaps War domains I have chosen Ranger as third class in this build. It gives dual wield and an off hand attack for free, freeing up pre epic feats and enabling BAB 15 at lvl 20 with 10 lvls of Assassin taken pre epic. The 2 lvls of Ranger won’t give you access to ITWF. But the main point here is to get different means of 4 attacks per round so you get 2 attacks in the first Death Attack flurry: * Dual wield giving 4 attacks against “normal” opponents * Single weapon (melee or ranged) and Divine Power giving 4 attacks with max AB against more difficult opponents * UMD let you cast haste from scrolls, gaining one extra attack at full AB
Night Ranger (Ranger2/Cleric8/Assassin30)
Human, any evil alignment Lvl 1-40 PvM Lvl 15-40 PvP
AC naked/robes: 31. Can be buffed with Cat’s, Shield of faith, Magic vestment etc. Can use a (preferably light) shield when single wielding. AC with +5 equipment and capped dexterity: 57 (63-65 with a +5shield)
AB mundane shortsword: +42/+37/+32 AB dual wielding mundane shortswords: +40/+35/+30/+40 AB longbow: +38/+33/+28 Buffs: Bless+1, Aid+1, Prayer+1, Divine favour +2, Divine power +5, GMW +2, Cat’s +1-2. Buffed AB two mundane shortswords with haste (from a scroll): +54/+49/+44/+54/+54/+54 Capped AB: +68
Damage mundane shortsword: 1d6 19-20/x2. Buffs: Prayer+1, Divine favor+2, GMW+2, Max buffed strength (Divine power and Str domain power or Bulls) +6, Darkfire 1d6 +4 Death attack: 15d6, DC 42 fort save against paralysis. DC 48 with capped intelligence (+12 from spells and items)
Spells: lvl 0/1/2/3/4: 6/6/5/4/3 slots Divine power in lvl 3 slots and lvl 4 slots extended Darkness in lvl 2 slots and lvl 3 slots extended True seeing in lvl 3 slots, Ultravision in lvl 2 slots Other spells: Aid, Bless and Prayer for higher AB against difficult enemies. Sanctuary as invisibility spell. Hold person as a ranged paralysis attack against characters with low will save (DC 14) Assassin spell like abilities: Ghostly visage, Invisibility, Darkness, Improved invisibility. Duration as a lvl 30 caster.
Pro’s: BAB 15 at lvl 20 Dual wield frees up feats. Cleric spells increases AB and DC of the Assassin attack High Death attack DC High unbuffed AB, almost par with a fighter type Uncanny dodge
Con’s: No Evasion No Epic Dodge No ITWF
Discussion: If you can accept the xp penalty, this character will get +2AB and +2AC as a Halfling because you will go with Dex 18 (38) and have small stature. You will lose one pre epic feat (e.g. Luck of heroes), one skill and have to live with lower strength. It can be painful to level the character, but if you make a straight lvl 40 build, Halfling might be the way to go.
The Ranger1/Cleric9 split gives access to lvl 5 Cleric spells. You start as Cleric and take Ranger at lvl 5 or later for the skill dump in stealth skills. Your BAB at lvl 20 will be 14 and you will have to increase wisdom to 15 at the cost of 1 dex or 2 str/con/int. You will also lose 8 skillpoints at start up.
If you drop Ranger and go with 2 Rogue lvls instead, you get evasion and 20 extra skillpoints. You will also be able to handle high DC locks and traps. You lose +1AB and will have to take all the TWF related feats, where ITWF in fact will give you a second off hand attack. Suggested feat list: Blind fight, Weapon finesse, TWF, Ambidex, ITWF, W focus, Extend spell, LoH (or Point blank shot). Here a Halfling will have no XP penalty! _________________ The curve is more powerful than the sword -- BG courtesan
Edited By Mick Dagger on 11/06/06 20:33
Just thinking ... couldn't you do this much more effectively by taking two monk levels? Evasion, wisdom to AC, and handy-dandy unarmed awesome? _________________ CATS!
Oh yes, you could. *drools*
Cleric/Monk will beat anything anytime (well almost).
...I'm just trying to quit playing Cleric/ Monks...please, don't tempt me... _________________ The curve is more powerful than the sword -- BG courtesan
