This is for the Pure Builds thread. It is not trying to be the most powerful Shadowdancer build, or even the most iconic. It is trying specifically to be the best Bard 10 / Shadowdancer 30 build I can make.

Empyre's "Pure" Shadowdancer III (Bard 10 / Shadowdancer 30)
Elf, Non-Lawful
Playable 1 - 40, PvM

Abilities:
STR: 14
DEX: 16 (30)
CON: 12
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 14

Leveling Guide:
Elf: (Hardiness vs. Enchantments, Keen Sense, Low-light Vision, Skill Affinity: Listen, Skill Affinity: Search, Skill Affinity: Spot, Sleeplessness)
01: Bard(1): Dodge
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Finesse
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=17)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Mobility
07: Bard(7)
08: Shadowdancer(1): DEX+1, {Hide in Plain Sight}, (DEX=18)
09: Shadowdancer(2): Blind Fight, {Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I}
10: Shadowdancer(3)
11: Shadowdancer(4)
12: Bard(8): DEX+1, Weapon Focus: Rapier, (DEX=19)
13: Shadowdancer(5): {Defensive Roll}
14: Shadowdancer(6)
15: Shadowdancer(7): Stealthy, {Slippery Mind}
16: Shadowdancer(8): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Bard(9)
18: Shadowdancer(9): Improved Critical: Rapier
19: Shadowdancer(10): {Improved Evasion}
20: Bard(10): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Shadowdancer(11): Epic Weapon Focus: Rapier
22: Shadowdancer(12)
23: Shadowdancer(13): Epic Skill Focus: Hide
24: Shadowdancer(14): DEX+1, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=23)
25: Shadowdancer(15)
26: Shadowdancer(16): Epic Skill Focus: Move Silently
27: Shadowdancer(17): Great Dexterity II, (DEX=24)
28: Shadowdancer(18): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
29: Shadowdancer(19): Epic Dodge
30: Shadowdancer(20): Epic Prowess
31: Shadowdancer(21)
32: Shadowdancer(22): DEX+1, Epic Shadowlord, (DEX=26)
33: Shadowdancer(23): Armor Skin
34: Shadowdancer(24)
35: Shadowdancer(25): Epic Skill Focus: Spellcraft
36: Shadowdancer(26): DEX+1, Great Dexterity III, (DEX=28)
37: Shadowdancer(27)
38: Shadowdancer(28): Epic Skill Focus: Listen
39: Shadowdancer(29): Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=29)
40: Shadowdancer(30): DEX+1, (DEX=30)

Stats:
Hitpoints: 340
Skillpoints: 318
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 17/19/34
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +7, Mind Effects: +2, Traps: +2
BAB: 24
AB (max, naked): 38 (melee), 35 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 30/33
Spell Casting: Bard(4)
Alignment Changes: 0

Additional Stats:
Shadow Evade: 18/+7 DR +4 AC 20% Concealment
Natural Shadow Daze DC: 50

Skills:
Heal 43(42), Hide 43(65), Listen 43(54), Lore 9(21), Move Silently 43(65), Perform 13(15), Search 38(42), Spellcraft 23(35), Tumble 40(50), UMD 23(25)

01: Hide(4), Lore(4), Move Silently(4), Perform(4), Tumble(4), UMD(4)
02: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
03: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
04: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
05: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
06: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
07: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1)
08: Hide(1), Listen(5), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
09: Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(4)
10: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(9)
11: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(14)
12: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Perform(3), Spellcraft(9), Tumble(1), UMD(5)
13: Hide(1), Listen(5), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
14: Hide(1), Listen(5), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
15: Hide(1), Listen(2), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(3)
16: Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(7)
17: Hide(1), Move Silently(1), Spellcraft(5), Tumble(1), UMD(5)
18: Heal(3), Hide(1), Listen(2), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
19: Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1), Save(4)
20: Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Spellcraft(3), Tumble(1), UMD(3)
21: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
22: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
23: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
24: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
25: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
26: Heal(4), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Tumble(1)
27: Heal(3), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(1), Tumble(1)
28: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
29: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
30: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
31: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
32: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
33: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
34: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
35: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
36: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
37: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3), Tumble(1)
38: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Move Silently(1), Search(4)
39: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Lore(1), Move Silently(1), Search(3)
40: Heal(1), Hide(1), Listen(1), Lore(4), Move Silently(1)

If you wanted to play this as an archer, make the following changes:
01: Bard(1): Dodge
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Focus: Longbow
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=17)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Mobility
07: Bard(7)
08: Shadowdancer(1): DEX+1, {Hide in Plain Sight}, (DEX=18)
09: Shadowdancer(2): Blind Fight, {Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I}
10: Shadowdancer(3)
11: Shadowdancer(4)
12: Bard(8): DEX+1, Point Blank Shot, (DEX=19)
13: Shadowdancer(5): {Defensive Roll}
14: Shadowdancer(6)
15: Shadowdancer(7): Rapid Shot, {Slippery Mind}
16: Shadowdancer(8): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Bard(9)
18: Shadowdancer(9): Stealthy
19: Shadowdancer(10): {Improved Evasion}
20: Bard(10): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Shadowdancer(11): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
_________________
Great Research Tools:
NWNWiki
NWN Epic Character Build Search Engine
The NWN Vault

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 04/29/09 18:08

How's your skinny dark friend doing at this SD-level?
_________________
We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside
is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky
I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind
Sons of Odin fights to die and live again Syrath0001 made a build like this back in the day. He only took 28 SD lvls because the abilities of the shadow was kinda maxxed at that particular lvl. I'd be sorely tempted to drop all of the ESF's to take SC instead. Switch the general feats to Great Dex to get Dex to 30 ASAP, then the rest as Self-Concealment.

TM Hey man. There is one thing that I don't understand: why didn't you take the two last Bard levels post-epic to get Spellcraft and UMD to 40?

I would take Bard 8 at level 17 (UMD, Tumble and Spellcraft at 20), then another one at 27 (or 28 if it screws you up feat-wise) and the last one at 37 to get them to 40. Obviously that'd mean that you would have to drop other skills to free up points for them.

And you'd get +1 pre-epic BAB this way. Also, maybe with 38 max buffed AB I don't think you'd be taking full advantage of the huge threat range that the Rapier gives you. Perhaps a Handaxe could be better to use as a main weapon? IC makes it 19-20 x3 and Keen Edge would make it 17-20 x3, not that bad...

The SC idea is not bad either, but Shadow Evade already gives you concealment bonus. Does it stack with SC

Otherwise, good build.

Take it EZ!

Edited By Maximillian Kane on 01/20/09 13:00

Quote: Posted 01/20/09 12:57 (GMT) -- Maximillian Kane

Hey man. There is one thing that I don't understand: why didn't you take the two last Bard levels post-epic to get Spellcraft and UMD to 40?

Because he is going for 30 levels of Shadowdancer with this build, and that is only possible by taking all 20 epic levels as Shadowdancer. Concealment doesn't stack, but Shadow Evade is only 20% concealment for 5 rounds 3x per day. Self-concealment is up to 50%, permanently.

Also, against someone with Blindfight (i.e. against any decent melee build), 20% conealment only causes a 4% miss rate, while 50% SC will cause 25% to actually miss. When you combine that with ED and a decent AC, 25% makes a noticeable difference, 4% not so much...

TM Empyre, again creating fantastic builds. this was a "pure" build that was proposed. iirc, there were a few others like this done.

30 lv of sd are not optimum. This was something empy tried a bunch of different things with.

THere was a HEATED discussion in a few of empy's builds about what is or isnt a "pure" or iconic build when you look at PRC classes. THis is NOT optimized. If you like this idea, either do a search in epic builders for Emplyre's builds (if you can) or look up in the build index under empy. He did a few variants of his "iconic" builds (which did cause alot of frustration iirc).

like maxi says, IF we were to play this char, i would go 28 sd with 2 bard epic for skill dumps (as syrath did).