First the build:

Human Ranger 9/Assassin 29/Shadowdancer 2

Stats:
Str 12
Dex 17(34)
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 11
Cha 8

Playable 1-40 PvM
Alignment: <any> Evil

1:Ranger -1- Dodge, Mobility, FE - Undead
2:Ranger -2-
3:Ranger -3- WF - Longbow
4:Ranger -4- (Dex)
5:Ranger -5- FE - Constructs
6:Asn -1- Wpn Finesse
7:Asn -2-
8:SD -1- (Dex)
9:SD -2- WF - Mace
10:Asn -3-
11:Asn -4-
12:Asn -5- Knockdown (Dex)
13:Asn -6-
14:Asn -7-
15:Asn -8- Imp Knockdown
16:Asn -9- (Dex)
17:Asn -10-
18:Ranger -6- Blind Fight
19:Ranger -7-
20:Ranger -8- (Dex)
21:Ranger -9- EWF - Longobw
22:Asn -11-
23:Asn -12-
24:Asn -13- Epic Prowess (Dex)
25:Asn -14- Great Dex
26:Asn -15-
27:Asn -16- EWF - Mace
28:Asn -17- (Dex)
29:Asn -18- Great Dex II
30:Asn -19- Armor Skin
31:Asn -20-
32:Asn -21- (Dex)
33:Asn -22- Great Dex III, IV
34:Asn -23-
35:Asn -24-
36:Asn -25- Great Dex V (Dex)
37:Asn -26- Great Dex VI
38:Asn -27-
39:Asn -28- Great Dex VII
40:Asn -29- (Dex)

AB 42/37/32/27 (Mundane Longbow or Mace)
Dual Wield 40/35/30/25 40/35
BAB 26
Base AC 32
HP 316 Max

Death Attack DC: 41
+15d6 Sneak Attack

I went with longbow/mace combo for two reasons:

I can hang back and death attack from a safe distance.
I can switch to bludgeoning damage for sneak/crit immune enemies.

I'm concerned that I'm doing too much with focusing on two weapons. His AC and HPs are low so no tank he will be so I question the use of knockdown but maybe I can fight stuff from the back for more DA hits while someone else tanks?

A previous version I had focused purely on the Bow, went 8 ranger/30 Asn, used the initiative feats and ESF in Hide/MS.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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http://www.dormaeglinunderdark.com/ You'd gain a feat with Ranger 10/SD 2/Assassin 28, plus 1 extra FE damage against Undead/Constructs I think That would, of course, drop your sneak dice to 14 and your DC to 40.

EDIT: perhaps ESF: MS since Hide already gets +10 from Camouflage.

EDIT2: you'd obviously pick EP at Ranger10 and ESF: MS on a general feat.

IMO picking up ITWF earlier is a good idea (ie. Ranger9 earlier)
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Edited By FinneousPJ on 02/03/06 17:09

Nice build... got some thoughts for you.. see what you think (and forgive me if I ramble).

Keep KD and IKD, as your Death Attack will still deal Sneak damage.
Take Weapon Finesse at 3rd instead of WF Longbow - that way you have a half decent attack in melee and ranged earlier (ie. AB 6 in each rather than 4 in melee and 7 in longbow). It would certainly make things easier for you in those early stages.

Actual figures (missing from your original post):
Max HP 320
Saves:
Fort 20
Will 15
Reflex 34
Skillpoints: 305

Finn makes a good suggestion with taking 10 Ranger levels. You could allow for two Discipline Dumps during Epic Levels. It would restrict your ITWF feat coming sooner, but it could be worth the wait.

Not only that you gain another Favored Enemy, and another +1 to damage, listen, spot and taunt roll to all FEs.

Alternatively you could take Epic Prowess at 40th instead (assuming you finish on Ranger 10), allowing EWF earlier , which frees up another Epic Feat (possibly Great Dexterity, Epic Will or Epic Fortitude)

Personally I'd try it as below (a few little tweaks that give it a bit more playability):

STR: 12
DEX: 16 (34)
CON: 14 (+2 adds another 40 hitpoints and +1 to Fort save)
WIS: 12 (+1 adds 1 to Will save and opens up 2nd level Ranger Spells)
INT: 14
CHA: 8

01: Ranger(1): Dodge, Mobility, Favored Enemy I, {Dual Wield}
02: Ranger(2)
03: Ranger(3): Weapon Finesse
04: Ranger(4): DEX+1, (DEX=17)
05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy II
06: Ranger(6): Weapon Focus: Longbow
07: Assassin(1)
08: Assassin(2): DEX+1, {Uncanny Dodge I}, (DEX=18)
09: Shadowdancer(1): Weapon Focus: Mace, {Hide in Plain Sight}
10: Shadowdancer(2): {Darkvision, Evasion}
11: Assassin(3)
12: Ranger(7): DEX+1, Knockdown, (DEX=19)
13: Assassin(4)
14: Assassin(5)
15: Assassin(6): Improved Knockdown
16: Assassin(7): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Ranger(8)
18: Assassin(8): Blind Fight
19: Assassin(9)
20: Assassin(10): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Assassin(11): Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
22: Assassin(12)
23: Assassin(13)
24: Assassin(14): DEX+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Mace, Great Dexterity I, (DEX=23)
25: Assassin(15)
26: Assassin(16)
27: Ranger(9): Armor Skin, {Improved Two-Weapon Fighting}
28: Assassin(17): DEX+1, (DEX=24)
29: Assassin(18): Great Dexterity II, (DEX=25)
30: Assassin(19): Great Dexterity III, (DEX=26)
31: Assassin(20)
32: Assassin(21): DEX+1, (DEX=27)
33: Assassin(22): Great Dexterity IV, Great Dexterity V, (DEX=29)
34: Assassin(23)
35: Assassin(24)
36: Assassin(25): DEX+1, Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=31)
37: Assassin(26): Great Dexterity VII, (DEX=32)
38: Assassin(27)
39: Assassin(28): Great Dexterity VIII, (DEX=33)
40: Ranger(10): DEX+1, Epic Prowess, (DEX=34)

Hitpoints: 364 (increase of 44)
Skillpoints: 305
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 21/16/34
Saving Throw bonuses: Traps: +2, Poison: +4
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 42 (melee), 42 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 32/35
Spell Casting: Ranger(2)
Skills:
Disable Trap 41(45), Discipline 43(44), Hide 43(55), Move Silently 43(55), Search 43(45), Set Trap 31(45), Tumble 40(52), UMD 21(20)

Taking 1-6 as Ranger allows your animal companion come into being earlier, as well as giving you two 1st level Ranger spells (Ultravision, Grease, Entangle or Endure Elements would be good choices).
Spreading the Ranger levels out across pre-epic allow for several Discipline dumps also.

I would be tempted to drop 2 x Great Dexterity Feats, perhaps at 30 & 33 for Epic Will and Epic Fort, which would improve those saves to 20 and 25 respectively, for a loss of 1 AB, 1 AC, 1 Reflex and 1 point on all Skills dependent on Dex.

On the downside you don't get ITWF until 27th level

Just a few thoughts, see what you think.

Edited By I...Samphus on 02/03/06 20:02

Hrmm, I did not know you get that extra feat at lvl 10 ranger. I like your layout Samphus. Let me dwell on it as my main goal here was a high death attack/sneak char. Yes, any level at which a FE can be selected by a Ranger, he can substitute a bonus feat. If any of those levels happens to be in epic levels, he can sub in an epic bonus feat. So, for example, you could take Ranger level 1 after character level 20, and instead of picking a FE, you could select an Epic Ranger Bonus Feat.
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