Little Dagger Wielder (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
3e Summary::A backstabbing halfling whose tools of destruction are small daggers.
References
Core SRD
Game Rule Components
Race and Templates
3.5e Race::Halfling
Feats
Weapon Finesse , Weapon Focus , Improved Critical , Quick Draw, Rapid Shot and the Two-Weapon Fighting feat tree.Other feats on this build are Track, Two-Weapon Defense and Iron Will
Progression
Starting Ability Scores:
Begin with as much Dexterety as you can(13 is the lowest, before Racial Adjustments), Constitution and Wisdom increase defenses, you are free to raise any other attribute than Strength.
- Strength 12 (+1)
- Dexterity 18 (+4)
- Constitution 14 (+2)
- Intelligence 10 (+0)
- Wisdom 12 (+1)
- Charisma 10 (+0)
Race (Templates):
Halfling (+2 Dex,-2 Str)
Starting Racial Traits:
Small humanoid with +1 bonus on all saving throws and +1 bonus on attack rolls with thrown weapons and slings.
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Class Features | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rogue 1 | Iron will | Sneak attack +1d6 | Ranks on Tumble |
| 2nd | Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 | Weapon Finesse | HD,and BAB | |
| 3rd | Rogue 1 / Fighter 2 | Weapon Focus(dagger),Two-Weapon Fighting | Fighter Bonus Feat | |
| 4th | Rogue 1 / Fighter 2/Ranger 1 | Track | Wild empathy,1st favored enemy | Reflex saves |
| 5th | Rogue 1 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Rapid Shot | Combat Style | One tree down |
| 6th | Rogue 2 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Quick draw | Evasion | defense |
| 7th | Rogue 3 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Sneak attack +2d6,Trap sense +1 | -- | |
| 8th | Rogue 4 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Uncanny dodge | defense | |
| 9th | Rogue 5 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Improved Two-Weapon Fighting | Sneak attack +3d6 | -- |
| 10th | Rogue 6 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Trap sense +2 | -- | |
| 11th | Rogue 7 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Sneak attack +4d6 | -- | |
| 12th | Rogue 8 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Improved critical(dagger) | Improved uncanny dodge | -- |
| 13th | Rogue 9 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Sneak attack +5d6, trap sense +3 | -- | |
| 14th | Rogue 10 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Special ability | -- | |
| 15th | Rogue 11 /Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Two-Weapon Defense | Sneak attack +6d6 | -- |
| 16th | Rogue 12 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Trap sense +4 | -- | |
| 17th | Rogue 13 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Sneak attack +7d6, special ability | -- | |
| 18th | Rogue 14 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Greater Two-Weapon Fighting | -- | |
| 19th | Rogue 15 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Sneak attack +8d6, trap sense +5 | Sneak attack | |
| 20th | 3e Final Class Progression::Rogue 16/ Fighter 2/ Ranger 2 | Special ability | -- |
Alternative Progressions
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rogue 1 | Lightning Reflexes | |
| 3rd | Rogue 1 / Fighter 2 | Weapon Focus(dagger), Improved initiative | |
| 5th | Rogue 1 / Fighter 2/Ranger 2 | Two Weapon Fighting | Combat Style |
Highlights
Excelent Reflex saves
With the dexterety bonus, and the rogue saves,fortitude saves are improved, and he has some help on will saves(Iron will and wisdom bonus).Besides he has a +1 bonus on all his saving throws (Halfling racial trait)and he has Evade and Uncanny Dodge as class abilities.If the halfling maximizes his Tumble skill he can be really hard to hit.
Thrown weapon
With Quickdraw,the rogue is almost always ready to throw his daggers and with Rapid shot he gets an additional ranged attack during a full-attack action.Even though he doesn't have a big strength, with the sneak attack bonuses, the extra BAB from the other melee classes, and the halfing racial traits of size and bonus to attack with thrown weapons, he can inflict pretty good damage against flat footed opponents.
Sneak attacks
Two weapon Fighting, Weapon finesse, Weapon Focus and Improved Critical get all the juice of the Dexterity modifier.
Two-Weapon Defense
Gives shield bonus to a small character who already has +1 AC because of his size.
Special Ability
My bets for this are : Crippling strike, Skill Mastery, and Opportunist. Skill Mastery is always helpful for a Rogue with so many skills he can use in a rush, the other two can add more damage to the Sneak Attacks.
Munchkin-Size Me
Dexterety enhancement items, magic daggers, any light armor that raises your AC or a magic item that adds bonus points to your saves.
Side Notes
Limitations
Awful against anything not vulnerable to critical hits.In some campaigns maybe it works better if you change the Improved Critical,Two Weapon Defense, and Iron Will by some other feats.
DM Counters
Oozes and undeads are some of the creatures that don't need to be afraid of this halfling.
Updates
May 10, 2009: changes on the progression section.Feats now have the right BAB they need. May 19, 2009: Alchemy references removed.Update Dates checked.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Optimized Character Builds