Roahin: Linzi - Iron Halfling End Game: Bard 7 / Knife Master 3 / Arcane Trickster 10
Offtank / Buffer-Support Build
Build Notes: You might be aware that Ray and Touch Attack damage spells are in short, non-existent supply for Bards, limiting the seemingly usefulness of a Sneak Attack build. Linzi's role as a buffer and skill monkey are remaining the same, she just now has the ability to tank as well. Her damage output, while enhanced over the usual "auto-attack with crossbow" builds is upped, but not enough to reliably be considered a main damage-dealer. Granted, whenever her auto-attack dagger stabs DO land, they'll do so for 1d3+3+Dexterity Mod+8d8 damage. It's nice seeing little blips of 40-60 damage pop up over her head while she's holding the line. You'll notice her AC comes out roughly on par with the Valerie "Juggernaut" build AC. With only an unenchanted Studded Leather and her Arcane Defender dagger, her AC is 37 (10 Base, +3 Armor, +1 Armor Focus, +5 Dexterity, +1 Size, +3 Combat Expertise, +2 Fighting Defensively (+1 Mobility Ranks, +1 Crane Style, +2 Cautious, +4 Crane Wing) +1 Dodge, +3 Dagger). With Belts of Dexterity, enchanted armor, rings, amulets, etc. She can easily climb to the 50's and 60's. And moreover, unlike Juggernaut Valerie, she has a full compliment of Bard buffing spells including the greats like Mirror Image and Displacement. Starting Stats Bard-1
08 Strength
16 Dexterity
14 Constitution
14 Intelligence
10 Wisdom
16 Charisma
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (World) 1, Persuasion 1, Trickery 1, Use Magic Device 1
Feats: Extra Performance
Leveling Stats Level 2 - Knife Master 1
Skills: Mobility +2, Trickery +1, Knowledge (Arcana) +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Weapon Finesse [Rogue Ability]
Level 3 - Knife Master 2
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Knowledge (Arcana) +1, Perception +2, Persuasion +1
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Dodge[RT]
Level 4- Knife Master 3
Attributes: Dexterity +1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Knowledge (Arcana) +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Finesse Training (Daggers) [Rogue Ability]
Level 5 - Bard 2
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Cautious Fighter, Crane Style [BT]
Spells: Vanish(1)
Notes: This is a great feat that only Halflings like Linzi can take that grants +2 AC when defensive fighting. It stacks with Crane Style. Also, you're probably heading into Act 2 by now. Your first stop and major item for this build is the Arcane Protector dagger. It's a +1 Dagger that grants +3 Dodge AC. Level 6 - Bard 3
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Unbreakable Heart(1)
Level 7 - Bard 4
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Weapon Focus (Dagger)
Spells: Mirror Image(2), Cure Moderate Wounds(2)
Level 8 - Bard 5:
Attribute: Dexterity +1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Blur(2)
Notes: You could actually have already started taking Arcane Tricksters by this level, but we're going to hold off for now until we get Bardic Performance (Move Action) first. Level 9 - Bard 6
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Crane Wing, Dazzling Display[BT]
Spells: Heroism(2)
Notes: Just like with Juggernaut Valerie, Dazzling Display should be used every few rounds to penalize the attack bonus of enemies by making them Shaken. Level 10 - Bard 7
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Stealth +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Expeditious Retreat(1), Haste(3), Displacement(3)
Notes: This is a great breaking point for Bards. At this level, they can maintain their Bard Song as a move action and perform other actions as a standard, like attacking or casting spells. The actual buffs to Bard Song from this point on aren't generally great enough to demand remaining single-classed. Level 11 - Arcane Trickster 1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Combat Expertise
Spells: Good Hope(3)
Notes: Why Arcane Trickster over say, Eldritch Knight? While EK has more HP and a better BAB progression, we don't really need Fighter feats and we'd need to blow an existing feat on Martial Weapon Proficiency. Plus, it loses a spellcasting level. Meanwhile, Arcane Trickster maintains full spell progression, ultimately tacks on another +5d6 Sneak Attack, and best of all, has more skill points on each level-up, letting Linzi continue to be your resident skill monkey. Level 12 - Arcane Trickster 2
Attribute: Dexterity +1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Cure Serious Wounds(3)
Level 13 - Arcane Trickster 3
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Armor Focus (Light)
Spells: Invisibility(2), Shield of Dawn(4), Cure Critical Wounds(4)
Level 14 - Arcane Trickster 4
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Feather Step(1), See Invisibility, Communal(4)
Level 15 - Arcane Trickster 5
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Shatter Defenses
Spells: Dimension Door(4)
Notes: At this point, we've taken just about all the AC-enhancing feats that are available leaving some quality of life offensive feats left. Shatter Defenses sort of removes the value of Impromptu Sneak Attack, but that's okay. Level 16 - Arcane Trickster 6
Attribute: Dexterity +1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Delay Poison, Communal(3), Cure Light Wounds, Mass(5), Heroism, Greater(5)
Level 17 - Arcane Trickster 7
Skills: Stealth +3, Persuasion +1
Feats: Accomplished Sneak Attacker
Spells: Rage(2), Dispel Magic, Greater(5)
Level 18 - Arcane Trickster 8
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Joyful Rapture(5)
Level 19 - Arcane Trickster 9
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Feats: Improved Critical (Dagger)
Spells: Greater Invisibility(4), Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass(6), Summon Huge Elemental(6)
Level 20 - Arcane Trickster 10
Attribute: Strength +1
Skills: Mobility +1, Trickery +1, Perception +1, Persuasion +1
Spells: Remove Curse(3), Brilliant Inspiration(6)
Notes: All of Linzi's stats are evens and only Strength really benefits mechanically from raising it to an odd level (slightly more carry weight). I'm using this build in my playthrough but i find it difficult to have defensive fighting active as it's only applied after attempted attack and lasts until next action. Majority of time it isn't on with Linzi when needed. It is caused by low speed of Linzi which makes it difficult for her to reach enemy line and attack in the same action. She is sometimes buffing and therefore vulnerable to attacks if enemy closes in. There are 4 feats that are taken for defensive fighting and i'm not sure they are worth it. What else would you recommend if i wanted to omit these and take something else instead for not having to rely on defensive fighting in her defense?
