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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Ratman_tf on December 29, 2016, 05:08:09 PM

Title: Pathfinder multiclassing/prestige classes and sneak attack dice.
Post by: Ratman_tf on December 29, 2016, 05:08:09 PM
So, I played an Assassin in my brother's Pathfinder campaign last week.  I'm not 100% up on Pathfinder tricks, but this popped out at me.

My character is a 5th level Rogue, 3rd level Assassin. It occured to me that I could, by the rules, alternate Rogue and Assassin levels to get +1d Sneak Attack dice every level.

I switched to the Assassin prestige class at 6th level, making my odd level of assassin (1st) my even level of Rogue, if I had stayed a Rogue.

I'm not going to do it, because I'm fine with all the Sneak Attack dice I'm getting already, but am I reading the multiclass/prestige class rules right?
Title: Pathfinder multiclassing/prestige classes and sneak attack dice.
Post by: crkrueger on December 29, 2016, 05:22:51 PM
Quote from: Ratman_tf;937762So, I played an Assassin in my brother's Pathfinder campaign last week.  I'm not 100% up on Pathfinder tricks, but this popped out at me.

My character is a 5th level Rogue, 3rd level Assassin. It occured to me that I could, by the rules, alternate Rogue and Assassin levels to get +1d Sneak Attack dice every level.

I switched to the Assassin prestige class at 6th level, making my odd level of assassin (1st) my even level of Rogue, if I had stayed a Rogue.

I'm not going to do it, because I'm fine with all the Sneak Attack dice I'm getting already, but am I reading the multiclass/prestige class rules right?
No.  Here's how I think the rules work...

5th Character Level - 5th Rogue is Sneak Attack +3d6
6th Character Level - 1st Assassin is Sneak Attack +1d6, total of +4d6 looking good.

Here is where you go wrong:
7th Character Level - 6th Rogue doesn't get Sneak Attack
8th Character Level - 2nd Assassin doesn't get Sneak Attack
9th Character Level - 7th Rogue gets Sneak Attack so 5d6 total
10th Character Level - 3rd Assassin gets Sneak Attack so 6d6 total

So Basically you're one level ahead of a pure Rogue who needs 11th for 6d6 SA.

You're doubling up on the Sneak Attack Levels.
You're also doubling up on the Non-Sneak Attack Levels.
You got one level boost by taking 1st Assassin right after a Rogue Sneak Attack Level, but it evens out.

The progression tables are for Class Level in that class only, not total Character Level.
Title: Pathfinder multiclassing/prestige classes and sneak attack dice.
Post by: Ratman_tf on December 29, 2016, 05:42:41 PM
Quote from: CRKrueger;937764No.  Here's how I think the rules work...

5th Character Level - 5th Rogue is Sneak Attack +3d6
6th Character Level - 1st Assassin is Sneak Attack +1d6, total of +4d6 looking good.

Here is where you go wrong:
7th Character Level - 6th Rogue doesn't get Sneak Attack

Aha! Yes, I believe you are correct. Switching classes would put me back at 6th level Rogue.
Title: Pathfinder multiclassing/prestige classes and sneak attack dice.
Post by: Diffan on December 30, 2016, 12:26:36 AM
It's probably best to stick with the Assassin for the fun slells they get, not to mention it boosts your Death Attack DC.