The Terrorist - How to make one - Help

[Tor]

I disagree, Thalidus. Reason being that it should be the character that performs the feat, not the player.
With that said, I agree that it is better to elaborate on the action to flesh out RP, but numbers are what counts in my mind.

To steer back on topic: I'd go rogue/wizard, too... But bard is a neat class and you seem to have made up your mind to include it in your build.

[Jopetzki]

Arcane trickster is a surely a great class with the reserve magic feats being available and stuff.

Dunno which of the reserve feats are going in game but Acidic splatter, Invisible Needle and Clap of Thunder allow sneak attack bonuses.

Basically a level 20 sorcerer 7/rogue 3/Trickster 10 can deal:

8d6 base sonic damage using Greater Shout with his Clap of thunder feat. Save vs deafness for 1 round. If he sneaks attacks with Clap of Thunder he can deal 8d6 + 7d6 worth of sonic damage. That's pretty nice for a reserve feat, though it's a melee touch attack.

Then there's invisible needle which is 9d4 magic damage at max. Ranged touch attack and no save. Add 7d6 sneak attack damage. NICE.

These two feats are really neat for a arcane trickster because they don't have saves for half damage. You have a two weapon fighting feint sneak attacker AND deal horrendous amounts of sonic or magical damage with these reserve spells. Remember though that you can't sneak attack with spells from stealth. Gotta use invisibility if you're not flanking. And despite having 50% conceal, a great AC and mirror images, arcane tricksters have low HP so..  they're glass cannon-ish.

[Dinean]

And despite having 50% conceal, a great AC and mirror images, arcane tricksters have low HP so..  they're glass cannon-ish.

Isn't that the case for any arcane caster save the bard?

[Thalidus]

I disagree, Thalidus. Reason being that it should be the character that performs the feat, not the player.
With that said, I agree that it is better to elaborate on the action to flesh out RP, but numbers are what counts in my mind.

To steer back on topic: I'd go rogue/wizard, too... But bard is a neat class and you seem to have made up your mind to include it in your build.

The character performs perhaps. But if one player takes the time to for example write a song, types it out, but the character only has 9 points in perform, and rolls perhaps a perform skill of 15, while another player else just writes *sings a sad song about pandas*, and rolls perform 40+, you can be sure my character, and I as the player, will be more impressed by the one who took the time to write a song, not just emote one line and expect everyone to bow down to their high roll.

That is up to every player themselves of course, but I would always handle it this way. Only when both players took equall effort, and both have written down good songs, then the higher roll would for me decide who of them did a wee bit better job at performing than the other.

[Jopetzki]

And despite having 50% conceal, a great AC and mirror images, arcane tricksters have low HP so..  they're glass cannon-ish.

Isn't that the case for any arcane caster save the bard?

Bard actually has displacement and mirror images too. Bards can get incredible AC aswell.

Arcane trickster has more potential for higher AC than your ordinary mage because it's a rogueish class. Higher dex (Necessity) and tumble. Combat expertise aswell but since we're getting rid of those, that's no longer a factor. Arcane trickster has evasion too because he's atleast 3 levels rogue and ATs get high reflex saves. That combined with wizard's high INT spellcraft save bonuses and you'll be dodging plenty of fireballs

Tricksters are nifty but they're a gish and might have hard time finding their place in party.