Epic shadowdancer builds

[Flailer]

Hey all -
Just curious if anyone had built an epic shadowdancer build before the wipe and could comment on it's usefulness in NS4. Is the Epic Shadowlord decent or nerfed here? Will it be improved in the future? Just mulling over some builds while we have this free time.

[Yonwe]

The only 10+ Shadowdancer I've ever personally witnessed was a 6 Ranger/22 Assassin/12 Shadowdancer on Antioch, which obviously is nothing more than a pipe-dream for Neversummer. Beyond that, I've never made a test build with more than one level in Shadowdancer that remained competitive, but they could be fun in their way. So, I suppose I'm equally curious if anyone comes up with a good one.

[Flailer]

It'd be a tough build to justify unless the Epic Shadowlord was really good, and I guess we'd need commentary on the devs for that one. Taking 25 levels of SD to get a decent Epic Shadowlord would mean sacrificing huge (at least 15d6) amounts of sneak attack damage.

Also, it depends on if the DC for Shadow Daze is altered for NS4. With no change from stock NWN, it's calcuated at 10 + SD levels + Dex Mod. So, that's a DC of 47 against a will save for a dex char with 25 levels of SD. Unless you're mind immune, you're probably going to be toast with that.

Devs, any chance you could comment on the epic shadowlord summons? And could you put the 50% concealment back into it that NWN nerfed from the regular shadow summons?

[kgb]

Until the summonses are addressed classes like Shadowdancers, Blackguard and Palemasters will be a rarity. Half the reason you play the class is to have a buddy who gets stronger as you level.

I played a Ranger/Wiz/Shadow on here but only had 3 levels in SD as there really was no point in going higher when the classes' abilities were not available.

Yes the HiPS is nice it saved my ranger butt many times and makes it so much easier to solo places like Giant Mountain. I had no problems taking on mobs with Tree Smashers in them and the like with HiPS.

I relied on my high Dex, high AC, equipment damage immunity bonuses and HiPS so SDs are useful in that regard when you're dazed and the like you could get away and wait until it passed and heal up while you're at it!


It all depends why you take the SD. Whether it's to PvP which is not that useful on NS4 since there are no truly uber items that can give you that kind of advantage when attacking from surprise. Plus all one has to do is put points into Listen or Spot and you are toast not to mention all the casters (they're everywhere) with their true seeing etc.

I played SD for the survival aspect rather than the surprise aspect. Each to his own.

I would like to see the personal summonses and familiars fixed/return as it adds much flavour and unnerfs the classes that rely on them.

kgb

[Throst54]

what... epic dodge wasnt flattering enough for you!?

dont you wanna laugh and say to people

????

not to mention that epic SD w/ shadow evade can get some soak which you can definately shake a big stick at....