Level 1 - Start as Fey Lost Human Rogue with Fighting initiate feat (quick toss and disarming attack) S8D16C10I16W8Ch14, expertise in athletics and deception, proficiency in investigation, Perception, Persuasion, SOH, Survival
Level 2 - Fighter(1), superior technique fighting style (evasive footwork)
Level 3/4/5 - Rogue 2/3/4 Arcane Trickster Green Flame Blade, Minor Illusion, Shield, Tasha's laughter, charm person, Silvery Barbs. Fey Touched Feat with Hex (I 17)
level 8 - Fighter 4 change to archery fighting style, Telekenetic feat (I 18)
level 9/10 - Fighter 5/6 Sharpshooter (note SS and archery both work with darts and the quick toss feature)
level 11/12 - Fighter 7/8 Telepathic Feat (I 19)
Probably take Rogue levels after that, get rid of shield at Rogue 5 and get absorb elements or protection from evil and good.
How viable is this build? I think it works at all levels but play style changes dramatically between level 4 and level 8. At lower levels this is a tricky Rogue in a breastplate using mage hand a lot - pick up disarmed weapons, cover in oil before GFB or using a spell and then quick toss sneak attack as kind of a back-door action surge. At 9th level it becomes more of an archer character with a nova that includes a longbow sneak attack and then going with 3 more sharpshooter attacks and grasping arrow and telekenetic.
Quick toss is pretty much for when I am casting a spell as an action, the character has a ton of other bonus actions available (Hex, Telekenetic, Mage hand, plus all the standard Rogue bonus actions). Maybe I should use another spell instead of Hex? Dissonant whispers? The only thing is Hex works great with grasping arrow as it gives disadvantage on the check to free yourself, but after hitting with GA if I can Hex him or I can damage him with telekenetic I don't see myself using Hex much.
Having a high charisma gives her good social skills with minor illusion and deception backing up the trickster aspect of it.
Man, I really liked the concept and what you are trying to accomplish with the build, but I think you are stretching a lot to do several things and I would look for something to specialize.
One thing that I think it’s a problem is the bonus action convolution and how effective all of this would be in terms of DPR comparison. Sometimes it’s just plain better (and simple) to generate advantage (whether through hiding or with Steady Aim) to ensure a hit capitalizing both Sneak Attack and Sharpshooter.
I love Arcane Archer and Grasping Arrow is one of the most amazing abilities in the game in my personal opinion, but I would actually change to Battlemaster, get some maneuvers like Precision Strike to double down on accuracy and any other for small battlefield control. Then I would exchange Hex for Bless. Less convolution for your bonus action — speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Level 1 - Start as Fey Lost Human Rogue with Fighting initiate feat (quick toss and disarming attack) S8D16C10I16W8Ch14, expertise in athletics and deception, proficiency in investigation, Perception, Persuasion, SOH, Survival
Fighting Initiate is a bad feat, so you're off to a weak start (plus you're human, and there's literally no reason to play a human post-Tasha's). The statline is hard to read, but I think you're trying to be Constitution 10 Charisma 14 on a Fighter/Rogue who isn't a Swashbuckler, which is fundamentally bizarre. I'm going to proceed with a Half-Elf, but always remember, anything a human can do, a custom lineage can do better.
Half-Elf Rogue, Dex 17/Con 16/Int 16, Proficiencies (Expertise has a *):
Level 2 - Fighter(1), superior technique fighting style (evasive footwork)
Evasive Footwork is worthless.
Fighter 1: Upgrade to Breastplate and Heavy Crossbow, Fighting Style: Archery. A rogue hates missing, but an arcane archer hates missing the most.
Level 3/4/5 - Rogue 2/3/4 Arcane Trickster Green Flame Blade, Minor Illusion, Shield, Tasha's laughter, charm person, Silvery Barbs. Fey Touched Feat with Hex (I 17)
Absolutely not. GFB is worse than BB, and where the heck is your owl? Shield? Why???
Spells: Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Booming Blade, Find Familiar, Silent Image, Silvery Barbs, Tasha's Hideous Laughter (note: something's gone terribly wrong if you need to use Booming Blade, but it's nice to have options)
Feat: Elven Accuracy (Dex 18) - you need to land your hits for your save DC to matter.
Nature, Prestidigitation (Druidcraft does almost nothing - prestidigitation at least lets you write on anything you want), Grasping Arrow, Banishing Arrow
level 8 - Fighter 4 change to archery fighting style, Telekenetic feat (I 18)
No need to change styles, already have Archery. ASI is +2 Dex (this is a MAD build, we shouldn't buy half-feats without an incredibly good reason - and since we have Cunning Action, there's no good reason to take Telekinetic)
level 9/10 - Fighter 5/6 Sharpshooter (note SS and archery both work with darts and the quick toss feature)
Big no. Fighter 5 gives us Extra Attack, which is against our religion - our first arrow will usually reveal our position, so even if it misses, the second arrow can't be a sneak attack. Besides, we don't have enough Arcane Arrows to use on huge attack volume. All levels after this should be Rogue.
How viable is this build?
Being an Arcane Trickster/Arcane Archer lets you justify being MAD with Int and lets you capitalize on making 1 really good attack even more, but you shouldn't cripple yourself with things like a high Charisma unless you're going to use the high Charisma (in which case you should probably be a Swashbuckler/Hexblade). The build could be interesting, but ultimately I suspect Arcane Trickster/Eldritch Knight would serve you better, given the spell choices you were making on your own.
Man, I really liked the concept and what you are trying to accomplish with the build, but I think you are stretching a lot to do several things and I would look for something to specialize.
One thing that I think it’s a problem is the bonus action convolution and how effective all of this would be in terms of DPR comparison. Sometimes it’s just plain better (and simple) to generate advantage (whether through hiding or with Steady Aim) to ensure a hit capitalizing both Sneak Attack and Sharpshooter.
I love Arcane Archer and Grasping Arrow is one of the most amazing abilities in the game in my personal opinion, but I would actually change to Battlemaster, get some maneuvers like Precision Strike to double down on accuracy and any other for small battlefield control. Then I would exchange Hex for Bless. Less convolution for your bonus action — speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Battlemaster does not really fit thematically and I will be really pushing it going with a high intelligence, where with an AA the intelligence helps the arrows and the AT spells so it is less of a penalty as compared to dexterity.
I did not think about a net, once I get sharpshooter online I can throw that from range without disadvantage too.
Level 1 - Start as Fey Lost Human Rogue with Fighting initiate feat (quick toss and disarming attack) S8D16C10I16W8Ch14, expertise in athletics and deception, proficiency in investigation, Perception, Persuasion, SOH, Survival
Fighting Initiate is a bad feat, so you're off to a weak start (plus you're human, and there's literally no reason to play a human post-Tasha's). The statline is hard to read, but I think you're trying to be Constitution 10 Charisma 14 on a Fighter/Rogue who isn't a Swashbuckler, which is fundamentally bizarre. I'm going to proceed with a Half-Elf, but always remember, anything a human can do, a custom lineage can do better.
I am playing a human so I can start with a 16 in both intelligence and Dexterity, you can't do that on a custom lineage.
I want a high charisma because that is what this build is about being a tricky talker. I am taking expertise in deception and proficiency in Persuasion to leverage the high charisma and go with the Fey Lost theme.
Level 2 - Fighter(1), superior technique fighting style (evasive footwork)
Evasive Footwork is worthless.
Mostly I am taking superior technique it for the 2nd battlemaster die, not for evasive footwork. Most of the time I use it, it will be either for quick toss or for disarm attack. With superior technique and the and the feat, that is 2 superiority dice per short rest at 2nd level. That is nothing to sneeze at (a Battlemaster only gets 4 and not until 3rd level).
I see myself casting a spell and then using quick toss for a sneak attack or using disarm attack on my main attack and then having my mage hand pick up the dropped weapon as a bonus action. Evasive footwork was just something else that I probably would not use often, but I could also see Commanding Presence or Ambush as being viable with this build. In any case most of the time it will be quick toss or disarming attack that are most used.
Level 3/4/5 - Rogue 2/3/4 Arcane Trickster Green Flame Blade, Minor Illusion, Shield, Tasha's laughter, charm person, Silvery Barbs. Fey Touched Feat with Hex (I 17)
Absolutely not. GFB is worse than BB, and where the heck is your owl? Shield? Why???
GFB is better than booming blade when you can use a bonus action to pour oil.
I am not an Owl fan. They pretty much always die on me if I try to use them in battle.
I might take Find Familiar to get a Bat though. Take it at level 3 then put the bat in his pocket plane and leave him there until I need him for something (like to get out of a purple worm when you have been swallowed or to find an invisible enemy) . If I get FF at level 3 though it is just to get the familiar and I will still trade it out for shield at level 4.
Shield because I am stoppiing for a while a Rogue 4, so I won't have uncanny dodge and I will have a 10 constitution.
Spells: Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Booming Blade, Find Familiar, Silent Image, Silvery Barbs, Tasha's Hideous Laughter (note: something's gone terribly wrong if you need to use Booming Blade, but it's nice to have options)
We are not playing with strixhaven and Silvery Barbs is not an option in this particular game, otherwise I would get it with the Fey Touched feat instead of Hex. Before I take Arcane Archer I will be in melee a fair amount, but like I said above going with GFB and oil instead of BB.
Feat: Elven Accuracy (Dex 18) - you need to land your hits for your save DC to matter.
This would be great for a high damage build or playing a elf, but it does not fit the theme on this character. I need Fey touched for Misty Step and it is central to the build thematically.
Nature, Prestidigitation (Druidcraft does almost nothing - prestidigitation at least lets you write on anything you want), Grasping Arrow, Banishing Arrow
Druidcraft fits the story better, and it can light oil the same as presto. Arcana lets the character write scrolls.
level 8 - Fighter 4 change to archery fighting style, Telekenetic feat (I 18)
No need to change styles, already have Archery. ASI is +2 Dex (this is a MAD build, we shouldn't buy half-feats without an incredibly good reason - and since we have Cunning Action, there's no good reason to take Telekinetic)
The reason is increased saving throws for spells and arcane shots.
level 9/10 - Fighter 5/6 Sharpshooter (note SS and archery both work with darts and the quick toss feature)
Big no. Fighter 5 gives us Extra Attack, which is against our religion - our first arrow will usually reveal our position, so even if it misses, the second arrow can't be a sneak attack. Besides, we don't have enough Arcane Arrows to use on huge attack volume. All levels after this should be Rogue.
The second arrow can be a sneak attack. If you are hidden you fire the first with advantage from being hidden, if you miss you use steady aim as a bonus action and fire the second with advantage as well, or as noted above use quick toss and throw a net to get advantage on the second shot from restrained. Finally it is somewhat often that allies in proximity will give you sneak even without advantage.
That said, Sharpshooter eliminates cover and long range which is the primary reason we are getting it. This is a huge boost on a Rogue using steady aim who usually has enemies with partial or full cover. Being able to use steady aim and ignore cover is going to result in more hits than an ASI will (as well as letting me get behind some cover myself).
The +10 damage is nice if you already used your sneak attack. The first shot (the one that is a sneak attack) will never use +10 damage. The second attack will be the one with +10 only if the first lands with SA. The +10 can also be used on a quick toss attack if I am really going nova.
Being an Arcane Trickster/Arcane Archer lets you justify being MAD with Int and lets you capitalize on making 1 really good attack even more, but you shouldn't cripple yourself with things like a high Charisma unless you're going to use the high Charisma (in which case you should probably be a Swashbuckler/Hexblade). The build could be interesting, but ultimately I suspect Arcane Trickster/Eldritch Knight would serve you better, given the spell choices you were making on your own.
I will defiinetely be using Charisma A LOT. Minor Illusion works AWESOME with expertise in deception and a high charisma, so do disguise self, and charm person.
AT/EA would be more powerful, at least more "all day powerful", but perhaps not as good on NOVA damage but this build is not really about combat power.
— speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Sorry, is Quick Toss something new introduced in Tasha's? If so, where do I find it?
Also, why would you need Quick Toss just to throw a net when this PC can already bonus action use Mage Hand to drop one?
— speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Sorry, is Quick Toss something new introduced in Tasha's? If so, where do I find it?
Also, why would you need Quick Toss just to throw a net when this PC can already bonus action use Mage Hand to drop one?
I think most DMs would say that dropping a net on someone is an attack. A lot of players have a problem with a Mage Hand using oil, but the spell description says it can.
— speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Sorry, is Quick Toss something new introduced in Tasha's? If so, where do I find it?
Also, why would you need Quick Toss just to throw a net when this PC can already bonus action use Mage Hand to drop one?
I think most DMs would say that dropping a net on someone is an attack. A lot of players have a problem with a Mage Hand using oil, but the spell description says it can.
Quick Toss is in Tasha's.
Methinks a lot of players are just jealous of how versatile Arcane Tricksters are. There's no reason why somebody with carpentry skills (not necessarily a PC) can't make a frame to attach to a net. Mage Hand to pick it up, then at an opportune time, drop the frame with the net down on whatever creature is below it.
Is Quick Toss in the Fighter's section of Tasha's?
So just to update - I am level 5 on this build and loving it. I changed it a bit:
1. I took the Fey Touched feat with Hex instead of the Martial Adept Feat to start, reason why is I do not really need quick toss until I am casting spells and Fey Touched gives you good stuff right out of the gate.
2. I took menacing attack maneuver at fighter 1 as my fighting style instead of evasive footwork. It works better I think and is a good control option.
3. I ended up taking a single level in shadow sorcerer at 3rd level (R1/F1/SS1). I really did not want to do that, but it is an underdark campaign and it was seriously screwing the party as she was the only one without darkvision, it was made worse because we have a gloomstalker so bringing the light for her was going to screw him. Shadow Sorcerer gives 120 foot darkvision on a one level dip and I had the Charisma to do it. It also let her grab booming blade and minor illusion a level earlier and I got absorb elements, shield, friends, bladeward and strength of the grave.
4. I recently got 5th level (AT3/F1/SS1). Seems like it took forever to get into Arcane Trickster. From here I am going to take fighter levels until 5.
5. I am going to continue mostly as above, just with changes for the differences I have already done. F4 (R3/F4/S1) I am going to take Telekenetic Feat, then Rogue 4 (Now is when I will take Martial Adept). Then sharpshooter and change fighting style to archery at Fighter 6 (R4/F6/S1)
So just to update - I am level 5 on this build and loving it. I changed it a bit:
1. I took the Fey Touched feat with Hex instead of the Martial Adept Feat to start, reason why is I do not really need quick toss until I am casting spells and Fey Touched gives you good stuff right out of the gate.
2. I took menacing attack maneuver at fighter 1 as my fighting style instead of evasive footwork. It works better I think and is a good control option.
3. I ended up taking a single level in shadow sorcerer at 3rd level (R1/F1/SS1). I really did not want to do that, but it is an underdark campaign and it was seriously screwing the party as she was the only one without darkvision, it was made worse because we have a gloomstalker so bringing the light for her was going to screw him. Shadow Sorcerer gives 120 foot darkvision on a one level dip and I had the Charisma to do it. It also let her grab booming blade and minor illusion a level earlier and I got absorb elements, shield, friends, bladeward and strength of the grave.
4. I recently got 5th level (AT3/F1/SS1). Seems like it took forever to get into Arcane Trickster. From here I am going to take fighter levels until 5.
5. I am going to continue mostly as above, just with changes for the differences I have already done. F4 (R3/F4/S1) I am going to take Telekenetic Feat, then Rogue 4 (Now is when I will take Martial Adept). Then sharpshooter and change fighting style to archery at Fighter 6 (R4/F6/S1)
Item 3: I hope you learned a valuable lesson about Darkvision. If you'd made this build out of a Custom Lineage instead of a Variant Human, you would not have needed the Sorcerer level you didn't want.
Items 1 and 5: Archery will help, but you're going to have severe accuracy problems as you follow this path - you're presumably I17 now from Fey Touched and will be I18 from Telekinetic, which means you're neglecting the stat you need to land hits, which wouldn't be the end of the world except you're also planning on Sharpshooter, which relies on being accurate so you can net a profit when you convert to damage - and your build is using Martial Adept, which won't help your accuracy unless you take Precise (which you're not planning on doing) and won't help your save DCs.
I should also point out that you're fragile and have at least one concentration spell you expect to function, so since you're planning on neglecting Dexterity, make sure you invest at least a breastplate so you can be AC 16, not 15. I believe you took Rogue as your first level which means you're not proficient in heavy armor, and I'm not clear on how you're Sneak Attacking since you don't have an owl and haven't gotten good at Stealth, but if you're not hiding anyway, kicking up to half plate is a good idea.
So just to update - I am level 5 on this build and loving it. I changed it a bit:
1. I took the Fey Touched feat with Hex instead of the Martial Adept Feat to start, reason why is I do not really need quick toss until I am casting spells and Fey Touched gives you good stuff right out of the gate.
2. I took menacing attack maneuver at fighter 1 as my fighting style instead of evasive footwork. It works better I think and is a good control option.
3. I ended up taking a single level in shadow sorcerer at 3rd level (R1/F1/SS1). I really did not want to do that, but it is an underdark campaign and it was seriously screwing the party as she was the only one without darkvision, it was made worse because we have a gloomstalker so bringing the light for her was going to screw him. Shadow Sorcerer gives 120 foot darkvision on a one level dip and I had the Charisma to do it. It also let her grab booming blade and minor illusion a level earlier and I got absorb elements, shield, friends, bladeward and strength of the grave.
4. I recently got 5th level (AT3/F1/SS1). Seems like it took forever to get into Arcane Trickster. From here I am going to take fighter levels until 5.
5. I am going to continue mostly as above, just with changes for the differences I have already done. F4 (R3/F4/S1) I am going to take Telekenetic Feat, then Rogue 4 (Now is when I will take Martial Adept). Then sharpshooter and change fighting style to archery at Fighter 6 (R4/F6/S1)
Item 3: I hope you learned a valuable lesson about Darkvision. If you'd made this build out of a Custom Lineage instead of a Variant Human, you would not have needed the Sorcerer level you didn't want.
Items 1 and 5: Archery will help, but you're going to have severe accuracy problems as you follow this path - you're presumably I17 now from Fey Touched and will be I18 from Telekinetic, which means you're neglecting the stat you need to land hits, which wouldn't be the end of the world except you're also planning on Sharpshooter, which relies on being accurate so you can net a profit when you convert to damage - and your build is using Martial Adept, which won't help your accuracy unless you take Precise (which you're not planning on doing) and won't help your save DCs.
I should also point out that you're fragile and have at least one concentration spell you expect to function, so since you're planning on neglecting Dexterity, make sure you invest at least a breastplate so you can be AC 16, not 15. I believe you took Rogue as your first level which means you're not proficient in heavy armor, and I'm not clear on how you're Sneak Attacking since you don't have an owl and haven't gotten good at Stealth, but if you're not hiding anyway, kicking up to half plate is a good idea.
Custom Lineage was not allowed in the campaign. Only PHB races. I could have taken a high Elf or Half Elf and got the right ability bonuses, other races I would have lost a bit I think and I would have had to sacrifice Intelligence, Dexterity or Charisma. Overall a one-level Sorcerer dip is fine. A couple spells, 4 cantrips, a caster level. Slows me down a bit, but its an ok trade.
I am Intelligence 16 right now. When I got the extra point on intelligence with Fey touched, I only needed to buy a 14 and put 2 points in wisdom to bring it to 10. Telekentic will make it 17. I will probably get 18 at Fighter 8. I am not sure what feat I am going to use for that. I am waffling between Observant, Skill Expert, telepathic and Shadow Touched with Cause Fear.
I plan on keeping a 16 Dex for most of the campaign, at least until level 17. Accuracy is not a problem with sharpshooter because you do not have to use the -5. Sharpshooter always eliminates cover and the DM play style there is a lot of cover in the campaign, in that respect I think SS will help on hitting more than a flat +1 though Dex would I think. I do not plan on using the +10 damage all the time. I will never on the first attack if I have Sneak Attack available. After I have already landed sneak attack and landed an arcane shot and battlemaster maneuver if applicable, then maybe I will use the +10 with the second shot (or 3rd shot with quick toss).
I am in +1 Studded Leather right now. I will get a breast plate if it becomes available. I have played a lot of characters with a 10 constitution. Sure concentration is a concern, but it is rare you need a spell up for more than a few turns anyway and realistically THL gives a save every turn so it is not going to last that long. With any "fragile" character avoiding hits is important and usually I play to make that happen to the degree I can. Shield should help a bit, moreso because I will not have uncanny dodge for a long time (maybe level 14). On the other hand I don't have slots to spam it so being difficult to target in the first place is my plan. Strength of the Grave really helps with being fragile at low level too, at high levels with no charisma proficiency I am not sure it will be very useful but on the other hand I at least have a chance at staying up. Also like I said the DM uses cover so as long as I stay out of mellee I can usually boost my AC a couple through that. Another thing that works great for ranged characters is prone. If you are certain the enemy is not going toget into melee range just drop prone. I need to balance this with steady aim, because you need movement to stand the following turn, but it is an option if I have another method of getting SA.
I am "good" (not great) at sneaking with a +6 stealth right now. For Sneak Attack I am currently using all of the following: Ally nearby, steady aim, cunning action-hide and casting minor illusion to put up an illusory barrier (wall, curtain, half door) and shoot through it. She is only 5'4" so MI is doable. Minor illusion uses an action to put up, but once you have it up you do not need to use a bonus action to get advantage after that, you are already unseen unless/until they use an action to try and see through it, they also have disadvantage attacking me through it. Usually if I have a turn where I am just not going to get SA I will put up the illusion that turn to get reliable advantage after that.
Her inventory on this sheet is not correct and for some reason I can't figure out how to get her manacing attack feature on DDB. Everything else is correct I think.
Level 1 - Start as Fey Lost Human Rogue with Fighting initiate feat (quick toss and disarming attack) S8D16C10I16W8Ch14, expertise in athletics and deception, proficiency in investigation, Perception, Persuasion, SOH, Survival
Level 2 - Fighter(1), superior technique fighting style (evasive footwork)
Level 3/4/5 - Rogue 2/3/4 Arcane Trickster Green Flame Blade, Minor Illusion, Shield, Tasha's laughter, charm person, Silvery Barbs. Fey Touched Feat with Hex (I 17)
Level 6-7 - Fighter 2/3 Arcane Archer, Arcana proficiency, Druidcraft, Grasping Arrow, Banishing Arrow (note banishing arrow for thematic reasons)
level 8 - Fighter 4 change to archery fighting style, Telekenetic feat (I 18)
level 9/10 - Fighter 5/6 Sharpshooter (note SS and archery both work with darts and the quick toss feature)
level 11/12 - Fighter 7/8 Telepathic Feat (I 19)
Probably take Rogue levels after that, get rid of shield at Rogue 5 and get absorb elements or protection from evil and good.
How viable is this build? I think it works at all levels but play style changes dramatically between level 4 and level 8. At lower levels this is a tricky Rogue in a breastplate using mage hand a lot - pick up disarmed weapons, cover in oil before GFB or using a spell and then quick toss sneak attack as kind of a back-door action surge. At 9th level it becomes more of an archer character with a nova that includes a longbow sneak attack and then going with 3 more sharpshooter attacks and grasping arrow and telekenetic.
Quick toss is pretty much for when I am casting a spell as an action, the character has a ton of other bonus actions available (Hex, Telekenetic, Mage hand, plus all the standard Rogue bonus actions). Maybe I should use another spell instead of Hex? Dissonant whispers? The only thing is Hex works great with grasping arrow as it gives disadvantage on the check to free yourself, but after hitting with GA if I can Hex him or I can damage him with telekenetic I don't see myself using Hex much.
Having a high charisma gives her good social skills with minor illusion and deception backing up the trickster aspect of it.
Man, I really liked the concept and what you are trying to accomplish with the build, but I think you are stretching a lot to do several things and I would look for something to specialize.
One thing that I think it’s a problem is the bonus action convolution and how effective all of this would be in terms of DPR comparison. Sometimes it’s just plain better (and simple) to generate advantage (whether through hiding or with Steady Aim) to ensure a hit capitalizing both Sneak Attack and Sharpshooter.
I love Arcane Archer and Grasping Arrow is one of the most amazing abilities in the game in my personal opinion, but I would actually change to Battlemaster, get some maneuvers like Precision Strike to double down on accuracy and any other for small battlefield control. Then I would exchange Hex for Bless. Less convolution for your bonus action — speaking of it, btw, you can throw a Net using your bonus action from Quick Toss and try to easily restrain an enemy by doing that, another smart move to your bag of tools.
Fighting Initiate is a bad feat, so you're off to a weak start (plus you're human, and there's literally no reason to play a human post-Tasha's). The statline is hard to read, but I think you're trying to be Constitution 10 Charisma 14 on a Fighter/Rogue who isn't a Swashbuckler, which is fundamentally bizarre. I'm going to proceed with a Half-Elf, but always remember, anything a human can do, a custom lineage can do better.
Evasive Footwork is worthless.
Fighter 1: Upgrade to Breastplate and Heavy Crossbow, Fighting Style: Archery. A rogue hates missing, but an arcane archer hates missing the most.
Absolutely not. GFB is worse than BB, and where the heck is your owl? Shield? Why???
Spells: Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Booming Blade, Find Familiar, Silent Image, Silvery Barbs, Tasha's Hideous Laughter (note: something's gone terribly wrong if you need to use Booming Blade, but it's nice to have options)
Feat: Elven Accuracy (Dex 18) - you need to land your hits for your save DC to matter.
Nature, Prestidigitation (Druidcraft does almost nothing - prestidigitation at least lets you write on anything you want), Grasping Arrow, Banishing Arrow
No need to change styles, already have Archery. ASI is +2 Dex (this is a MAD build, we shouldn't buy half-feats without an incredibly good reason - and since we have Cunning Action, there's no good reason to take Telekinetic)
Big no. Fighter 5 gives us Extra Attack, which is against our religion - our first arrow will usually reveal our position, so even if it misses, the second arrow can't be a sneak attack. Besides, we don't have enough Arcane Arrows to use on huge attack volume. All levels after this should be Rogue.
Being an Arcane Trickster/Arcane Archer lets you justify being MAD with Int and lets you capitalize on making 1 really good attack even more, but you shouldn't cripple yourself with things like a high Charisma unless you're going to use the high Charisma (in which case you should probably be a Swashbuckler/Hexblade). The build could be interesting, but ultimately I suspect Arcane Trickster/Eldritch Knight would serve you better, given the spell choices you were making on your own.
Battlemaster does not really fit thematically and I will be really pushing it going with a high intelligence, where with an AA the intelligence helps the arrows and the AT spells so it is less of a penalty as compared to dexterity.
I did not think about a net, once I get sharpshooter online I can throw that from range without disadvantage too.
I am playing a human so I can start with a 16 in both intelligence and Dexterity, you can't do that on a custom lineage.
I want a high charisma because that is what this build is about being a tricky talker. I am taking expertise in deception and proficiency in Persuasion to leverage the high charisma and go with the Fey Lost theme.
Mostly I am taking superior technique it for the 2nd battlemaster die, not for evasive footwork. Most of the time I use it, it will be either for quick toss or for disarm attack. With superior technique and the and the feat, that is 2 superiority dice per short rest at 2nd level. That is nothing to sneeze at (a Battlemaster only gets 4 and not until 3rd level).
I see myself casting a spell and then using quick toss for a sneak attack or using disarm attack on my main attack and then having my mage hand pick up the dropped weapon as a bonus action. Evasive footwork was just something else that I probably would not use often, but I could also see Commanding Presence or Ambush as being viable with this build. In any case most of the time it will be quick toss or disarming attack that are most used.
GFB is better than booming blade when you can use a bonus action to pour oil.
I am not an Owl fan. They pretty much always die on me if I try to use them in battle.
I might take Find Familiar to get a Bat though. Take it at level 3 then put the bat in his pocket plane and leave him there until I need him for something (like to get out of a purple worm when you have been swallowed or to find an invisible enemy) . If I get FF at level 3 though it is just to get the familiar and I will still trade it out for shield at level 4.
Shield because I am stoppiing for a while a Rogue 4, so I won't have uncanny dodge and I will have a 10 constitution.
We are not playing with strixhaven and Silvery Barbs is not an option in this particular game, otherwise I would get it with the Fey Touched feat instead of Hex. Before I take Arcane Archer I will be in melee a fair amount, but like I said above going with GFB and oil instead of BB.
This would be great for a high damage build or playing a elf, but it does not fit the theme on this character. I need Fey touched for Misty Step and it is central to the build thematically.
Druidcraft fits the story better, and it can light oil the same as presto. Arcana lets the character write scrolls.
The reason is increased saving throws for spells and arcane shots.
The second arrow can be a sneak attack. If you are hidden you fire the first with advantage from being hidden, if you miss you use steady aim as a bonus action and fire the second with advantage as well, or as noted above use quick toss and throw a net to get advantage on the second shot from restrained. Finally it is somewhat often that allies in proximity will give you sneak even without advantage.
That said, Sharpshooter eliminates cover and long range which is the primary reason we are getting it. This is a huge boost on a Rogue using steady aim who usually has enemies with partial or full cover. Being able to use steady aim and ignore cover is going to result in more hits than an ASI will (as well as letting me get behind some cover myself).
The +10 damage is nice if you already used your sneak attack. The first shot (the one that is a sneak attack) will never use +10 damage. The second attack will be the one with +10 only if the first lands with SA. The +10 can also be used on a quick toss attack if I am really going nova.
I will defiinetely be using Charisma A LOT. Minor Illusion works AWESOME with expertise in deception and a high charisma, so do disguise self, and charm person.
AT/EA would be more powerful, at least more "all day powerful", but perhaps not as good on NOVA damage but this build is not really about combat power.
Sorry, is Quick Toss something new introduced in Tasha's? If so, where do I find it?
Also, why would you need Quick Toss just to throw a net when this PC can already bonus action use Mage Hand to drop one?
I think most DMs would say that dropping a net on someone is an attack. A lot of players have a problem with a Mage Hand using oil, but the spell description says it can.
Quick Toss is in Tasha's.
Methinks a lot of players are just jealous of how versatile Arcane Tricksters are. There's no reason why somebody with carpentry skills (not necessarily a PC) can't make a frame to attach to a net. Mage Hand to pick it up, then at an opportune time, drop the frame with the net down on whatever creature is below it.
Is Quick Toss in the Fighter's section of Tasha's?
It is in maneuver options of the optional class features for fighter.
So just to update - I am level 5 on this build and loving it. I changed it a bit:
1. I took the Fey Touched feat with Hex instead of the Martial Adept Feat to start, reason why is I do not really need quick toss until I am casting spells and Fey Touched gives you good stuff right out of the gate.
2. I took menacing attack maneuver at fighter 1 as my fighting style instead of evasive footwork. It works better I think and is a good control option.
3. I ended up taking a single level in shadow sorcerer at 3rd level (R1/F1/SS1). I really did not want to do that, but it is an underdark campaign and it was seriously screwing the party as she was the only one without darkvision, it was made worse because we have a gloomstalker so bringing the light for her was going to screw him. Shadow Sorcerer gives 120 foot darkvision on a one level dip and I had the Charisma to do it. It also let her grab booming blade and minor illusion a level earlier and I got absorb elements, shield, friends, bladeward and strength of the grave.
4. I recently got 5th level (AT3/F1/SS1). Seems like it took forever to get into Arcane Trickster. From here I am going to take fighter levels until 5.
5. I am going to continue mostly as above, just with changes for the differences I have already done. F4 (R3/F4/S1) I am going to take Telekenetic Feat, then Rogue 4 (Now is when I will take Martial Adept). Then sharpshooter and change fighting style to archery at Fighter 6 (R4/F6/S1)
Custom Lineage was not allowed in the campaign. Only PHB races. I could have taken a high Elf or Half Elf and got the right ability bonuses, other races I would have lost a bit I think and I would have had to sacrifice Intelligence, Dexterity or Charisma. Overall a one-level Sorcerer dip is fine. A couple spells, 4 cantrips, a caster level. Slows me down a bit, but its an ok trade.
I am Intelligence 16 right now. When I got the extra point on intelligence with Fey touched, I only needed to buy a 14 and put 2 points in wisdom to bring it to 10. Telekentic will make it 17. I will probably get 18 at Fighter 8. I am not sure what feat I am going to use for that. I am waffling between Observant, Skill Expert, telepathic and Shadow Touched with Cause Fear.
I plan on keeping a 16 Dex for most of the campaign, at least until level 17. Accuracy is not a problem with sharpshooter because you do not have to use the -5. Sharpshooter always eliminates cover and the DM play style there is a lot of cover in the campaign, in that respect I think SS will help on hitting more than a flat +1 though Dex would I think. I do not plan on using the +10 damage all the time. I will never on the first attack if I have Sneak Attack available. After I have already landed sneak attack and landed an arcane shot and battlemaster maneuver if applicable, then maybe I will use the +10 with the second shot (or 3rd shot with quick toss).
I am in +1 Studded Leather right now. I will get a breast plate if it becomes available. I have played a lot of characters with a 10 constitution. Sure concentration is a concern, but it is rare you need a spell up for more than a few turns anyway and realistically THL gives a save every turn so it is not going to last that long. With any "fragile" character avoiding hits is important and usually I play to make that happen to the degree I can. Shield should help a bit, moreso because I will not have uncanny dodge for a long time (maybe level 14). On the other hand I don't have slots to spam it so being difficult to target in the first place is my plan. Strength of the Grave really helps with being fragile at low level too, at high levels with no charisma proficiency I am not sure it will be very useful but on the other hand I at least have a chance at staying up. Also like I said the DM uses cover so as long as I stay out of mellee I can usually boost my AC a couple through that. Another thing that works great for ranged characters is prone. If you are certain the enemy is not going toget into melee range just drop prone. I need to balance this with steady aim, because you need movement to stand the following turn, but it is an option if I have another method of getting SA.
I am "good" (not great) at sneaking with a +6 stealth right now. For Sneak Attack I am currently using all of the following: Ally nearby, steady aim, cunning action-hide and casting minor illusion to put up an illusory barrier (wall, curtain, half door) and shoot through it. She is only 5'4" so MI is doable. Minor illusion uses an action to put up, but once you have it up you do not need to use a bonus action to get advantage after that, you are already unseen unless/until they use an action to try and see through it, they also have disadvantage attacking me through it. Usually if I have a turn where I am just not going to get SA I will put up the illusion that turn to get reliable advantage after that.
Here is her sheet next level (level 6 R3/F2/S1):
Xane's Character Sheet - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
Her inventory on this sheet is not correct and for some reason I can't figure out how to get her manacing attack feature on DDB. Everything else is correct I think.