We start a 3 session adventure Saturday with backup PC's while our mains are training. I'm playing a drow Arcane Trickster. Playing at level 4 (9/18/12/14/9/12). Took the Drow High Magic feat at Lv4. So much utility. We have a Sorcerer in our 5 person group, but I'm filling the Rogue needs and a good amount of Wizard roles. Expertise in Arcana, and why the 14 went into INT.
I expect to get plenty of mileage from Booming Blade to deter baddies from chasing me as I Sneak Attack\Disengage.
A replacement character is a high elf swashbuckler with booming blade cantrip. Attack with sneak attack and booming blade then immediately retreat. If the BB does not hit he still has an offhand attack with sneak and then retreat. The nice thing about this build is that it does not need any auxiliary feats like magic initiate to work to its full potential. War caster looks good but it can not be used to its full potential here.
I'm sorry but your idea does not work. By attacking with a "offhand" weapon I am assuming you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting. In order to trigger the Bonus Action attack for Two Weapon Fighting you must take the Attack Action. Booming Blade requires the Cast a Spell Action so will not trigger Two Weapon Fighting.
Unless of course you take 6 levels of Bladesinger Wizard and get their unique Extra Attack ability.
Do you mean, that the rogue can not use any BA while using BB on an enemy? Which seems odd to me. Or does retreating using his BA seems still possible?
I mean the part I bolded above, where you said you still have an offhand attack if Booming Blade misses. Like I said before if you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting then it does not work with Booming Blade. Otherwise I have no idea how you are getting an offhand attack if you miss with Booming Blade.
A replacement character is a high elf swashbuckler with booming blade cantrip. Attack with sneak attack and booming blade then immediately retreat. If the BB does not hit he still has an offhand attack with sneak and then retreat. The nice thing about this build is that it does not need any auxiliary feats like magic initiate to work to its full potential. War caster looks good but it can not be used to its full potential here.
I'm sorry but your idea does not work. By attacking with a "offhand" weapon I am assuming you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting. In order to trigger the Bonus Action attack for Two Weapon Fighting you must take the Attack Action. Booming Blade requires the Cast a Spell Action so will not trigger Two Weapon Fighting.
Unless of course you take 6 levels of Bladesinger Wizard and get their unique Extra Attack ability.
Do you mean, that the rogue can not use any BA while using BB on an enemy? Which seems odd to me. Or does retreating using his BA seems still possible?
BB requires you to take the "Cast a Spell Action", while getting an attack with your off hand as Bonus Action requires that you first take the "Attack" action, so you can't do both. Other Bonus Actions, including those from a Rogue's Cunning Action, are still good to go.
BB requires you to take the "Cast a Spell Action", while getting an attack with your off hand as Bonus Action requires that you first take the "Attack" action, so you can't do both. Other Bonus Actions, including those from a Rogue's Cunning Action, are still good to go.
Yep. This is why my rogue carries a rapier for when I want to use Booming Blade, and two daggers when I'm looking to maximize Sneak Attack.
A replacement character is a high elf swashbuckler with booming blade cantrip. Attack with sneak attack and booming blade then immediately retreat. If the BB does not hit he still has an offhand attack with sneak and then retreat. The nice thing about this build is that it does not need any auxiliary feats like magic initiate to work to its full potential. War caster looks good but it can not be used to its full potential here.
I'm sorry but your idea does not work. By attacking with a "offhand" weapon I am assuming you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting. In order to trigger the Bonus Action attack for Two Weapon Fighting you must take the Attack Action. Booming Blade requires the Cast a Spell Action so will not trigger Two Weapon Fighting.
Unless of course you take 6 levels of Bladesinger Wizard and get their unique Extra Attack ability.
Do you mean, that the rogue can not use any BA while using BB on an enemy? Which seems odd to me. Or does retreating using his BA seems still possible?
I mean the part I bolded above, where you said you still have an offhand attack if Booming Blade misses. Like I said before if you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting then it does not work with Booming Blade. Otherwise I have no idea how you are getting an offhand attack if you miss with Booming Blade.
Such stuff I found with google. I checked the rules and it is correct. No offhand bonus attack while casting a spell. But BB is still better at a higher level than an offhand attack.
Such stuff I found with google. I checked the rules and it is correct. No offhand bonus attack while casting a spell. But BB is still better at a higher level than an offhand attack.
I was never talking about whether Booming Blade or Two Weapon Fighting is better. Merely pointing out you cannot do both at the same time.
My High Elf Arcane Trickster currently at level 3: Vanir Miharian.
Love the utility of magic in the rogue playstyle, and bext level i'll take elven accuracy. Planning a 2 level dip into bladesinger when I reach AT 8. Not sure though. The backstory is that his family is cursed in that they are drawn to magic and become bloodthirsty when casting any form of magic. He was outcast young due to an accident, so became a rogue. He then became an arcane trickster. He is learning how to eventually control the curse (character arc). And that's long story short. I have way more detail in there for those who want it.
I'm going to be playing a scout rogue, starting level 12, through Candlekeep. Looking forward to being one of the more manoeuvrable of the party for a change.
I have very old lady Ghostwise Halfling Arcane Trickster. She doesn't take any crap from anybody (a little bit Sophia Petrillo) and genuinely takes all the help she can get from Mage Hand and many other available tricks with which to get creative. She stays at range because frailty isn't for melee, but she isn't afraid to whack somebody with her multitool cane (thieves tools and dagger hidden within).
One nice idea is to use a Kender Swashbuckler with Booming Blade. Attack, retreat, and then taunt/insult the target. When the target fails the save it has a disadvantage on its attack rolls. You can even taunt a different target instead of the attacked target.
We start a 3 session adventure Saturday with backup PC's while our mains are training. I'm playing a drow Arcane Trickster. Playing at level 4 (9/18/12/14/9/12). Took the Drow High Magic feat at Lv4. So much utility. We have a Sorcerer in our 5 person group, but I'm filling the Rogue needs and a good amount of Wizard roles. Expertise in Arcana, and why the 14 went into INT.
I expect to get plenty of mileage from Booming Blade to deter baddies from chasing me as I Sneak Attack\Disengage.
I mean the part I bolded above, where you said you still have an offhand attack if Booming Blade misses. Like I said before if you are talking about Two Weapon Fighting then it does not work with Booming Blade. Otherwise I have no idea how you are getting an offhand attack if you miss with Booming Blade.
BB requires you to take the "Cast a Spell Action", while getting an attack with your off hand as Bonus Action requires that you first take the "Attack" action, so you can't do both. Other Bonus Actions, including those from a Rogue's Cunning Action, are still good to go.
Yep. This is why my rogue carries a rapier for when I want to use Booming Blade, and two daggers when I'm looking to maximize Sneak Attack.
Such stuff I found with google. I checked the rules and it is correct. No offhand bonus attack while casting a spell. But BB is still better at a higher level than an offhand attack.
I was never talking about whether Booming Blade or Two Weapon Fighting is better. Merely pointing out you cannot do both at the same time.
My High Elf Arcane Trickster currently at level 3: Vanir Miharian.
Love the utility of magic in the rogue playstyle, and bext level i'll take elven accuracy. Planning a 2 level dip into bladesinger when I reach AT 8. Not sure though. The backstory is that his family is cursed in that they are drawn to magic and become bloodthirsty when casting any form of magic. He was outcast young due to an accident, so became a rogue. He then became an arcane trickster. He is learning how to eventually control the curse (character arc). And that's long story short. I have way more detail in there for those who want it.
Vanir Miharian
I'm going to be playing a scout rogue, starting level 12, through Candlekeep. Looking forward to being one of the more manoeuvrable of the party for a change.
I have very old lady Ghostwise Halfling Arcane Trickster. She doesn't take any crap from anybody (a little bit Sophia Petrillo) and genuinely takes all the help she can get from Mage Hand and many other available tricks with which to get creative. She stays at range because frailty isn't for melee, but she isn't afraid to whack somebody with her multitool cane (thieves tools and dagger hidden within).
One nice idea is to use a Kender Swashbuckler with Booming Blade. Attack, retreat, and then taunt/insult the target. When the target fails the save it has a disadvantage on its attack rolls. You can even taunt a different target instead of the attacked target.
Arcane Trickster is my favorite. I have played AT, Scout, Swashbuckler, Assassin.
The most fun Ive had as a Rogue is probably Xane, a Tiefling Arcane Trickster.