Need help with a "flavor" build: Gnome Trapper/Illusionist

[Osco]

I know that this is more of a "flavor"or RP build than something that will wreck everything's face off, but I'm trying to recreate an old PnP DnD thief/illusionist character. Since there aren't "heist' or burglary missions in DDO, I was planning to scale back the rogue levels, keeping enough to be a decent trapper, and focusing more on the spellcasting.

I have 32 point builds, Feydark illusionist, and Falconry unlocked. I'd rather not go into the PM tree with the undead stuff.
How many rogue levels will I need to be a decent trapper? When should I take them? Do I spend the points in the Gnome tree for Greater Color Spray since I will be picking up Color Spray as a SLA elsewhere?

 

[Fisto Mk I]

How many rogue levels will I need to be a decent trapper? When should I take them?

1-2. Usual 2 for free Evasion feat. Take it ASAP just because more xp from any quest where traps bonus present. GCS is must have, too good to don't. If you have DG Iconic, it must be best choice for character you wanna roll.

 

[Contessor]

If you are going full on flavor build and not trying to Min/max, I would build something like:

Halfling Rogue 8 / Wizard 12 with 41 pts Feydark, 6 Halfling, 29 in Archmage-Illusion and rest available in either assassin or acrobat.

Optimizing you probably would want Deep Gnome 2 Rogue / Wizard 18 with 41 pts in Feydark, Deep Gnome 18, Rest in Archmage -Illusion.

 

[unbongwah]

Gnome rogue 2 / wizard 18 focused on Illusion spells: something like 41 Feydark Illusionist / 25 Archmage / 14 Pale Master. If you skip PM, you'll have to find another way to self-heal: i.e., potions, UMD scrolls/wands, and/or hirelings. IIRC the gnome racial and Feydark Greater Color Spray SLAs are on shared cooldowns so there's no point in having both.

Strimtom had a similar build on the old forums, it just needs a few tweaks for regular gnome. Deep Gnome can have two Phantasmal Killer SLAs (one racial, one Archmage) plus the regular spell; but it costs a lot of APs so it's not something I would recommend for a first-lifer. Plus not everyone has DG unlocked, obviously.

Gnome Illusionist Trapper
18/2 Wizard/Rogue
True Neutral Gnome


Level Order

1. Rogue . . . . . 6. Wizard. . . . .11. Wizard. . . . .16. Wizard
2. Wizard . . . . .7. Wizard . . . . 12. Rogue . . . . .17. Wizard
3. Wizard . . . . .8. Wizard . . . . 13. Wizard . . . . 18. Wizard
4. Wizard . . . . .9. Wizard . . . . 14. Wizard . . . . 19. Wizard
5. Wizard . . . . 10. Wizard . . . . 15. Wizard . . . . 20. Wizard


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt . . 32pt. . .Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .8. . . . 6 . . . 4: INT
Dexterity . . . .8. . . . 8 . . . 8: INT
Constitution. . 16. . . .18 . . .12: INT
Intelligence. . 20. . . .20 . . .16: INT
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . . 8 . . .20: INT
Charisma. . . . .8. . . . 8 . . .24: INT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: INT

Skills
. . . . . R .W .W .W .W .W .W .W .W .W .W .R. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W
. . . . . 1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 2 .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spellcr . 2 . . 2. 2. 2. . .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 2. 1. 1. . .2 . . 2. 1. 23
Disable . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Search. . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
UMD . . . 4 . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . 1. . .2 . . 1. 19
Heal. . . 2 . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 1. . .11
Spot. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2. . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Repair. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 5
Open Lo . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Balance . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Jump. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Swim. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tumble. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .52 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .8 .8 .8 .8 14 .8 .8 .8 .9 .9 .9 .9 .9


Feats

.1. . . . : Insightful Reflexes
.2 Wizard : Maximize Spell
.3. . . . : Empower Spell
.6. . . . : Extend Spell
.6 Wizard : Quicken Spell
.9. . . . : Enlarge Spell
11 Wizard : Heighten Spell
12. . . . : Spell Penetration
15. . . . : Greater Spell Penetration
17 Wizard : Spell Focus: Illusion
18. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
21 Epic . : Wellspring of Power OR Epic Spell Penetration
22 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Force
24 Epic . : Master of: Shadowblades OR Burst of Glacial Wrath
25 Destiny: Hellball OR Crush Weakness
27 Epic . : Ruin OR Embolden Spell
28 Destiny: Arcane Pulse OR Deific Warding
30 Epic . : Greater Ruin OR Intensify Spell
30 Legend : Scion of: Feywild
31 Destiny:


Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)

Feydark Illusionist (41 AP)

• Find Familiar: Fox, Ability Score I: Intelligence, Greater Color Spray, Ability Score II: Intelligence, Familiar's Reach, Master Illusionist
  1. Twist Reality, Illusory Weaponry
  2. You've Got My Back, Shadowblade III
  3. Spell Penetration III, Magical Attunment I, Refraction
  4. Fan of Shadowblades III, Magical Attunment II, Improved Shadowblades III
  5. Illusory Agumentation, Magical Attunment III, Ring of Shadowblades III, Force In Tandem

Archmage (25 AP)

• Archmage Specialization: Illusion, Archmage Specialization II: Illusion, Archmage Specialization III: Illusion, Archmage Specialization IV: Illusion
  1. Traditionalist Caster II, Spell Critical
  2. Efficient Metamagic: Efficient Maximize III, Spell Critical
  3. Arcane Bolt III, Spell Critical
  4. School Mastery: Illusion, Spell Critical

Pale Master (14 AP)

• Dark Reaping, Pale Shroud: Shroud of the Lich, Undead Augmentation: +2 Necromancy DC
  1. Negative Energy Conduit III, Spell Critical
  2. Cloak of Night I, Spell Critical
  3. Negative Energy Adept III

This Enhancement spread is the "glass cannon" configuration. If you find yourself dying too quickly while leveling, you might want to shift APs into Eldritch Knight for added survivability; or switch from lich to wraith form + Ghost in the Wind for 20% Incorporeality.

 

[Osco]

Thanks everyone! I don't have Deep Gnome unlocked, but whenever I do, I'll make an illusionist that goes into PM. For this character, I'll grab that second level of Rogue when I hit level 5 (soon). I've been using cleric or bard hirelings so far.

 

[Contessor]

Halfling does have heal SLA just FYI. The flavor build above plus another 6 points in Halfling tree maxes out 6 heals per rest, plus another 6 cure serious wounds and all can be meta’ed.

To me Halfling and deeper rogue splash has more feel of lore of an illusion/rogue trickster. Again maybe not min/maxed but has more flavor and fun.