Gnomish ranger/assassin

[Deathgrowl]

So, I'm messing around with making a gnomish ranger. I started out with just ranger30, but I didn't like it as much as I hoped.

So tried to build ranger/assassin, and I tested something similar to this:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?269303

Now, my preference is to keep wisdom at 14 so it doesn't need an item to cast spells. 14 int for skills too. My questions however, are these:

• Will 14 dexterity be enough? My idea is to wear a chain shirt (or mithral chain mail should I get one) and use Cat's Grace to get 4 dex modifier.
• Ranger21/assassin9 or ranger22/assassin8? The former gets one more sneak die and one higher DC on death attack. The latter gets one more BAB, one more CL, 4 more HP and even two more skill points. I'm sort of leaning towards the latter right now. But that death attack though.
• I have a sort of open feat. Two actually. What to pick? I've put in improved combat expertise, but I don't know if it's worth it. The reason I'm not picking weapon focus is that i happen to have a kukri with weapon focus and specialisation kukri. It's only a +2, but it's a start, anyways. I've considered taking something fun like craft wand, but are ranger wands useful? Sought after? Ideas?

[chad878262]

Will 14 dexterity be enough? My idea is to wear a chain shirt (or mithral chain mail should I get one) and use Cat's Grace to get 4 dex modifier.

Yep, 14 DEX is optimum.

Ranger21/assassin9 or ranger22/assassin8? The former gets one more sneak die and one higher DC on death attack. The latter gets one more BAB, one more CL, 4 more HP and even two more skill points. I'm sort of leaning towards the latter right now. But that death attack though.

Personal opinion is r22/a8. Death attack DC won't be great anyway, but making enemies roll save vs death attack 4 times helps.

I have a sort of open feat. Two actually. What to pick? I've put in improved combat expertise, but I don't know if it's worth it. The reason I'm not picking weapon focus is that i happen to have a kukri with weapon focus and specialisation kukri. It's only a +2, but it's a start, anyways. I've considered taking something fun like craft wand, but are ranger wands useful? Sought after? Ideas?

From personal experience rangers struggle for getting super high AC when needed. ICE helps quite a bit there. Ranger wands have some demand, but it's limited. Open feats are a nice problem to have though!

[Deathgrowl]

So lower damage for more AC? I don't know... It has hips after all.

[Steve]

But ICE will reduce you AB by -6, and that really takes you down...even if attacking from HiPS.

If you took Athkatlan Triparate, you'd gain +3 AC and +3 DMG, and still get in your 6 attacks out of HiPS. Then you could put CE and ICE into Knockdown & Imp. Knockdown, which would be clickable craps and giggles fun.