Need help with a dual wielding sneak build

[Invoker]

As for the Stealthy Feat. Yep on the hood. It's also available on a set of Boots that regularly appear on the auction.: AC+2, Bonus Feet (pun intended): Stealthy, Rapid Retreat 3x day.
If you're lucky enough to find an AC+3 version of these, all the better

You can't take Stealthy from there, mate. Those boots have no bonus to Hide/MS.
You need the feat on a +3/+3 or +4/+4 H/MS item.

[electric mayhem]

So the Feat on the Feet doesn't work?
Much like Darkvision feat on items doesn't work?

I was sure on a toon a while back I saw it add +2h/ms when boots were equipped.

[Invoker]

So the Feat on the Feet doesn't work?
Much like Darkvision feat on items doesn't work?

I was sure on a toon a while back I saw it add +2h/ms when boots were equipped.

Oh nono! It works fine, but it’s useless, unless the item giving it has top Hide/MS scores

[VDub]

So the Feat on the Feet doesn't work?
Much like Darkvision feat on items doesn't work?

I was sure on a toon a while back I saw it add +2h/ms when boots were equipped.

Darkvision on items works fine.

[electric mayhem]

So the Feat on the Feet doesn't work?
Much like Darkvision feat on items doesn't work?

I was sure on a toon a while back I saw it add +2h/ms when boots were equipped.

Darkvision on items works fine.

Tell that to my encircling scale belt.

[electric mayhem]

So the Feat on the Feet doesn't work?
Much like Darkvision feat on items doesn't work?

I was sure on a toon a while back I saw it add +2h/ms when boots were equipped.

Oh nono! It works fine, but it’s useless, unless the item giving it has top Hide/MS scores

Agreed. But the point wasn't about h/ms. It was about gaining the stealthy feat.

[Invoker]

Then I apologize for my misunderstanding.

I was answering to this:

A well built sneak build is rather feat starved and doesn't really need the +2 AB from Backstab. Note the same effect can be had (with an additional +2 to saves) by downing a potion of heroism (at a cost of ~100 gp for 50 minutes of effect). PTWF sneak builds feats by order of importance:

Weapon Finesse
TWF
ITWF
GTWF
Blinding Strike
Skill Focus Hide
Stealthy
Skill Focus Move Silently
Luck of Hero's

That's 9 feats....Even a human will only have 8 pre-epic and you can't use your rogue bonus feats since you need Crippling Strike (10), Improved Evasion (13) and Defensive Roll (16). While +2 AB is nice (very nice, indeed) all of the above are likely better selections for a PTWF sneak build.

One argument is you can have 'enough' stealth without skill focus or stealthy feats. However, if you are thinking of PvP (the only place where backstab might be necessary) then I would argue you NEVER have enough stealth.

From the marked lines, I had inferred the importance of getting the Stealthy feat was actually stemming from a perceived necessity to raise Hide/MS as high as possible. Therefore my reply: getting the Stealthy feat at the price of Hide/MS points wouldn't do.

I think the Ninja Cowl has very high values, though (+4/+4), so that will work in any case, if applicable.

[chad878262]

One should consider available equipment for certain, and this should factor in to feat selection. However, just as when we discuss the issues regarding a Paladin or Ranger with 11 WIS being item dependent, the same applies here. One issue with sneak builds is they tend to have ~12-16 STR modified, but in general they want to have at a minimum their 'max sneak gear' as well as their more standard 'adventuring gear'. Unfortunately the two are not always the same. For example during adventuring you need to assign a slot to get +4 deflection AC and you will likely either chose to use a +4 Natural armor amulet or rely on wands if you want to keep your Greater/Epic Cloaked amulet on since it will only have +2 AC. If you're +4 deflection item is a ring, great....however, if it is a hood then you are losing stealth.

In the end, utilizing an item with stealthy feat and bonus to hide/ms like the ninja hood is an excellent choice and I do it myself because with only 7 feats pre-epic you don't have a lot of options!

[all_distorted]

Thanks for the tip about Ninja Cowl!

And what price range are we talking about, at least approximately? If that is okay to ask?

Wouldn't want to rely on an item to get such a precious feat as Stealthy if I hardly ever be able to afford it.

[electric mayhem]

Hundreds of thousands.

Epic store in BG Wide area. Also check out the Negotiators in the marketplace area of forums that offer pricing down services.