Best Backstabber

[JavaDave]

Ok, my new party is going to have a character who is devoted to causing as much backstab damage as possible. It seems like a straight half-orc rogue would be the best choice for such a character with as much strength as possible. So, would it be worth it to add fighter levels? Or, am I an idiot who should do something else? I was thinking since I'm going hi str build, I could have this character throw axes and darts when not backstabbing.

So, any suggestions?

[ammama]

no its kl

i like it. i like having characters that are specialised. specialised archers is my newest craze. i luv half orcs rogues. half orc players have so much more character! half orc mages too! so kl! max out strength, dex. give him a level in barbarian. kit him out in leather (or her). give him dash feat too. and if u want a * levels in monk that way he'll be really fast too. i luv doing that. i have lightening fast characters that can litterly leap across the field. then give him a nice little sword to bakstab with and sum throwing daggers. give him alchemy to envenom weapon. other feats for dirty fighting and improved critical and stuff like that

[Aldon]

I've been thinking of creating a specialist rogue as well, except I've been thinking of a fighter/rogue or a decoy rogue.

My picks would be the following:

Backstabbing Rogue: Dwarf all rogue levels. Backstab damage relies on how many rogue levels a character has, not stregnth or dexderity. The dwarf is good because the extra constitution allows for more hit points.

Fighter rogue: Tiefling fighter (2x) / rogue (1x). I picked tiefling due to the damage reduction and bonuses for int and dex. This would be a front line fighter wielding a two-handed weapon clad in leather. The fighter levels will add hit points, more attacks and bonues, and lots of feats.
STR(18)/DEX(20)/CON(18)/INT(13)/WIS(10)/CHA(1)

Decoy rogue: I haven't figured this one out yet. I want a super high AC, immunity to spells, and the ability to do damage (probably arcane).

[Mirk]

If ALL you want is a build with highest possible Sneak Attack damage, than yes, *mathematicly*, a half-orc rogue with STR 20 at creation, putting all level-up points into STR, weilding a two-handed weapon, and using the best STR enhancing equipment and/or spells, will do the most damage. 4 fighter levels are not a good idea here - you loose 2d6 sneak attack damage for 2 extra damage from specialization.

But you should consider this: is Sneak Attack ALL this character will be doing? If the answer is yes, look no further. If he'll do the usual Rogue staff, he's OK too (just have a high enough INT for the skillpoints and bonus to INT-related skills).

Now, depaending on the party makeout, this char may need to do other stuff - like have efficient defence against spells (such as high Saving Throws or Resistancies), like have other skills, such as diplomacy - than you might be better off with some other builds, along the lines Aldon suggested, or something else.

[neocool00]

Sneak Attack: To use Sneak Attack, attack an enemy's back when you have a melee weapon equipped. Your first successful attack at the creature's back will do normal damage plus 1-6 points of damage with an additional 1-6 points at 3rd level and every two levels thereafter.

Crippling Strike - When making a sneak attack, you are able to deal a devastating blow that weakens an enemy.
Prerequisite: 10 levels of rogue or more.
Benefit: Any time the character makes a successful sneak attack, the attack does its normal damage and also causes 1 point of temporary Strength damage

Strength is sort of a factor in sneak attack because your character will do a normal attack plus additional damage based on your Rogue levels. Since it's every other level after 3rd, you could stop at Rogue 29 and take one level of something else. That would give you 15d6 @ Rogue 29.

[ammama]

yeh

let me know how this character goes i mite try it out sum time.