Solo cleric sneak attacker

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I like sneak attackers but I noticed that when you solo, monsters tend to follow your character making it harder to use a hit and fade technique (no hide in plain sight).

I'm thinking about an alternative which would be having a Rogue with enough Cleric levels to cast diasbling spells or spells that would transform any attacks into sneak attacks; mainly sleep, command, greater command, hold person/monster/animal, power words stun/sleep, colour spray, chromatic orb, great shout, lich touch, stinking cloud, symbol of stunning, smashing wave, tremor, holy word and blasphemy.

I considered two different Cleric domains: Bane and Mask. Bane grants Tyrant's dictum and Command as domain spell. Mask gives sleep (and blindness).

3 or 4 levels of Cleric and greater spell focus (enchantment) could work well for a cleric of Bane using command and hold person (9 levels would allow the cleric to cast level 5 spells -greater command- but at the same time it would mean losing a lot on sneak damage).

Regarding the race, human gives an extra feat (handy for spell focus), tiefling gives immunities and blindness and (female) drow gives spell resistance and ability points. At the end of the day drow looks like a good idea (especially for a solo).

So am I unto something? Is this build effective as a solo? I'd welcome any ideas to improve its chances.

 

This is the sort of innovative character design that makes IWD2 so much fun. Give it a go and see how it works out!

 

Too bad the game itself is not that fun...

 

I kinda agree there, bahir. I really enjoy IWD2s character system and BG2's story and quests. Pity the Icewind Gate/ Baldurs Dale project just isnt really possible.

 

Regarding race you'll have more points for the important stats with a tiefling since you can set down cha to 1, but drow would still be easier because of the other bonusses.

Mask is probably easier because of mirror image, but for your playing style Bane seems to be the logical choice since Tyrant's dictum affects both the "command" and "hold person" spell you want to use a lot.

The more cleric levels you take the easier the game will be. If you take 9 cleric levels the +3 extra strength "champion's strength" grants compared to bull's strength and the +4 damage from "holy power" you get also affect backstabs and the other cleric spells like "animate dead" will make the game far easier.
But if you take many cleric levels you might be tempted to ignore the thieving abilities and play a cleric, easier but probably not more fun.

If you want to keep both classes even I suggest a deep gnome, besides the the other big advantadges (+4 AC, blur, mirror image, MR, ...) you also get the ability to turn invisible once a day after backstab and start a new backstab without having to run away and hide first.

Deep gnome is even the best race if you keep your levels uneven, 20 percent XP penalty doesn't matter that much if you get 6 times the XP because of soloing.

But any thief/cleric combination should be strong enough to solo the game, use what promises the most fun to you.

 

I'm planning to take only a few Cleric levels. I'm planning a STR 18 CON 16 build and just average DEX 12 and low CHA (6 low but not too low).

Mage could help to get other spells, but my main objective is to incapacitate opponents so my character can get sneak attacks without hiding or without turning invisible.

Should I get a proficiency in 2 handed weapons or should I limit myself to one handed weapons? Getting a proficiency will cost a feat, prevent the use of a shield (but get some extra damage). After getting greater spell focus enchantment my priority is going to be to get power attack and cleave (then great cleave which would allow some free attacks against stunned enemies).

 

I doubt that "great cleave" is worth it. "Command" and "hold person" only affect one enemy and duration is so short that you'll have to attack instantly afterwards, if you choose Mask you get one "sleep" spell per rest, but it only will work in the first chapter. And even then I doubt that you'll have 3 enemies in cleave range often.

Since your tactic is to stun one enemy and sneak attack immediately while being attacked by many others long weapon range is very useful, the halberd with longer range you can buy in Targos seems optimal. With polearm profiency you'll also benefit from the spear+4 you get at the battle squares and the "massive halberd of hate".

Level6 is probably early enough to take this feat, you need money to buy this weapon.
You still can use other weapons, switching from 2-handed to 1-handed with shield is easy in IWD2.

But you can also take quarterstaffs, the short sword +5 and club of disruption +5 from the battle squares can also be used.
You can also use weapons you aren't proficient in, you only get a -4 penalty to hit which isn't that bad.