name: Arcane Trickster (Steelblood, Human)
concept: >
  A self-buffing arcane gish (a common community idea; user, 2026-10-11): a DEX Human that buffs only itself and dual-wields (user, 2026-10-21: Hasty Eradicator, the TWF chain, DEX over STR).
  Steelblood 1 (heavy armor), Vivisectionist 1 (mutagen, sneak attack), Exploiter Wizard 3 (Potent Magic,
  2nd-level spells), then Arcane Trickster for spell progression and sneak attack, Loremaster 3 at 8
  (Divine Power from the cleric list), two more Exploiter levels for the second exploit, and Arcane Trickster
  to 10. A Rapier and, from 13, Hasty Eradicator in the off hand; Mage Armor with Archmage Armor instead of plate. Lich from Act 2: the merged spellbook adds the mythic rank to the caster level,
  with the lich spellbook's own buffs on top of Haste, Displacement and Transformation.
open_questions:
  - "Bloodrage isn't modeled (its text wasn't supplied)."
  - "No armor: Mage Armor with Archmage Armor (4 + mythic rank armor AC, no spell failure, no DEX cap) replaces the plate (user, 2026-10-21), so the Steelblood dip's heavy armor is unused."
  - "The third feat of the two-weapon chain needs BAB 11; this build reaches 9, so the chain stops at Improved Two-Weapon Fighting."
  - "Lich durations (Vampiric Blade, Bone Shield) are assumed to last the fight."
  - "Transformation blocks every other spell while it lasts (user, 2026-10-11): it is cast last, and once it is 24 hours long nothing can be recast that day. Not modeled."
mythic_path: Lich
mythic_rank: 10
size: medium
attack_ability: DEX
race: Human
race_ability_choice: [DEX]
abilities: {str_: 10, dex: 17, con: 14, int_: 16, wis: 11, cha: 7}
level_up_stats: [DEX, DEX, DEX, DEX, DEX]
weapon:
  - {level: 1, weapon: "Rapier"}
  - {level: 7, weapon: "Short Sword"}
  - {level: 13, weapon: "Hasty Eradicator", why: "Hellknights Outpost, level 13 (user, 2026-10-20)."}
  - {level: 15, weapon: "Interceptor", why: "Fleshmarkets, Act 4: +5 keen rapier; +43 to +60 weighted damage at 15-19."}
  - {level: 18, weapon: "Translucent Needle of Astonishment", why: "Gwerm's mansion, Act 5: +5 bane against evil outsiders; beats Interceptor from 20 (+49)."}
setup:
  - {level: 1, main_hand: "Rapier"}
  - {level: 7, main_hand: "Rapier", off_hand: "Short Sword"}
  - {level: 13, main_hand: "Rapier", off_hand: "Hasty Eradicator"}
  - {level: 15, main_hand: "Interceptor", off_hand: "Hasty Eradicator"}
  - {level: 20, main_hand: "Translucent Needle of Astonishment", off_hand: "Hasty Eradicator"}
equipment:
  - amulet_of_natural_armor
  - ring_of_protection
  - weapon_enhancement
  - belt_of_physical_perfection
  - headband_of_mental_perfection
levels:
  - Steelblood
  - Vivisectionist
  - Exploiter Wizard
  - Exploiter Wizard
  - Exploiter Wizard
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Loremaster
  - Loremaster
  - Loremaster
  - Exploiter Wizard
  - Exploiter Wizard
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
  - Arcane Trickster
picks:
  general_feat:
    - {level: 1, choice: "Weapon Finesse"}
    - {level: 3, choice: "Skill Focus:Knowledge (Arcana)", why: "Loremaster prerequisite."}
    - {level: 5, choice: "Accomplished Sneak Attacker", why: "Second sneak attack die: Arcane Trickster at 6."}
    - {level: 7, choice: "Two-Weapon Fighting"}
    - {level: 9, choice: "Dodge"}
    - {level: 11, choice: "Blind Fight", why: "Filler: the low-BAB classes hold the BAB feats back."}
    - {level: 13, choice: "Toughness", why: "Filler."}
    - {level: 15, choice: "Improved Two-Weapon Fighting", why: "BAB 6 from 14, DEX 17."}
    - {level: 17, choice: "Outflank"}
    - {level: 19, choice: "Improved Critical:Rapier", why: "BAB 8 from 18."}
  bonus_feat:
    - {level: 1, choice: "Weapon Focus:Rapier", why: "Human bonus feat."}
    - {level: 3, choice: "Extend Spell", why: "Wizard bonus feat; the Loremaster's metamagic prerequisite."}
    - {level: 12, choice: "Combat Casting", why: "Wizard bonus feat (Exploiter 5); filler."}
  arcanist_exploit:
    - {level: 3, choice: "Potent Magic", why: "Each reservoir point: +2 caster level on a buff."}
    - {level: 12, choice: "Arcane Barrier"}
  loremaster_secret:
    - {level: 8, choice: "Cleric Spell:Divine Power", why: "Luck to attack and damage, +1 per 3 caster levels (max +6), at the merged caster level."}
    - {level: 10, choice: "Will Secret", why: "Filler."}
  spell:
    - {level: 3, choice: Shield}
    - {level: 3, choice: "Mage Armor", why: "Archmage Armor makes it 4 + mythic rank armor AC."}
    - {level: 5, choice: "Mirror Image"}
    - {level: 5, choice: "Sense Vitals"}
    - {level: 7, choice: Haste}
    - {level: 7, choice: Displacement}
    - {level: 9, choice: "Greater Invisibility"}
    - {level: 9, choice: "Animal Aspect (Greater)", why: "A polymorph spell: turns on Master Shapeshifter (user, 2026-10-21)."}
    - {level: 11, choice: Transformation}
  mythic_hero:
    - {level: 5, choice: Close to the Abyss, mythic_rank: 1, why: "MR 1 hero power: a Gore beside the weapons."}
  mythic_ability:
    - {level: 5, choice: "Archmage Armor", mythic_rank: 1, why: "Mage Armor becomes 4 + mythic rank armor AC: +14 at rank 10 (user, 2026-10-21)."}
    - {level: 11, choice: "Enduring Spells", mythic_rank: 3}
    - {level: 18, choice: "Master Shapeshifter", mythic_rank: 7, why: "+4 STR, DEX and CON under Animal Aspect (Greater) (user, 2026-10-21)."}
    - {level: 15, choice: "Greater Enduring Spells", mythic_rank: 5, why: "Round-per-level buffs at caster level 25 (or 25 extended) reach 5 minutes and become 24-hour buffs (user, 2026-10-11)."}
  mythic_feat:
    - {level: 8, choice: "Weapon Finesse (Mythic)", mythic_rank: 2, why: "DEX to damage."}
    - {level: 12, choice: "Two-Weapon Fighting (Mythic)", mythic_rank: 4}
    - {level: 17, choice: "Mythic Sneak Attacker", mythic_rank: 6}
    - {level: 18, choice: "Weapon Focus (Mythic):Rapier", mythic_rank: 8}
    - {level: 20, choice: "Improved Critical (Mythic):Rapier", mythic_rank: 10}
items:
  - {name: "Engraved Lucky Bracers", level: 1, until_level: 17, why: "+1 luck AC in the free wrist slot."}
  - {name: "Embroidered Gloves", level: 18, why: "+3 luck AC in the free hands slot (replaces the bracers' +1 luck)."}