Build stub critique

[ZeroSpace]

Was parsing through my Documents folder recently, and came across a build stub (well, stats minus gear) for an NPC I wrote up a while ago. I figured I'd post it here, get some opinions on the overall build, suggestions for gear, and just see what everyone thinks of it. Before the juicy part, though, a few things that need to be stated.

1) This is using my interpretation of 3.5/PF rules, ie both are valid, but PF stock rules take precedence due to being more recent.
2) I intentionally took the 3.5 Assassin PrC, because the PF version is honestly worse than straight rogue.
3) I'm using oslecamo's proposed 'associated class levels' rule, or all class levels are treated as non-associated, as this is intended as a 'elite' monster.
4) There's two entries under HP, as PF has a latent 'CHA to HP' rule for all undead, and I may not want to add Unholy Toughness on top of this.

Anyways, here's my monster, who clock in at an Elite CR 9

Spellstitched Boneclaw Assassin 8 (18 HD)

HP 210(336) AC 18/15/12    Saves +14/+17/+13
Space/Reach 10ft/20ft  Speed 40 ft
+4 Turn Resist  DR5/Magic + Blunt + Silver  Cold Immune  SR 17
CMB +19 CMD 35

Attack     Claw +18 (2d6+7)
F.Attack  2 Claws +18 (2d6+7)

S 24 D 22 C - I 16 W 14 Ch 24

Skills
Concentration +15, Stealth +26, Acrobatics +27/31, Perception+23, Bluff +28, Spellcraft +27

Feats
Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise, Imp Trip, Practised Spellcaster,
Imp Initiative, Imp Natural Attack(Claw), Power Attack, Knockdown, Weapon Focus (Claw)

Special Abilities
Sneak Attack +4d6, Death Attack (DC 17), (Improved) Uncanny Dodge
Hide in Plain Sight (shadow)


Assassin Spells
Lvl 1 4/day) Healer's Vision, Exped Retreat, Critical Strike, Obscuring Mist
Lvl 2 4/day) Cat's Grace, Invisibility, Phantom Foe, Veil of Shadow
Lvl 3 4/day) Nondetection, Deeper Darkness, Wraithstrike, Vital Strike
Lvl 4 1/day) Freedom of Movement, Dimension Door, Improved Invis

SLA's
Persistant Blade 3/day
Mage Armour 1/day
Dimension Hop 1/day
Wracking Touch 1/day
Blacklight 1/day
Bands of Steel 1/day


Main thing that concerns me is that attack bonus; is +18 low for a CR 9 baddie, or can I leave it as is?

[Iainuki]

+18 attack bonus is on the high side for 3.5 core monsters at CR 9, though within one standard deviation of the average.  Its AC is also in the normal range but on the low side.  Those saves are far better than typical 3.5 monsters at CR 9, multiple standard deviations away from the mean.  This isn't a huge problem since SoDs are too strong anyways, though.  210 HP is equally high, though, at CR 9, more than two standard deviations higher than the mean, and 336 HP is just out of control.  I think everything looks fine except maybe the HP, and you certainly shouldn't go to 336 HP unless you have PCs who are prepared with SoDs for undead or deal dramatically more damage than a typical ECL 9 party.

[ZeroSpace]

That's good to know. Where are you getting those figures though? I'm curious, and would like to have those handy for future NPC's I put together.

[Iainuki]

http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19869122/Optimization_By_The_Numbers

This post has some of the numbers, but is missing some critical things like attack bonus.  I compiled my own table of CR 9 monsters in the MM and did the statistics on them, but I don't have any interest in doing the data entry for a more comprehensive analysis.

[ZeroSpace]

Handy, thank you. Any suggestions/comments on gear or feat selection? This baddie is intended to be a rogue-esque attacker with a fair amount of mobility and stealth options.

[Iainuki]

I know next to nothing about Pathfinder and haven't ever looked at boneclaws or the spellstitched template.  With those provisos, I have to ask, where are you getting 20' reach?  Is it an intrinsic of boneclaw or spellstitched?  Those feats are fine, for equipment I'd just get standard items like a mithral chain shirt/breasplate and cloak of resistance, and honestly if you give this monster much more firepower than it already has, I'd be worried about it killing an ECL 9 party, barring significant optimization, hard leaning on broken and imbalanced crap, or both.

[ZeroSpace]

The 20ft reach is a special ability of the boneclaw itself.

[ZeroSpace]

Really, nothing at all? I was hoping for a little more feedback than this.

[jameswilliamogle]

You asked for info on the attack bonus and received feedback on that and much more. Honestly the board doesn't have the traffic it once had. Is there something else you wanted specific advise on?

[ZeroSpace]

Mainly suggestions for gear, as well as feedback on my feat selections. I will likely keep to using the standard treasure allotment for a CR9 encounter as the budget for this NPC's equipment.

Beyond that, just general feedback.

Edit: You mentioned that this board has lost some of it's traffic volume. Any suggestions on where else to go?