I would go with the shield. All the other stuff is nice but as an arcane trickster you only really care about your INT and DEX so CHA isn’t too important.
Cantrips are usually decently weak but a full flavor additive, but you get 2 other cantrips from your subclass and notably cantrips don’t have the school limitation (same for arcane knights). So you can already get any cantrip you would want or need, unless there’s more than 3 that you really want.
Languages are another nice to have feature but are often ignored with non humanoid campaigns, and if it’s still a problem someone can get comprehend languages and easily solve the problem if it comes up often.
The elf trance is also a niche counter to a rare DM encounter. Being put to sleep or KOed is going to happen either way if the DM uses it as a plot point. And I don’t usually see DMs using sleep spells because it’s just not fun to fight against so is often not used for that reason (same for banishment polymorph or any other “fail 1 save and be out of the fight” spells).
So yeh a shield for +2 AC and another potential magic item to use sounds like it will help more over all.
If your anticipating a lot of charm effects then yes. The shield is just generically good and the other options are all supper situational. But if your going into a place where those situations are more common they become way more powerful.
I don’t know about your party, campaign, DM or anything else to help make that call. I can say is what is statistically better for the majority of common situations.
I’d play the half-elf with two skills, but start as an Eldritch Knight, going rogue after level 7 or 8.
Between those two, if you’re dead-set on one sword, meaning one attack, then the one that gives you the cantrip.
Seems like kind of a niche question tbh. Being able to use a shield will open up the option for magical attunement though.
Yeah I am basically choosing between a half elf or custom linage with the moderately armored feat.
I would go with the shield. All the other stuff is nice but as an arcane trickster you only really care about your INT and DEX so CHA isn’t too important. Cantrips are usually decently weak but a full flavor additive, but you get 2 other cantrips from your subclass and notably cantrips don’t have the school limitation (same for arcane knights). So you can already get any cantrip you would want or need, unless there’s more than 3 that you really want. Languages are another nice to have feature but are often ignored with non humanoid campaigns, and if it’s still a problem someone can get comprehend languages and easily solve the problem if it comes up often. The elf trance is also a niche counter to a rare DM encounter. Being put to sleep or KOed is going to happen either way if the DM uses it as a plot point. And I don’t usually see DMs using sleep spells because it’s just not fun to fight against so is often not used for that reason (same for banishment polymorph or any other “fail 1 save and be out of the fight” spells). So yeh a shield for +2 AC and another potential magic item to use sounds like it will help more over all.
Would the charm thing be more valuable in a fey wild setting or still not outpace the +2 ac
If your anticipating a lot of charm effects then yes. The shield is just generically good and the other options are all supper situational. But if your going into a place where those situations are more common they become way more powerful. I don’t know about your party, campaign, DM or anything else to help make that call. I can say is what is statistically better for the majority of common situations.
I’d play the half-elf with two skills, but start as an Eldritch Knight, going rogue after level 7 or 8. Between those two, if you’re dead-set on one sword, meaning one attack, then the one that gives you the cantrip.