Player issue - help with a rogue

[Xilo]

Hey,

One of my players is a rogue who is feeling a little useless in combat. The party also has a Wizard, Ranger/Scout and a cleric. There isn't a pure fighter though the ranger/scout is hitting very hard with her bow. All the PCs are about to level up to 7th.

Basically he is feeling like he never gets a chance to use his sneak attacks and isn't buff enough to be a huge hitter in melee. At the moment he is thinking of taking the invisible blade prestige class to try and make him a little better in combat.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can help this player? The character is great from an RP point of view and I'm loath for the player to change.

Thoughts, suggestions and comments greatly appreciated.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

He could try Improved Feint, maybe. However, rogues need to team up with a heavy fighter to do reasonably well in combat.

 

[Erywin]

Alot of it sounds like he isn't able to get sneak attacks off. What kind of monsters are you sending at him? If they are mainly Plants, Constructs, Undead etc. then he is going to have a rough time no matter what. If its due to the fact that he can't flank, get the Wizard to use summon spells more often to set up flanks or get the rogue to buy a wand of grease Even if the enemy makes his saving throw he is still SAable Unless he has 5 or more ranks in tumble. Just a few thoughts to help out.

Cheers,
E

 

[Mark CMG]

Add a lot more terrain onto the battlefields and make sure opponents spot one another from ome distance so that he has the opportunity to utilize his abilities.

 

[Xilo]

What kind of monsters are you sending at him? If they are mainly Plants, Constructs, Undead etc. then he is going to have a rough time no matter what.

They haven't faced a plant or undead in ages. The problem is that there is no one else in the party who gets in to the thick of melee. However the ranger does have a wolf animal companion that I've suggested they use more often to help flank and also trip. But they seem resistant to this.

Won't grease also make it hard for the person fighting?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If the rest of them won't plow into combat, he needs to pick up Improved Feint.

 

[Satori]

Have the rogue multi-class with some fighter, then let the PC repick their feats.

What does the rogue's character sheet look like? A 7th level optimized melee rogue is SCARY in combat.

Fighter 2/Rogue X will add some needed feats and some BAB and HD.

Rogue 3/Swashbuckler X with "Daring Outlaw" from Complete Scoundrel creates a full BAB, d10 HD rogue with FULL Sneak Attack progression. Combine this with the TWF chain and you've got a nasty DPS machine. Use dual kukris, Improved Crit, and Telling Blow for non-flanking Sneak Attack damage on every crit.

Chances are the Rogue pc is poorly created...so re-create the character and call it a day.

 

[Pell-Mell]

Consider allowing the rogue to take the Leadership feat and take a fighter as a cohort. This would allow the rogue to set up flanks as he likes. It would also benefit the rest of the group by providing someone to tie up monsters in melee why they do their thing from a distance.

 

[Xilo]

Consider allowing the rogue to take the Leadership feat and take a fighter as a cohort. This would allow the rogue to set up flanks as he likes. It would also benefit the rest of the group by providing someone to tie up monsters in melee why they do their thing from a distance.

That is possibility, but from a RP perspective he isn't really the leadership type. One of the other PCs might be though.

 

[smootrk]

Another option is to have the rogue take levels in Beguiler or SpellThief to make him even more resourceful in his non-combatant role. Basically, I am saying that since he is not so great in melee, then focus on strengths elsewhere, rather than 'beating a dead horse' and trying to shoehorn him into more of a combatant.