D&D 5E Are Rogues mostly archers?

[Dragoslav]

In my limited experience putting this into practice, I think using either the flanking or facing rules in the DMG help with this issue not by penalizing ranged fighting, but providing incentives to go into melee. With facing, the rogue can get free advantage on any enemy whose back is turned to him. However, to avoid this, the enemy simply has to move around to the other side of the rogue's ally with whom he is currently engaging, and now in order to get advantage, the rogue has to circle all the way around the enemy; if he the rogue were in melee, instead, he could get around the enemy's backside far more reliably.

 

[FrogReaver]

I think it's mostly preception. A rogue that uses 2 shortswords is far deadlier in melee than he is with a shortbow (unless in-combat hiding and shooting with advantage are allowed and relatively easy to pull off round by round).

A rogue at level 5 that gets the reaction for half damage is pretty survivable in his own right.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Yes! They have shield and mage armour lol! Oh and shapeshift

Ok, you are right... shapeshift from level 1. And shield is nice and well... but I´d rather have them use their spells on sleep or higher damage spells or disables. Mage armor and shield at level 1 and half your level 1 spells are gone. Be an arcane trickster and you have your own shield spells if your uncanny dodge is not enough.

 

[famousringo]

One point I haven't seen for melee is that a rogue with the stones to hang in melee that doesn't need to use Uncanny Dodge might get a chance to make an opportunity attack with full sneak attack dice, basically doubling DPR.

There's risk in melee, but great rewards for a daring rogue.

 

[Azurewraith]

Ok, you are right... shapeshift from level 1. And shield is nice and well... but I´d rather have them use their spells on sleep or higher damage spells or disables. Mage armor and shield at level 1 and half your level 1 spells are gone. Be an arcane trickster and you have your own shield spells if your uncanny dodge is not enough.

But there's nothing more fun than watching a man in a dress dance!

 

[hawkeyefan]

One small point...many folks say that a dual-wielding rogue gets sneak attack twice, but that's not the case. They can only use it once per turn. So they can use it on one of their attacks, and they can also use it as part of a reaction with an attack of opportunity.

The rogue in our group has used both melee and ranged attacks to great effect. I think what would work best is situational, so as others have said, having a more tactfully minded player playing the rogue probably makes the most sense.

With the fears mentioned, ranged combat does become a more viable option, but the feats come at a trade off, and although they are potent, I don't think they're quite as unbalancing as implied.

 

[famousringo]

One small point...many folks say that a dual-wielding rogue gets sneak attack twice, but that's not the case. They can only use it once per turn.

They aren't saying a dual-wield rogue gets sneak attack twice, they're saying he gets two chances to apply Sneak Attack.

A rogue with a bow who misses on her turn gets no sneak attack damage that turn. A rogue with two daggers misses with his main hand, but can still apply sneak attack damage if the offhand dagger hits. Dual wielding is like having advantage on sneak attacks.

 

[hawkeyefan]

They aren't saying a dual-wield rogue gets sneak attack twice, they're saying he gets two chances to apply Sneak Attack.

A rogue with a bow who misses on her turn gets no sneak attack damage that turn. A rogue with two daggers misses with his main hand, but can still apply sneak attack damage if the offhand dagger hits. Dual wielding is like having advantage on sneak attacks.

I just looked back at te comments, and you're right, I misread the comments regarding the dual wielding. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Zardnaar]

Idiot Rogues snipe and are generally a bit useless. In addition to halving their chance to sneak attack they need to suck up some damage which they can halve.

And that maybe get an extra sneak attack in as well via AOL or something like a battlemaster or dissonant whispers . They should really only snipe when they have no choice or if there is a severe lack of healing in the party.

During the player several of us left feedback dexter was overpowered as well.

 

[hawkeyefan]

Party make up would be a big factor. Some parties might need the rogue to absorb a few attacks while for others that won't be a concern.

I think that rogues are one of the most versatile classes....so depending on the needs of the party, they can sub in different roles.