D&D 5E Ranged Rogue Question

[Roman Ryder]

Question
Should I go to 20 dex at level 4 or take a feat (considering skulker) and what would be the best level to take one level of fighter? Thanks!

Background
I'm joining a game in progress, so I'm rolling up a level 6 character. The rule for stats was 4d6, nothing above 18 or below 10. I rolled a 17, 16, 16, 16, 14, 13. I'm going with a High Elf, so I have +2 to dex and +1 int. The build has to come from the PHB only.

I did a one-shot as a Rogue 5/Fighter 1 with +2 to archery. It was pretty awesome, but I was thinking about staying Rogue until at least level 8.

EDIT: After much debate, I'm not going to take any ranger levels. I may splash one level of fighter for +2 to archery.

Stats
Str 14
Dex 18
Con 16
Int 18
Wis 16
Cha 13

Skills
Acrobatics
Athletics
Investigation
Perception*
Sleight of Hand*
Stealth*
Survival
*Expertise (plus Thieves' Tools)

Cantrips
Mage Hand
Message
Minor Illusion
Prestidigitation

Level 1
Find Familiar
Charm Person
Disguise Self
Silent Image

 

[jaelis]

Either works. Improving dex is simple and keeps your options open.

 

[5ekyu]

What are your priorities?

Feats can offer specialized capabilities not otherwise available - giving you a new tool in your toolbox. RITUAL CASTER for example can open a whole lot of new options and put a whole lot of tools in your toolbox that grow over time.

ASI - Abilities provide a more generic boost to a set of capabilities you already have. DEX is one of the better ones.

So while many times from a strictly combat metric perspective the answer is usually "get to 20 in your primary stat then consider feats only when you are looking at feat vs secondary stat", i tend to view it as a little more than that, although that is a good answer as a general rule.

For a mixed arcane vs non-arcane, i would be strongly tempted for an early feat choice instead of that extra +1 (even for dex) because to me thats more fun and often at the lower levels (before characters get that many options) having the right tool seems more important or impacting than having another +1.

 

[Coroc]

Ahm first of all if you mc then you would get only 1 stat increase / feat at Level 4 (the next at Level 9). Whether you should take sharpshooter or dex 20 depends on your dm and your group. If your group includdes a cleric / pally who can give you bless and is doing that a lot in game or if your dm uses a lot of Monsters with low AC then eventually go SS, else dex.

I currently play a hunter ranger, and i regret i took ss, despite having a cleric able to bless and the dm often using low ac mobs. I almost never can use SS reliable because i am in melee often or the situation is so tight that it is a risk to switch on the -5/+10 (means despite mob having low ac it is more important to hit, so i cannot take risks)

 

[Roman Ryder]

What are your priorities?

Feats can offer specialized capabilities not otherwise available - giving you a new tool in your toolbox. RITUAL CASTER for example can open a whole lot of new options and put a whole lot of tools in your toolbox that grow over time.

I should almost constantly have advantage, so the loss of +1 to AC may be more of a concern than the loss of +1 to attack.

I'd probably use the ritual caster for feather fall, which could come in handy! I considered taking it instead of find familiar, but an owl is really nice for scouting ahead and occasionally helping for advantage on a target. I could see the advantage of taking ritual caster early for the chance at picking up additional spells.

Skullker looks really awesome though. I could be pretty much guaranteed to always hide after an attack and later, if I missed on my first attack, I'd still get sneak attack damage on my second attack (missed attack doesn't take you out of hiding).

Thanks!

Ahm first of all if you mc then you would get only 1 stat increase / feat at Level 4 (the next at Level 9). Whether you should take sharpshooter dex 20 depends on your dm and your group. If your group includdes a cleric / pally who can give you bless and is doing that a lot in game or if your dm uses a lot of Monsters with low AC then eventually go SS, else dex

I'm not planning to multiclass until 9. I should have advantage most of the time, so missing may be less of a concern. Ignoring cover could really make a difference, especially if 3/4 cover (+5 AC). Long distance sniper shots would be a lot of fun too! I know most people take it first, but I really see it as a better option at level 12 or later. Thanks!

 

[jaelis]

I'd probably use the ritual caster for feather fall, which could come in handy!

That doesn't make any sense, did you mean Magic Initiate?

 

[Guest 6801328]

Background
I'm joining a game in progress, so I'm rolling up a level 6 character. The rule for stats was 4d6, nothing above 18 or below 10. I rolled a 17, 16, 16, 16, 14, 13. I'm going with a High Elf, so I have +2 to dex and +1 int. The build has to come from the PHB only.

I really wish I had been keeping a record all this time of every time somebody posted stats they had rolled. I'd love to do some statistics, not just on the odds of any one set of numbers coming up, but the odds of all of them coming up.

Or maybe I'm too suspicious. Maybe it's just that when people roll low they don't have as many questions about character builds so they don't post to forums. Yeah, that must be it....

 

[Roman Ryder]

That doesn't make any sense, did you mean Magic Initiate?

Yeah

I really wish I had been keeping a record all this time of every time somebody posted stats they had rolled. I'd love to do some statistics, not just on the odds of any one set of numbers coming up, but the odds of all of them coming up.

I rolled it with the group on Saturday morning.

 

[corwyn77]

I really wish I had been keeping a record all this time of every time somebody posted stats they had rolled. I'd love to do some statistics, not just on the odds of any one set of numbers coming up, but the odds of all of them coming up.

Or maybe I'm too suspicious. Maybe it's just that when people roll low they don't have as many questions about character builds so they don't post to forums. Yeah, that must be it....

Well, he didn't say they dropped one die, so maybe it just 4d6. The average would still be a bit high, but not as much.

 

[jaelis]

Also if you get to reroll any time you have a score below 10, that is a pretty big boost too.