5e rogue importance?

[Ashrym]

Agree with no need for a rogue in particular. Or any other class either. 5e gives alternatives for party composition.

Having said that, it's one of my favorite 5e classes and plenty of fun.

Disagree on an earlier comment regarding knock. Spell slots are too limited to waste on a spell that raises alarms against the party when it's so easy to open locks given a bit of time. Knock has it's uses but I find them the exception instead of the norm.

 

[Dausuul]

I would focus on making sure you have characters with decent bonuses in Investigation, Perception, Stealth, and Thieves' Tools. A rogue can wrap all that into a nice little package, but you certainly don't need a rogue. Is there a wizard in the party? Have them get Investigation. Got a cleric or druid? There's your Perception (may need to use a background or racial feature to get it).

For Stealth and Thieves' Tools, you could have a monk, ranger, Dex fighter, or a Swords/Valor bard; failing that, any character with solid Dex, like a wizard or barbarian, could cover it. There is actually a lot to be said for a barbarian in the role of scout and trap disabler. While their bonus won't be quite as high, their ability to withstand the consequences of a failed roll is second to none, especially with Danger Sense.

 

[abirdcall]

You don't need Thieves' Tools either.

Just kick the door in.

 

[Reynard]

You don't need Thieves' Tools either.

Just kick the door in.

You generally can't bypass traps without a proficiency in Thieves Tools, 2hich eats up resources such as hit points and/or spells.

 

[Satyrn]

You generally can't bypass traps without a proficiency in Thieves Tools, 2hich eats up resources such as hit points and/or spells.

or gold, if you buy a bunch of mules to "scout" ahead for you.

You could even save that gold, and make the local village safer, by rounding up stray dogs instead.

 

[Reynard]

or gold, if you buy a bunch of mules to "scout" ahead for you.

You could even save that gold, and make the local village safer, by rounding up stray dogs instead.

Old school.

 

[Jester David]

"Rogue" isn't a role. It's a class. Rogues can fill several different roles in the party.

With their expertise, they can have a high Charisma and be the party face.
They can focus on being the trapfinder, by instead having a high Dexterity and Wisdom/Intelligence.
They can be a non-magical scout that excels in the wilderness.
They can be the striker, and focus on dealing damage, either through melee weapons or as an archer.

5e, thankfully, doesn't make the rogue essential. It's easy for other classes to be the blaster and pick up the damage slack. Through backgrounds, other characters can pick up skill with Thieves' Tools and disable traps.

 

[Mistwell]

Nobody else can use Fast Hands with the Healer feat to essentially heal people in combat as often as they want as a bonus action

 

[Reynard]

Nobody else can use Fast Hands with the Healer feat to essentially heal people in combat as often as they want as a bonus action

Well, they can heal as many as they want once each. But Rogue as battlefield medic is definitely an interesting role.

 

[Oofta]

You don't need Thieves' Tools either.

Just kick the door in.

I had a character that believed in "dwarven lockpick". Basically a big hammer.