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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 9622283" data-attributes="member: 2629">Think of it another way: How do they balance the spotlight?&nbsp; Of all the archetypes, the scout/rogue/sneak role is the one that gets the most spotlight if they elect to take it.&nbsp; If the PCs arrive at a cave complex and want to scout it out, the rogue may spend 30 to 60 minutes solo roleplaying as they locate enemies, figure out access points, etc...&nbsp; They get a chance to have a solo spotlight on them that can last for a significant amount of time.Not all DMs or players 'feed into' this type of activity.&nbsp; Some PCs never scout.&nbsp; Some DMs reduce the whole scouting expedition to a single roll of the die and then a brief explanation of what was seen - but other DMs let the PC play out that chapter of the story in detail.&nbsp; This is often one of the most tense moments in D&amp;D - one PC without a safety net that constantly is electing to press their luck further or return to their allies with the information gathered.&nbsp; That is a huge spotlight.With that much spotlight inherently available to them, it makes sense that they have less spotlight in combat - but they still get the capability to have amongst the most powerful single damage strikes in the game ... which can allow them to break concentration, take down a foe that was at moderate health all at once, etc... As such, they still get some combat spotlight.Finally, they are better in combat than most people give them credit for being if you push them.&nbsp; My last rogue, through careful planning and coordination with allies, was able to attack once during their turn and once as a readied / reaction action in almost every round of combat for most of their career.&nbsp; When you double up that sneak attack it gets to be a lot.&nbsp; At 20th level (Assassin 17/sorcerer 3) I was dealing about 250 damage (4d8 arrow +2d8 commander strike + 20 sharpshooter +12 dexterity +6 magic bow +4 bracers of archery +36d6 sneak attack + 4d6 hex + 12d6 quickened scorching ray) in the first round of combat without expending significant resources - and I was sometimes doing that from insane distances as an archer.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 9622283, member: 2629"] Think of it another way: How do they balance the spotlight? Of all the archetypes, the scout/rogue/sneak role is the one that gets the most spotlight if they elect to take it. If the PCs arrive at a cave complex and want to scout it out, the rogue may spend 30 to 60 minutes solo roleplaying as they locate enemies, figure out access points, etc... They get a chance to have a solo spotlight on them that can last for a significant amount of time. Not all DMs or players 'feed into' this type of activity. Some PCs never scout. Some DMs reduce the whole scouting expedition to a single roll of the die and then a brief explanation of what was seen - but other DMs let the PC play out that chapter of the story in detail. This is often one of the most tense moments in D&D - one PC without a safety net that constantly is electing to press their luck further or return to their allies with the information gathered. That is a huge spotlight. With that much spotlight inherently available to them, it makes sense that they have less spotlight in combat - but they still get the capability to have amongst the most powerful single damage strikes in the game ... which can allow them to break concentration, take down a foe that was at moderate health all at once, etc... As such, they still get some combat spotlight. Finally, they are better in combat than most people give them credit for being if you push them. My last rogue, through careful planning and coordination with allies, was able to attack once during their turn and once as a readied / reaction action in almost every round of combat for most of their career. When you double up that sneak attack it gets to be a lot. At 20th level (Assassin 17/sorcerer 3) I was dealing about 250 damage (4d8 arrow +2d8 commander strike + 20 sharpshooter +12 dexterity +6 magic bow +4 bracers of archery +36d6 sneak attack + 4d6 hex + 12d6 quickened scorching ray) in the first round of combat without expending significant resources - and I was sometimes doing that from insane distances as an archer. [/QUOTE]

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