An Obsolete Rogue

[Votan]

In my opinion, part of the poaching on Rogue turf comes from 6 skill point classes. Before them, the rogue was really the only option for a large and diverse set of skills. Now, the rogue needs to stand on it's other abilities as well. This makes things more difficult givne that soem of the rogue's abilities can be a bit campaign dependent.

I'd be surprised if your rogue was happy in a undead slugfest with no traps around without doing some radical multi-classing (to cleric, for gravestrike, for example).

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I play a rogue, and I am getting sick at how useless he is becoming at higher level.

People tout rogues as super skill monkeys, but in order to fulfill their mandated role they need to max search, disable device, and open lock. Without these skills maxed you might as well not even try looking for traps, and if you do find one don't dare touch it.

And of course you want to tumble and hide and move silently too, and maybe bluff, but face it, despite all your skill points you still don't have enough. Being mediocre in any of these skills is a waste of skill points.

That's why I ALWAYS max out the fewest number of skills, no matter what PC/NPC I play, no matter what level, just as a matter of principle. Soooo much simpler and soooo much more effective!

 

[darkbard]

Interestingly, the PHBII introduces the Beguiler class ... a spellcaster with Trapfinding at first level. I think this goes a way to obviating the requirement of a rogue.