Balancing act - giving rogues d8 hit die
- Thread starter Waylander
- Start date
Nifft
Penguin Herder
Drop the Sneak Attack die down to +1d4 damage.
(The idea behind Sneak Attack seems to be that a Rogue can drop an opponent quickly, thus he does not need so many HP as the Fighter. If a Rogue can stay in the fight longer, he shouldn't be able to drop opponents so quickly.)
-- N
(The idea behind Sneak Attack seems to be that a Rogue can drop an opponent quickly, thus he does not need so many HP as the Fighter. If a Rogue can stay in the fight longer, he shouldn't be able to drop opponents so quickly.)
-- N
SylverFlame
First Post
I don't know about the sneak attack. I always thought of it as things like kidney shots that hurt a lot/take a person down quick.
Giving rogues d8 hd does unbalance, but the overall gain is rather low to be reducing the amount from sneak attack that much (one die at level x for hp, while you have multiple dice for sneak attack at same level).
I'd say... actually, I can't really think of a good balancing act. Dang, now I feel bad detracting from Nifft's idea.
Um... what about turning one or two skills into cross-class? That doesn't really make a lot of sense either, but I had to say something.
Giving rogues d8 hd does unbalance, but the overall gain is rather low to be reducing the amount from sneak attack that much (one die at level x for hp, while you have multiple dice for sneak attack at same level).
I'd say... actually, I can't really think of a good balancing act. Dang, now I feel bad detracting from Nifft's idea.
Um... what about turning one or two skills into cross-class? That doesn't really make a lot of sense either, but I had to say something.
Waylander
The Slayer
Nifft - I really like your idea but like SylverFlame feel it might be a little excessive.
The whole reason for this is that I've been searching for a "Swashbuckler" core class and all of the versions published so far do not hit the mark.
It then dawned on me that the rogue was almost a perfect fit for what I had in mind . . . if only the class had a few more hit points.
I realise most people may feel that a swashbuckler class should have a fighter BAB progression but I think as an overall concept the modified rogue is closest to the mark.
The whole reason for this is that I've been searching for a "Swashbuckler" core class and all of the versions published so far do not hit the mark.
It then dawned on me that the rogue was almost a perfect fit for what I had in mind . . . if only the class had a few more hit points.
I realise most people may feel that a swashbuckler class should have a fighter BAB progression but I think as an overall concept the modified rogue is closest to the mark.
Nifft
Penguin Herder
Note that Sneak Attack at +1d4 is still doing an extra dagger's worth of damage, even at range. At higher levels, it's only average -1 hp per blow -- which IMHO exactly balances giving the Rogue +1 hp per HD.
The problem with balancing a combat mechanic (HP) with a non-combat mechanic (skill points) is that it really does unbalance the character in a specific area -- combat.
Since D&D features quite a lot of combat... well, you see where I'm going.
Consider other combat things that a Rogue has: Tumble, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge. Would you rather lose some of those?
The easiest 3.5e answer is: bite the bullet and take some damn Fighter or Barbarian levels. They have good HP.
(Of course, dilluting your Rogue levels with Fighter and/or Barbarian will lower your Sneak Attack dice -- so you may as well just use my brilliant mechanic!
)
-- N
The problem with balancing a combat mechanic (HP) with a non-combat mechanic (skill points) is that it really does unbalance the character in a specific area -- combat.
Since D&D features quite a lot of combat... well, you see where I'm going.
Consider other combat things that a Rogue has: Tumble, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge. Would you rather lose some of those?
The easiest 3.5e answer is: bite the bullet and take some damn Fighter or Barbarian levels. They have good HP.
(Of course, dilluting your Rogue levels with Fighter and/or Barbarian will lower your Sneak Attack dice -- so you may as well just use my brilliant mechanic!
)-- N
