Best/Favorite rogue special ability
- Thread starter just__al
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Patryn of Elvenshae
First Post
I'm guessing that you play your Ftr / Rog as a combat opportunist - tumbling into place, attacking once or twice, and then springing away.
For such a character, I'm torn between Skill Mastery and Crippling Strike (though I voted the former).
The automatic 9 point bump in your minimum skill roll is probably going to be enough to not only let you tumble at full speed without rolling, but tumble at full-speed through enemies without rolling. That's a good benefit.
Crippling Strike makes your sneak attacks that much more powerful - 2 points of strength damage, each hit, can rapidly become enough to slow down even some powerful opponents.
Finally, depending on what your DM throws at you, you might want to seriously consider Slippery Mind. Ftr/Rogs tend to have awful Will saves, and a second chance can often mean the difference between life and death.
For such a character, I'm torn between Skill Mastery and Crippling Strike (though I voted the former).
The automatic 9 point bump in your minimum skill roll is probably going to be enough to not only let you tumble at full speed without rolling, but tumble at full-speed through enemies without rolling. That's a good benefit.
Crippling Strike makes your sneak attacks that much more powerful - 2 points of strength damage, each hit, can rapidly become enough to slow down even some powerful opponents.
Finally, depending on what your DM throws at you, you might want to seriously consider Slippery Mind. Ftr/Rogs tend to have awful Will saves, and a second chance can often mean the difference between life and death.
Patlin
Explorer
jpargeter said:Honestly? - I'd say Skill mastery. who can say no the utility of being able to for example, take 10 on hide & move silently *all the time* - with max ranks in these you're effectively invisible - other uses are left as an exercise for the student...
Skill mastery is, in the absolute best case scenario, a +9 to the effected skills. That's assuming you would otherwise roll a 1. 55% of the time, it get's you nothing. I was a lot more impressed with it before I realized 3.0 doesn't allow critical failures on skill rolls.
Opportunist is one of my favorites, though many of the choices are fun. I've always thought just taking a feat gave away too much of the class's unique abilities.
GlassJaw
Hero
I'm always split between Skill Mastery and Slippery Mind. In my experience, failing a Will save is usually one of the worst things that can happen to your character at the higher levels. I guess it depends on how good or bad your Will save is. Another roll is pretty huge. Imp Evasion is nice to have but a rpgue's Reflex save is pretty high anyways.
I guess I'll go with Skill Mastery first with Slippery Mind a close second.
I guess I'll go with Skill Mastery first with Slippery Mind a close second.
AdmundfortGeographer
Getting lost in fantasy maps
Maybe I have just had a RBDM, but I have had more than my share of combats with bombardments of lightning bolts, fireballs, etc, where the missed Reflex saves just add up too quickly for a low-hit point character. The kind of engagements where when it is all over you are just wide-eyed, huffing and puffing frantically, spell residue still sparking in your hair, and you can't believe what you just went through.GlassJaw said:
