Combat Rogue... ideas

[L0rd_Dark0n]

2 things have worked for me. Weapon Finesse Rapier, then get that sword Keened. I do a lot of critical hits with it. The other way that works well is dual weilding short swords. I and another 10th level rogue dual weild short swords and daggers. In the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, our party got into combat with two evil clerics. They had cast "Protection from Good". Our neutral aligned Rogues gleefully tumbled into combat flanking the lead cleric. He was dead at the beginning of the second round. 10th level rogue dual weilding short swords...3 attacks per round. Course he did have a level of ranger that let him do that. I don't know yet how that will work with 3.5. I keep hearing that the Ranger has been totally worked over.

 

[mattcolville]

I have very limited experience playing a combat-oriented Rogue. I've got a 3rd level rogue in a game right now and it's working out pretty well.

First, don't discount Sneak Attack! I recommend Mobility if you have a high tumble because you'll be eating the AoO's every time you use your Tumble.

Don't discount the benefits of using a shield. You're AC can get pretty nicely high with a shield and not being hit is very nice.

If you've got high tumble and you're not fighting a construct or undead or ooze or something else that can't be Sneak Attacked, you'll get your SA dice most of the time.

What are your stats? If, like most rogues, you've got a good STR but better DEX, you might want a Mighty Shortbow. You get your Dex bonus to hit and your Str bonus to damage, very nice.

 

[Lord Rasputin]

Take a few levels of sorcerer. Spider climb and invisibility make for some nasty sneak attacks.

 

[Voadam]

Thanks... keep the ideas coming...

Someone mentioned 3.5 Weapon finesse... what is the change in 3.5 in that respect ?

Well just to make sure... if I have Quicker than the Eye and the bluff works... the guy is denied DEX and I get an extra attack if I have Exp Tactician right ?

Any DMs restricting the use of Large weapons on sneak attacks ? I know it might seem outrageous to sneak attack with a Great Sword... but not impossible logic wise.

I do want to rely on sneak attack for most of the damage thou... so any fighter levels will be comparetively low... 1 or 2 levels at most. Will think about Ranger or Barbarian combos.

You will get the extra attack from expert, but I'm not sure if the bluff only denies his dex against your next attack limiting it to one sneak attack a round, but giving you two attacks at full BAB.

I haven't heard of any DMs restricting sneak attacks, you can use it with spells like ray of frost as well.

If you go with greatsword bluffing, barbarian is better synergy with rage and stacking uncanny dodge, TWF is the main ranger combat feature. Rangers get hide, move silent, spot, etc. though.

I would still recomend Use magic device for wands so that you can handle dangerous uncrittable creatures.

 

[Rashak Mani]

So the extra attack from Exp Tact wouldnt be a sneak attack then, just an extra normal attack ? Makes sense...

 

[mmu1]

If you go with greatsword bluffing, barbarian is better synergy with rage and stacking uncanny dodge, TWF is the main ranger combat feature. Rangers get hide, move silent, spot, etc. though.

Which reminds me... Let me pimp my Dwarven Barb/Rogue again.

Keep in mind that you can keep the classes even to avoid any XP penalties, spend a couple skill points at each Barbarian level to buy a rank of Disable Device cross-class (which'd still leave you with 3 skill points to spend on Barbarian class skills) keeping it at the same level as if you were a pure rogue, and if you're buying your gear you can easily afford one of those lenses from the DMG that gives a bonus to Search checks. Those are really the only skills you absolutely need to have maxed out.

 

[Nifft]

UMD (or one level of Sorc or Wiz) + Wands:

- Blink -- EVERY attack is a Sneak Attack!
- Imp. Invis: See Above
- Haste: We like extra attacks!
- Invisibility: Isn't it nice to not HAVE to hide?

UMD (or one level of Druid) + Wands:
- Blinding Spittle before closing to Sneak Attack -- NIFTY.
- Entangle + ranged Sneak Attacks -- COOL.
- Cure Critical Wounds on the dying Cleric -- SWEET.
- Reincarnate on the dead Cleric -- PRICELESS.

-- Nifft

 

[Nifft]

Ooh, and for more fun wand-using Rogue concepts:

Bard1/RogueX
- Ranks in Perform, get yourself some nice Bard songs
- Wands: Cure X Wounds, Suggestion, Exp. Retreat, Hold Person, Silence, Glitterdust, See Invisibility, Cat's Grace, Blink, Haste, Slow, Imp. Invis, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, Hold Monster, Message (good for co-ordinated spying)

Take another level of Bard and you can sing TWICE per day. Take for your 1st level spells Cure Light Wounds and Feather Fall -- now you can climb more safely, and on your time off you can help the party Wizard make Wands of Cure Light Wounds.

-- Nifft

 

[cool hand luke]

I know you didn't want to focus on sneak attacks, but sink a ton of skill points into Bluff and feint, feint, FEINT!

Fight defensively while you feint. You roll your Bluff, opponent rolls an opposed Sense Motive. If you win, opponent is denied his Dex bonus to AC next round when you attack him. (to my knowledge, you could in theory use this tactic all day long. feint one round, sneack attack the next, lather, rinse, repeat...) This is an INVALUABLE tool I've been using with my rogue fencer.


~Box

only a fool of a dm would let you use this over and over against the same enemy. I'd add at least 5, mayb 10 to every repeated attempt

 

[ForceUser]

7th Level Campaign I will enter soon seems pretty combat oriented or roleplaying light... so I figured I wanted to play a Rogue...

Thing is I want him to be effective in combat... not only thru sneak attack thou. What do you guys suggest for feats and abilities distribution in order to get a Combat Rogue ?

What about magical equipment... anything in the Arms and Equipment you would recommend a so so rich rogue ? 19k gold.

Any prestige classes worthwhile ? From what I saw I dont think so....

- Has to be light armor due to evasion
- No race thought out yet... probably human
- 38 pts. and 7th lvl character gold.
- Can be multiclass if good idea

Sounds like a fighter/rogue is what you want. Specialize in something big like a greataxe and get yourself a mithril breastplate (mithril reduces the BP one category, from medium to light.) Large weapons always truck out damage, you'll have fighter-like hit points, and when the opportunity presents itself you'll be sneak attacking...with a greataxe.

As an aside, 38 points is god-like. You can make a paragon of heroic stature with stats like that. The recommended point-buy in the DMG is 25 (or 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 for your starting stats, if you prefer.) Sheesh.