Dwarven Rogue

[Lasher Dragon]

Hi guys. For those of you night owls looking for something to do, perhaps you could help me. A buddy of mine will be playing with us tomorrow, and he wants to play a dwarf rogue. Unfortunately, he has to work until right before we are supposed to kick-off, so I told him I would make up a character for him. I think it sounds neat, but having never played a dwarf rogue, I figured I'd come on here and see what kind of builds you might suggest. So, here's the digs:

-13th level.
-Standard starting gold.
-I think he's wanting to go 2 weapon fighting route, using some type of axe, some type of hammer, AND some type of pick. I know he can't use 'em all at once - he wants to be able to switch it up when he needs to. (All 3 dmg types)
-Anything WotC is cool; weird 3rd party books (most likely) are not.
-I suggested he look into dwarven paragon, but only because I had heard good things about it... I have no idea what it does for you.
-Can pretty much buy anything out of DMG, A&E, CAdv, etc.
-Other than that, he really just wants to be able to do what rogues do well.

Thanks to anyone who posts some builds

 

[Jdvn1]

Oh, maybe go with a Dwarven Urgosh? I've been using one of those lately and they seem really cool. One side axe, the other is a polearm. Then I also carry a warhammer on me too. Makes for good TWF builds. Other than that, when you're going TWF, I think it's better to keep the same type of weaon in both hands -- you need only one Weapon Focus.

 

[Sithobi1]

I don't think rogues get WP with urgrosh... If you are going to take an exotic weapon, I would go with kukri, since you basically get a rapier that you can use as an off-hand light weapon.
About the build, Invisible blade seems to be a nice option, from CV.
It really depends on what his depiction of rogue is. Some might think it is the sneaky thief, some the assassin, and some the charming knave. Each person has his or her own view of rogue-ness.

 

[Jdvn1]

Oh, you're right. They don't get all martial weapons. Maybe take a couple levels in Ftr? Well, I don't know how much Rogue you want.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I think 1 level of fighter in there somewhere would be a good idea... let him get armor/weapon proficiencies and a feat.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Here're the paragon levels where they originally appeared; they're the same ones as in UA, by the same people. (seems I've been spreading this link around a lot lately, you might've seen it already). http://www.montecook.com/arch_stuff48.html

 

[Jdvn1]

I'm not very familiar with the paragon levels so I won't bother messing with them. I'll try to work up a build in a little while, though.

 

[Jdvn1]

1 - Rog1: Combat Expertise
2 - Rog1/Ftr1: TWF
3 - Rog1/Ftr2: Weapon Focus (Dwarven Urgosh), Dodge
6 - Rog4/Ftr2: Sense Weakness
9 - Rog7/Ftr2: ITWF
12 - Rog10/Ftr2: Improved Init, Special Ability (Improved Evasion -- since that's what everyone gets)
13 - Rog11/Ftr2: Sneak Attack +6d6
15 - Rog13/Ftr2: GTWF

Notes:

*This is a fighting-heavy build, but I don't recommend Rogues get into melee combat too much due to low HD. Dodge was kind of thrown in there, but could be replaced with Combat Reflexes in order to take advantage of a high Dex. Improved Feint is nice, especially at low levels too.

*Sense Weakness is an awesome feat from the Draconomicon. Alternately, replace with Improved Critical, since the DU only crits on a 20.

*I started with Rogue first to get the x4 skill point boost.

*If you want more combat, take more levels in Fighter, take more feats. Power Attack is nice with double weapons since you can alternate between TWF and 2-handed weapon.

*Don't bother with Two Weapon Defense. Go for the Ring of Force Shield or similar as soon as you can.

*I didn't make the build to 20th, but if you're wanting to go combat, then get at least 2 more levels in Fighter. Boost your BAB up to +16 so you get 4 attacks by level 20.

 

[Jdvn1]

Oh, and you can tell I like the Dwarven Urgosh. Alternately, get two handaxes or something.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I'm not sure what Point Buy you're using, so I went ahead with 32 PB. Since you suggested the Dwarven paragon, I used that in combination with Invisible Blade to create a Dwarven Rogue who has 7 attacks per round that will all always be sneak attacks against most opponents (although multiclassing out of Rogue keeps the Sneak Attack at 5d6 per hit). However, this does keep him from using any weapons but the kukri. The best part is that he only loses 1 BAB so far:


Tenlak Earthforger, male dwarf Rog3/Ftr2/DwP3/InB5

Strength 14
Dexterity 22
Constitution 18
Intelligence 14
Wisdom 8
Charisma 12

Hit Points: 110
Armour Class: 28 (+6 Dex, +8 Armour, +2 natural, +2 deflection), 18 touch, 22 flat-footed
Saves: Fortitude +16 (more against poisons and spells), Reflex +17 (more against spells), Will +6 (more against spells, yeah yeah, I know its low)
Base Attack: +12
Attacks: +18/+18/+13/+8 +1 keen speed kukri on-hand 1d4+3+5d6 Sneak 15-20/x2, +16/+16/+11/+6 +1 speed kukri off-hand 1d4+2+5d6 Sneak 18-20/x2

Feats: Far Shot, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (kukri), Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Greater Two Weapon Fighting

Skills: Bluff +20, Sense Motive +15, other skills that are useful in your campaign, particularly Charisma based skills, since his circlet gives him +3 to all of these, and metal Crafts since his Dwarf Paragon levels give him +3 to these

Items: +1 Keen Speed Kukri and +1 Speed Kukri (get the party casters to cast GMW on these), +4 mithral chain shirt, +2 Amulet/Wondrous Item of Natural Armour, +2 Ring of Protection, +4 Cloak/Wondrous Item of Resistance, +4 Gloves/Wondrous Item of Dexterity, +3 Circlet/Wondrous Item of Persuasion, about 1500 gold in change

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Strategy: Tenlak uses his Feint Mastery and Uncanny Feint [free action] abilities to force his opponents to make a DC 30 Sense Motive check for each attack. Failure indicates that the attack is a Sneak Attack. When necessary, he has the skills to throw some spare kukris at ranged and flying targets. He is wary of enchanters and psions, perhaps in part due to his relatively low Will save. When necessary, his acceptable Armour Class and Hit Points allow him to double as a front-line fighter, although he will happily flank with the real tank against opponents with enough Sense Motive to counteract his Feints.

Hope this is useful as a springboard, even if you don't use it as written.