fighter/rogue viable?

[Tiew]

Hey everybody, this is a question I've been kicking around inside my head for a while without thinking of a satisfying answer. Is a fighter/rogue a mechanically viable concept that could be made as strong as a straight fighter or rogue?

Disadvantages I can see are that the rogues abilities and the fighters armor might not work together. Also it would require spreading the stats thinner which could hurt both. The advantages I see are that fighters have more feats then I know what to do with and rogues have more skills. A balance there might be nice. Also a hardier sneak attacker might be able to get more out of the ability, even if it was half as many d6s per sneak attack.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Tiew

 

[TheEvil]

Armor ain't so bad

Actually, I am creating a Dwarven Fighter/Rogue for Living Greyhawk. This particular character concept focuses the rogue skills that don't have an armor check penalty. Open Locks, Disable Device, Search, Spot, Listen and so on and so forth are his rogue skills of choice, and once he gains the fighter level, I plan on getting him some full plate. Stats are 16 12 16 12 12 6, so not exactly the most charismatic guy in the Flannes. The social rogue/fighter option ought to also work, provided it is a campaign that supports the social character concept.

Not sure how effective it will be, and I plan on taking more fighter levels then rogue, but I do expect to be able to sneak attack more often. In a few weeks I should be able to report on the effectiveness of this one.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I'm playing a Fighter / Rogue in my current campaign.

Apart from a nasty incident involving player stupidity, I'm one of the most survivable characters in the party. With Combat Expertise, Tumble, Dodge, and Mobility, I've got the best AC in the party when I need it.

When I don't tumbling into Sneak Attack position is pretty useful.

Note that we're all 3rd- / 4th-level characters, so I can't speak to the Ftr / Rog's long-term survivability.

 

[Shallown]

I ran a fighter/rogue from 3rd (replacement character) up to 13th or so. It worked well. I kept to light armor and stealth. Used my mobility to control the battle ground. I didn't do huge amounts of damage but with use magic device and a wand bracer (from dragon magazine). I could self buff the first round and move into position to sneak attack. I was a spiked chain wielder and needed the fighter side for feats. I used fighter skills to cover some of my mobility buying up jump and climb. I had quite a bit invested into magic items that boosted my skills as well. I could up my AC a great deal with tumble fighting defensive and combat expertise when I needed it. The mobility and spiked chain allowed me to stay away from bad guys when I needed it.

Worked pretty well. He was a regular thieves guild member just in the bruiser/enforcer side of things. I even had a Prc built for him that focusedon though I never had a chance to use it.

later

 

[Hawk764]

Hey everybody, this is a question I've been kicking around inside my head for a while without thinking of a satisfying answer. Is a fighter/rogue a mechanically viable concept that could be made as strong as a straight fighter or rogue?

Disadvantages I can see are that the rogues abilities and the fighters armor might not work together. Also it would require spreading the stats thinner which could hurt both. The advantages I see are that fighters have more feats then I know what to do with and rogues have more skills. A balance there might be nice. Also a hardier sneak attacker might be able to get more out of the ability, even if it was half as many d6s per sneak attack.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Tiew

Fighter/rogue is one of my favorite class combo's. they are not terribly effective as a thief or as a heavy fighter, but both classes are incrediby versitile. i use this combo to represent intelegent agile fighters. my current high level character is a ftr3/rogue10 with zero ranks in Disable device or Open locks. he isn't a thief.

 

[Darklone]

Fighter/Rogues is the most common multiclass choice in my experience. Given good con, they are even good enough for frontline fighters, some wore heavy armour and used doubleweapons for extra TWF goodness.

It's the best way to get some nifty skillpoints and extra damage for the fighter (with a few rogue levels) and pretty nice for extra hitpoints and weapon proficiencies as well as extra feats for a rogue (TWF shortsword style costs a lot of feats).

 

[ruleslawyer]

I actually think Ftr/Rog is better than straight fighter in many ways. For one thing, you'rer useful out of combat; for another, you have access to excellent high-level abilities, which are severely lacking for the fighter.

Nor are armor or multiple stat dependency real problems, since by definition, you are playing a Dex fighter rather than a tank.

My preferred build is Ftr4/Rog16; this gets you three fighter bonus feats, some extra hit points, and the much-coveted four attacks per round at 20th level, while retaining all the rogue goodies except one special ability. I'd go with Rog1/Ftr1/Rog1/Ftr3/Rog X myself, level-progression-wise. That nets you a feat at each of your first four levels, which is awfully useful.

If you want a REAL class split, you can go with Ftr1/Bbn1/Rgr2/Rog16, or Ftr2/Bbn3/Rgr2/Rog13, either of which gets you a powerful TWF or ranged attack combatant.

 

[Coredump]

I am playing one now, and loving it.

My technique:

high Dex, don't worry about str too much. (dex helps to hit, and AC)
Weapon finesse, imp init, quickdraw.
(first round, win init, full attack (SA) thrown daggers, others move into combat. Second round, tumble into flanking position and SA.)
SA damage makes up for low str damage
More rogue than fighter. Fighter is to give some HP/BAB/Feats

Look into Invisible Blade after 8-10 levels of F/R

Mithril chain shirt and high dex are a winning combo.
Of course, as others have pointed out, armour penalty only applies at certain times, so if you are willing to make that sacrifice.

or get bracers, etc.

 

[Terwox]

Fighter16/Rogue4 isn't half bad either. BAB of 19 @ level 20, greater spec, etc.
Can't focus on too many rogue skills, but that's ok.
Fighter 8/Rog12 is fine, BAB of 17@20, can still work on skill, still get greater weapon focus, etc.
Just be sure to be goony and take Rogue for level 1, and whenever you stop rogue stop on a multiple of 4 for the base attack. Unless you want another sneak attack die or a specific special ability.

 

[was]

Yeah, it's a good combo. Especially if you use TWF coupled with weapon finesse and a high DEX. I love dual shortswords, one feat -WF (SS)-. Extra feats will also allow you to take two weapon defense to make up for the lack of a shield. As was pointed out earlier, don't necessarily worry about high strength bonuses to damage. Concentrate more on making that 2nd attack hit. Then add your sneak attack damage. Ah.....good stuff.