Sonofapreacherman
Explorer
First of all, I am operating from the premise that the rogue was never imbalanced in version 3.0. I have never heard anybody convincingly say otherwise. Indeed, it seems kind of ludicrous to suggest as much. The rogue was one of the most balanced core classes of 3.0.
The rogue that I now submit receives Uncanny Dodge 1 level sooner than the 3.0 rogue, but Evasion 1 level later. So far so good. The rogue that I submit also receives Improved Uncanny Dodge 1 level sooner than the 3.0 Uncanny Dodge (can't be flanked) ability, but receives every one of their Special Abilities 1 level later. Again, a pretty straightforward balancing act.
Looking at the barbarian, who gets a tidy ability at every level, I have given my 3.5 rogue the ability to improve their Trap Sense at every "other" level (rather than at every 3rd level). Is this what makes my rogue so break-the-rules powerful? They avoid traps with greater certainly? Poppycock! My revision is only marginally more powerful than the official 3.5 rogue, but it does equal the barbarian at uncanny dodge and hedges them out where traps are concerned.
I have no problem with barbarians sensing traps, that is... until somebody (read: Andy Collins) tells me that they are the equals of rogues in that capacity. If anything, rangers should be equal to rogues at sensing traps; not the impulsive, can't-concentrate-while-raging, barbarians. Sorry, but you can only coast so far on the flavor text of "instinct".
The rogue that I now submit receives Uncanny Dodge 1 level sooner than the 3.0 rogue, but Evasion 1 level later. So far so good. The rogue that I submit also receives Improved Uncanny Dodge 1 level sooner than the 3.0 Uncanny Dodge (can't be flanked) ability, but receives every one of their Special Abilities 1 level later. Again, a pretty straightforward balancing act.
Looking at the barbarian, who gets a tidy ability at every level, I have given my 3.5 rogue the ability to improve their Trap Sense at every "other" level (rather than at every 3rd level). Is this what makes my rogue so break-the-rules powerful? They avoid traps with greater certainly? Poppycock! My revision is only marginally more powerful than the official 3.5 rogue, but it does equal the barbarian at uncanny dodge and hedges them out where traps are concerned.
I have no problem with barbarians sensing traps, that is... until somebody (read: Andy Collins) tells me that they are the equals of rogues in that capacity. If anything, rangers should be equal to rogues at sensing traps; not the impulsive, can't-concentrate-while-raging, barbarians. Sorry, but you can only coast so far on the flavor text of "instinct".
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