Gonna play a scout. I can hear the other players whining already...

[Felon]

A rogue wielding two weapons can unleash a hellacious amount of sneak attack damage at higher levels, since every attack gets the damage. How does a scout compare to that?

Over time it snowballs overwhelmingly into Sneak Attack's favor, but at 1st level it compares pretty evenly.

In addition, scouts can't disable device without buying it cross-class. That's a shame for dungeon-heavy games.

Welll, I don't think the possibility that the omission of disable device from the scout's class skill list is an error should be discounted. What's the prescribed method for checking into errata? Posting on the WotC boards?

 

[shilsen]

Welll, I don't think the possibility that the omission of disable device from the scout's class skill list is an error should be discounted. What's the prescribed method for checking into errata? Posting on the WotC boards?

There was a thread recently reporting that WotC confirmed that the Scout not having Disable Device is intentional. Makes sense to me.

 

[FireLance]

I think flanking is much easier then getting to move 10 feet each time. Flanking you need a friend and good tumble skill. I guess if you go spring attack, it will be easier with the scout.

Actually, the scout in my game uses a reach weapon (a longspear) or ranged weapons to move and attack with the skirmish bonus. We have found it is easier to set up a skirmish attack than a flank, but the slower bonus damage progression and the need to move before attacking will probably mean less damage in the long run, especially when multiple attacks become possible. We intend to see how well a maxed-out scout/ranger/dervish/highland stalker will do.

 

[Felon]

There was a thread recently reporting that WotC confirmed that the Scout not having Disable Device is intentional. Makes sense to me.

Well, of course it does. Perfect sense. I mean, what could make more sense than a class having some special aptitude at using a skill that's not considered germaine enough to even be in its repetoire?

/sarcasm off

That's kinda like giving Track to a class as a free feat and then not giving it Survival as a class skill. Bad design.

 

[Crothian]

Well, of course it does. Perfect sense. I mean, what could make more sense than a class having some special aptitude at using a skill that's not considered germaine enough to even be in its repetoire?

/sarcasm off

That's kinda like giving Track to a class as a free feat and then not giving it Survival as a class skill. Bad design.

just because you can find traps doesn't mean you have the potential to be good at it.....

 

[MacMathan]

I think they should probably have disable device, however I also think it already steps all over the rogue. I am hard pressed to see how it is just not outright better, esp. with a feat or PRC added in.

 

[Corinth]

Moreover, it's BS in the same way that the Halfling Outrider BAB progression error in the first printing of Sword & Fist was BS, and I expect it to be corrected later when the error becomes obvious in actual play results.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Eh.

Less extra damage, no improved uncanny dodge, and a narrower selection of skills. The Rogue still has a place - unless Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Intimidation, Open Lock, Perform, Profession, Sleight of Hand, and Use Magic Device are all useless in your campaign.

The Scout's a good class, but I'd rather have a good Rogue on hand when I hit the streets of Sharn, or bust through the dungeon's gate.

Patrick Y.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Less extra damage, no improved uncanny dodge, and a narrower selection of skills.

In exchange for a better hit die, AC bonus, good Fort save, Intiative bonus, and fighter bonus feats?

It sounds like more splatbook power-creep, to me.

 

[FireLance]

Mind you, the PH gives a list of ways to avoid traps without using the Disable Device skill, e.g. destroy the mechanism, dodge, etc. From a design standpoint, having a class with Trapfinding but without Disable Device allows these rules to come into play more often.