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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5552443" data-attributes="member: 6669384">Okay, we'll take it from the beginning.  Pardon me if I seem to be going into "use small words" mode, but you said you're new, so I'm going to treat you like that.Pick someone in your party who will be your best friend.  A melee combat type.When a fight starts, work with that person.  You two keep each other alive.Use this person as your battle partner.  Whenever they're fighting something face to face, you want to be on the opposite side of that "something", ripping its liver out.  This opposing position is called a "flank".  Attacking from a flank position gives both you and your partner a +2 to hit, and you get to do extra damage.  This is usually referred to as "sneak damage" or "sneak dice". It's one or more extra 6 sided dice of damage you get for every hit.Be aware of timing:  Some times you can provide a flank for one ally, take your shot on your turn, then move a step (5 feet) to set up a flank for another ally, so they get the cheap shot on their action.If they're smart, they take their shot then shift 5 feet, so the ally you helped the first time can step into that spot prior to attacking next round.  This turns into a rotating dance that can be maintained for as long as the enemy is stupid enough to stand still and let you do it to them.Next, as was said earlier, when your friends are thinking, "Hey-diddle-diddle, right up the middle!", you should be looking for a wall to hug.  Whenever they want to stand in front of that door they're opening, you should be behind it.  Preparing yourself for that flank position should become as natural as breathing.No matter what your Sleight of Hand skill is, don't practice on your own party.  Don't steal from them, don't cheat them, don''t double cross them.  Or, in simpler terms don't pee where you drink.  Don't be a show off.  Hide what you are and what you can do, even from your own party.  Save your best stunts for when the Bandini is hitting the blower, and then blow everyone's sock's off when they least expect it.Practice your disguise skill.  Blending into a crowd should be as natural to you as blending into a shadow.  Stock up on Alchemical items like smoke bombs and flash powders.  Be the unconventional fighter, the guy who is never where they expect him to be.  Max out your Spot, Listen and Search skills.  Gather Information may or may not be your forte', but if you're the information source for the party then you get to influence what they do and where they go by deciding what info to share and how to express it.Use Magic Device can be nice, presuming that your DM makes such devices readily available.  Grease is a nasty 1st level spell to have on a scroll.  So is Entangle, for wilderness encounters.  Invisibility is your best friend.Final note:  Read the rules.  Read them several times.  Catching an enemy by surprise is nice.  Letting the rules catch you by surprise sucks every time.</blockquote>

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