I'm thinking of playing a rogue

[d12]

I've been the DM for some time now but a new campaign is starting and I get to play a PC. I'm thinking of being a rogue but I've never played one before [nor has anyone that is currently in the group]. I want to stick mostly with the rogue class but I am willing to mutli-class a little.

So, tell me about how well rogues do or don't stack up against the other classes from low to high levels. Offer advice on feats, skills and little tricks. Tell me stories of the time your rogue did x. Tell me how fun these guys and gals are.

 

[Crothian]

Thew skills really make a difference. I think they are stronger low level then high lefvel, but they are rarely ever outclassed.

 

[Henry]

If your have a rogue, gain as much skill at being stealthy as possible. Sneak attacking the first round of combat, before anyone has moved yet, is a great unparalleled feeling.

Also, when in the thick of combat, team up with one of the warrior-types. Make sure that you fight with them, instead of trying to fight alone. Work tactics together to flank the opponents. A rogue is a combat GOD when getting off large doses of d6 damage when flanking a foe.

Later, when you start getting paid a little better for your efforts, do everything you can to find a way to become invisible. Even at third level onward, the party wizard can make you invisible for the length of one attack, and you can put this surprise to good use. A rogue with a wand of Improved invisibility, and the Use Magic Device skill to use it, knows little fear.

Also, be sure to specialize in something besides sneaking around and picking locks. Put your knowlege to good use, through appraisal, various crafts, etc. The good rogue is not a journeyman in all fields, but a specialist in a few.

 

[aliensex]

Tumble, Tumble, Tumble... oh, and don't forget TUMBLE! It is an almost indespensable skill for the rogue. You need to get into flanking posistion to get your sneak attack damage most often. Tumbling will let you get around the battle field without too many AoO's against you.

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

Tumble, Tumble, Tumble... oh, and don't forget TUMBLE! It is an almost indespensable skill for the rogue. You need to get into flanking posistion to get your sneak attack damage most often. Tumbling will let you get around the battle field without too many AoO's against you.

YES! This skill is VITAL!

Don't neglect your Intelligence stat. Rogues are all about skill points and you'll burn through them surprisingly fast.

Use Magic Device is good at higher levels. You typically need to roll a 20 or higher, so it won't be doing you much good until 8th level.

 

[Velenne]

+## skill items are indispensable for rogues, especially for that tough-to-Use Magic Device skill. +20 is only 8,000, per the DMG. (Man, that's something I'm going to have to house rule in my next game) Wand of Summon Monster x is handy if you need a flanking buddy.

The Netbook of Feats has lots of good ones for rogues.

Tumble has been mentioned.

Your party may expect you to pick locks or disable traps, but let the mage figure it out with a Knock spell, or just let a Summoned Creature open the door. Sure, there will be times when s/he may not be able to do that, but when you get to higher levels, it's more often than not a wasted skill.

Weapons of frost/shock/flame/holy etc are handy because they give you more dice for damage. You're not going to be doing much in the way of crit multipliers or raw damage so go for extra dice. I guess that's it.

 

[d12]

good, good! Keep em coming. I'll post the character after rolling him or her up.

 

[Radiating Gnome]

Tumbling to flank for sneak attacks is the combat style you need to master, but that's been said.

Rogues are also the most creative combatants. A rogue needs to do more than just move into range and swing an axe - there's always the effort to find an exposed flank that doesn't put the rogue in too much danger. Take advantage of all of the rules -- when you get into trouble, fight defensively or go total defense until someone can come and help you out.

ALSO: you may be tempted to multiclass -- either with Fighter, for a quick feat or two, or with Ranger, for the ambidexterous/two-weapon combo virtual feats - and both are decent options, but the distraction from your advancement as a rogue may not be worth the price. If, for example, it's a choice between a level or ranger for the extra offhand attack and a level of rogue that provides the extra 1d6 of sneak attack (really .5d6 per level, but you know what I mean) remember that you're going to be tumbling into attack position most rounds, so you won't get that extra attack anyway.

I think the biggest challenge with rogues is the contradictions of the class. You are an expert at sneaking around, and for that you very often need to be on your own, but you're also only able to fight to your full potential when you can get flanking sneak attacks - which means you need allies in combat. So half the time you need to be a loner and half the time you need to be a part of the team.

The other thing about rogues is personality. More often than not, if one member of the party gets into trouble and puts the rest of the party in a position where they need to rescue her, it's the Rogue. No other class has the potential for mischief and trouble, coupled with the sort of individual exposure to danger of the rogue. With that in mind as an inevitable future for the rogue in the party, it's important that the rogue be on very good terms with the rest of her party. Don't steal from your friends, don't even joke about it. Be the first to volunteer to rescue others when they're in need. Be generous with the members of your party, as much as possible, because more often than not you're going to be the depending upon their generosity.

-rg

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

I'm going to suggest something completely different:


Don't bother with Move Silently and Hide.


Did that get your attention? Neat. I far prefer playing rogues with Disable Device, Search, Spot, Listen, Tumble, Open Locks, and all of the Charisma skills. Bluff, Intimidate, Gather Information and Diplomacy are your friends. Why sneak up on the bad guys anyway? You're in a party. Be the spokesman, not the skulker.

Anyway, IMHO, of course.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention Use Magic Device. Yummy.