D&D (2024) Playtest 6: Rogue and Cunning Strike

[Kurotowa]

Since you can use two cunning strike options starting at 11th, what are some potent combinations?

A Thief Rogue can combine Withdraw and Stealth Attack to strike from concealment and return to it. Which, yes, is something they can also do by combining one of the two with Cunning Action. But if they want to free up their Cunning Action for something else, like their hiding spot is so far away it requires a Dash or they want to activate a magic item, then it's a useful combo.

Swashbuckler Rogues may want to combine Goad and Parrying Stance, once they have both.

 

[mellored]

Daze, Withdraw, and Knock Out are all good options to pair with Sneak Strike so you can get back to cover without provoking an opportunity attack,

Obscure will help as well.

 

[Mull Ponders]

Nothing in the rule says you have to be in melee to use Cunning Strike. Do it from range, let the melee PC who gave you advantage pick up the disarmed weapon on their turn.

 

[tetrasodium]

This is super broken at a glance and should never have passed the sniff test before making it into the UA. rogue doesn't move to gain advantage on a ranged weapon attack (Level3 feature: steady aim). Rogue trades 1d6 from sneak attack & makes that ranged attack disarm or trip the target. couple fights later the GM realizes that they are incapable of using any opponents with weapons and a few after that d&d has turned into only monsters that are incapable of being tripped as usable because this can be done every single round from tier2 on.

 

[Charlaquin]

This is super broken at a glance and should never have passed the sniff test before making it into the UA. rogue doesn't move to gain advantage on a ranged weapon attack (Level3 feature: steady aim). Rogue trades 1d6 from sneak attack & makes that ranged attack disarm or trip the target. couple fights later the GM realizes that they are incapable of using any opponents with weapons and a few after that d&d has turned into only monsters that are incapable of being tripped as usable because this can be done every single round from tier2 on.

Or, you know, just use multiple monsters in a combat. The rogue only gets one attack per turn.

 

[tetrasodium]

Or, you know, just use multiple monsters in a combat. The rogue only gets one attack per turn.

Spoiler: That's an endless treadmill

When did the game roles & the rules supporting them switch from the GM providing challenges for the players to the players providing challenges for the GM. The monster manual is absolutely filled with monsters intended to be used in relatively small or solo numbers where they can provide a good challenge for the group. The "Use MOAR monsters" treadmill is also one that breaks down as group size increases.

 

[Charlaquin]

Spoiler: That's an endless treadmill

When did the game roles & the rules supporting them switch from the GM providing challenges for the players to the players providing challenges for the GM. The monster manual is absolutely filled with monsters intended to be used in relatively small or solo numbers where they can provide a good challenge for the group. The "Use MOAR monsters" treadmill is also one that breaks down as group size increases.

5e is 100% designed for multiple monsters in an encounter. Due to bounded accuracy, action economy is the single most powerful tool in combat, and solo monsters easily get overwhelmed unless they have legendary actions or are significantly over-leveled for the PCs (in which case the risk of one-hit-kills gets much higher).

 

[tetrasodium]

5e is 100% designed for multiple monsters in an encounter. Due to bounded accuracy, action economy is the single most powerful tool in combat, and solo monsters easily get overwhelmed unless they have legendary actions or are significantly over-leveled for the PCs (in which case the risk of one-hit-kills gets much higher).

No nothing about that combo is a reasonable at will round after round ability for a player to possess. We are talking about a level five ability.

 

[Stalker0]

I definately feel liek the rogue got the most love in this packet, the new options are simple but man they are so cool and you can immediately see the combo possibilities.

Also giving rogue's "poison" as a core option is just so gosh darn thematic it makes you wonder why it took so long to do it!

 

[MonsterEnvy]

No nothing about that combo is a reasonable at will round after round ability for a player to possess. We are talking about a level five ability.

It's totally fine. The Monsters also get saves remember, it's no different from a spell being cast on the monster.