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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="airwalkrr" data-source="post: 2611412" data-attributes="member: 12460">You're dead on, Saeviomagy. Part of the reason a rogue can be just as difficult is because they never attack unless they take you by surprise (or at least have a very good Hide/Move Silently to rely on) and they always have a plan to flee if the party takes them by surprise. With the right equipment, a rogue is an extremely deadly opponent. Consider a "typical" NPC halfling rogue of 6th-level. His equipment is mainly boots of elvenkind and cloak of elvenkind (not unrealistic choices for a rogue). He has maximum ranks in Bluff/Hide/Move Silently, the Stealthy feat, Improved Initiative, and Skill Focus (Bluff). Assuming he starts with a 17 Dex (counting racial mod) and a 12 Cha, he now has +24/+22 to Hide/Move Silently, +13 to Bluff, and a +10 to his ranged attack (assuming a masterwork weapon; improves to +12 when successfully hidden). First of all, he is likely to take the party by surprise with skill checks like that. Second of all, he is likely to go at least early in the first round with his high Init mod. Two attacks with his crossbow can deal a total of 8d6 damage and the party hasn't even had a chance to act. If he is seen, he can create a diversion to hide and repeat the cycle. And don't even get me started on battles with multiple rogues (oh the flanking humanity). In summary, only a player who doesn't understand how to successfully play a rogue would think they aren't as challenging. Sneak attack is only the tip of the iceberg. How about the rogue who uses his Forgery and Disguise skills to impersonate the PCs and get them in trouble with the law? Or what if he uses Disable Device to sabotage their cart so that it breaks down as soon as they are a few miles outside town? And fear the rogue with an impressive UMD skill who pulls out a staff of fire after a successful sneak attack! Monks are the same way, although they are arguably the most difficult class to play in the game. My sentiment is that at levels 1-5 the monk is not on par with ANY of the other PC classes unless the game uses a high point-buy or ability score generation that favors very high scores. The reason for this is that the monk at these levels is so difficult to play effectively that it almost isn't worth the bother. At level 6 and beyond however, the monk becomes a force to be reckoned with. Stunning attacks can decimate any PCs that suffer from a low Fort save (Bard, Rogue, Sorcerer, Wizard). Plus, a combination of feats like Karmic Strike and Defensive Throw is a harrowing prospect (I get an AoO on you whether you hit me OR miss me, nyah nyah). Or behold the monk with Iron Fists, Flying Kick and Leap Attack who hits you for 3d6+1d12 damage on a charge and doubles his Power Attack damage. On top of that, no one can outrun a monk, which means if he wants to get away, he will. Need I mention improved evasion at 9th level (earlier than any othe class gets it) which makes the monk the bane of spellcasters everywhere. Toss in diamond soul for spell resistance and you've got a character that can go toe-to-toe with most melee fighters by virtue of their diverse combat options and is virtually immune to most magical effects. The character classes really are one of the most balanced aspects of the game. To think otherwise tells me you don't have much experience with some of the classes or you haven't ever learned to play them properly. That's perfectly understandable. The monk is a class for advanced players. The easiest classes to play are the sorcerer, fighter, and cleric because they can fulfill a straightforward role that is useful and doesn't take much thought. The other classes have greater potential, but aren't as forgiving to errors. But when it all comes down to it, they are all relatively similar in power. Now that I've hijacked my own thread, I'm done.</blockquote>

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