Rogue: Dex 8

[Quip]

I'm considering creating an oddball type character the next time I get a chance to play, a rogue who has his lowest score in dexteriy. Question is, how to create such a character so that he's effective?


Concept-wise, I want a human or dwarf who appears to be a regular fighter type, is is actually very skilled and more perceptive then he lets on. In keeping with this idea I'm going to give him heavy armor (probably with one level of fighter), good str and con, and most of the good perception type skills.

I dont really know what is good to do after that though, as far as feats skills and equipment go. Heavy armor negates evasion, and low dex keeps me from most of the sneak attack friendly feats.

What would you do?

 

[bensei]

Do you want to create a good fighter, or also an interesting character for role-playing outside of battles. If the latter is the case, you could make a rogue, who is really charismatic. Then max out skills like Bluff, Sense motive, Gather Information, etc. and be the one in the party who solves the puzzles.
Try to work together with your groups casters, so he casts spells like Improved Invisibility on you at the beginning of battle. Or use Fainting in combat (there is a feat somewhere which makes fainting a free(?) action, I do not know about any Dex-prereqs). Behave in combat like walking around and fooling people and stabbing them into the eyes (sneak attack).

On the other hand I wonder if you really want to wear heavy armor. If you want to, you could also multiclass Rogue/Cleric, intead of Rogue/Fighter. This would give you some nice spellcasting abilities, and some donmain abilities which could fit your character concept (e.g. trickery). It would of course require a good wisdom score, but that's okay. If you use sneak attack, it is not that important to have a high strength.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

I'd go with Disable Device, Search, Spot, Listen, Use Magic Device and all of the Charisma skills.

Then I'd take four levels of Fighter for Weapon Spec. (It's not necessary to take four. One is enough just to get medium armor prof. Or you could get one level of Barbarian.)

Mithral Full Plate is your best friend. Even though you lose evasion, you need the AC. Also, a shield makes a lot of sense. So does a high Str to make up for your mediocre BAB.

Anyhow, have fun. (I made a Half-Orc Rogue/L1 Barbarian once. the character turned out pretty darn effective.)

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd go for a roly-poly fat merchant rogue with a rubbish Dex but great Wis and Cha. Be great at Spot, Listen, Bluff, Gather Info, Diplomacy, Appraise etc.

Use Bluff to get your sneak attacks in (or flanking). Break out of the stereotypes!

 

[0-hr]

I recently made up a "Captain of the Watch" NPC and decided to make her a rogue even though she has an awful dex. The skills are just perfect for her line of work:
Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Gather Information, Intimidate, Spot, Listen, etc...

Also, having that sap on her belt and a 5d6 sneak attack is a great way to transport prisoners

With a chain shirt and helmet, she fits in well enough with her fully-mailed soldiers.

 

[Aaron2]

Guy the Dwarf

I had a similar character. He was more of an tomb raider/explorer with maxed out Disable Device, Search, Spot, Listen, Open Locks. & Use Magic Device. Just enough Move Silently to counter his armor penalty. For flavor I gave him Track and goggles of minute seeing.

"I'm not THAT kind of thief!"


Fun to play.


Aaron

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Rogue is an extremely flexible class. You can be a nimble "grease man" type of rogue--with balance, tumble, climb, etc. as your specialties. (That's not your concept of course.) You could be a smoothtalking charismatic type (again, not you). You could be a stealthy, sneaky scout (probably not you). Or, you could be one who specializes in opening locks, disabling traps, appraising treasure, etc. In other words, the smart rogue!

Put your highest score in INT. Gives you great skill points!!

Go with the dwarf idea. A dwarven rogue with lots of knowledge about mechanical devices and engineering would be nifty.

Skills to max:
Open Locks
Disable
Search
Craft (blacksmith or stonemason--if you're a dwarf)
Craft (trapmaking)
Decipher Script
Forgery
Read Lips
Appraise

Other skills to possibly take:
Use Rope
Escape Artist
Spot (just because its the most useful skill for any PC)
Innuendo (if there is another PC with it in your party)
Intimidate
Use Magic Device
Bluff
Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
Speak Language

Take just one level in fighter to get the armor and weapon proficiencies that you want.

 

[Stalker0]

Have you ever watched Ocean's Eleven?

Just pick any of those eleven guys, and you could make a rogue into one.

 

[Quidam]

into int

I'll second the INT recommendataion. I tend to play Rog/Wiz PC's and having a high INT helps the rogue with skills and the wizard with magic. If you don't want to focus on CHA, a level in wizard's a great way to let you use wands and whatnot. Search, Disable Device and let's not forget Craft(trapmaking).

 

[Quip]

Ooh lots of good ideas here guys!

At first I had the idea of a tough looking dwarf who was very perceptive and tends too surprise his opponents by using is war pick in a very leathal manner. But to use a dwarf I would need to be a fighter or suffer massive xp penalties. Which seemed ok at first, but the barbarian suggestion won me out. Mostly the matter of speed (need to position self to flank), and the fact I can take rage feats to greatly increase my strength (probably get all of them). Its nice to have an increase to my uncanny dodge too.

I doubt I would be able to make much use of craft skills in the games I play. If I were to do so I would probably play a straight rogue dwarf with best Int. As it is, I'll take the following skills: Spot, Listen, Search, Sense Motive, Bluff, Appraise, Use Magic Device, Intimidate, Disable Device, and whatever else I can get with my int score (3rd best of whatever I roll)

I have a concern though, can I use bluff/sense motive while raging? The description of rage says you cant use skills requiring "patience and concentration", but doesn't describe those beyond the barbarians class skills.

Oh and thanks again, I think I'll be sticking with a variety of rogues for future games.