Rogue Junk...

[PrinceZane]

Greetings,
I'm not sure to put this here or what, so please move if necessary...

Well, my first attempt at a rogue isn't going as well as I would've liked. I was going for a nice, skillful rogue specializing in diplomacy, interrigator via bullyism, and down right clepto. However, due to the party's intelligence, or lack of I should say, it seems that idea is out the window. Basically I'm going to have to hold my own without the help of our cleric, as well as having to create my own opportunities for combat with our lack of strategy tanks.

So here's my comcern:
- Are there any PrC that are good for combat rogue, perferably other than assassin due that's the only thing our rogues have ever been....
- What is the best strategy vs undead for rogue: run away knowing there's basically not anything major he can do, or take hits like the fighter "should" be doing (keep in mind, the cleric we have is a complete moron and would rather summon 2 huge centipedes instead of break off some healing when the 2 front line guys are < 10 hps very early in the fight).

 

[WayneLigon]

Sounds like you need to cut the throats of the morons you're with and start over.

There is no good strategy against uncrittable creatures, unless you can get the GM to let you learn/earn one of the special feats that let you crit uncrittable creatures. That's what clerics and fighters are for.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I don't envy you that situation. Hopefully it'll settle down as the campaign progresses?

Rogues are not normally going to shine in a straight fight against the undead... You could always resort to other methods of attacking them - see if there's any scenery you can use against them. Slow them up with Tanglefoot bags or similar.

In one campaign I played in, the rogue got an undead bane bow (later holy) for use in those situations you describe. He'd hang back and shoot them full of arrows... not great, but he had a good dex and it was more useful than getting chewed up by the undead. Not cheap or much good in a low magic game either...

Pretty sure there have been (not wotc) books with feats that allowed sneak attack against the undead. Not sure what they were though.

Take a level in ranger, pick favoured enemy: Undead... you'll do a little more damage that way. You'll be better able to bluff and spot them too - great for zombies.

Someone take leadership and get a cleric cohort who plays nice?

 

[eris404]

I'm sorry to hear that about your group. What level are your characters? Depending on that, I would say take levels of fighter if you must be in combat or even levels of cleric. A good range weapon is always good, too, so that you don't have to be up close and personal with undead.

I would say though to talk to your group first and see if you can convince them to follow some sort of tactics if you can.

 

[jgbrowning]

Nothing can prevent the determined from dying.

joe b.

 

[DaveMage]

- What is the best strategy vs undead for rogue: run away knowing there's basically not anything major he can do, or take hits like the fighter "should" be doing (keep in mind, the cleric we have is a complete moron and would rather summon 2 huge centipedes instead of break off some healing when the 2 front line guys are < 10 hps very early in the fight).

Depending on how much gold you have, you can use alchemical fire vs. low-level undead (1d6 fire for 2 rounds). However, at 20gp a flask it may get expensive. The nice thing is, though, as a rogue, you probably have a good dex to be able to make the throws.

Also, pump up your use magic device skill and, once you are high enough level, buy a wand of melf's acid arrow or fireball and have fun.

 

[Arkhandus]

Try questing for or purchasing a morningstar of Disruption or a rapier of Undead Bane, it's the only thing a rogue can really do to be more effective against such things; trust in your Sneak Attacks to take down normal foes, but focus your gear selection on taking out those annoying !#&!&&!%$@# that you can't SA. Get the weapon upgraded to Holy or something later on (unless your PC is evil), but Undead Bane is the cheapest enhancement for this sort of thing. If you're strapped for cash or your PC can't find rumors or legends about an undead-slaying weapon of some sort that he could pursue, then try buying a few arrows, bolts, or sling bullets of Undead Bane, they're much cheaper than a permanent weapon of the sort. If you're of sufficient level to afford it, perhaps buy a few Arrows of Slaying Undead.

As for your idiotic party members and that dilemma..... If your rogue is evil, then yeah, coup de grace each of them in their sleep (you even get your Sneak Attack damage with a coup de grace!). Then find a seedy bar and hire some competent compatriots. The other players will get the idea. If your rogue isn't evil, then have him start teaching the other PCs how fight better as a team and stop endangering themselves through poor tactics. Maybe, over the next level or two, if the cleric doesn't wise up (and if you're of moderate or high level), invest all your skill points in Use Magid Device to get a +15 or so on it (preferably +20 or so total.....) and buy a half-depleted Wand of Cure Serious Wounds, or just a handful of Scrolls of Cure Critical Wounds. Then show that dumbass cleric how it's done and let the moron continue his half-assed attempts at being a combat machine. Even better, you can use those scrolls or wands of curing to harm undead when the need arises.

If you're around 6th-level or so, perhaps see about getting the Leadership feat and with it a cleric cohort, so you can control at least one competent source of healing and undead-blasting. And he can help you flank against enemies you can SA.

Only PrCs I can think of are Deepwood Sniper (masters of the wild) and Lasher (sword and fist).

 

[Patman21967]

Get Com[lete Adventurer....I am a 3rd level rogue/2nd level Wizard, and take predominently spells to help myself....And seem to be doing OK...alot of tumble ranks, and you can flank most living critters. We seem to be dealing with undead now, so what I do, is flank them. I don't get a sneak attack, but it does give the fighters an additional +2 to hit. Plus, since I combat alot, the Cleric buffs my AC as best as she can, and I usually get some AC helping magic items...Be creative...Complete Adventurer is a very valuable tool, as is multi-classing with Wiz or Sorcerer.

 

[Arc]

The creator of the Invisible Blade PrC from Complete Warrior gave some unofficial errata to the prerequisites (since the class was significantly changed from its original version). You can find them here. If your DM is cool with it, the class is much more viable, and a lot better for a combat rogue.

Also, if you need to play a cleric, then consider the Shadowbane Stalker from Complete Adventurer. It keeps a good mix of rogue and cleric abilities, without sacrificing either completely.

 

[PrinceZane]

Lets see... I'm 8th level and true neutral. Twice I had a nice lecture and well... apparently all isn't well. Luckily the fighter finally brute slayed the undead in the last battle (even with the lack of tactics) or would've been TKO. For cash, kinda broke, but on a quest for 50k gold to split amongst the party. I'm going to see if I can talk the DM into letting me redistribute a few skills and such (this past weekend was our first night working together, I stepped down from DM and the only other decent person took DM) so maybe this week they'll step up after a bit has sunk in, only time will tell...

But anyway, I don't have my books and such with me, but I'll look into Invis Blade.

Also, money isn't really something we have abundance on...