Rogue special abilities

[shilsen]

I didn't vote, because for me it depends too much on the particular character. Some rogues would kill for Skill Mastery and others wouldn't think twice about taking Opportunist.

 

[Thanee]

Slippery mind is probably the last one I'd get...for some reason I haven't run into that many enchantment spells in any of my campaigns.

Lucky you!

Enchantments make short work of Fighters and Rogues with bad Will saves.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Tessarael]

I think my two top choices are Skill Mastery then Slippery Mind. Unless the Rogue has a Will save that is better than his Reflex save, then Slippery Mind is a better choice than Improved Evasion.

Skill Mastery is a mixed bag. With opposed rolls, if your opponent has a better score than you, you're increasing your chances of failure by using Skill Mastery. If you have a better score than your opponent, you increase your chances of success. I did some analysis of d20 + score vs. d20 + score. If I remember correctly, Skill Mastery worked out to be effectively about +3 skill points in certain circumstances ... useful at medium levels, but not important at high levels. However, Skill Mastery is great for guaranteeing success in situations where you wouldn't be able to take 10 otherwise: e.g. using Tumble in combat.

For those who say you can't take 10 with Use Magic Device, in Complete Arcane, the Warlock class feature Deceive Item allows precisely this. So it seems WotC designers do intend you to be able to take 10 on Use Magic Device with the appropriate ability (Deceive Item, Skill Mastery); either that or the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

 

[Thanee]

Or Warlocks (and only Warlocks) have a special ability which allows it?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Lord Pendragon]

For those who say you can't take 10 with Use Magic Device, in Complete Arcane, the Warlock class feature Deceive Item allows precisely this. So it seems WotC designers do intend you to be able to take 10 on Use Magic Device with the appropriate ability (Deceive Item, Skill Mastery); either that or the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

This is the way the game works. The original designers create the original rules. Then later designers create extra-powerful, "cool" feats by breaking those rules. The fact that the Warlock breaks the rules doesn't negate them, any more than the Order of the Bow Initiate's ability means any archer can threaten with a bow.

As Thanee infers, the people who wrote the Warlock meant that class to break the UMD rule. That doesn't mean that the UMD rule doesn't apply to Skill Mastery, which has been in the game since its inception.

 

[Dark Psion]

Dragon #326 has new options in the Class Acts section.

Facade: When disguised, you can fool Divinations with your disguise.

Face in a Crowd: You can Hide while being watched if you are in a crowd.

Handwriting Analysis: Basically it is like Bardic Lore, but for handwritten items.

Light Sleeper: You can make Listen checks while alseep with no penalty.

Saboteur: Ignore Hardness up to Half your Rogue's level when sundering or attacking an object.

Swift Kick: Use Disable Device without tools by hitting the device in just the right place. *I like this one

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Saboteur: Ignore Hardness up to Half your Rogue's level when sundering or attacking an object.

Note this also lets you sneak attack constructs. I'd say it was a bit powerful, but, really, spending an ability that you had to take 10 class levels for, and won't get another one for another 3, to get sneak attack damage on a less-common creature type, is pretty much payment enough.

Swift Kick: Use Disable Device without tools by hitting the device in just the right place. *I like this one

Yes, it is just...neat. Not particularly useful, but NEAT.

Brad

 

[hong]

either that or the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

That's pretty much my opinion on the warlock class, which looks like what happens when Rich Baker can't wait for 4E to be released, so he jumps the gun.

 

[Thanee]

Saboteur: Ignore Hardness up to Half your Rogue's level when sundering or attacking an object.

That's quite silly, huh?

Doesn't sound much like "saboteur" to me.

Swift Kick: Use Disable Device without tools by hitting the device in just the right place. *I like this one

Heh.

Bye
Thanee