Scout missing disable device in skill list?

[Tellerve]

I think they made a booboo and left out disable device on the Scout's, Complete Adventurer, skill list. They mention that they are as good as rogue's in disarming traps and even give them trapfinding but then don't list it on the skill list or the sample character write up. Wee errata!

Tellerve

 

[Darkness]

Yeah, noticed that too.

 

[Li Shenron]

I don't know if a "scout" should have Disable Device as a class skill, at least I didn't imagine the new class would have been good at that (as well as Open Lock, how many locks are there in the wild?), but if it has Trapfinding then it must be absolutely an overlook/errata.

 

[MadBlue]

I think that while the text for Trapfinding mentions that the Scout can use Disable Device to bypass or disarm a trap, the idea is that the Scout's role is searching out an area unseen and quickly reporting back to the rest of the party, whereas the role of actually bypassing and disarming traps and opening doors is left to the Rogue.

 

[HeavyG]

whereas the role of actually bypassing and disarming traps and opening doors is left to the Rogue.

Given that default D&D is balanced for 4 players (and characters) in a party, I doubt that the game designers meant that bomb disposal was to require two whole characters.

It's bad enough that you *had* to have a rogue for this before...

I love that there are now alternate class options for the trap dude role, personally.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Given that default D&D is balanced for 4 players (and characters) in a party, I doubt that the game designers meant that bomb disposal was to require two whole characters.

It doesn't require two characters at all- it requires one (the Rogue). Another class comes out that's similar to the Rogue, but can't disarm traps- what's so odd about that? The Ranger fits that description quite nicely.

Edit: Oops, mistook Trapfinding for Trap Sense.

Anyway, it is odd that they don't get Disable Device while still getting Trapfinding, but a Rogue-like class without Disable Device isn't a bad Rogue-like class by any measure.

 

[drnuncheon]

Anyway, it is odd that they don't get Disable Device while still getting Trapfinding, but a Rogue-like class without Disable Device isn't a bad Rogue-like class by any measure.

Very true - but I think the main objection is that the class doesn't live up to the description: "she can find and disable traps as well as any rogue". If that sentence weren't in there, then it might be odd to have them without Disable Device, but it wouldn't be a glaring error.

J

 

[HeavyG]

It doesn't require two characters at all- it requires one (the Rogue). Another class comes out that's similar to the Rogue, but can't disarm traps- what's so odd about that? The Ranger fits that description quite nicely.

The ranger cannot find traps. Well, unless they are very obvious, of course.

But the point is, if you have a rogue, then the trap detection of the scout is somewhat useless. In a standard 4-PC party, you are probably not going to see both a scout and a rogue. Hence, giving scouts Disable Device is a really good idea. And it fits with the fluff, as drnuncheon pointed out.

In the past, you have always needed a rogue to deal with traps. It was the only class that had a complete monopoly on one whole aspect of adventuring, making them pretty much obligatory in every party. Especially now, with the Complete books, you can have wizards with healing spells and so on.

 

[dvvega]

A scout should not be able to disable devices IMHO. They're scouts! They search out, reconoiter, they gather intelligence and then report back to the group.

They can Search for the traps, they can analyse the traps. To disable they take Disable Device as a cross-class skill.

Now I might be remembering incorrectly (no books at work) but the Rogue has the ability to disable traps with a DC higher than 25 correct? This ability is given to the rogue as a class ability. However does the scout get this ability at all? That would be the thing that is missing not the Skill.

D

 

[Tatsukun]

Now I might be remembering incorrectly (no books at work) but the Rogue has the ability to disable traps with a DC higher than 25 correct? This ability is given to the rogue as a class ability. However does the scout get this ability at all? That would be the thing that is missing not the Skill.

D

Yes, that's trapfinding (see above)

Personally, I don't see a problem there. A scout can look around, and can find a trap. If he wants to disable it, he's using a cross class skill.

The scout can do some rogue things, but not all. Just like a ranger can do some fighter things buy not all, and a (UA) wizard can do some cleric things, but not all.

-Tatsu