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Message: <blockquote data-quote="N'raac" data-source="post: 6178175" data-attributes="member: 6681948">Sounds like a difference in posting style.  I post to “the discussion group”, and I use quotes for context.  If I want to direct a comment to a specific Board member, we have private messaging and [MENTION=6682655]Poster[/MENTION]. In 3e, Rogues are proficient with all <a href="http://paizo.com/prd/equipment.html#_simple-martial-and-exotic-weapons" target="_blank">simple</a> weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword.  I don’t play 4e, and I’m not conversant with any changes in 5e.  A halfling rogue uses Small weapons, so his rapier, short sword or shortbow (in 3e, at least) does the same 1d4 as the wizard’s dagger.  Are there larger weapons he can Finesse?First off, what worked in another edition may or may not work here.  Losing a 2e Backstab would be a lot less of an issue, as it was much less frequently useful.  3e is, to me, where the “trade all abilities in one area to hyperspecialize in another” issues started to arise, so a 3e variant doesn’t really sway my view. Second, I have said repeatedly that I am not opposed to other options instead of Sneak Attack, but that this combat ability should be tradable for a different combat ability.  My first choice would be a variety of combat-related choices, not sneak attack as the default. This shows me two things.  First, Sneak Attack is the biggest combat ability.  Second, choices need to be in the base, core rules, otherwise other mechanics naturally start to assume that Sneak Attack will be there.   Thanks for the heads up, ThirdWizard. So the Rogue’s main ability, in your view is that he can find a spot to hide in and surprise you from there, which is somehow less situational than a sneak attack?  At 1d6 to 7d6, I find sneak attack a pretty sweet damage adder.  If I’m starting with an attach that does 1d6 (or 1d4) and adding 2d6, that triples my damage.  An average of +7 damage on 2d6 is like having an extra 14 STR. That seems like more than “a relatively minor amount of damage” – what does an equivalent level Fighter deal out reliably (versus this at least somewhat situational bonus)? The fighter’s bonus feats had to be combat-related.  This would be similar to providing a choice of combat-related benefits, one of which is Sneak Attack, rather than defaulting to Sneak Attack, which is my preferred approach. WTF is the rogue attacking with that does more than 2d6?  3d6?  Up to 7d6?  Apparently, Next is making way more changes to weapon damage than I expected! To me, the Sneak Attack also has to be meaningful damage at all levels.  If it is not, then the ability itself is poorly designed.  How much is “meaningful”?  At least enough that, when it applies, the Rogue can deal as much or a bit more damage than a Fighter reliably delivers with his hits. Yup – make it available among other combat-related abilities based on opportunism.  You know what?  Let’s also give them the ability to either add to an existing combat ability (eg. +1d6 Sneak Attack) or take one of the other ones every 3rd level (assumed based on 1d6 to 7d6 progression).  Choice is great, but I want all characters to have choices of combat abilities and choices of  noncombat abilities, not the choice to hyperfocus on one and take nothing in the other (at least in the default/core rules)</blockquote>

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