The Rogue and Sneak Attacking

[satori01]

I would also state I am not a fan of huge + D6 Sneak Attack Bonuses ala 3E because the emphasis becomes less about the flavorful attack, and about getting more attacks so you have a huge pile of dice to roll

I frankly find that there are three separate memes embodied in the Rogue class that could be individual classes:

The Thief: think 1e/2e ....Backstab should be there, but the focus of the class should be general rapscalion behavior. Think any of the guys from Ocean's Eleven...they were not slick killers that could open locks...they were Thieves.
If they had to fight something went wrong.

The Swashbuckler: The Trope is pretty obvious, from The Three Musketeers to Jack Sparrow. The class should be capable in combat, but have maneuvers not Sneak Attack. While Jack Sparrow might be capable of a backstab, his style is more about panache and using the environment, and movement.

The Assasin: 1e I think got it right for the most part...just allow for a Ninja path and it works fine.

 

[YRUSirius]

Whatever direction they go, I hope it isn't totally dependent on flanking or some other battle-grid condition. If you're playing without a battle mat (as 5e is supposed to support) then powers that require flanking (or opportunity attacks, etc.) become basically useless. I think what defined Backstab vs Sneak Attack is that Backstab more or less relied on the DM allowing it based on how he viewed the circumstances, whereas Sneak Attack relies on a certain concrete set of gameboard circumstances.

The Facebook D&D game "Heroes of Neverwinter" simplified flanking in the following pretty beatiful way: Every time you outnumber a foe in melee you "flank" him and he grants you "combat advantage". Say you - the thief - and your fighter friend engage the same goblin in melee. No matter where exactly you stand both you and your friend gain combat advantage against the goblin. Seems pretty easy to adjudicate without a battlemat. I'd like to see that in D&D Next.

-YRUSirius

 

[Rhenny]

I'm in favor of backstab. With 4e, flanking and sneak attack damage, the rogue is way overpowered. The Eladrin Rogue in my campaign outshines the Dwarven Fighter in most combats.

 

[the Jester]

At first I was like "meh," but then as I considered your suggestion more something occurred to me.

There are lots of times in my game when the rogue would have combat advantage for several reasons. What if you got more sneak attack damage if you had "double advantage" (by whatever name)?

"I'm flanking AND he's dazed, whoohoo!!"

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Pray tell, what is the name of the pdf?

Break and enter #1. http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=90922

Happens to be on sale!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[Sunseeker]

The Facebook D&D game "Heroes of Neverwinter" simplified flanking in the following pretty beatiful way: Every time you outnumber a foe in melee you "flank" him and he grants you "combat advantage". Say you - the thief - and your fighter friend engage the same goblin in melee. No matter where exactly you stand both you and your friend gain combat advantage against the goblin. Seems pretty easy to adjudicate without a battlemat. I'd like to see that in D&D Next.

-YRUSirius

That actually sounds pretty cool, because ya know...sometimes standing behind the dragon isn't the best place to be.