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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ConspiracyAngel" data-source="post: 1924974" data-attributes="member: 15561">A friend said this to me today:“It’s funny… in D&D the only way you can be a truly effective social character is to either know how exactly to dagger someone, or know how to make magical music.”And, for the most part I agree with his assessment.  (Sorcerers are CHA based, but only get 2 skill pts and their only social class skill is Bluff).As the discussion progressed, the direction took us to examine the Rogue character.  To get to the point quickly, here is the problem.  Rogues are the “do-most-anything” characters.  But truly, there are several very different ways to be a Rogue.  For example, you can be good at social interaction, or deception, or very nimble athlete, sneaking and/or stealing… frankly they have enough skill points to be good a combination of these things. I disagree that a class as flexible as a Rogue must be stereotyped as all being Sneak Attack-ers.  On the same note, I know many other kinds of characters (Rangers, Fighters, Monks, etc) that have dedicated themselves to the art of learning how to injure others skillfully and who might be Sneak Attack worthy… one day.On this note, here is the opinion that I would like input on:  I think that the Sneak Attack for a Rogue should be optional.  This is what I would propose:  make Sneak Attack a skill.  Make it (another) Rogue only class skill.  Make the 1d6 accessible at 4 ranks, and each following d6 available at each even interval thereafter (6 ranks=2d6, 8 ranks=3d6).  This system would allow Rogues, and Rogues ONLY to have Sneak Attack from the start… and other classes would have to build their ranks only to finally achieve their 1d6 Sneak Attack at 5th level.  This would allow Rogues to not have to endure that ever so common stereotype.  To “reimburse” the Rogue, you would supply them one extra skill point (1 extra point x 4 at first level gives them enough to take Sneak Attack OR use it elsewhere as they see fit for their character).  The skill plan above matches the Rogue character template for gaining Sneak Attack di. It also provides a buffer that prevents other classes from “out shining” the Rogue in this skill until much later in the game.Is this an idea that you would consider?</blockquote>

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