What is a Rogue to do in an undead-heavy campaign?

[Li Shenron]

Song & Silence had a feat called Hamstring which allowed to exchange 2d6 of sneak attack damage with teh chance of reducing the target's speed. I think someone in CAdv should have made similar feats...

BTW, did you notice that this thread is 2 years and a half old? The Rogue in question is probably already dead or... undead

 

[swrushing]

Drama aside, I fully intend to put points in Use Magic Device, and invest in a few wands and scrolls, but are there any other ways a Rogue can contribute to combat in an undead-heavy campaign? Are there, for instance, feats that allow a rogue to use Sneak Attack on undead creatures? Or magic items, or perhaps prestige classes that do the same? Or any other ways I can avoid having my arse handed to me by even the lowliest zombie?

Realize not every character or every class is appropriate or suited to every campaign.

Ok first thing... discuss this with the GM. Get an idea how much he realizes the role script and challenges play in game balance. The rogue class is not "on par" with the other classes IF the challenges presented are mainly vs undead fights.

Now if the undead everywhere is just the backdrop and many of the challenges are traps, infiltration, and other roguey stuff, this wont be a problem necessarily. But if the most common challenge the party overcomes is fighting undead, if thats his campaign plan, then the character/class is likely inappropriate for this campaign. Heck, the cleric might be too, but in an overpowering sense not a too weak sense.

So, first step is bring this to the gm and see what he says, get his impression and go from there. if undead = setting and not challenge, you are fine. if undead = challenge, switch characters.

 

[Andor]

If you want official WotC stuff, there is the Skullclan hunter in the Miniatures handbook that allows you to sneak attack undead at your 2nd level in the class, in fact the prestige class turns you into an undead killing machine.

Prereqs: Good, Knowledge (religion) 8, Turn undead, 2d6 sneak attack.

So entry at 6th level, sneak attacking vampires at 7th.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

Try to get Van Richten's Arsenal (Ravenloft 3e), it is full of interesting items to help one against undead. Many are good addition to a thief's tools and tricks.

Also, you could devise a way with your DM that you analyse some of these critters in depth and found a way to make a sneak attack on some of those (hit the head for zombies, heart area for vampires, etc.). It could be developped after a few encounters with specific undead.

Joël

 

[Vertaxis]

Hmmm. Many good ideas.

Perhaps you should find someone with a ring/amulet/codpeice granting them an "Invisibility to Undead" power and steal it from them. You'd be in character, after all.

Then, you can go nuts with the holy water, ungents, and oils to build yourself a pyre as you sneak within the ranks of the not so dead.

 

[PrinceZane]

Your solution is very simple. My current rogue has been through more undead/golem fights than any char I've ever played.

You have 2 options vs undead. Have the cleric constantly beef you with the Grave Strike spell (allows you to SA undead), or get a wand crafted with it. The spell is a swift action to cast due it only lasts 1 round. However, activating it with a wand is a standard. So you might want to ask the DM if you can use the wand as a swift action, use it as one of your standard attacks (if you get multiple attacks, if not you might want to check on some boots of speed for free haste a bit), or if you can just have it last "until next attack" (that comes within a reasonable amount of time).

My DM chose to do the latter, and I became a lean mean SAing machine........ or at least I would've, except by the time I got the wand the quest was over and haven't seen undead since.

 

[PrinceZane]

erm, sorry Maj... didn't realize someone mentioned GStrike already, but eh, its worth mentioning again

 

[JamesDJarvis]

Eventually the DM will have a non Undead baddie. The DM will not be used to the fact your PC can sneak attack said NPC, DM will do something stupid allowing you to off non Unead baddie and make you really glad you have a rogue.

 

[domino]

If it's only a 1st level spell, a pair of gloves of Gravestrike would only run you 2000 gold.

 

[Chimera]

As my sig says, I'm playing a Fighter/Rogue in a Ravenloft campaign. Sure, more than half of what we fight is undead and I don't get my sneak attacks. I'm also a dual-wielder with Rapier and Shortsword and I don't get all the crits I should. Doesn't mean that I'm worthless or ineffective. (Though I've picked up a Longsword and a Light Mace to help out when needed.)

In my case, I've kindasorta made up for it by being lucky in hitpoint rolls (34 at 4th level, or 2 less than max) and by being lucky in combat when it really counts. I've also got a bucket load of skills in character and out of character.

If I felt my character was ineffective as a rogue, I'd have gone 50/50 or more Fighter, or have picked up another class altogether. But at 4th, my character is Fighter 1 / Rogue 3 and my 5th level too shall be rogue.