2E thief rogue build, need help [Archive] - Wizards Community

2E thief rogue build, need help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Jester
01-27-07, 12:13 PM There are very few rogues in my region so when I was asked to take part in an intro mod my first thought was to roll a rogue.
But I wanted one with character. A fun feel.

So I decided to go with a 2nd Edition style thief.
His name will be something with the initials E.E. (2E), he'll continually refer to his "backstab" ability and give a percentage chance for his skills succeeding (no problem, I have a 65% of climbing that wall). He'll be concerned mostly with gold and himself possibly stealing from the party when bored (for fun, not disruption).

He'll be human (Rhenee strictly for stereotype purposes) and I'm unsure about any PrC and I might go for straight rogue build.

So what feats can I take to maximize my effectiveness while still maintaining the feel of the character? What would really work in accentuating the retro-design?
kenobi65
01-27-07, 12:40 PM Hmmm...I can already predict that you're going to be plagued with other players continually correcting you on the backstab / sneak attack thing. "What do you mean, backstab? There's no backstab in 3.5!"
Camden
01-27-07, 01:38 PM There are very few rogues in my region so when I was asked to take part in an intro mod my first thought was to roll a rogue.
But I wanted one with character. A fun feel.

So I decided to go with a 2nd Edition style thief.
His name will be something with the initials E.E. (2E), he'll continually refer to his "backstab" ability and give a percentage chance for his skills succeeding (no problem, I have a 65% of climbing that wall). He'll be concerned mostly with gold and himself possibly stealing from the party when bored (for fun, not disruption).

He'll be human (Rhenee strictly for stereotype purposes) and I'm unsure about any PrC and I might go for straight rogue build.

So what feats can I take to maximize my effectiveness while still maintaining the feel of the character? What would really work in accentuating the retro-design?

There's always Temple Raider if you want the Ol' Fashioned Theif/Mage MultiClass, Dual Class. There a list of Deities it opens up to in the Deities document (not just Olidimara)

What sort of 2ndEd Kits were you thinking of (From the 2ndEd Splat books) ?

But then again Pure Rouge is fun :)
The_Jester
01-27-07, 03:29 PM No real kits. More of the stereotype out-for-himself thief from the earlier editions of the game.
kenobi65
01-27-07, 03:46 PM Then, to heck with the Charisma-based skills; those aren't old-school rogue.

Max out Climb, Disable Device, Hide, Move Silently, Open Locks, Sleight of Hand.

Focus any combat stuff you do on melee; you can't backstab with a crossbow. :)

Consider the Dungeon Delver PrC.
Camden
01-27-07, 05:26 PM How about Pure rouge till 10th level (and pick up Imp Evasion), then finish off with NightSong Enforcer. Their skills are fairly 2ndEd...

Balance, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Profession, Ride, Search, Spot, Swim, Tumble.
and 4+int Mod/ level.
Int14 human 7 skill points/level

Disable Device
Hide
Move Silently
Open Lock
Search

That should cover most of the 2nd Ed skills, and you've got some spare for your Non-Weapon Proficencies :D

10 levels of rouge gets you 5d6 sneak (x3 backstab ?) and Improved Evasion, then 1st level of Enforcer gives you an extra 1d6 Sneak

The Improved Ini that you need for Nightsong, will help anyway (and with the current rules of only PHB feats till 3rd level, it helps), Maybe pick up a regional feat as well, Tactile Trapsmith at 3rd, 6th Weapon Finesse, 9th, 12th and 15th I have no idea at all. But then again Complete Scoundrel will be out soon and there may some 'scoundrely/roguey' things in there
kenobi65
01-27-07, 09:57 PM Pure rouge

Pure rouge is an excellent component of a masterwork disguise kit. ;)
The_Jester
01-28-07, 01:17 AM Dungeon Delver is interesting but most of the pre-regs are nigh-impossible in LG. Live a year underground. Have fun with that. Solo a dungeon in one week and earn half a level's worth of xp. Let's see... each TU is a week so I'd have to find an intro mod that I can solo that grants me at least 500xp.

I might just go straight rogue.
UMiskatonic
01-28-07, 10:53 AM You should read the LGCS regarding the ways that you gain admission to prestige classes, and also read any regional documentation that your Triad has put out on that subject.

In my region, its easy to be a dungeon delver.
Akhamshyy
01-28-07, 11:02 AM See if you can't get a special mission to qualify. I've a write-up for a mod that'd qualify people for delver if they can survive being buried alive for a short time. 'Cept it's on a back burner with my region's current story arc, and inter-actives.

A short querry to your local triad about it may not hurt either. They might just be able to help you. I know I'd love to write an adventure designed for a solo rogue going for dungeon delver.

Of course you'd have at least three friends watching the entrance for you while you got the job done;)
PRGA rules and all...
Camden
01-28-07, 02:27 PM Dungeon Delver is interesting but most of the pre-regs are nigh-impossible in LG. Live a year underground. Have fun with that. Solo a dungeon in one week and earn half a level's worth of xp. Let's see... each TU is a week so I'd have to find an intro mod that I can solo that grants me at least 500xp.

I might just go straight rogue.

Actually Each TU is an 'Adventuring Oppotunity' ;)

There's been a few mods out there where you get more than your TU's worth. If 1 TU is a week, a 2TU mod should take 2 weeks or so.

So a Particular mod that states "The month goes by uneventfully" (iirc), and then there's the travel home :D

You could also try and survive a Cave In for access, or check the MetaOrgs for your region...
jstorrie
01-29-07, 01:31 AM Straight rogue or Nightsong Enforcer, really, are your best bets. Maybe invest in one of those 1d8+3 morningstars, too, eh?
Japangirl
01-29-07, 07:13 PM For skills purposes, Thief Acrobat is really good. Kip up (stand from prone as a free action without provoking), tumbling charge, prone fighting, take 10 on multiple skills.

You do give up sneak attack though, so it is a trade-off.
The_Jester
01-30-07, 01:51 AM For skills purposes, Thief Acrobat is really good. Kip up (stand from prone as a free action without provoking), tumbling charge, prone fighting, take 10 on multiple skills.

You do give up sneak attack though, so it is a trade-off.

I was looking at that, strictly for the stand-as-free-action. But not enough skill related. Still, it might be nice for just one level, just for the thrill of being able ti tumble at full speed.

I do have 5-6 levels to get caved in and qualify for dungeon delver or decide to go nightsong. Lots of skill points to spread about.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Jester 01-27-07, 12:13 PM	There are very few rogues in my region so when I was asked to take part in an intro mod my first thought was to roll a rogue. But I wanted one with character. A fun feel. So I decided to go with a 2nd Edition style thief. His name will be something with the initials E.E. (2E), he'll continually refer to his "backstab" ability and give a percentage chance for his skills succeeding (no problem, I have a 65% of climbing that wall). He'll be concerned mostly with gold and himself possibly stealing from the party when bored (for fun, not disruption). He'll be human (Rhenee strictly for stereotype purposes) and I'm unsure about any PrC and I might go for straight rogue build. So what feats can I take to maximize my effectiveness while still maintaining the feel of the character? What would really work in accentuating the retro-design?
kenobi65 01-27-07, 12:40 PM	Hmmm...I can already predict that you're going to be plagued with other players continually correcting you on the backstab / sneak attack thing. "What do you mean, backstab? There's no backstab in 3.5!"
Camden 01-27-07, 01:38 PM	There are very few rogues in my region so when I was asked to take part in an intro mod my first thought was to roll a rogue. But I wanted one with character. A fun feel. So I decided to go with a 2nd Edition style thief. His name will be something with the initials E.E. (2E), he'll continually refer to his "backstab" ability and give a percentage chance for his skills succeeding (no problem, I have a 65% of climbing that wall). He'll be concerned mostly with gold and himself possibly stealing from the party when bored (for fun, not disruption). He'll be human (Rhenee strictly for stereotype purposes) and I'm unsure about any PrC and I might go for straight rogue build. So what feats can I take to maximize my effectiveness while still maintaining the feel of the character? What would really work in accentuating the retro-design? There's always Temple Raider if you want the Ol' Fashioned Theif/Mage MultiClass, Dual Class. There a list of Deities it opens up to in the Deities document (not just Olidimara) What sort of 2ndEd Kits were you thinking of (From the 2ndEd Splat books) ? But then again Pure Rouge is fun :)
The_Jester 01-27-07, 03:29 PM	No real kits. More of the stereotype out-for-himself thief from the earlier editions of the game.
kenobi65 01-27-07, 03:46 PM	Then, to heck with the Charisma-based skills; those aren't old-school rogue. Max out Climb, Disable Device, Hide, Move Silently, Open Locks, Sleight of Hand. Focus any combat stuff you do on melee; you can't backstab with a crossbow. :) Consider the Dungeon Delver PrC.
Camden 01-27-07, 05:26 PM	How about Pure rouge till 10th level (and pick up Imp Evasion), then finish off with NightSong Enforcer. Their skills are fairly 2ndEd... Balance, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Profession, Ride, Search, Spot, Swim, Tumble. and 4+int Mod/ level. Int14 human 7 skill points/level Disable Device Hide Move Silently Open Lock Search That should cover most of the 2nd Ed skills, and you've got some spare for your Non-Weapon Proficencies :D 10 levels of rouge gets you 5d6 sneak (x3 backstab ?) and Improved Evasion, then 1st level of Enforcer gives you an extra 1d6 Sneak The Improved Ini that you need for Nightsong, will help anyway (and with the current rules of only PHB feats till 3rd level, it helps), Maybe pick up a regional feat as well, Tactile Trapsmith at 3rd, 6th Weapon Finesse, 9th, 12th and 15th I have no idea at all. But then again Complete Scoundrel will be out soon and there may some 'scoundrely/roguey' things in there
kenobi65 01-27-07, 09:57 PM	Pure rouge Pure rouge is an excellent component of a masterwork disguise kit. ;)
The_Jester 01-28-07, 01:17 AM	Dungeon Delver is interesting but most of the pre-regs are nigh-impossible in LG. Live a year underground. Have fun with that. Solo a dungeon in one week and earn half a level's worth of xp. Let's see... each TU is a week so I'd have to find an intro mod that I can solo that grants me at least 500xp. I might just go straight rogue.
UMiskatonic 01-28-07, 10:53 AM	You should read the LGCS regarding the ways that you gain admission to prestige classes, and also read any regional documentation that your Triad has put out on that subject. In my region, its easy to be a dungeon delver.
Akhamshyy 01-28-07, 11:02 AM	See if you can't get a special mission to qualify. I've a write-up for a mod that'd qualify people for delver if they can survive being buried alive for a short time. 'Cept it's on a back burner with my region's current story arc, and inter-actives. A short querry to your local triad about it may not hurt either. They might just be able to help you. I know I'd love to write an adventure designed for a solo rogue going for dungeon delver. Of course you'd have at least three friends watching the entrance for you while you got the job done;) PRGA rules and all...
Camden 01-28-07, 02:27 PM	Dungeon Delver is interesting but most of the pre-regs are nigh-impossible in LG. Live a year underground. Have fun with that. Solo a dungeon in one week and earn half a level's worth of xp. Let's see... each TU is a week so I'd have to find an intro mod that I can solo that grants me at least 500xp. I might just go straight rogue. Actually Each TU is an 'Adventuring Oppotunity' ;) There's been a few mods out there where you get more than your TU's worth. If 1 TU is a week, a 2TU mod should take 2 weeks or so. So a Particular mod that states "The month goes by uneventfully" (iirc), and then there's the travel home :D You could also try and survive a Cave In for access, or check the MetaOrgs for your region...
jstorrie 01-29-07, 01:31 AM	Straight rogue or Nightsong Enforcer, really, are your best bets. Maybe invest in one of those 1d8+3 morningstars, too, eh?
Japangirl 01-29-07, 07:13 PM	For skills purposes, Thief Acrobat is really good. Kip up (stand from prone as a free action without provoking), tumbling charge, prone fighting, take 10 on multiple skills. You do give up sneak attack though, so it is a trade-off.
The_Jester 01-30-07, 01:51 AM	For skills purposes, Thief Acrobat is really good. Kip up (stand from prone as a free action without provoking), tumbling charge, prone fighting, take 10 on multiple skills. You do give up sneak attack though, so it is a trade-off. I was looking at that, strictly for the stand-as-free-action. But not enough skill related. Still, it might be nice for just one level, just for the thrill of being able ti tumble at full speed. I do have 5-6 levels to get caved in and qualify for dungeon delver or decide to go nightsong. Lots of skill points to spread about.