True Thief Lurk [Archive] - Wizards Community

True Thief Lurk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Mess
12-07-07, 11:15 AM The true thief variant lurk's (from Mind's Eye) new lurk augments don't match the style of the existing lurk augments. I've searched the forum and I don't see any discussion of this, but it begs some questions.

What I'm talking about:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a

Example:

Psionic Trapfinding: As long as you have your psionic focus, you gain the rogue ability of trapfinding.

Okay, is it always on if I have focus or do I have to spend a augment usage on it? If I have to spend an augment usage on it, presumably it lasts as long as I have the focus, but if I expend and then regain focus, does it come back? If I spend a lurk augment on something else, do I lose the trapfinding?
rilem
12-07-07, 11:37 AM Note that the ability doesn't say you have to pay a lurk augment for that ability, as does "Opportunist" and "Death Attack." I'd say it's always on as long as you have focus.

However, Lurks don't get search. So it's practically worthless unless you multiclass, and if you're multiclassing you can pick up Trapfinding anyway.
Sysane
12-07-07, 12:02 PM However, Lurks don't get search. So it's practically worthless unless you multiclass, and if you're multiclassing you can pick up Trapfinding anyway.
While true about the search skill, you could help offset that with taking the feat Focused Skill User from CP.
rilem
12-07-07, 12:36 PM So you'd:
1. Buy a feat
2. Buy Search Skills cross-class to qualify for that Feat.
3. Get a +2 competence bonus on search, which doesn't stack with the super-cheap Goggles of Minute Seeing (+5 competence).

And you'll STILL stink at searching. Not a good deal, I think.
Sysane
12-07-07, 12:48 PM So you'd:
1. Buy a feat
2. Buy Search Skills cross-class to qualify for that Feat.
3. Get a +2 competence bonus on search, which doesn't stack with the super-cheap Goggles of Minute Seeing (+5 competence).

And you'll STILL stink at searching. Not a good deal, I think.
Well, you'd also get +2 to two other skills as well. Worth it if those other two skills are disable device, and spot.

As for the goggles, while true that they're cheap, not every campaign is going to have them readily available for purchase (if at all).

While they're not going to be as good at it as a straight up rouge trapfinding is still a decent option for the lurk.
The_Mess
12-07-07, 05:24 PM I just want to move the Lurk a few inches from assassin and into the Rogue's territory. I think the Lurk's power list is more fun than the Psychic Rogue's (And I'd have to give the PsyRog a better name anyway, honestly.) but starting at a low level without anyone in the party having trapfinding seems suicidal. Maybe one level of Rogue wouldn't hurt too much if I play a race with Rogue as a favored class.

Of course, Human + Able Learner would handle things pretty well.
rilem
12-07-07, 05:31 PM Depending on your campaign, I might suggest either Scout or Factotum instead of Rogue. Both have better HP, Trapfinding and abilities that may fit better with a single-level dip.
The_Mess
12-07-07, 05:59 PM None of us have the book with Factotum in it (I'm not even sure which it is), but thank you for reminding me about the Scout. The Scout class rocks! Now, if I can only convince the DM that Psychic Strike damage stacks with Skirmish!
rilem
12-07-07, 06:14 PM Psychic Strike? You mean the soulknife thing? Of course it does, as long as the criteria for both abilities are met.

Ditto with Psionic Sneak Attack and Skirmish, though of course sometimes one will apply and not the other.
The_Mess
12-07-07, 07:44 PM I meant Psionic Sneak Attack. My brain is normally fractured in eight directions!

Probably good to take. Lurk's short on power at first level anyway, what with only having one usable Lurk augment and that being dependent on the DM using psionic enemies.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Mess 12-07-07, 11:15 AM	The true thief variant lurk's (from Mind's Eye) new lurk augments don't match the style of the existing lurk augments. I've searched the forum and I don't see any discussion of this, but it begs some questions. What I'm talking about: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Example: Psionic Trapfinding: As long as you have your psionic focus, you gain the rogue ability of trapfinding. Okay, is it always on if I have focus or do I have to spend a augment usage on it? If I have to spend an augment usage on it, presumably it lasts as long as I have the focus, but if I expend and then regain focus, does it come back? If I spend a lurk augment on something else, do I lose the trapfinding?
rilem 12-07-07, 11:37 AM	Note that the ability doesn't say you have to pay a lurk augment for that ability, as does "Opportunist" and "Death Attack." I'd say it's always on as long as you have focus. However, Lurks don't get search. So it's practically worthless unless you multiclass, and if you're multiclassing you can pick up Trapfinding anyway.
Sysane 12-07-07, 12:02 PM	However, Lurks don't get search. So it's practically worthless unless you multiclass, and if you're multiclassing you can pick up Trapfinding anyway. While true about the search skill, you could help offset that with taking the feat Focused Skill User from CP.
rilem 12-07-07, 12:36 PM	So you'd: 1. Buy a feat 2. Buy Search Skills cross-class to qualify for that Feat. 3. Get a +2 competence bonus on search, which doesn't stack with the super-cheap Goggles of Minute Seeing (+5 competence). And you'll STILL stink at searching. Not a good deal, I think.
Sysane 12-07-07, 12:48 PM	So you'd: 1. Buy a feat 2. Buy Search Skills cross-class to qualify for that Feat. 3. Get a +2 competence bonus on search, which doesn't stack with the super-cheap Goggles of Minute Seeing (+5 competence). And you'll STILL stink at searching. Not a good deal, I think. Well, you'd also get +2 to two other skills as well. Worth it if those other two skills are disable device, and spot. As for the goggles, while true that they're cheap, not every campaign is going to have them readily available for purchase (if at all). While they're not going to be as good at it as a straight up rouge trapfinding is still a decent option for the lurk.
The_Mess 12-07-07, 05:24 PM	I just want to move the Lurk a few inches from assassin and into the Rogue's territory. I think the Lurk's power list is more fun than the Psychic Rogue's (And I'd have to give the PsyRog a better name anyway, honestly.) but starting at a low level without anyone in the party having trapfinding seems suicidal. Maybe one level of Rogue wouldn't hurt too much if I play a race with Rogue as a favored class. Of course, Human + Able Learner would handle things pretty well.
rilem 12-07-07, 05:31 PM	Depending on your campaign, I might suggest either Scout or Factotum instead of Rogue. Both have better HP, Trapfinding and abilities that may fit better with a single-level dip.
The_Mess 12-07-07, 05:59 PM	None of us have the book with Factotum in it (I'm not even sure which it is), but thank you for reminding me about the Scout. The Scout class rocks! Now, if I can only convince the DM that Psychic Strike damage stacks with Skirmish!
rilem 12-07-07, 06:14 PM	Psychic Strike? You mean the soulknife thing? Of course it does, as long as the criteria for both abilities are met. Ditto with Psionic Sneak Attack and Skirmish, though of course sometimes one will apply and not the other.
The_Mess 12-07-07, 07:44 PM	I meant Psionic Sneak Attack. My brain is normally fractured in eight directions! Probably good to take. Lurk's short on power at first level anyway, what with only having one usable Lurk augment and that being dependent on the DM using psionic enemies.