Post/Author/DateTime	Post
immortal_fighter 04-21-07, 12:33 AM	i just turned 6th lvl rogue and im not sure what i want to do with my char down the line but right now here is what im thinking. im working with a 3d6 of sneak damage right now, but the problem is I cant ever use it because the DM is always setting me up so i cant get my sneak attack in. So i found a neat trick in the complete scoundral called hidden blade. Basically as a move action I uncover a blade that I have hidden and attack my oppenent with it, they are caught flat footed so i get my sneak attack. this is working out great so far, but im just wondering if there are some feets I can take to get my sneak dmg higher.
Ioosef 04-21-07, 12:38 AM	There isn't much you can do about your sneak attack damage, at the most I know of a feat in the book of exalted deeds that transforms the damage dice from a d6 to a d8 when attacking evil creature, but I think that's all.
CowMasterTrojan 04-21-07, 12:47 AM	Doesn't really help with damage, but I suggest you really push your companions to help you flank. And don't forget that in the first round of combat, everyone is considered flatfooted (and therefore potential sneak attack victims) until they go. Good luck.
Droma 04-21-07, 01:00 AM	Improved feint lets you feint as move action which will make your opponent denied their dex (or flatfooted don't remember right now). This will let you get your sneak attack damage against as long as your making full attacks. Also make sure your maxing out tumble and getting into flanking position. If your just fighting enemies that are immune save up for the weapon crystals that allow you to do sneak attack damage against them. The crystals are listed in magic item compendium. Telling blow from PH2 and Sacred Strike are two nice feats to have as a rogue. Telling blow lets you add sneak attack damage to crits and sacred strike is the d8 instead of d6 when sneak attacking evil creatures (also counts as good aligned for damage reduction purposes).
Nadaka 04-21-07, 01:25 AM	Edit: Sorry, I forgot what forum I am in. You can get most of the benifits outlined below with martial feats if you would rather not multiclass. If you havn't picked your level 6 feat yet, you can use Martial Study to gain cloak of deception as a 1/encounter ability. Then you can pick up "Assassins Stance" and/or "Island of Blades" with your level 9 or 12 feats. Between those 3 feats, you have 2 ways to get more sneak attacks in, plus a way to up your sneak attack damage that works with one of your means of gaining extra sneak attacks. You are at the perfect level to take 2 levels of SwordSage from ToB. rogue 6/SwordSage 2 is a very good combo. Then you can go back to rogue with a handful of awesome maneuvers and pile on extra sneak attack dice, or stick with swordsage if you want more tricks. The idea behind this combo is to let you get sneak attack more often or stronger (due to assassins stance) The class itself won't give you any SA... But: You get +1 to init, weapon focus with a group of weapons (based on your choice of disciplines), and wisdom bonus to AC while in light or no armor and not using a shield. and only a marginally smaller number of skill points with a stealth related skill list. For martial abilities, you gain 6 level 3 or less maneuvers, 1 level 4 maneuver , 4 maneuver slots, a 1st level stance and a stance of up to level 4. For your first stance, pick up "island of blades". It makes it far easier to flank your foes and get SA more often. For your second stance at level 8 you get "assassins stance". It gives +2d6 SA damage. This gives you 1d6 more sneak attack than 2 more levels of rogue would get for you. Use "Assassins stance" if you would get SA anyway, or "island of blades" if you would not otherwise recieve SA. You should pick up the maneuvers "shadow jaunt" (short range teleportation) and "cloak of deception" (1 round of invisibility). Then just pick whatever other maneuvers strike your fancy. If you can find a way to boost your concentration skill above your fortitude or will saves, I also strongly recommend the maneuvers "Moment of Perfect Mind"/"Mind Over Body" these two maneuvers allow you to replace a will/fort save with a concentration skill check. Very useful against both spellcasting foes and some of the nastier magic traps if you accidentally set them off.
Shadowhowler 04-21-07, 02:31 AM	The above info on Swordsage is your best bet for making your SA damage better. Also, another way to pull of the same effect as the skill trick your using are the feats quick draw and flick of the wrist. With that set up, you cant do the same trick to the same guy more then once, but you can do it more then once an encounter, as is the case with the skill trick. Also, there is a feat somewhere called 'Craven' helps bump SA damage. The above info on Swordsage is your best bet tho. Make you a much more effective fighting rogue, and a lot of the skills overlap, so you won't lose much, if anything, but you will gain a lot.
573v3 04-21-07, 02:52 AM	Multiclass to other sneak attack classes. Bo9S has good options as mentioned above, but you'll lose some of the natural rogue feel. Look for classes like 'Guild Thief' from FR, the Fighter/Sneak attack Varient from Unearthed Arcana. There's also a weapon enchant that adds 2d6, but its a +2 so it's just barley worth it.
Nadaka 04-21-07, 02:54 AM	Craven is in Champions of Ruin. And it is a very, very powerful feat.
alien_valentine 04-21-07, 04:41 AM	Stay hidden and snipe. The rogue in the party that I'm DM'ing for right now uses this tactic constantly, it works quite well. So long as you can remain undetected, or can shoot, hide, then shoot again, you're almost guaranteed a sneak attack every time, as your target is not aware of you. However this tactic is impossible to pull of if you have no cover or concealment, so I wouldn't rely on it entirely.