Rogue Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rogue Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Werral
11-08-07, 07:46 PM Okay I was just thinking about how in earlier editions there were Theif only skills (Hide in Shadows, Move Silently) etc... which 3E rightly changed into consistent skills.

The problem is that Rogues lost the uniqueness they had. Still looking around the game I thought of an idea. Rangers gain the Track ability based on the Survival skill, Rangers also get the "Hide in Plain Sight" ability that improves the Hide ability.

So basically I thought of little ability boosts for the classic Thief skills when used by Rogues.

Nimble Climber: The Rogue can always take ten on a Climb check, even in combat. In addition the the Rogue can ignore teh -5 penalty for accelerated climbing.

Hide in Shadows: A Rogue can treat any area of shadow as concealment for the purposes of hiding.

Silent Dash: A Rogue that makes a successful Move Silently Check against an opponent can move while an opponent is looking the other way so the opponent is left unaware that they moved (the rogue does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity). The DC is 10 for every 5ft moved.

(This doesn't really make sense as worded, what I'm aiming for is something that lets rogues act as if opponents had facing even though normally in D&D they don't. The lack of facing is because you can turn, this ability assumes the Rogue moves when the opponent is looking the other way)

Stealth: A Rogue that flanks an opponent and attacks while hidden can immediately attempt another Hide Check at -20 to hide again. In addition the Rogue does not suffer the -20 penalty for hiding after a ranged attack.

Ear to the Ground: As a full round action a Rogue can use a listen check to gain awareness of his surroundings as if possessing the tremorsense ability.

Streettalk: Any two rogues with a common language and ranks in Knowledge local can talk in a slang unintelligable to non-rogues. When a rogue moves to a new area, a DC15 Gather Information check enables the rogue to get hip to the local streettalk.

A street talk can be learnt by non-rogues as a language.

I was thinking that Rogues could take one of these abilities at 1st level and another at every 4 levels after.
Slapstick87
11-09-07, 01:07 PM I like it! But I would suggest the following:

Silent Dash: A Rogue that makes a successful Move Silently Check against an opponent can move while an opponent is looking the other way so the opponent is left unaware that they moved (the rogue does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity). The DC is 10 for every 5ft moved.

(This doesn't really make sense as worded, what I'm aiming for is something that lets rogues act as if opponents had facing even though normally in D&D they don't. The lack of facing is because you can turn, this ability assumes the Rogue moves when the opponent is looking the other way).

I'm not sure what this is supposed to do. Normally you'd attempt a hide check, to simulate how well you time your move silently check to move while not being seen. This ability let's you move silently without making a hide check? I'm confused.

Stealth: A Rogue that flanks an opponent and attacks while hidden can immediately attempt another Hide Check at -20 to hide again. In addition the Rogue does not suffer the -20 penalty for hiding after a ranged attack.

I add a limitation of one attack per round while using stealth. And I'd make it a -10 penalty with ranged attacks instead of nil.

I was thinking that Rogues could take one of these abilities at 1st level and another at every 4 levels after.

I'd make these a part of the "special abilities" of the rogue. And allow them to take them every 4th level starting at 4th, instead of every 5th starting at 10th level.

- Slapstick
Werral
11-09-07, 06:30 PM I like it! But I would suggest the following:

I'm not sure what this is supposed to do. Normally you'd attempt a hide check, to simulate how well you time your move silently check to move while not being seen. This ability let's you move silently without making a hide check? I'm confused.

Glad you like the idea. You're comments are also useful. With Silent Dash I wanted to avoid too many rolls - Hide then Move Silently seems like too much rolling when you could just make a tumble check for a similar result.

Also by standard rules you couldn't use a Hide check unless you have concealment. But I guess you could have the Rogue make a Hide (or Bluff) check first before moving.

Essentially it's just another way for a Rogue to avoid AoE's, rather than sumersaulting, the rogue dashes when during momentary distractions. Tactically the same effect but flavourwise a different thing.

I add a limitation of one attack per round while using stealth. And I'd make it a -10 penalty with ranged attacks instead of nil.

I've already amended the original post to take in this feedback.

I'd make these a part of the "special abilities" of the rogue. And allow them to take them every 4th level starting at 4th, instead of every 5th starting at 10th level.

- Slapstick

I like this suggestion, what do other posters think?

I want to give the Rogue more unique abilities but I don't want to up the power (so presumably I should nerf the rogue in some other areas?).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Werral 11-08-07, 07:46 PM	Okay I was just thinking about how in earlier editions there were Theif only skills (Hide in Shadows, Move Silently) etc... which 3E rightly changed into consistent skills. The problem is that Rogues lost the uniqueness they had. Still looking around the game I thought of an idea. Rangers gain the Track ability based on the Survival skill, Rangers also get the "Hide in Plain Sight" ability that improves the Hide ability. So basically I thought of little ability boosts for the classic Thief skills when used by Rogues. Nimble Climber: The Rogue can always take ten on a Climb check, even in combat. In addition the the Rogue can ignore teh -5 penalty for accelerated climbing. Hide in Shadows: A Rogue can treat any area of shadow as concealment for the purposes of hiding. Silent Dash: A Rogue that makes a successful Move Silently Check against an opponent can move while an opponent is looking the other way so the opponent is left unaware that they moved (the rogue does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity). The DC is 10 for every 5ft moved. (This doesn't really make sense as worded, what I'm aiming for is something that lets rogues act as if opponents had facing even though normally in D&D they don't. The lack of facing is because you can turn, this ability assumes the Rogue moves when the opponent is looking the other way) Stealth: A Rogue that flanks an opponent and attacks while hidden can immediately attempt another Hide Check at -20 to hide again. In addition the Rogue does not suffer the -20 penalty for hiding after a ranged attack. Ear to the Ground: As a full round action a Rogue can use a listen check to gain awareness of his surroundings as if possessing the tremorsense ability. Streettalk: Any two rogues with a common language and ranks in Knowledge local can talk in a slang unintelligable to non-rogues. When a rogue moves to a new area, a DC15 Gather Information check enables the rogue to get hip to the local streettalk. A street talk can be learnt by non-rogues as a language. I was thinking that Rogues could take one of these abilities at 1st level and another at every 4 levels after.
Slapstick87 11-09-07, 01:07 PM	I like it! But I would suggest the following: Silent Dash: A Rogue that makes a successful Move Silently Check against an opponent can move while an opponent is looking the other way so the opponent is left unaware that they moved (the rogue does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity). The DC is 10 for every 5ft moved. (This doesn't really make sense as worded, what I'm aiming for is something that lets rogues act as if opponents had facing even though normally in D&D they don't. The lack of facing is because you can turn, this ability assumes the Rogue moves when the opponent is looking the other way). I'm not sure what this is supposed to do. Normally you'd attempt a hide check, to simulate how well you time your move silently check to move while not being seen. This ability let's you move silently without making a hide check? I'm confused. Stealth: A Rogue that flanks an opponent and attacks while hidden can immediately attempt another Hide Check at -20 to hide again. In addition the Rogue does not suffer the -20 penalty for hiding after a ranged attack. I add a limitation of one attack per round while using stealth. And I'd make it a -10 penalty with ranged attacks instead of nil. I was thinking that Rogues could take one of these abilities at 1st level and another at every 4 levels after. I'd make these a part of the "special abilities" of the rogue. And allow them to take them every 4th level starting at 4th, instead of every 5th starting at 10th level. - Slapstick
Werral 11-09-07, 06:30 PM	I like it! But I would suggest the following: I'm not sure what this is supposed to do. Normally you'd attempt a hide check, to simulate how well you time your move silently check to move while not being seen. This ability let's you move silently without making a hide check? I'm confused. Glad you like the idea. You're comments are also useful. With Silent Dash I wanted to avoid too many rolls - Hide then Move Silently seems like too much rolling when you could just make a tumble check for a similar result. Also by standard rules you couldn't use a Hide check unless you have concealment. But I guess you could have the Rogue make a Hide (or Bluff) check first before moving. Essentially it's just another way for a Rogue to avoid AoE's, rather than sumersaulting, the rogue dashes when during momentary distractions. Tactically the same effect but flavourwise a different thing. I add a limitation of one attack per round while using stealth. And I'd make it a -10 penalty with ranged attacks instead of nil. I've already amended the original post to take in this feedback. I'd make these a part of the "special abilities" of the rogue. And allow them to take them every 4th level starting at 4th, instead of every 5th starting at 10th level. - Slapstick I like this suggestion, what do other posters think? I want to give the Rogue more unique abilities but I don't want to up the power (so presumably I should nerf the rogue in some other areas?).