Challenge: Rogue (30)!

[Hrafnar]

How would you build, if you had to go pure rogue?

[Blackman D]

kel had a 30 rogue, not sure what he did tho

but bluff gear and feint would be a must

[Valefort]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

[aaron22]

I'd go epic dodge ptwf and pump as much sneak and sneak attack as possible. Go 18 Dex on human and pump Dex up on level will get you 25 by 27 for epic dodge. Of course ew as all builds that can get it should.

Edit. On my tablet or I'd make a build up quick.

[chad878262]

There would be no excuse for missing Epic Dodge on a pure rogue. Without it pure phantom would be better in every way. Even with Epic Dodge Phantom 30 might be better than Rogue 30.

[aaron22]

The only reason why phantom might be better would be it's ability to go invisible as a rogue 30 doesn't get hips

[aaron22]

9 sin levels would make it easier to play. Rogue 30 is good class but would have a big learning curve attached.

[Hrafnar]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

Entering the spirit of the thing! Good show! May I ask - why resist sonic energy?

[Hrafnar]

9 sin levels would make it easier to play. Rogue 30 is good class but would have a big learning curve attached.

Hm, perhaps R 26/GT 4 would be permissible as a pure(ish) rogue? Two extra feats and some nice skill bonuses, nothing lost except a handful of skill points.

[Valefort]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

Entering the spirit of the thing! Good show! May I ask - why resist sonic energy?

The resist feats stand for the shield slam line since they're not in the builder.

[aaron22]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

Entering the spirit of the thing! Good show! May I ask - why resist sonic energy?

Bards.... those damn Bards and their dreadful songs. Nothing ruins a campfire talk like the a hole getting out a lute.

[Hrafnar]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

Entering the spirit of the thing! Good show! May I ask - why resist sonic energy?

The resist feats stand for the shield slam line since they're not in the builder.

[Sun Wukong]

Full STR and shield slam, using full plate and shield : http://nwn2db.com/build/?263062

Shield slam opens up the target for sneak attacks.

I would lower charisma by two to raise dexterity to 14. You can make better use of the early Chainmail that way around. I would also drop the Luck of Heroes to take the shield profiency feat sooner, and to free up a later feat for Northlander Hewing - your character has medium bab progression and cannot really fit in PA or IPA - thus the extra damage NH offers sounds like a pretty good trade me... Just little something in case you cannot slam hard enough to trigger those sneak attacks, or face a critical hit immune foe before level 24. (With a +4 mace this build could do 34 damage a hit. [6 + 4 (EB) + 10 (Strength) + 14])

Moreover, Weapon Focus (Morningstar) would be the mechanically better weapon choice. But you should go have a look at what weapons they sell at the Basement of Blushing Mermaid to pick what you really want to use in the end game. (The weapons cost 200-400k in gold pieces.)



As for alternatives to this strength based shield slamming Rogue... You do have an option with ranged dexterity based builds. Whether you go bow or crossbow is entirely up to you, and I think that shield and a sling is also a valid option. There are lot of bows available, slings give that shield AC, and crossbows have increased damage per hit thanks to Crossbow sniper feats.

Thus, you can sneak around like regular hips-rogue, but to hide again you need to break the line of sight. It works best in places such as the goblin mine north of Beregost, lot of sharp corners and doors that you can close.

Additionally, with investment in UMD, you could use various scrolls and items to summon things to fight for you. These summons do not need to last for long, they just need to last long enough for you to flank the target to deal some sneak attacks. It works alright and alright... But I am not sure how willing the DMs are today to grant you any of the following items:

Coffin's Flute: http://www.gamebanshee.com/cgi-bin/sear ... ms.id=2567
Ivory Flute of Valhalla: http://www.gamebanshee.com/cgi-bin/sear ... ms.id=3473
Drum of Haunting: http://www.gamebanshee.com/cgi-bin/sear ... ems.id=799
Canaith Mandolin: http://www.gamebanshee.com/cgi-bin/sear ... ms.id=1351

I think I may have seen some Canaith Mandolins in game, but you would need to stock up on them to really use the summons to your advantage. And unfortunately, those low level summons will lose their usefullness eventually. (But that is why you just team up with people, anyone... even squishy mages can act as baits! )


Thus, in my honest opinion... the strength based shield slammer probably works the best.

[Sun Wukong]

About the shield slammer, if you start with 16 or even 18 dexterity, you can actually make use of a regular Chain Shirt and therefore save a feat for something else.