Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Ditch search if you do not have it for roleplay reasons (in 5 years ive never had to roll search in DM run events nor noted anyhing on the server requiring one that had any meaningful consequence.)

Did you know you get xp for Sleight of hand uses?

Open lock, its enough if you can manage dc36(34) without additional buffing after heroism spell. DC40? thats what you have those lockpick kits or extra gear for.

Disarm is pretty similar to open lock.

A maxed UMD never hurt, but you can live with 13 ranks.

If you intend to go with just one toon, max out appraise.
You will live and die by gear.
It is so nice to buy heal potions for 600+ instead of 1k e t c.


Finest selfbuffed rogue build?
Bard19 (19 for better inspire competence), divine seeker (for expanded Disarm and saves), guild thief (more feats, cheap shopping), whirling dervish (a ton of feats including 3xskill focus).
Inspiration for the win.
No epic precision though.

Personally I find the weak fort and will save the major issue with rogues and archers.
UMD FTW.


I have reached endgame with the following rogue builds without much trouble:
rogue13, assassin9, whirling dervish3, guild thief5. (DEX/INT)
rogue11, wilderness stalker3, shadowdancer10, divine champion6. (DEX)(hipster)
rogue3, wiz7, AT10, dervish10. (INT)(feinter)


YMMV

You need search to find though traps though right? Don't really want to walk over them before I even see. Disable needs to be much higher then open locks for epic traps and the fact you can't take a 20 on them.

Cheap heal potions is a nice thought. Not really going for a max skill build. More of a hit and run build with a decent amount of skills. I don't expect to be able to solo dragons with it

you do need search for traps, its the only thing search is really used for mechanically

the traps that will actually kill you wont be found with just a d20

and the reason you probably dont see any DMs call for search is there is a difference between search and spot, spot is just looking around - which everyone does - and search is you physically touching and searching for something you may think is there

spot checks are simply easier most of the time, or search is not appropriate or already handled by the game engine, i.e. traps

Storm Munin wrote:Ditch search if you do not have it for roleplay reasons (in 5 years ive never had to roll search in DM run events nor noted anyhing on the server requiring one that had any meaningful consequence.)

What's this I hear? I've made players do search checks several times! Problem is that search is an active thing. I won't make you roll unless you're RPing actively searching for something.

@Blackman D

Search/Disarm:
Yes, but by the time the traps get deadly they tend to mostly be irrelevant for the wary intrepid aquirer of novelties.
Also if you actually walk rather than run pretty much all traps do show up, hopefully before you trigger them.

Ah, the days of the epic divine chest traps in the lowlevel UD.
A worthy mention also to the naughty ones some unknown prankster liked to place at transition points back in the hay days.

I usually spend a little on the search skill just because it feels right to do so with the appropriate toons, but I fear I cannot recommend anyone doing so.

Disarm has no natural DC20 roll so this may need adjustment upwards depending on INT, gear and general sturdyness this is true.
Many simply bash the traps away, others collect and use/sell them.
We all have our own way of getting ahead in the realms.


@DM Ghost
Search:
Part of the reason for the way I see it is of course because of the supposition that some DM enforce open rolls, others do closed rolls and I suspect some at times simply ignore the rolls and let things be found to promote the story or the heroes.
Who knows, not I.

Actively searching can get you things (including feces) and leads.
If you catch the attention of the DM, this is true.

DMs have made me do search rolls now that I think on it, but very very rarely.

YMMV

yea most traps will show with a d20 but any trap that will one shot you will not, chest or floor spawn, you can stand in front of known spawns as long as you want and they will not pop up

and epic areas cycle thru different types so its never really safe to assume just because you can see them most of the time that the one time you dont there is nothing there