Disable device (with magical traps)

[marune]

My rogue player's feels that she's better to not bother with her disable device skill with magical traps because the chance to succeed is far too low.

In fact, the entire group feel that letting the monk takes it in the face seems a better overall strategy.

She's currently rogue5/assassin5 with maxed disable device. With the wizard's or cleric dispel magic, she feel even more that she wasted her skill point.

Does some of you got the same problem?

 

[Jack Simth]

Simple enough to fix; customize your traps a bit more, and lower the DD DC's, perhaps increase the caster level.
Then have lots of them, that need to be dealt with on the same day....

 

[Crothian]

well, it relaly depends on what her final bonus is and what DCs the traps are.. And ya, she might have wasted those skill points if the other characters are willing to waste spells or risk the monk instead of letting her try it.

 

[marune]

In fact, she argues that with her lower saves, hps, etc.. she's more risking death with a failed disable check than with the monk blowing it...

(She's the only one in the party to have died, to a magical fire trap that brought her to -12 with a failed reflex save)

 

[Crothian]

tell her being an adventurer has risks and she can always stay with the horses.

 

[Saeviomagy]

In fact, she argues that with her lower saves, hps, etc.. she's more risking death with a failed disable check than with the monk blowing it...

(She's the only one in the party to have died, to a magical fire trap that brought her to -12 with a failed reflex save)

What is it about your traps that makes them so deadly to her, yet so easily handled by the monk?

 

[marune]

Monk has much better saves (Fort & Will) and Improved evasion... it will get worse when he'll get Poison immunity and SR.

I have no problem with the "Monk is the survivor" idea.. but if you have one that survive 90% of the traps, why risk the rogue's life 30% of the time ?

 

[Legildur]

What is it about your traps that makes them so deadly to her, yet so easily handled by the monk?

I'm guessing it's a Con problem - as in lack of Constitution (IMHO probably the most critical ability for a character, regardless of class). (edit: I didn't see Skeptic's reply until after I had posted - didn't realise the party was higher level)

But as for the original problem, there are a range of potential solutions:

1. Take relevant feats: There is a feat in (I believe) Complete Adventurer that allows a Rogue to use their Dex modifier (instead of Int modifier) to their Disable Device and Search checks, Nimble Fingers from the PHB (+2 to Disable Device and Open Locks), and Skill Focus (disable device) for the +3 bonus. Sure, they ain't sexy, but they do the job.

2. Masterwork tools for a +2 bonus (there are probably magical tools available);

3. Have a companion assist you (of course they need to be trained) for the +2 bonus;

4. If it's a magical trap, have the spellcasters cast Detect Magic and determine the school of magic and strength of magic used. Then you can apply some appropriate countermeasures, such as Protection from Energy or buffing (eg Bear's Endurance for hit points or Fox's Cunning to boost you Int modifier). And with the school of magic determined, you may even get a circumstance bonus from the DM (if you don't ask, you never know).

5. Magic items that affect Search checks, such as Elixir of Vision (+10 competence bonus on Search checks for 1 hour), Goggles of Minute Seeing (+5 competence bonus on Search checks to find secret doors, traps, and similar concealed objects), Lens of Detection (+5 bonus on Search checks), Robe of the Eyes (+10 competence bonus on Search checks and Spot checks). [I couldn't find any that provided bonuses to Disable Device]

Really it depends on your Rogue's goals etc. Do they want to fulfill the (dare I say it) 'traditional' trap detecting and disabling role, or something else?

There are going to be times when it isn't a Reflex save called for. And not all traps directly affect the person trying to disable the trap (World's Largest Dungeon springs to mind). This is where boosting Disable Device has real payoffs - ever seen a petrified halfing rogue?

 

[marune]

[...] And not all traps directly affect the person trying to disable the trap

Interesting...

 

[Shin Okada]

In my experience, boosting up Search and Disable Device is the way to go. Because, as already mentioned, not only the rogue, but entire party may meet some danger if a trap is not disabled.

For Search, there are various magic items to boost it up. Goggles of Minute Seeing, Lense of Detection, that psionic mask which gives +10 bonus to Spot and Search (I forget the name), etc. Investing party's wealth to such kind of item may be beneficial for the entire party.

For Disable Device, I can't think of any item which gives bonus to this skill. But you can always buy Headband of Intellect to raise Int score itself.

And, there is a spell called Divine Insight in Complete Arcane. Which lasts 1 hour/level and give you insight bonus of +5 +caster level to any one skill check. My Shadowbane Stalker cohort is using this skill intensively. Taking some cleric level, or taking enough levels of disable device, will give her access to this spell (or wand).