Halfling Rogues - Are they at a Disadvantage?

[SDOgre]

I made a halfling rogue because I thought it would be a classic fit. In use the fact he's using a dagger to hit is a big disadvantage. I took powers that give him 2x and 3x dice and I'm rolling 2d4 and 3d4. Big whoop.

If I was using a human I could use a short sword at 1d6, or with a feat I could use a rapier doing 1d8 damage. ( I guess I could do the same with a halfling and be doing 1d6 after that feat).

But 1d4 vs. 1d6 or 1d6 vs. 1d8. When you get into the multiplier exploits that's 2d4 vs. 2d6 or 3d4 vs. 3d6.

What advantage does the halfling have that offsets the little blade he uses?

 

[Kzach]

The halfling rogue has two major advantages. +2 to AC vs. opportunity attacks and second chance.

As for the dagger damage, just choose powers that have effects rather than multiplying the weapons damage.

Not seeing the problem here.

 

[SDOgre]

Yeah, I could take exploits that don't do multiplication damage but the object of a striker is to do LOTS of damage real quick, right? That means that a halfling would need to be a different kind of rogue.

 

[Thasmodious]

What am I missing, why can't your halfling rogue just use a short sword?

 

[On Puget Sound]

Rogues have always had low damage dice. Sneak attack is where they make it up. d4+2d6+5 dex = 14.5 average. d8+2d6+5 dex = 16.5 average...not a trivial difference, but not earthshattering either. The extra +1 to hit for daggers means even larger rogues should seriously consider daggers; my Eladrin rogue uses them for both ranged and melee, and took weapon focus and backstabber to boost the damage.

 

[ForbidenMaster]

I made a halfling rogue because I thought it would be a classic fit. In use the fact he's using a dagger to hit is a big disadvantage. I took powers that give him 2x and 3x dice and I'm rolling 2d4 and 3d4. Big whoop.

If I was using a human I could use a short sword at 1d6, or with a feat I could use a rapier doing 1d8 damage. ( I guess I could do the same with a halfling and be doing 1d6 after that feat).

But 1d4 vs. 1d6 or 1d6 vs. 1d8. When you get into the multiplier exploits that's 2d4 vs. 2d6 or 3d4 vs. 3d6.

What advantage does the halfling have that offsets the little blade he uses?

Im sorry, but why cant you use a short sword as a halfling? Nothing that I can see prevents it.

 

[ValhallaGH]

I made a halfling rogue because I thought it would be a classic fit. In use the fact he's using a dagger to hit is a big disadvantage. I took powers that give him 2x and 3x dice and I'm rolling 2d4 and 3d4. Big whoop.

If I was using a human I could use a short sword at 1d6, or with a feat I could use a rapier doing 1d8 damage.

And your halfling can do exactly the same for exactly the same opportunity cost. Neither of those weapons is Versatile, so a halfling uses them the same way as a human, and they do just as much damage.

Of course, your to-hit is 1 lower than with a dagger because you don't get the Rogue class feature benefit.


P.S. Rogues kind of suck unless you have combat advantage. At which point they turn into slaughter machines. A Sly Trickster halfling with a dagger and Backstabber is a nasty beast, easily capable of pumping out 20 to 30 damage with Sly Flourish every single round, all with a Fighter's attack bonus. That you're not getting this result means you're making some really poor tactical or build choices.

 

[Gloombunny]

Halflings can use short swords and rapiers just like any rogue.

And don't underestimate the value of the +1 to hit with daggers.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Uh, a halfling can use a shortsword and a rapier (if you take the feat) Not that the dagger is a bad idea, +1 to hit is quite cool, and worth the -1 per weapon die of damage IMHO, but the small penalty only applies to versatile and two handed weapons, a halfling rogue has no penalties whatsoever.

-Edit. Damn NinjaBunnies.

 

[Thasmodious]

Hop, hop, slice