Revised Rogue Class
A friend of mine and I have been complaining about the rogue for years. Although the character is seen as one of the four “core of the core” along with fighters, wizards, and clerics, we find this class to be far more expendable than the other three. Although the rogue gets the most skill points, trapfinding, and sneak attack, we find that these are all things that can be dispensed with much easier than healing, arcane casting, and the tank. Perhaps this is as it should be, the key to allowing some flexibility in a four-person party. However, I would like to see a party that drops the rogue suffer a bit more for the decision and, on the flip side, I would like for a party with a rogue be a little happier they have him or her along for the ride.
Furthermore, our idea of the iconic rogue is a non-spellcaster that lives more by his wits than by her or his brawn. In 3.5e game, this feature is rendered by sneak attack. To an extent this is a successful match for us because it does lead to the rogue characters thinking tactically, moving strategically, and it allows them to do great damage without great strength. But many situations limit even the most creative player from utilizing sneak attack and some creatures are, of course, immune to sneak attack damage. In adventures that feature undead, for example, rogues can become spectators that makes them feel like fifth wheels. Perhaps this happens to fighters in adventures that feature lots of diplomacy and little combat but combat is so important to DND that I don’t think the trade is an even one.
To right this problem, I propose a change that is relatively simple but one that I think goes a long way to making the rogue a better example of the “brains over brawn” character.
Proposed change: Rogues, and only rogues, can perform an additional move-equivalent action every round. They cannot make a move with this action nor can they employ this extra move-equivalent action and a full-round action, but a character could perform the following actions in a round:
Full Round Action.
Standard Action, Move Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Standard Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Action, Move Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Rationale: The rogue character should be one that thinks creatively in combat, living by his or her wits. The problem in the current rules is that a person playing a rogue has no advantages other than sneak attack to do this. In many cases, a fighter character will have more options to respond creatively to a given encounter than the rogue who is boxed into the sneak attack or nothing route. This change gives the rogue a serious tactical advantage and encourages players of rogues to think creatively since the “extra” action cannot be an attack.
Balancing the New Rogue: I am not sure what would be needed to balance this new character, as an extra action is a pretty nice ability. Possibilities I have considered including either (a) eliminating sneak attack entirely (seems like this might be too much though), (b) reducing the rate by which sneak attack damage increases and/or delaying acquisition of sneak attack.
I welcome your thoughts and reactions.
Marnak
A friend of mine and I have been complaining about the rogue for years. Although the character is seen as one of the four “core of the core” along with fighters, wizards, and clerics, we find this class to be far more expendable than the other three. Although the rogue gets the most skill points, trapfinding, and sneak attack, we find that these are all things that can be dispensed with much easier than healing, arcane casting, and the tank. Perhaps this is as it should be, the key to allowing some flexibility in a four-person party. However, I would like to see a party that drops the rogue suffer a bit more for the decision and, on the flip side, I would like for a party with a rogue be a little happier they have him or her along for the ride.
Furthermore, our idea of the iconic rogue is a non-spellcaster that lives more by his wits than by her or his brawn. In 3.5e game, this feature is rendered by sneak attack. To an extent this is a successful match for us because it does lead to the rogue characters thinking tactically, moving strategically, and it allows them to do great damage without great strength. But many situations limit even the most creative player from utilizing sneak attack and some creatures are, of course, immune to sneak attack damage. In adventures that feature undead, for example, rogues can become spectators that makes them feel like fifth wheels. Perhaps this happens to fighters in adventures that feature lots of diplomacy and little combat but combat is so important to DND that I don’t think the trade is an even one.
To right this problem, I propose a change that is relatively simple but one that I think goes a long way to making the rogue a better example of the “brains over brawn” character.
Proposed change: Rogues, and only rogues, can perform an additional move-equivalent action every round. They cannot make a move with this action nor can they employ this extra move-equivalent action and a full-round action, but a character could perform the following actions in a round:
Full Round Action.
Standard Action, Move Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Standard Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Action, Move Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action, Move Equivalent Action.
Rationale: The rogue character should be one that thinks creatively in combat, living by his or her wits. The problem in the current rules is that a person playing a rogue has no advantages other than sneak attack to do this. In many cases, a fighter character will have more options to respond creatively to a given encounter than the rogue who is boxed into the sneak attack or nothing route. This change gives the rogue a serious tactical advantage and encourages players of rogues to think creatively since the “extra” action cannot be an attack.
Balancing the New Rogue: I am not sure what would be needed to balance this new character, as an extra action is a pretty nice ability. Possibilities I have considered including either (a) eliminating sneak attack entirely (seems like this might be too much though), (b) reducing the rate by which sneak attack damage increases and/or delaying acquisition of sneak attack.
I welcome your thoughts and reactions.
Marnak
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