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That was deemed the acceptable alternative to what I wanted to do, which was destroy the special with greater possession on Sheila to teach her the value of field work.That's ok. I threw Sheila a disintegrate and sirocco party about 2 minutes before my retirement party. We did bring her back a present from the Aspis caravan. A lovely bird. Such amazing plumage! As for the laughter... what else are you supposed to do when your GM rolls attacks for 10 rounds while you attempt to talk your way through an encounter? There I was, sitting on the chair in front of the window, while that thief who got himself inn over his head throws his little daggers at me... never once hitting, mind you. I was just trying to offer him a way out... protective custody, as it were. In the end, he just wouldn't listen, until I found someone loud enough to make him listen...
Dpr builds where all the damage comes from sneak attack. Keep your damage decent and treat sneak attack as a bonus. This is easier now that unrogue is the standard. Huh. People keep telling me that I couldn't be effective... especially before things changed... but I somehow managed to keep killing things as fast as it was needed throughout my first 14 levels with my chains intact. Very interestig.
I guess I had better go drink, because evidently I am useless. Never mind that for most of my career I have been a primary damage dealer for my parties, as well as being a "skill monkey", and that is before I got "unchained". I'll have to put my gladīī away, hang up my picks, and devote myself to regailing myself with tails that never happened. Sigh. What's an adventurer to do?
The young venture captain shakes his head at the half orc, not believing what he is hearing. "Ah, my friend, have you not heard of the word 'moderation'? But if it must be, perhaps you'd like some Chelish Pepper Whisky? If you can stomach it, that is!" He sets out an binder, which seems to be stuffed with papers. "These papers have bills of passage on ships that take you upriver along the Sellen, and then up the West Sellen to Daggermark. From there you can make your way overland to Thornkeep... please check in with Lady Starcloak and see if she has any other news. A quick check in with the goblins there, to see if they know anything would be appropriate..." He pauses a moment, looking at the crew assembled. "Well, maybe not. Let's leave the little bastards alone... they are citizens of Thornkeep, and I would want any... incidents." He just shakes his head at this. "Once you have your bearings, head into to the Echo Wood, and find the Emerald Spire. Clear enough?"
"Huh? It is to do exactly that. Miss Polina, you confuse me." To the half-orc guzzling the 10% ABV beer, Declan, you should really drink that in moderation. It is a bit stronger than most beers. Enjoy its hoppy goodness!"
The squabbling Pathfinders are lead into the office of Venture Captain Silbeg Cailean. "Pathfinders, good to see you here! Help yourself to an ale!" His current "lodge" is located in a "temple" of Cayden Cailean in Almas, though there are notes all over his desk about his permanent facility being built near Oregeant. "The finest Imperial Vudrani Pale Ale that I've found anywhere in the Inner Sea! Try it, I assure you it is quite refreshing!" A pair of pitchers of an effervescent golden beverage sit on a table near his desk, with six finely crafted glasses sitting neatly next to them. The smell of malt and hops can clearly be smelled coming off of the pitchers, and condensation can be seen forming on the outside of the glass. "I've called you all here for a mission far to the north. Recently, we sent some agents to the town of Thornkeep, in the Echo Woods, to investigate some strange happenings going on underneath the town. One interesting thing that the agents reported was that there was a second Azlanti ruin not too from the Thornkeep... one that may hold even greater mysteries than the first." He sits back, sipping his beer, watching the reactions of the agents in front of him. "So, first of all, we were asked by the lovely Iliara Starcloak of the Goldenfire Order to see if we could find out where two members of her order went missing... apparently they were investigating the ruins, known only as The Emerald Spire. Given the help that she gave our teams that went into the ruins below Thornkeep, I thought it would be the right thing to do." "So, your mission is to make your way up to the River Kingdoms, into the Echo Woods, and to explore the ruins of the Emerald Spire. Now, be warned. Rumor has it that they ruins had once been one of the strongholds of the Kingdom of Zog, a goblin kingdom that was destroyed 500 years ago. I only say this, because apparently the goblins of Thornkeep have taken to chanting the name 'Zog' for hours on end every night, and holding aloft a sword that was recovered from the ruins belowe their town."
I was that rogue. Couldn't have been Chaos Hammer, 'cause I am CG. I have had a lot of fun out there. Sure, when I cannot sneak attack, I M not nearly as potent. However, my skills came into play more than once (ok, I missed that one save at the shrine, but bad rolls happen, right?)
After saving Aram Zey and Amara Li, Knight Captain Silbeg Cailean has graduated into the esteemed ranks of the Seeker. He is a rogue of many talents. He has always been a combination of skill monkey, double-gladius wielding, silvered-tongued adventurer. He has called out mythic Vrocks (and lived to tell the tail). In fact, his blades have dispatched no less than 4 Vrocks, several succubi, and countless babau ('cause he didn't count). He has solved mysteries, attended fine galas, infiltrated Chelaxian homes, embassies, and fortresses. He participated in the defense of Nerosyn, and celebrated the success of the Society on their first descents into Jormurdun! What does the future hold for this brave adventurer? He is currently working directly for the Ten, and will continue adventuring beyond!
I really think a gnome monk has so much roleplaying potential.Didn't one of those get a job as head of security in a mansion somewhere? I seem to recall completely ignoring him while he beat his fists against my armor like a crying child round after round. Yeah, I sneak-attack-critted him with my sap. Something about 6d6 of non-lethal damage did not make his day. And then, when he woke up, he accidently got sapped again. Don't hesitate when we're interrogating!
Ah, that's always the best... Two rogues, working together as flank-buddies. Like the times that Tyiez and I tormented a Vrock to death. And when Mara and flanked that giant stone golem (so sad that Mara did not survive that fight) Rogues rule!!! Evasion is the best ability EVAH!,
Being uber against 75% of all encounters is kinda not the point of this game though. what? A rogue bring called uber? Praise be to Cayden Cailean! Someone is calling me over-powered now! W00t! Finally, the recognition that me and my twin Gladii deserve. Who would have thought attacking twice for 6d6+7 and twice for 7d6+1 (nonlethal) would be so broken? Time to celebrate with the nectar of the gods... Beer me!
Thanks, Barb. I think I will be checking these out. Probably buy the biggest one, though I honestly hope that I won't need to. I did (accidentally) do a test last week, and it appears that it takes about a 40% charge to run a game completely on the iPad. Since I will be using the iPad as my reference books instead of the main source of my documents, I am guessing I won't need it, however, it is better to be safe than sorry. From what I can tell, 11,200 mAh is the full capacity of my generation iPad, so for thirty bucks, it is a good bet this will do what I need!
I am no longer allowed to leap over two Babau and a barbarian in order to get a flank. I am no longer allowed to get into stupid rogue vs stupid monk contests in the middle combats. I am no longer allowed to tell the mythic Vrock that he is not demon enough to come down and fight me like a man. I am no longer allowed to tell everyone that in my career it is "Silbeg 2, Vrocks 0"
What, wait? I am viable now? My perceptions were not missed? My nine levels are not a lie! Woot! All celebrate the mighty and viable rogue! I know some I pathfinders find themselves hilarious, but others less so.
I always make sure that any Chelish or Taldan pathfinders I am assigned with refer to me as Knight Captain Silbeg Cailean. They are so concerned about things like titles, I just want to make sure they aren't breaking any of their own rules by forgetting mine. Wouldn't want that on my conscience, don't you know! For a group without anyone of those affiliations (rare as it might be), you all can just call me Silbeg. Or whatever... just don't let me be late for Last Call!!
not sure. Combination of a lot of things, I guess... including not being set up for ranged sneak attacks (just bought the SLWS's) and focusing on melee combat with two weapons? Honestly, though, ranged sneak attacks are hard to pull off... especially if you don't have feats tied up in ranged attacks (mine are all in melee fighting, with my twin gladii). However, I don't know if I've ever tried to get a sneak attack off at range. It does require catching a target flatfooted at under 30' range. I can't afford a Ring of Invisibility, yet. My initiative bonus is good, but not exceptional (+7 at this point). I did think about the "Minor Magic" rogue talent, thinking that an acid splash would be neat to use in a surprise round, but haven't bothered. Just over focused on my pretty gladii!
I don't see what the problem is here myself. Could you not apply both in the same full round attack by doing two different sneaks? Correct, MadPied. Last night, as fate would have it, I never really had to worry about this choice. I always did Offensive Defense first, because I really preferred to have the AC27. Never got a full-round attack in, so never got to attack for bleed. I did pick up the Merciful enchantment on one of my gladii. It was quite nice to be able to sneak attack for 6d6+2 (and not have to worry about killing the target of my attack - well, mostly not worry, anyways)! Now, I'll have to save up for an enchantment on my second gladius. Oh, and for the first time ever, I pulled off a Ranged Sneak Attack with the character. Got the initiative drop on a <redacted>, moved up (drawing the Merciful Gladius), and popped a cold iron dagger out of a spring loaded wrist sheath. Throw (at -2 for range) hits for 1d4 + 4d6 + 1 damage!!! w00t!
I've been debating both ways, and I appreciate your input. My first thought was bleed first (so that they go down faster). Against a primary caster, I'd do that for sure! However, since I'll be in melee, and don't have a fighter's HP, nor do I have heavy armor, I was thinking, like DM Livgin, that I'd want to beef up the defenses. Umbriere, I fully understand the stacking... however, the debate is still technically out for Offensive Defense (SKR never got back to it since 2012). But, since this is a PFS character, and in any case, I don't really wanna play the uber-cheese game, I'd not stack the defense (same source for the Dodge bonus). In either case, once I get a bleed started, I'll be 100% Off/Def until that target drops. Currently, I am also debating equipment purchases. I currently have 2 +1 gladii... +2 Mithral Shirt, and +1 Ring of Prot. Also have a +1 Cloak of Resistence, and +2 Dex belt. I've got about 7700gp to play with before tonight. I was thinking that it might be interesting to get Merciful on one of my gladii. Dealing 6d6+2 sneak attack damage that is non-lethal seems like a good idea, especially if I want to keep my targets alive. Other ideas have been to increase my cloak to +2, and pick up a couple of the cracked Ioun Stones to add to some of my skills.
So, I am not asking if these stack, or how to rule their use. I use matched gladii, and hit relatively hard with my 4d6 sneak attacks at +10 to hit with both when using TWF. My goal is to attack with one weapon as offensive defense, and the other as a bleeding attack. The decision, tactically, is which to use first. On one hand, I though hitting with the bleed first made sense, but the I thought I should get e benefit of the defense first. Pretty sure now that the Bleed will be nothing more than icing, and the defense (giving me AC27 at 7th level) will be the critical portion of these tricks What do you all think?
Thanks for the advice, so far... Barbarian really doesn't fit his background... he is pretty much a "city rogue", and grew up in a Caydenite orphanage. Ranger is a little better, but still has a feel, to me, as more of a "woodsy" class. Really, Fighter, Sorcerer, or Bard seem to be the best choices, though I would really hesitate to take a class that would slow down his BAB right now. He's CG, so paladin is out. Friendly Switch does sound decent (actually it is from Seeker of Secrets). However, I haven't found this to be an issue... and if they are willing to move from this feat, they are likely willing to take a 5 foot step if I just delay. Please, keep the ideas flowing. To be honest, my preference is to stay single-classed... that's why I was talking about "selling me" on another class... what are the benefits, and the costs. Thanks!
@Lamontius, while that sounds good, there are only 2 things wrong with it, for me. 1) I don't own the Pathfinder Companion: Sargava, the Lost Colony, so couldn't use it in Society play. 2) I don't know that I'd want to take the penalty in attack bonus... already down from a fighter... at 5th level my attack bonus will be only +7 when using TWF and flanking. So, to be clear, I can use the following books:
Just made 5th with in Rogue, and while I have some ideas for higher level feats, I am struggling to figure out what to take at 5th. Stats:
Current Feats/Tricks:
Skills (at 4th):
Traits: Reactionary, Indomitable Faith
Currently, I am wielding a pair of Gladii (both +1 enchantment), with a back up of a cold iron MW gladius, as well as a variety of other weapons. Wearing +1 Mithral Chain Shirt, which gives a total armor class, everything included, of 20. If attacking defensively (something that saved my life against a raging Yeti), it becomes 24, and hits 27 if I have to go total defense. I've even toyed with the idea of picking up a level of fighter, sorcerer, or bard, but I am not sold on any of these (sell me if you think it is the right choice!!!) Alchemist might even be interesting to splash, but since you cannot sneak attack with a bomb, it would be of minimal use. So, help an adventurer out! What should I do?
So, Silbeg Cailean, Adventurer Extraordinaire... Orator of Almas... Where was I going with this? Who else needs a refill? So, I was saying, it is rough growing up as an orphan on the streets of Almas. It certainly was nice of that kind older gentleman, who ran a tavern down near the wharf to take me in... he had all sorts of interesting stories about this hero of old... and he decided that I should take this hero's surname... Funny thing was, as I grew older, it seemed like my "father" was not always telling stories about a hero... in fact, it seems he was teaching about his patron deity... who is known as the "Drunken Hero". I kept track of all his stories, and decided to dedicate my life to being like Cayden Cailean. Ok, that was a disappointment to my adopted dad, who was hoping that I would follow him into the clergy. Sure, he said I could make my own way, and he was proud of the way that I repeated the stories of the god, but to become an adventurer? Why would I want to do that? Wasn't living at the tavern enough? I could learn all about adventuring by talking to the fellows that came in... and wasn't the lesson they taught that adventuring was a dangerous way to make a living? "Danger is my middle name, Dad," I said on the night that I had procured my ticket to sail to Absalom. Sure, I had scammed a fellow out of the ticket, with my sad story about being lost at sea, and how I had finally learned that my real parents were on the island of Kortos, in the greatest city in the Inner Sea. That didn't matter... I was going to go pull my scams on a grander scale.... Funny thing was, that once I made it to the Grand Lodge, they saw through all my petty scams. I was now a small fish in a big sea, and they'd seen it all. And when I heard Major Colsom speak about the freedom and all, I knew I had been wasting my life. Now, I am all about scamming the world, for the cause of Freedom! Oh, and a quick crown or two never hurts!
I am currently playing a character like this in PFS... at level 4 right now. STR13
Feats: Weapon Finesse(1), Dodge(human), TWF (from Rogue Talent), Two Weapon Defense (3) My level 4 rogue talent is minor magic, to get Acid Splash 3/day (usable to sneak attack in surprise round). I thought about going towards 2 Weapon Feint, which is definitely good, but takes SO many feats. Really, what I am thinking of doing is maxing the number of times per round I can use sneak attack. That is where the damage will come from. Currently, I use a MW Rapier and a MW Gladius... but also have a few other weapons to deal with DR, etc. He is a also very much a "social rogue", which has come in very useful during adventures.
Ok, note the stats above. Bard would give me 2 1st level spells per day... rather than 3 0 level. Skill points would be good, and bardic performance would be neat, but not really what I was going for. I'd prefer to do a bard as a separate character. As for Wizard, I could see being a Transmuter (as you get the Telekinetic Fist, and the stat enhancement). Other than that? Still, I think Sorcerer would be a better dip. More spells per day (including cantrips). Still not sure... and since I am playing tomorrow, it may be a moot point.
Well first of all, do you have the charisma for it? Ideally, you want at least a 12 to your stat for a level of a casting class. If your intellect is higher, wizard might be a better choice. For the record: STR 13DEX 17 (at 4th level) CON 14 INT 12 WIS 10 CHA 14 I am built as a dual-wielding, social Rogue. Decent Diplo and Bluff check, but also the typical Rogue stuff (Disable Device, Stealth, UMD, Perception). I'm already a multi-tasker, which is why I was thinking about it.
As for Vanish, even 1 round of Invisibility would be worthwhile... and you are definitely right about Feather Fall and True Strike. Thanks for the help. I am considering it more and more.
So, here's the rub... my rogue just made 4th level, and I am thinking of taking "Minor Magic" as a rogue talent, to get Acid Splash 3/day. So, now, I am wondering if that is really a good idea after all... I mean, I like the idea of the acid splash, since that'd give me an attack in a surprise round that would be sneakable... but not a lot of versatility. Also, I would not technically be a spell caster, so, I was thinking, maybe I take a level of sorcerer instead? Advantages:
Disadvantages
Opinions? My mind is open on this. In fact, the idea of the rogue with a splash of sorcerer has been one of my favorite character concepts for a LONG time... rarely has it ever worked out well though (the last time I tried it was in a D&D 3.0 game, and I ended up being one of the "front line" combatants... we had me, a cleric, and a bunch of archers or mages. SIGH.)
Dispelling Strike has Minor Magic & Major Magic as prerequisites. Minor magic, while not game breaking, isn't bad, either. Granted, I still have to try it out, but at Rogue 4 I picked this up (for Acid Splash). Since this is a weapon-like spell, its utility comes in the surprise round... where I can get off a 1d3+2d6 attack at 30' range... next level it'll be 1d3+3d6!!! Yeah, not great, but you cannot draw a bow or sword and pull this one off. Should be at least partially helpful!
Yea, having now made it through to second level with my first character, I gotta say, I don't really see what the big deal is. In reality, you are only going to save a little bit of money by selling back your starting sword, or scale mail, or whatever. Trivial over the life of the character. Sure, if you spent the money for a couple of CLW potions, and had to use them (be it on yourself, or a fellow Pathfinder). Those potions probably meant the difference between living and dying! Granted, I've been pretty lucky, in that I've been in groups where people have been generous... which is why my fast-talking rogue hasn't been worried about spending cash on bribes, etc. You do what you have to do, and make it through the adventure. There is a lot more benefit to survival than saving a little cash here and there. Also, there is always the ability to just trash your character, and start again. Get a group of six (or so) together, and keep re-running First Steps (getting characters to 2nd fast, and spread the GM credits around)! From what I gather, you should be able to finish that all in about 12 hours, right? Faster, perhaps, if you are playing with a group that you know... and work well together. Probably even faster since you'll be replaying (from what I've understood, you can replay these as many times as you want, right?)
Interesting, RE, and something for me to think about. My single character so far is a Human Rogue, who I have been planning on working down the Two Weapons Fighting track, so to speak. I am about to level him to third, and was planning on giving him Two-Weapon Defense... to get his AC up (since he's had to stay "toe-to-toe" a little more often than he would prefer, this seems a good idea). Up to this point, all of his feats (and his Rogue Talent) have gone into combat (Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Two-Weapon Fighting)... of course, he's never even gotten the chance to swing more than once in a single round! Have been wondering about a skill focus in UMD... he can't currently even use a wand without a chance of failure (he'll be +8 at 3rd)... Still good enough to go ahead and try, if necessary... not good enough to not burn charges now and then. True competence won't happen until 5th level... On the other hand, even though he gets 11 skill points per level (I have been using his favored class for skill points) he never seems to have enough! He's got decent stats (no real dump, lowest is WIS 10), he is often not the best diplomat of the group (usually an Oracle or Paladin), nor often not the best stealther. I've always preferred balanced over focused stats (yeah, let's call it that), because I hate penalties more than I like bonuses, I guess. The Disappeared:
On that, went through The Disappeared Sat night, and the Imp's DEX-poison really hit him hard. Failing Fort saves (even though he does have a 14 CON) was part of the reason that he wasn't able to use his two-weapon fighting. He really needs to pick up a silver light mace, but currently cannot afford the weight. Maybe I should have gotten that, instead of his MW Gladius? We'll a situation I'll have to fix. Add to that, I perhaps have erred in weapons purchases in another way. His ranged attacks have suffered because he doesn't have a MW bow... which hurt him slightly in a later encounter.
All that being said, the wise-mouthed Caydenite Rogue has been a blast to play so far... his generalization, and wide variety of skills have made him useful in a number of adventures already! Even when I played up (by accident... never be late to a table!) in The Cyphermage Dilemna. In that, his skills kept him competent... at least until Init was rolled.
OO! I do! I DO! With character name, race, class, my name as a player, and a pic just for some flavour. Amazing how many people still can't spell my characters' names even with it staring right back at them... Spell? Heck, I have thought I need a pronunciation guide. There is no "R" in Silbeg. Not the name of a city :P But, that's off topic. Granted, I've only played a single PFS game, though I have played many a game at the Con of the North gaming convention... doesn't really matter if you are playing your own character, or pregens... it is the player who is disruptive, not the character. However, it does seem pretty odd that the Pathfinder Society would choose to assign characters that couldn't get along on the same mission... they would be reading the member's dossiers before assigning (and thus, would give the option to select different characters). As a GM, I'd just let 'em swap out. Having just played the Penumbral Accords, I was wondering why my Andoran factioned rogue would be working for the slave running Blakros family... but just let it go. |
