Thuggary, the warrior rogue

[Grithfang]

This is just a couple hours dalliance. It hasn't really been seasoned with flavor yet. I haven't played with builds to see how broken it is or anything like that, just a mental exercise and a starting point.

Haven't been with pathfinder long, so if I am not speaking the language correctly I apologize.

It is written as a 10 level base class, but could be modified to be a prestige class easily. Hit Die was left a d8 purposely. Slow progression on sneak attack, going back to rogue gives her a +17 at 20th level and devastating 7d8 sneak attack, too much? Maybe.

Like I said, a mental exercise that with some tweaking might be a viable option for some people. Throw your expertise at it.

Thug

A Thug is a rogue who is more concerned with the martial aspects of the craft.

Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills
The Thug's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
High bab
High fortitude & reflex

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Thugs are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword. They are proficient with light and medium armor, but not with shields.

1st Weapons Training, Trapfinding
2nd Rogue talent
3rd Bonus Combat feat
4th Sneak Attack 1d6
5th Precise Weapon
6th Improved Weapons Training
7th Rogue talent
8th Bonus Combat feat
9th Sneak Attack 2d6
10th Precise Strike

Weapon training: At 1st level the thug becomes proficient in piercing martial weapons.

Other skills as Rogue

Precise Weapon: At 5th level a thug can select one piercing martial weapon that she will be able to use to make sneak attacks. In a full round action this attack can only be used on her first attack. It only applies if the Thug is using her chosen weapon as her primary weapon.

Improved Weapons Training: At 6th level a thug may select one from the following;
First, the thug may select another class of martial weapons to gain proficiency in, slashing or bludgeoning.
Second, the thug has the option to select one exotic weapon as the exotic weapon proficiency feat. The thug can, if the weapon is one handed and a piercing weapon, designate it as her chosen weapon, replacing her previous choice.
Third, Catch off Guard feat

Precise Strike: At 10th level a thugs expertise with her chosen weapon allows her to make more devastating attacks. All sneak attack damage with that weapon is now does extra damage, rolling a d8 instead of the standard d6.

[Grithfang]

Wow, not even one opinion? Eh? I guess that's a shut the frack up and sit the frack down. I just thought it was an interesting thought exercise.

[The Red Mage]

Seems more likely that a thug would forgo stuff like finding traps than evasion and uncanny dodge, doesn't it?

[Detect Magic]

Also, base classes have 20 levels worth of progression, not 10.

You may want to reconsider Thugnificent as a prestige class.

[Detect Magic]

Precise Weapons: Is this ability allowing the 'thug' to deal sneak attack damage without meeting the conditions under which a sneak attack is allowed? Meaning, can he sneak attack with said weapon at all times?

If the answer is no, and that this ability merely allows him to use this weapon with sneak attack, I must point out to you that sneak attack is not limited to light or one-handed weapons. Any and all weapons may be used with sneak attack.

[Grithfang]

Detect Magic wrote:

Also, base classes have 20 levels worth of progression, not 10.

You may want to reconsider Thugnificent as a prestige class.

Yes, thank you. One of the thought exercises, or preconceptions with 3.x is the 20 level base class. Why can't there be a 10 level base class? It means after ten levels you will have to multi-class, or take a prestige class. The only thing it would affect is the favored class. This is taken care of by a simple modification:

Favored Class:

Upon reaching maximum level in a base ten class, a player can select a second favored class, as long as the second class is not a prestige class.

[Grithfang]

The Red Mage wrote:

Seems more likely that a thug would forgo stuff like finding traps than evasion and uncanny dodge, doesn't it?

I made the decision not to include them when I still had the thug in mind as a d10 hit die character. Then I thought on it and came to these conclusions.

A ranger character doesn't receive evasion until ninth level. If I gave the thug evasion at the same level I don't think it would be a problem.

With the better attack roll I didn't want the thug to so far out do a normal rogue. By not including uncanny dodge, a rogue character can still flank the thug and balance out the encounter.

Trapfinding was included to allow the thug to still preform the party role as a rogue.

[Grithfang]

Detect Magic wrote:

Precise Weapons: Is this ability allowing the 'thug' to deal sneak attack damage without meeting the conditions under which a sneak attack is allowed? Meaning, can he sneak attack with said weapon at all times?

If the answer is no, and that this ability merely allows him to use this weapon with sneak attack, I must point out to you that sneak attack is not limited to light or one-handed weapons. Any and all weapons may be used with sneak attack.

Thank you. Previous edition blind spot, I did not know that. I will consider ramifications.

[Grithfang]

Grithfang wrote:

Adjust as follows:
Precise Weapon: At 5th level a thug can select one weapon that she will be able to use to make her sneak attacks more deadly. When using her chosen weapon a thug can reroll all ones on her sneak attack damage. It only applies if the Thug is using her chosen weapon as her primary attack.

[Grithfang]

Wish you could edit, strike the reroll. All ones become twos.

[Detect Magic]

There's a rogue talent that already does something like that (see: Powerful Sneak).

[Trinite]

Grithfang wrote:

Wish you could edit, strike the reroll. All ones become twos.

I think re-rolling is more fun. ;)

[Grithfang]

Detect Magic wrote:

There's a rogue talent that already does something like that (see: Powerful Sneak).

Yes, it requires a full attack, the attacker takes a -2 penalty all attack rolls for the round (like a rogue needs more minuses for a minor upgrade in damage).

On the other hand, the thug has a higher base attack bonus, but the increase damage only applies to one weapon. I think the mid-capstone is fine as is and I do not see any overwhelming reason to change it.

Powerful sneak is, IMHO, a worthless feat.