Well, most Rogues tend to have a really high Dex and low Strength (though not all, since this IS a skill monkey class) so they take Finesse Rogue to get Weapon Finesse for a rapier.
Do NOT take Minor Magic just for Acid Splash! That is so a waste. Take Detect Magic, so you can see magical traps.
Also, take Trap Spotter. Whenever you get close to a trap, the DM rolls your Perception check, succeed and you automatically find it. This is MUCH more powerful than you would think! You don't have to constantly be saying you are looking for traps. Think of it as the DM being forced to watch your back.
Combat Trick is basically only really useful for Weapon Focus. Maybe Dodge, so you can get Mobility and therefore maneuver in for a flanking backstab. So is Outflank, if you can convince the warrior in your group to take it as well.
Dude, Uncanny Dodge is more useful than you think. If most of your AC comes from your Dex (like having a 20 or 22 Dex), and you go dungeon crawling, lots of nasty monsters can get close, some of which WILL surprise and kill you outright. Do you have any idea how easy it is to pone a bunch of adventurers with nothing more than a few 1st level Rogues and stealth/flanking?!
bleeding attack is nice
as is offensive defense
Slow Reactions is great because it's an ability that you can't really find anywhere else at level 2. Since you're combat maneuver focused, it looks like, you can hit for sneak attack and then use disarm or other attack replacement maneuvers you don't qualify for and they can't AoO you for it.
This character's perception isn't high enough to warrant relying on Trap Spotter - he is very effective at removing traps (Disable Device of +22 already w/masterwork thieves tools) but his perception even for traps isn't very highBesides taking Combat Trick for Weapon Focus is a waste as you can take the rogue talent - Weapon Training for a Weapon Focus - why waste a far more flexible talent?
Yes Uncanny Dodge is good - but at high levels (10+) AC matters relatively little against many opponents (which is why I tend to open with Blinding for my first dirty trick - for the 50% miss chance).
Dude, even the off chance of accidentally spotting a trap is useful. Too many characters have been wiped out by a nasty one. But, I tend to play the paranoid sorts, as it's saved my hide far too many times.
Sorry, misworded the combat trick thingy, i recalled that there was a fancy rogue talent specifically for that AFTER I posted.
I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as too high a AC. If the enemy has to roll a nat 20 just to hit, that means it takes a horde of baddies just to get a ballpark chance of getting a piece of you. Also, the Dodge feat (necessary for Mobility and flanking/backstab) stacks onto Uncanny Dodge very well.
Also, if you can get someone to cast Blur on you, that's a lot better than Displacement (lasts many times longer).
Personally, I think Wizard/Rogue is a great class combo. Especially for sneaking and defense.
Bleeding attack is surprisingly useful, even 2 points. Those few points are often the difference between the opponent getting 1 more turn and going down. Creatures who run away will often be unable to stop the bleeding. Not many creatures have the heal skill and even if they do try to use it untrained, that costs them an action. Sure, it's no save-or-die spell that finishes the fight before it begins, but it will make a difference more often than you think it will.
You know, bleed damage is a great counter to fast healing and regeneration...
Minor magic does have a bizarre advantage beyond staying mono class for a spell. It is an SLA, which means it lacks verbal or somatic components (which basically makes it a silent and still spell, a 2nd level slot for a regular wizard) With that, you could pull off the spell without anyone noticing. Admittably though you could get the same result as the minor magic rogue talent by taking the additional traits feat and get the trifler trait and have another trait left over.
For a level 0 spell, I find prestidigitation might be an excellent choice. It has 1 hour per use, so the 3 times a day might be more than enough most of the time. I also find that since it is the spell to take care of all the small details, it covers many of the aspects of life that are most important for stealthy murders. Coloring items allows you to color your clothes and maybe a wig for a quick disguise on the fly. Changing taste could be used to mask the taste of a poison in food or drink. Cleaning could obviously be used to clean up blood both from you and the crime scene, confusing investigators on where the murder occurred. The spell says that you can soil objects, so maybe store the blood to incriminate someone else by staining their clothes and weapon.
I know I am possibly skewing this description towards assassinations, but it still demonstrates the wide utility of a spell covering all the odds and ends utility. It really depends on your GM whether you would prefer many small noncombat abilities over a combat boost, but creativity is always appreciated I believe. I will admit that bleed is always a nice little bonus to damage. It can completely decimate unintelligent creatures like animals since they are unlikely to use heal, and as such you can just hang back at a safe distance while they bleed out.
You have little SA damage, I would avoid anything that is based on SA dice, like Offensive Defense and Bleeding Attack, just my opinion.
Minor magic is really weak for any rogue, I'd avoid it.
Pressure Points takes too long to have much effect, most foes will be dead by the time you land a bunch of attacks on them.
Slow Reactions, as mentioned, is awesome. A very uncommon ability, and it works the same regardless of SA dice.
If you play with a rogue / other sneak attacker, they will love you foever if you take Distracting Attack. Especially if they're using Sap Master.
Wall Climber is good if you don't expect to gain a means of flight.
Any talent that grants a feat you want (including the generic Combat Trick) is obviously useful.
The main reason to take minor magic is to be able to take major magic, whch in turn leads to being able to take dispelling strike.
I always take:
Surprise Attack (always get sneak attack in surprise round)
Fast Stealth
Offensive Defense (the more rogue levels the better)
Combat Trick (Good job)
Slow Reactions
For Rogues... I pretty much ALWAYS multiclass. Either into a more martial class (ranger, fighter, etc) or into a spellcasting class. Never fail UMD checks for nearly half of all spells...
Wizard: Great spells, versatile, familiar can be great (shore up FORT or WILL even more, or add to initiative, whatever). Arcane Bond can be okay too, no one ever hates on an extra spell/day. Arcane Spell Failure sucks when you REALLY need what few spells you have.
Cleric: Lots of support spells, Med. Armor, Domain powers can be pretty damn sweet, more so for a rogue even. Definitely potential for a bit of a combat boost. Not as versatile as a wizard when it comes to spells, wands, and scrolls, but med. armor, boost to WILL, and domain power makes it a wash in my opinion.
Either way, i recommend Weapon Focus to make up for loss of BAB, get flat + bonuses to your weapon, and spend most of your money on scrolls and wands. I would still snag Iron Will. remember, certain Domains get access to otherwise non divine spells, so take a good look at the spells, not just the powers.
I have never really dipped Oracle or Witch, but I imagine its similar.
I HIGHLY recommend you dip a spellcasting class at some point, IMHO. Especially as a rogue...
How do people feel about terrain mastery?
Worth two dips? Urban/Underground?
On this subject, I was wondering, what would you guys say are the best rogue talents for a Melee Warrior type character dipping two levels into Rogue for the Skill points and one Rogue Talent? Assume said character considers the occasional sneak attack a bonus they don't care about setting up.
Combat trick in most games, trapspotter in trap heavy games and you want to become the trap monkey, ninja trick - pressure points if you want to do ability damage, and Black Market connections in a game where it is hard but not impossible to get magic items from towns.
Distracting Attack is a once per day ability - which I generally try to avoid if possible. I'd far rather have abilities that I can use all the time.
I completely agree with you, the 1/day rogue talents are lame. However, I think you're mistaken...
Benefit: A rogue with this talent can make sneak attacks with subtle flourishes that disorient and distract her enemy. When she hits a creature with a melee attack that deals sneak attack damage, she can forgo the additional damage to cause the creature to become flat-footed against one target of her choosing until the beginning of her next turn. The rogue cannot designate herself as the creature gaining the benefit of this talent. Creatures with uncanny dodge are immune to distracting attack.