I got sucked into that quantum singularity that was the Time to make the Rogue Work thread :) and posted some suggestions.
Given that Paizo won't fix the rogue I was thinking of adding these talents for house rules and wanted some feedback.
new rogue talents:
Flat-footed strike wrote:
Prerequisites: rogue class, sneak attack +2d6.
As a free action, a target of the rogue's choosing is considered flat-footed to the rogue for the purposes of that attack. This may be done 1/round and may even be done after an attack has successfully hit but before damage is rolled (applying sneak attack damage in some situations, but not bypassing sneak attack immunities...unless the rogue also has the Uncanny Sneak Attack talent)
Uncanny Sneak Attack wrote:
Prerequisites: rogue class, sneak attack +2d6. Appropriate Knowledge skill with 3+ ranks.
Targets normally immune to sneak attacks regardless of the source lose immunity to your sneak attacks. The rogue must have 3+ ranks in the appropriate knowledge skill such as Dungeoneering when striking an ooze. However the number of sneak attack dice that you roll are halved, rounded down. For example a 5th level rogue with this talent attacks and hits a 5th level barbarian, with improved uncanny dodge, wearing armor of fortification, in a fog bank that she is flanking. Normally the rogue would not get sneak attack, so the rogue only gets to apply 1d6 (half of 3d6, rounded down) sneak attack dice.
Reflexive Fortitude wrote:
Prerequisites: rogue level 4+
Before rolling the save, a rogue with this talent may apply her Reflex save in place of a Fortitude save. In addition, if the effect being saved against has a lessened or reduced effect on a successful save, it is completely negated on a successful save as per Evasion. In addition, a rogue that possesses the Improved Evasion advanced talent automatically acquires the reduced effect on a failed save. Reflexive Fortitude can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of reflexive fortitude. This may be done 3 times per day, plus an additional time for every 3 levels the rogue has beyond 4th (4 times at 7th, 5 at 11th, etc.)
Reflexive Will wrote:
Prerequisites: rogue level 4+
Before rolling the save, a rogue with this talent may apply her Reflex save in place of a Will save. In addition, if the effect being saved against has a lessened or reduced effect on a successful save, it is completely negated on a successful save as per Evasion. In addition, a rogue that possesses the Improved Evasion advanced talent automatically acquires the reduced effect on a failed save. Reflexive Will can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of reflexive will. This may be done 3 times per day, plus an additional time for every 3 levels the rogue has beyond 4th (4 times at 7th, 5 at 11th, etc.)
Reasonable or beyond the pale? This hopefully does address a few of the more common concerns. Suggestions, comments, run away screaming? :)
Oh and needless to say these would be for Rogue only...no archetypes or special class variants (like the Ninja) that allow for rogue talents.
There's already a rogue talent that helps with will saves. I am intrigued though by the first two. The first one should be a free action maybe once per day and a move action otherwise 'cause there'd be no reason not to do it otherwise. The second one is brilliant and I wouldn't change it at all. The only thing I'd ask is what knowledge skill would you use for the barbarian/rogue example from above? Kn(local)?
I thought about limiting the SNA to 1/day...but really it is the rogue's primary damage class feature. I just could not see myself limiting the rogue's rough equivalent of power attack to a single attack per day. This is a single strike per round so it doesn't matter if the rogue is hasted, using GWTF, etc...he's only getting that extra 3.5 hp/die 1/round.
And yes my base assumption is that the rogue always gets 1 sneak attack per round. A move action may be a good suggestion but I was worried about interaction with Spring-Attack or mobility builds and I didn't want it to cost the rogue her iteratives/off-hand attacks. Perhaps an immediate? Will have to see how it play-tests...
Yes I would use Knowledge(local) per the PRD for humanoids.
PRD wrote:
Knowledge
(Int; Trained Only)
You are educated in a field of study and can answer both simple and complex questions. Like the Craft, Perform, and Profession skills, Knowledge actually encompasses a number of different specialties. Below are listed typical fields of study.
...<SNIP>
Local (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids)
Swift might be better than immediate. Also something to consider is how flat-footed strike works with ranged rogues.
Excellent point...I could limit it to 'target within 30 feet'. Wouldn't want longbow elf rogue sneak attacking from 400 feet away...as appealing the fluff sounds :) hurm, then again the ranged equivalent of Power Attack, Deadly Aim doesn't have a range limiter does it? (PBS does).
normally rogues can only sneak attack within thirty feet and only if the target is flat footed. Fine enough for a surprise round but after that they have to threaten the enemy in order to be flanking them. Your talent would help them immensely. Especially in conjunction with the sniper goggles which allow for ranged sneak attacks at any range.
