I am currently in the early stages of building a Fighter/Rogue character, and I have been surprised at how little there was out there for fighter archetypes, rogue archetypes, and prestige classes that leverage power or flavor from both of these classes.
The relevant archetypes I have found are Two Weapon Warrior, Battle Knave, and Silent Warrior. Also the prestige class Crimson Assassin.
So, first, a general question: what else is out there in terms of archetypes or prestige classes that address Fighter/Rogues?
Secondly, what would apply to the specifics of the character I plan on creating? I plan on making a Half Elf who is primarily a Fighter, but dips into Rogue for sneak attack, skills, and mostly for flavor. I planned on using Bastard Sword and shield, but that isn't set in stone. I would much prefer to stick to paizo stuff and not use third party rules, but I'm interested in anything related to Fighter/Rogues.
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Lore warden is pretty good for fighters with a rogue multiclass. Extra skill points and a bonus feat in return for heavy armor (which denies you evasion anyway). Otherwise, two weapon warrior for eventual double attacks on a standard action or weapon master for better attacks and damage. On the rogue side, I like scout but most of the other archetypes give up trapfinding which I see as an essential part of the rogue package.
Lore Warden and Scout are actually both really good ideas that I had looked at before, but excluded for some reason.
On the Lore Warden - I wasn't planning on wearing medium or heavy armor, but I was thinking armor training would still be useful to get rid of armor check penalties. Is that a reasonable thing for a Fighter/Rogue to be concerned about?
I may very well use the scout archetype when I dip into rogue. It fits quite nicely with what I had in mind.
drop the rogue, go full fighter as tactician or lore warden. put skill points in stealth, and use the armor training to wear heavier armor stealthily. creeping enchantment full plate(so long as you have proficiency still) as soon as you can. then bam, hilarity ensues.
sneak attack isn't worth it and the rogue talents are horrible. bonus feats for days will be much better. Deadly Stroke chain may interest you.
(if tactician be sure to look up stealth synergy)
There is the Slayer class it is better than both Those classes.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, guys.
Wow Slayer is really powerful and looks pretty fun.
Tactician and full fighter don't really interest me that much. I like the idea of being skilly/sneaky even if it makes my character less optimal statistically.
I was going to suggest a Slayer as well. I have a buddy who loved multiclassed Fighter/Thieves back in the 2E days and he thinks the Slayer class is the best thing since sliced bread.
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I was going to suggest a Slayer as well. I have a buddy who loved multiclassed Fighter/Thieves back in the 2E days and he thinks the Slayer class is the best thing since sliced bread.
Actually buying presliced bread is about the worst offense one can do to one of the oldest gifts of god to the men... Bread.
I like the idea of being skilly/sneaky even if it makes my character less optimal statistically.
except if you want to do that, Bard is your way to go, if you want to be good in combat go slayer or full fighter, if you want to be good outside of combat play a archaeologist bard.
like it seriously saddens me that a tactician or lore warden fighter is a better combat rogue than the rogue is(they're even nearly as skilled as rogues get very few bonuses for high intelligence but those classes get a few), but there it is.
Ranger can also be fitting, Urban ranger archetypes gives you a few of the requisite skills.
Sorry, Bandw2, I should clarify. Full fighter without any skilly/sneaky stuff doesn't particularly interest me, but Lore Warden definitely does. In fact, I'm leaning towards making a full fighter+lore warden right now.
This might start getting off topic, but here is what I've pulled together so far.
15 point buy
Half Elf Lore Warden
STR: 15
DEX: 14
CON: 10
INT: 16 (including racial +2)
WIS: 8
CHA: 10
Ancestral Arms (Elven Curved Blade)
Scholastic
Power Attack
Dodge
planning to get Mobility and Improved Disarm at some point.
For interesting dips in full BAB classes consider slayer, gunslinger, urban barbarian, guide ranger, swashbuckler, or gendarme/honor bound cavalier or even samurai.
What do you want your PC to do? Please describe the role you envision...
Also snakebite brawler the first +1bab +1d6 sneak attack dip.
From an optimization standpoint, don't mix fighter and rogue. Though thematically strong, they actually conflict - Sneak attack is level-dependent, as is weapon training. Five levels for a rogue to get weapon training is a very deep dip, and any amount of rogue dip on a fighter is wasted (costs you BAB, earns you two dice of situational damage, woopty-whoop).
The exception is if you are trying for a specific build that needs either extra feats, or a prestige class that needs sneak attacks.
If you're out for flavor, take the Fighter's Cad archetype (or just play a grungy fighter with loose morals). If you want skills, play something that isn't a fighter.
You can actually simulate the mechanics of a fighter with rogue dip, by taking one, three, or four levels of Daring Champion cavalier. This doesn't burn your BAB, gives you free (slightly limited) weapon finesse, the ability to use Charisma instead of intelligence for combat feats, an order ability, a teamwork feat (take Precise Strike, it's Sneak Attack for the whole team) and challenge (not exciting on a dip, but hey, better than a poke in the eye). Second level, you get your order ability. Third level, you get a +1 AC bonus. if you stretch the dip all the way out to 4th level, you get all the good low-level Swashbuckler deeds and the panache to use them. As for skills you'll be getting 4+Int from these levels, which is on par with what Lore Warden would be giving you.
For prestige class consideration if you go with halfling you can take halfling opportunist for 4 levels. You get two good saves out of it, good skill points, it's 3/4 BAB and you increase your save throw twice while still getting 2 sneak attack dice. It's other abilities are alright if you find a way to use them well.