Given the release of the new FAQ on Unchained Rogue Finesse Training, I feel I can finally make a character that I have been tossing around for a long time. I am looking for some feat suggestions that would help make this character more beneficial in combat as well as a skill-monkey.
The basic idea is a half-elf unchained rogue that will use the Ancestral Weapon trait to gain Elven Curve Blade proficiency. I also plan to take the Scout archetype to really help with getting as much out of my Sneak Attack as possible. Beyond that, obviously flanking is a good idea; however, I had also looked into the Improved Feint feat. Given that rogues do not even gain a second attack until 8th level is this a good option to look into? Or would I be better off maxing out Acrobatics and simply using that to place myself into a better flanking position?
Another question... given that he will be using a two-hander, should I put a 13 into strength to pick up Power Attack to get that little extra oomph? Or would I be better off looking at a different avenue to gain some extra damage? Or would Arcane Strike be a better option? I plan to pick up the Major Magic talent anyway, because I feel it really fits the character concept.
I know the usual two-hander feats, but I just was not sure if those would really benefit with a skirmisher type character. Any help you all can provide would be outstanding!
*EDIT*
So, I was just looking at the Tengu Swordmaster as a possible option as well. I actually had a fluff concept that might be very interesting... As far as the numbers/data concept goes, I'd go Scout/Swordmaster and take the Tiger Trance option (these pair very well) and then look into taking Orator to take advantage of the Gifted Linguist racial trait to keep from becoming too MAD. This way I can focus on Dex and Wis with a sprinkling of Int to help boost Linguistics... In which case I'd likely keep Str at a 10 and say goodbye to Power Attack.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The rogue trick: Minor & Major Magic are spell like abilities. Due to errata put out a while back, SLA do not work with Arcane Strike.
- I tried going that route and got called on it when I did my rebuild for PFS.Power Attack & Rogues: there's been a number of people that have theory crafted power attack for rogues and they all come down to - DON'T. The 3/4 BAB, the penalty on To Hit with power attack, and the AC of targets gets harder and harder to hit as you level just doesn't make it power attack worthwhile.
Improved Feint: Have a love/hate relationship with it. Love it as it's usually pretty easy to pull off versus humanoid monsters. Hate it because of the big penalty it suffers versus non-humanoid monsters.
Can't really give you any advice on builds as there's so many different ways you can go. I will mention that I've seen spring attack builds work well with the scout archetype.
Thank you for pointing that out about Arcane Strike, I forgot about that errata. That was my issue as well with the Feint tree, the inability to really capitalize on it unless you're fighting a humanoid... which can be a whole lot! I'll definitely look into Spring Attack. Thanks for the info!
I want to try the elven branched spear and Gang Up.
Flank from behind your friends! ^_^
Hmmm... something to look into... Thanks!
After thoroughly looking the Swordmaster and Scout archetypes, as well as Spring Attack... I begin to wonder if Swordmaster is necessary. Having the ability to Pounce/Sneak Attack is pretty awesome, but by the time I even have multiple attacks (8th level) I'm not sure I will actually be able to successfully use Tiger Trance. Around that level the CMD of most creatures is anywhere from 4-8 points higher than their AC...
I feel I might just be better off skipping the Swordmaster and focusing on the Scout's abilities and how they tie in with Spring Attack. Looking to see if anyone has any input on that?
which is why you quicken SLA your truestrike from major magic
Debilitating Injury seems like it might be able to twist Power Attack to your benefit. Furious Focus lets you ignore the penalty on the first swing, so if you can reliably connect with that one, the -4/6/8 to their AC should let you nail the rest of them home. You'd be banking everything on that first attack though.
That's a very good point! I didn't take DI into account... Given that I'll only ever have two attacks anyway... And most likely only one anyway with the scout's 8th level ability and Spring Attack... As far as Major Magic, I'm actually thinking about doing Shield to give me that extra boost to AC that rogues really need.
So... I've done a little reworking on my stats and this is what I've come up with if I try to make Power Attack work...
Str 13
Dex 18 (16+2 Racial)
Con 13 (15-2 Racial)
Int 12
Wis 14 (12+2 Racial)
Cha 7
It's a little bit on the MAD side... and I normally do not like taking a dump stat like that. I may just try to make a 12 work in Con and redistribute those points around. I plan to make him a skirmisher of sorts and to avoid standing toe-to-toe with the baddies. I also wouldn't mind taking a boost to my Int as I love skills with rogues. Am I trying to do too much?
|
So, I was just looking at the Tengu Swordmaster as a possible option as well. I actually had a fluff concept that might be very interesting... As far as the numbers/data concept goes, I'd go Scout/Swordmaster and take the Tiger Trance option (these pair very well) and then look into taking Orator to take advantage of the Gifted Linguist racial trait to keep from becoming too MAD. This way I can focus on Dex and Wis with a sprinkling of Int to help boost Linguistics... In which case I'd likely keep Str at a 10 and say goodbye to Power Attack.
2 things about this -
1. If you go Tengu - you'll always have a 2nd attack with your bite to make Tiger Trance useful.
2. Tengu rogues are really better off going with nat weapons. Three attacks at level 1, giving 3 chances for SA which I can do a poor-man's pounce with at 4? Yes please.
Also of note - if you do go the Improved Feint route - you might consider dipping into Snakebite Striker. It gives you SA, proficiencies, boost to saves, and makes it so that you don't need a 13 Int to get Improved Feint.
Is this a PFS build?
Is this a PFS build?
Yes.
Also, I will definitely look at those considerations everyone. Thanks!
no get a level of monk and fist everyone.
anyway use debilitating injury to hamper people so you can keep the flank train rolling, screw the to-hit bonuses and the like. now if you went with a trip build and tripped people after hampering them, that would be a lot of bonus to-hit going on.