Hi folks.
I'm playing a second level half orc greataxe wielding rogue. She's a brute, but I also keep some emphasis on skills and viability in other situations.
One thing I did was take Keen scent at level 1, mostly because I think it's a cool and thematic ability to have.
Now, level 3 is coming up, and I'm greatly tempted to take a level of Barbarian.
Fast move, martial weapon proficiency, medium armor proficiency and rage, those are all solid benefits.
In addition, I'll get survival as a class skill to use with my scent.
I am worried about losing out on skills (int 10, so I'll take 2 ranks of survival, 1 perception, 1 disable device), and also about long term, whether I should have taken a martial class like fighter, that would've also given me heavy armor proficiency (14 dex, so at high levels, mithril full plate would be cool)
Also, if I do take Barbarian, should I eventually get 2 levels and get Reckless abandon as a rage power?
Anybody want to provide thoughts or insight? I'm interested in staying a viable melee combatant (The GM does not approve of Unleashed Rogue). The GM is also reluctant to accept archetypes, though those might be possible.
But I also don't want to lose out on my characterization. She's a bit of an outsider, ran off with her mom from the orc camp where the mom had been kept prisoner at a young age, grew up in greyhawk city helping her mom with thieving and swindling. I'm thinking of grabbing dazzling display and Shatter Defenses at some point. She's a bit of a perpetual outsider, but who bonds very closely to those she considers friends and doesn't betray people who trust her and she trusts.
Barbarian will definitely help you. Core rogue is a weak combat class and a barbarian dip gives you better raw melee output (rage is one of the most dippable abilities in the game). Barbarian also has a bunch of great intimidation based rage powers. If you take accomplished sneak attacker, two levels in barbarian costs you very little.
I have played a rogue/barbarian twice and they do synergies pretty well. With few rounds of rage though, you should consider waiting to rage for the opportune time - probably not the first round. Why are you taking survival? Wouldn't those points be better spent elsewhere?
Because I have the scent ability and I want to be able to use it to track.
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Drunken Brute Urban Barbarian 2 levels. Gets you a lot. Also you can qualify for extra rage power.
Too bad you didn't go vivisectionist alchemist...it is more synergetic getting massive bonuses to a single attribute. Mix in the feat potion glutton and you can never worry about running out of rage.
Also your DM sounds like he is a beginner.
First he doesn't trust unchained. Core rogue is the weakest class in the game that PC can choose. Unchained made it better for the player but it is still not that great.
Second not accepting archetypes further exhibits his lack of understanding of the game.
I actually have intimidate as a move action from some background system the GM is using instead of traits, which is pretty cool.
I'm basically a trapfinder, intimidator and occasional scout.
You'd probably be better off just going full Slayer, but if you don't want to go that route, the Thug archetype is pretty great (one of the few things the core Rogue has that is legitimately good).
Oh! And Cornugon Smash is your friend! So is Hurtful. :)
Thug archetype is pretty cool, but I vetoed it like almost every other archetype because it wants to take away trapfinding. (I almost feel like the developers are thinking 'what were we thinking with trap finding? How can we phase it out?')
Due to the whole temporary Con/fake HP/barbarian dies fiasco, I recommend trying for the unchained barbarian.
Trapfinding is pretty underwhelming... That's the reason it was turned into a trait. Personally, I simply allow anyone with 5 or more ranks in Disable Device to disarm magical traps.
But I digress...
Try the Scout archetype. It's also pretty good.
Thanks,
Well, we're not using traits, unfortunately. (it often feels like the GM is running 3.5 with a Pathfinder patch, more than a true PF game)
Only the core book itself is allowed by default, anything from another book must be reviewed on a case by case basis.
I don't think the GM who disallowed Unchained Rogue is likely to allow Unchained Barbarian, but I'll think about asking.
Scout is cool, I may be able to get that, although I'll miss Uncanny dodge a bit
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I have a buddy who ran a Barb/ Rogue and absolutely dominated with it. The strength combined with sneak attack was a good deal of fun. And, as others have said, the classes synergize surprisingly well.
You may want to incorporate a spear or some other weapon with reach as it allows more flanking option, can help trigger AoO's when enemies pass through your threatened area and, if using Quickdraw, you can just drop it and bring up the axe if needed.
My favorite weapon to use with this combo is actually this.