Dwarf Rogue concept... Is this possible?

[Greg Lott 172]

Let me know if this is doable or if I'm just setting myself up for misery. Our group is not of the min/max variety so I suspect there is a way to do this and have fun. I'd love some advice on how exactly to accomplish it though. :) I suspect I will do some Barbarian and/or Fighter multiclassing somewhere along the way. We start at 1st level with a 20!pt buy...

Ok, here we go... He's a Dwarf "Rogue". The quotations are there because he'll technically be a fighter or some equivalent martial class on paper, but if you ask him he'll proudly tell you he's a rogue, although he's not exactly your nimble and dexterous run-of-the-mill stereotype. Essentially, he has a brute-force methodology for fulfilling rogue duties. He's decent at spotting traps, but his methods of disabling said traps are somewhat unconventional. He basically just sets them off. His high con will be his most important stat as it'll be his main way of surviving.

Another example of his unorthodox rogue methods is his philosophy towards pickpocketing. If asked, he'll gleefully let you know that a pickpocket victim is much less likely to notice that they are being stolen from if you render them unconscious with a swift blow to the head first.

In case we are still cloudy on what I'm going for, picture the following scene:

Bornael Noblepike examined the recently detected tripwire intently and expertly. After some deliberation, albeit somewhat brief, he announces to the party that he's deduced the best method for dealing with it by stating "Oy, I've got this one lads!". He stands up and pulls a hammer from his tool bag, which everyone, with a hesitant glance at one another, takes as a cue to take a step or two back... or maybe three. When the dust and smoke fades, the singed dwarf chuckles and mutters something to the effect of how much he loves his job. Ariel Treehugger, the party's token elf character, says, rather disdainfully, "You know, most 'rogues' have more than a hammer in their toolkit." Bornael replies "I have several tools in here! This hammer is for tripwires, this ones for opening trapdoors, this ones for pickpocketing..."

[The 20 STR Aristocrat]

Go Unchained Rogue and try this stat point allocation.

16 STR 16 DEX 12 CON 10 INT 8 WIS 10 CHA (Before racial adjust)

You can use a mix of light weapons and dwarf specific weapons.

You can do a really good combat character that switches between Two-weapon fighting and a two-handed weapon anytime you want,lots of skill points and carry a buttload of things (slow and steady).

[Weables]

you dont need an 18 in any particular stat for any class, and you dont need +dex racial to be a rogue. in fact, because of the rogues poor defenses, a dwarf is actually a fairly solid choice.

This is mostly because dwarves have some really nice defensive abilities (like steel soul) that increase saves, and rogues are often at the mercy of only a good reflex save, where reflex is the least important one.

By all means, I'd definitely go for it, and have fun! make a rogue who relies on strength, or wields a two handed weapon, or both, or anything your heart desires.

[RealAlchemy]

This could be great as an urban ranger. They get disable device and trapfinding, and they replace favored terrain with favored community. You might even be able to drop another AT on top of this if one fits the flavor of the character you're making.

[Secret Wizard]

Love the idea.

I think your best bet is UnBarb - Danger Sense will come in super handy and the extra HP as well.

[avr]

Note that traps are often alarms as much as damage, at least in the games I play. As a 'rogue' you... wouldn't be so much help there.

An invulnerable rager barbarian with raging vitality could do the the job you described but may not fit your concept well. Some variety of ranger - urban ranger and trapper each get trapfinding - at least has the option of normal trap disabling and might fit the image above better.

[Hark]

Take a level of Gunslinger, I feel like this Rogue isn't loud enough.

[Green Smashomancer]

Do you feel like you especially need to be a dwarf? Because you could try a half-orc with this feat. You'd be able to set off the trap by breaking it, but successfully disabling it the "wrong" way.

[Hark]

Been looking into options, I'm most just going to throw things out. Found a nice Rogue Archetype.
Sapper

Edit: Found some feats that should fit nicely too.

Bludgeoner
Cudgeler Style
Cudgeler Sweep
Cudgeler Takedown
Sap Adept
Sap Master

[Ciaran Barnes]

Even if you are not technically a "rogue", that doesn't mean you can't have some rogue levels. You can focus on whichever other class you like, but adding in some rogue levels will open up your skill list a great deal so you can pull of a couple of those things your party expects of the "rogue".

[Dragonchess Player]

"Is this possible?"

Easily. A dwarf makes a good "rogue" because Stonecunning gives much of the same functionality as the Trap Spotter rogue talent (automatic checks within 10 ft of "unusual stonework," explicitly including traps in stone floors, walls, and ceilings). With maximum skill ranks in Disable Device and Perception, you don't need to use "blunt instrument" methods to deal with mechanical traps. Select a class with spells (bloodrager, child of Acavna and Amaznen fighter, inquisitor, battle host occulist, etc.) and/or a class/archetype that grants Trapfinding or the ability to disarm magical traps (archaeologist bard, urban ranger, slayer, etc.) for added benefit. The Seeker and/or Vagabond Child traits can add Perception and/or Disable Device to the character's class skills, if needed.

[The Shaman]

You don´t have to have rogue levels to call yourself (and be called) a rogue, just like you do not need to have a level in fighter to call yourself one. Ranger suits dwarves decently, and there are some ranger archetypes that get trapfinding (mind you, you can detect and disarm most traps without this ability in PF, it just gives you bonuses and lets you disarm magical traps). A dwarven alchemist are good with locks and the like as well, and trust me, they make stuff go boom REAL nice.

[Cavall]

I once played a lawful good dwarven rogue. He was the guy that found ways to break in and charged to reveal them to tighten security.

I like the idea of unchained barbarian. I can see you saying "give me a minute boys, for this second trap. I have to psych myself up and I'm a little winded taking that 200 pound log to the chest."

[The Shaman]

Btw, the crypt breaker alchemist is a specialist in trap removal and setting, especially of the explosive kind. It loses poison resistance, use and immunity, but as alchemist AND a dwarf, are you really worried about poison?

[Gulthor]

The Shaman wrote:

Btw, the crypt breaker alchemist is a specialist in trap removal and setting, especially of the explosive kind. It loses poison resistance, use and immunity, but as alchemist AND a dwarf, are you really worried about poison?

And of course, vivisectionist picks up sneak attack (there's no reason you have to be a creepy slasher.)

[The Shaman]

Gulthor wrote:

And of course, vivisectionist picks up sneak attack (there's no reason you have to be a creepy slasher.)

Indeed, though the fluff text made me think of a bomber alchemist. I am a fan of vivisectionists, myself - I wish there was an option for the Master Chymist to enhance that.