Playing Rogue In Solo Game

[Brom]

For fun, I'm doing a one on one session with a DM. I'm playing a Rogue.

Assume 40 point buy, standard races without unusual races or anything that has LA. I will be tenth level with standard WBL. Complete Psionics is not allowed, anything simple is allowed provided I can get the item description and it doesn't smell of cheese. I may have NPC's to persuade to help me, but other than that, I'm probably on my lonesome.

I've been told I'll be attempting to burglarize something hidden, watched, and guarded, and that the enemy is looking for anyone who is asking around for it.

Advice on how to set up skills, feats, skill tricks, gold purchases, stats? O.O

[Gavinfoxx]

Whisper Gnome, get Darkstalker. Get a collar of umbral metamorphosis. Consider playing a Psychic Rogue variant.

[Dr.Epic]

Assume 40 point buy, standard races without unusual races or anything that has LA. I will be tenth level with standard WBL. Complete Psionics is not allowed, anything simple is allowed provided I can get the item description and it doesn't smell of cheese. I may have NPC's to persuade to help me, but other than that, I'm probably on my lonesome.

40 point buy!?!?!?!:smalleek:

Back on topic, up the diplomacy, intimidate, and bluff to help avoid straight up combat.

[Gavinfoxx]

Burglary implies the DM has prepared encounters for the rogue to sneak by, rather than use diplomacy...

[Brom]

Whisper Gnome, get Darkstalker. Get a collar of umbral metamorphosis. Consider playing a Psychic Rogue variant.

Not inflicting Whisper Gnome on my GM.
What book is Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis in?

Where can the Psychic Rogue be found?

[SurlySeraph]

I'd say Changeling Rogue 10, taking the substitution levels, but Changeling probably falls under "unusual races."

Looks like a more skill-driven than combat-driven game. Some good feats would be Trap Sensitivity (from Dungeonscape, gives you a free Search check whenever you get within 5 feet of a trap), Darkstalker (from Lords of Madness, improves your stealth abilities), and Quick Reconnoiter (Complete Adventurer, lets you make a free Spot and Listen check each round). I'd probably go with a Whisper Gnome (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3) Human or Grey Elf.

Simply doing Rogue 10 and taking Skill Mastery (Search, Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently, Tumble) would be pretty solid. However, there are lots of possible builds depending on what you're interested in; going into Unseen Seer (Complete Mage), a level in Shadowdancer for Hide in Plain Sight, etc. And if you have Dungeonscape, Factotums are like rogues but more effective and flexible in a lot of ways.

For items, get a Handy Haversack and lots of useful mundane items, Gloves of Dexterity, a Circlet of Intelligence, possibly a lot of wands and scrolls if you take high ranks in Use Magic Device, probably a Ring of Invisibility... you've got a lot of options.

[Gavinfoxx]

Not inflicting Whisper Gnome on my GM.
What book is Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis in?

Where can the Psychic Rogue be found?

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b

What about Beguiler or Factotum?

Here are some handbooks of note:

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2720.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2322.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=8750.0
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8711233
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871666/The_3.5_Rogue_Handbook

[Brom]

All right. I like the idea of taking Darkstalker. Thinking of Craven, just worried that Craven is false economy without putting effort into getting multiple attacks, which eats more of my feats.

[ericgrau]

Shadow armor of silent moves is essential (DMG). A lot of cheap magic items via UMD'd wand, scroll or just potions are handy. Non-expendable utility items too. Disguise self, invisibility, etc. are handy. You might want silent spell versions and be careful with command word activated items, which are most. Eyes of the eagle and goggles of minute seeing (switched back and forth) may help.

If you need to kill foes fast and avoid open combat, you might want to go ranged. Pump initiative, beat theirs and full attack sneak attack. If that fails, a wand of hold portal can prevent indoor escape and subsequent reinforcements. The strength DC to break a held wooden door is 18-28, and even a 25 strength is only a +7.

[Gavinfoxx]

All right. I like the idea of taking Darkstalker. Thinking of Craven, just worried that Craven is false economy without putting effort into getting multiple attacks, which eats more of my feats.

I'd focus more on getting OUT of situations, not being seen, extreme mobility, having an ace up your sleeve, etc., rather than being a melee striker. Also see the handbooks I linked to earlier in edited posts... that's why I suggested Factotum and Beguiler...

[Brom]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b

What about Beguiler or Factotum?

Here are some handbooks of note:

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2720.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2322.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=8750.0
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8711233
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871666/The_3.5_Rogue_Handbook

The DM loathes Beguilers and I don't have access to the Factotum. x.x

[Gavinfoxx]

Out of curiosity, why does he hate Beguilers? He knows a sorcerer or wizard can do everything they can do and more, right?

[Brom]

Because a Beguiler can do everything a Rogue can do better.

Also, wouldn't say a Sorcerer or a Wizard can do everything a Beguiler can do better. Maybe if you really bust your ass to find spells in splatbooks, but if you stick to core, I find that it's comparing apples to oranges. They have entirely different functions. A wizard can theoretically do everything a beguiler can provided he's given time to prepare spells to do so, but that's an awful waste of spells when a skill check consumes nothing. A Sorcerer downright shouldn't be doing everything a Beguiler does. It's a horrid waste of spells known and they'll fall short of having the sheer versatility within that task that a beguiler would.

[Gavinfoxx]

Because a Beguiler can do everything a Rogue can do better.

Well, yes, that's the point of the Beguiler and the Factotum to the Rogue. And the point of the Swordsage to the Monk. And the point of the Warblade to the Fighter. And the point of the Crusader to the Paladin. And the point of the Duskblade to the Hexblade. They are patches intended to obsolete the original class, as WotC learned more about how to make appropriately powered, balanced classes later in the edition...

[Shadowleaf]

Stat priority: 18 Dex > Con > Cha > Int > Wis > Str.

Play a Small race with a +2 or +4 to Dex. I suggest something like a Desert Kobold. The racial +Dex and size +Hide is unbeatable in a Rogue solo game. A Kobold Rogue substition level is also pretty decent.

Get the Dark template or the Collar (both from Tome of Magic). Failing that, get any other method of Hide In Plain Sight (Shadowdancer, etc).

Consider picking up a level of Swordsage, if possible. It really helps a Rogue out. Consider maneuvers like Burning Ember, which is Godly for a solo Rogue. Failing that, get UMD and a Wand of Summon Monster, so you have someone to flank with.

Pick up the Darkstalker, Weapon Finesse (or Shadow Blade (iirc) from ToB if you can) and Craven feats. They're always worth it for a Rogue, if not just plain mandatory.

Mandatory link to my own solo Rogue. (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=216856)