[PF] The Snare Setter

[hamiltond465]

Partly desiring a discussion on the archetype and partly looking for character advice.

Snare Setter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-kobold/snare-setter) is an archetype of Rogue available only to Kobolds (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-kobold) that delays and weakens sneak attack in order to use Ranger Traps (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/trapper/ranger-traps#TOC-Oversized-Barbs-Ex-or-Su-).

How does one make a Snare Setter a functional member of an adventuring party? The traps will forever have a terrible DC, have painful action economy and little to no Sneak attack.

While useful with some prep, what do I do in actual combat?
Hella UMD and stick to buffing maybe...

[Starbuck_II]

Partly desiring a discussion on the archetype and partly looking for character advice.

Snare Setter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-kobold/snare-setter) is an archetype of Rogue available only to Kobolds (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-kobold) that delays and weakens sneak attack in order to use Ranger Traps (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/trapper/ranger-traps#TOC-Oversized-Barbs-Ex-or-Su-).

How does one make a Snare Setter a functional member of an adventuring party? The traps will forever have a terrible DC, have painful action economy and little to no Sneak attack.

While useful with some prep, what do I do in actual combat?
Hella UMD and stick to buffing maybe...
They deal additional damage with Traps by 3rd level.

If you can get the enemy to come to you: Tripwire could be useful (get them to charge you, they are prone, you kill them)

But it is a more reactive than proactive class.

[hamiltond465]

Reactive? The traps take a full round action to set, and are triggered by the action of another creature. That is fairly clearly proactive in my eyes.

In addition, what if your DM rules that setting a trap while not hidden means all the intelligent opponents will avoid the square? Or worse, that having a trap in a square constitutes 'dangerous terrain' for Bull Rush, Drag or Reposition?

Traps are not an effective in-combat action. What else can this rogue do in combat?

[Person_Man]

Reading through it, I think it can actually be quite useful.

1) Prior to combat, find a bottleneck hallway.

2) Set up a trap in every available space in the bottleneck.

3) Lure enemies into it.

This basically requires that you play a Rogue with very high Stealth and Perception, and is most effective against enemies with low Perception and Int/Wis.

The main problem is the metagame. A DM is not going to let you repeat the same process over and over and over again prior to every combat. So I would suggest avoiding it, unless it's a one-shot game.

[hamiltond465]

Reading through it, I think it can actually be quite useful.

1) Prior to combat, find a bottleneck hallway.

2) Set up a trap in every available space in the bottleneck.

3) Lure enemies into it.

This basically requires that you play a Rogue with very high Stealth and Perception, and is most effective against enemies with low Perception and Int/Wis.

The main problem is the metagame. A DM is not going to let you repeat the same process over and over and over again prior to every combat. So I would suggest avoiding it, unless it's a one-shot game.

I get that, I really do. Preparation is where this class shines.
But what about after that hallway has been cleared? The Orc Barbarian sees you, rages, charges, and takes 10d6 from all your traps.

Now what do you do to help your party deal with the rest of the encounter? I know that the dead barbarian is a great boon, but I don't really want to be twiddling my thumbs and firing my crossbow once a round for the rest of it.