User:Deathbunny/SandBox

=Building the Better Rogue Mechanic=

This article is a basic how-to guide to building one (or several) forms of a Rogue specialized into the Rogue Mechanic subtype. While not exhaustive, this basic build strategy creates--with moderately decent gear--a multifunctional character with the base type being available to free-to-play characters and trap-competence with level-appropriate gear. Some of the suggested gear will require additional adventure packs and/or Cannith crafting levels for the idealized sets.

Rogues are unusual because they are one of two classes in the game to have trapping skills, one of 3 classes to be granted evasion against traps, and the class with the highest base skill points in the game. With the Rogue Mechanic focus for rogues, a Rogue Mechanic becomes one of two classes granted repeating crossbow and great crossbow proficiencies as well as a means to add an attribute modifier (Intelligence) to ranged damage. When combined with the fact it's a free class best played on a free race (halfling), it becomes an excellent platform for free-to-play players to get engaged in the game, level to cap, and true reincarnate while acquiring the Turbine Points through favor to purchase more adventure packs, character slots, and character classes as well as unlocking other favor-based rewards like Drow, Favored Soul, and 32-point builds.

Initial Build
For an initial build, select a halfling. As a halfling, you start with a +2 to Dexterity and a base size bonus of +1 to hit. Although it gets less critical later, this helps offset--with a decent Dexterity--the rogue's slower development of base attack bonus. It should be rare to see "Miss" come up with this basic build.

The initial level for any character--especially multi-class characters--should be rogue. This maximizes the number of skill points a character has to spend overall because a rogue starts with the greatest number of skill points for class and that number of points is multiplied by 4 for starting levels.

I will argue for the choice of true neutral as an alignment as well. True neutral allows the use of Stability items as well as avoiding negative levels on alignment specific gear. Additionally, once past the first few levels, the rogue mechanic should have a high enough Use Magical Device skill level to use any alignment restrictive gear in the game. Additionally, most enemies or weapons doing alignment damage generally do less damage to neutral characters.