Rogue or Artificer

[Bartholamew]

So, I'm tr'ing my current rogue/barbarian hybrid (acrobat II frenzied berserker I) and I'm trying to decide whether to make an assassin rogue or an artificer. My leveling partner who I play exclusively with duo teams + 2 hirelings (usually healers) is going to TR into a shinto monk. I'd like to play a class with endgame raid viability in addition to regular party strength.

I had also considered (briefly) the wiz 18 rogue 2 but I'm fearful of missing out on the DC's from a missing wizard capstone.

The artificer I lean to would be a helf arti with rogue dil and the sneak of shadows past life for high sneak attack damage.

Any input greatly appreciated!

[Anihsod]

It boils down to play style. Rogues bluff pulling, evasion, scroll casting, assassinate, and versatility versus Arti ranged damage, scroll casting, and buffing.

The most fun I have in ddo is quite often while I'm on my assassin.

[Sylvenon]

The most fun I have in ddo is quite often while I'm on my assassin.

Ditto :cool:

[ZeebaNeighba]

Or you could combine them and make a mechanic :) Don't underestimate the power of...well I'm getting about 50 sneak damage per hit on mine at level 15. Plus about 30 from the normal damage, and the weapon effects. And that's my only character on the server, so it's not like I can get uber gear yet either.

[wax_on_wax_off]

Or you could combine them and make a mechanic :) Don't underestimate the power of...well I'm getting about 50 sneak damage per hit on mine at level 15. Plus about 30 from the normal damage, and the weapon effects. And that's my only character on the server, so it's not like I can get uber gear yet either.

Sad to say but mechanic is dead until the enhancement pass for true end game viability.

Artificer is fun to level up but doesn't shine too much at end game (valued though). Rogue is harder to level up but is awesome at end game. IMO, ymmv of course.

Edit: if you wanted a bit of both go halfelf pure assassin with artifices dilettante. The +1 int helps assassinate attempts, scroll healing awesomeness and free repeater proficiency for when you need to swap to ranged for whatever reason (levels 1-10 can just use it generally as repeater is awesome at these levels - take precision early and consider taking PBS and/or rapid reload and swapping it/them out later).

[ZeebaNeighba]

Sad to say but mechanic is dead until the enhancement pass for true end game viability.

Artificer is fun to level up but doesn't shine too much at end game (valued though). Rogue is harder to level up but is awesome at end game. IMO, ymmv of course.Have you tried a mechanic? Because either every group I'm in has 4-5 gimps, I kick some awesome ass, or they aren't all that gimped.

[wax_on_wax_off]

Have you tried a mechanic? Because either every group I'm in has 4-5 gimps, I kick some awesome ass, or they aren't all that gimped.

I can accept some combination of option 1 or 2. I was specifically referring to end game as well which you aren't at. Mech would be fun to level up, I'd definitely consider going it for levels 6-11 on a pure rogue but it just doesn't measure up in end game content when your hits/second aren't high enough.

I think the best you can get with a heavy repeater is about 136 attacks/minute. Compare this to a TWF'ing Assassin who has 180-190+ and that is a boat load of SA you're missing.

For that matter as long as you're getting SA you're possibly better off as an Assassin if using repeater as 3d6 SA+5 vorpal is pretty comparable to whatever int score you have (need 42 int for mech to be better). Need repeater prof from somewhere else in that case though (see above). Real reason there is the free 1-3 kills every 15 seconds from assassinate.

[ZeebaNeighba]

I can accept some combination of option 1 or 2. I was specifically referring to end game as well which you aren't at. Mech would be fun to level up, I'd definitely consider going it for levels 6-11 on a pure rogue but it just doesn't measure up in end game content when your hits/second aren't high enough.

I think the best you can get with a heavy repeater is about 136 attacks/minute. Compare this to a TWF'ing Assassin who has 180-190+ and that is a boat load of SA you're missing.

For that matter as long as you're getting SA you're possibly better off as an Assassin if using repeater as 3d6 SA+5 vorpal is pretty comparable to whatever int score you have (need 42 int for mech to be better). Need repeater prof from somewhere else in that case though (see above). Real reason there is the free 1-3 kills every 15 seconds from assassinate.I guess I'll have to build an assassin and see what I can do. Because if I can get a lot out of mechanic with nothing better than gear I pick up at level, whoa.

I do like mechanic a little also just for some general ranged reasons. It's easier to switch targets, which might shave a couple attacks/minute off assassin's advantage (although it does suck that I have to be close to the enemy, specifically in point blank range, to actually get sneak attack on mechanic). I can fight while kiting, so it doesn't hurt so much to have something like 34 ac and 227 HP. Improved precise shot gives it a nifty advantage fighting trash and archer's focus is great for big bosses. I can use flamearrow wands for an extra 1d6 damage, but that probably isn't really giving anything extra when you consider that TWF faster attack rate means more weapon procs.

But I'll give in, assassin's instant kill, I've seen it other people use it very effectively. I'll try to shut up until I've actually gotten an assassin to a decent level.

[Bartholamew]

The assassin does seem really fun. I've been playing melee a lot the last month, leveled a druid to 10 and just about to cap this quarterstaff wielding acrobat. I think I was leaning towards artificer to vary my play experience but there is a very strong argument for assassin here. I think I'll end up hemming and hawing for another week or so before I hit 20 :/

I worry about things like group composition for party play (offering a more valuable/ rare resource from my class)- in this vein any thoughts on who can contribute more to a random PUG or guild raid? Late game more so than early-mid.

[Failedlegend]

A really cool mix WOULD be Assassin/Battle Engineer but unfortunately there some action boost conflicts and even if there wasn't the Assassin abilities don't work with ranged weapons (I can apply poison to a dagger but not an arrowhead and I can sneak attack a guy whilst in PBS range but can't assassinate him)