So I did this the intelligent way...

[madmommajen]

Looking over my toons the last few days...I was quite dissatisfied with how some of them were built. So I did what any mother would do....deleted them & started fresh!

I have kept Drusella, simply because she's a level 6 and I'd hate to lose out on the exp I've gotten with her. She's progressed nicely on her own, but now I'm having a hard time working with the 2 remaining guys I've got. Probably because I'm SO used to being a barbarian & just killing everything in my path.

Petruchio is now a level 3 bard & is coming into his own nicely. I've got a nice balance of butt-kicking ability served with a side order of heals & spells. Its a nice combo. I really like the bards! They're so versatile!

Grimmarrow is the newest "baby". He's a level 2 rogue. I decided to work him as a master thief rather than a master assassin. And I'm having second thoughts about that. I'm getting my ass kicked ALOT, which is no fun for me. Since I feel like a complete failure simply because I can't complete even the most simplest of quests (ie: The Missing Ward, 1-Short).

I guess in all my rambling here...I'm wondering...did I make a mistake by choosing to have a thief rather than an assassin? I feel really helpless since I can't even complete the most simplest of tasks. And I'm still having the same bad luck in finding groups to run with. I really tried to do this the intelligent way, since I've been told in-game that I'm a moron.

::SIGH::

OK, enough of my drabble. I'm going to see what can be done about Grim's current state of affairs. Let's hope I don't do anything else "stupid". Wheee.

[Varr]

Well sounds like for your barbarian temperment you might enjoy an assassin build more than a mechanic build but I will suggest that they are adjustments of the same character. Both can and should be very good at disarming and at level 7+ start to really lay down the damage. Im a big believer in not min maxing rogues, more like a 12 14 15 15 10 13 ish stat line to start (22/24 dex will be easy) and count 1 mississippi before you attack. Really pretend you are a fighters back pack. He has to get agro and you need to be a pair of extra arms just behind him swinging two weapons. Those are my suggestions, be it mechanic or assassin if you want to end up really enjoying being a rogue.

[Lizardgrad89]

Pure rogues don't solo well. Their best attack is the sneak attack, but when you are soloing you always have aggro.

You will just have to put up an LFM and drag some tanks with you on the lowbie quests.

Stick with it, though. When you get there, crippling strike is the pure rogue's best friend. A couple of rapiers of weakening/enfeebling combined with crippling strike and you are tearing mobs up, sneak attack or no.

[Kalari]

Jen *hugs* caught this befor I was about to turn in. If you need a tank to run with your rogue Severi is level 2 and im learning how to melee so we can both have fun learning new characters. Its still weird to swing a axe and wear armor but im getting used to it. Just pm me what hours are good for you, ive been running with the guild most days or just logging off to read since trying to curb pugging with Kalari and I hate soloing. I also have a level 3 wizard that can run with you to. And you met my ranger the other night and that was a blast running with you and the other girls. Either way let me know if I can help in anyway heck were practically neighboors as it is hehe (living in the Carolinas and all) so I dont mind helping.

[Solmage]

My best advice for soloing a rogue:

- Spend a feat and get the metal dog enhancements since level 1. It's like night and day! You can use diplomacy to shed aggro, sneak attack, etc! Fun fun fun! I soloed with my baby rogue most starter quests up to ELITE thanks to those dogs distracting critters for me, and they scale well up until level 8 or so.

You may also want to consider making a 'battle' rogue. While I didn't have a need (I went with a squishy high int drow just in case they left way of the assassin II ridiculously overpowered, which they didn't...) a beefy dex-based dwarven rogue can be scary. High dex allows for a lot of AC thanks to the dwarven armor mastery enhancements. Add in a daggertooth belt and that's an extra +5 AC over the max a mithril chain shirt would allow, all the while having a lot of hps from a good con and the dwarven toughness enhancements.

Since you're used to your barb, I have a feeling a battle rogue may be a bit more up your alley than the traditional rogue.

AC:
10 (base)
15 (mithril chain shirt + dex)
5 (more dex goodness via dwarven armor mastery and dagger belt)
5 (protection 5 item)
7 (+5 shield)
1 (dodge feat)
2 (chaosgarde - ok so you're a lawful rogue. Better than a dead one. Shrug)
5 (combat expertise feat)
3 (barkskin potion)
===
53 AC pre-raid loot, solo AC

You can still add a seal of the earth to replace pots, chattering ring, cleric spells, bard buffs, haste, ranger barkskin..

Also, keep in mind with a shield clicky, you only loose 3 AC going from shield to dual wield, and as a rogue you'll have the UMD to use those level 10 shield wands.

[Teech]

Here's my advice for solo on a rogue: Don't.

I say this cause i see that your highest char is 6 and you prolly lack the know how.
Far easier to run with groups and just ensure that you don't go first (unless there's a trap or you need to scout)

Let the tank go first and hit the monsters first and then join in.


Rogues at low levels are hard due to the 3/4 atk progression

if you went high dex its even harder cause you can't start with finnese.
just get yourself up to 3 ASAP i guess.

[Boldrin]

If you want your rogue to be a thief, you have to realize you're not a soloer. Thieves are there to help a party in a supporting role. Whether it be my using a bow and debuffing mobs for melees and casters, or disabling traps and picking locks, etc. If you want a solo rogue I suggest a str based Dwarven rogue with high STR and Con. It'll be like having a ftr with extra skills.

[madmommajen]

OK, so the advice is:

1) When running Grimmarrow, don't solo. LFM instead.
2) Make a "fighter" rogue. Thus using the skills I want with the skills I'm used to
3) Accessories make the toon (well...with exception for that Coach purse...it doesn't match the chain mail)

GOT IT!!

Off to roll a new "family member". Good lord...its like I'm Catholic....all these kids all over the place....

Hey, wait...I AM Catholic. No WONDER!

Thanks all for the advice.

[Solmage]

OK, so the advice is:

1) When running Grimmarrow, don't solo. LFM instead.

Actually, if you just want to solo Grim, swap in one her feats for say skill focus repair (yes I know how useless that is) so you can then get the Iron Companion enhancement. You'll be able to summon a fairly sturdy metal doggy that will help with soloing since you will be able to use diplomacy and such to shed aggro and get sneak attacks in.

That's if you want to TRY to solo Grim, else yeah, roll a battle rogue. I still think dex is better because you have a high AC, and can still dual wield, something you won't so easily with str, but...

[Aaden]

Dont fret about your lack of ability to kill stuff with your rogue at lvl 2, Jen.

Your rogue should come into her own at lvl 3 once you pick up weapon finesse (to make use of that high dex you probably have) and an additional 1d6 sneak attack. Great vs kobolds and bugbears and the like.

Rogues dont solo well, this is true, so try to group with another character who will have the agro (tank or caster who summons bad beasts.)

You'll see a lot of talk on rogue forums and by rogues about TWF, but dont worry about it too much till you get to mid levels. It's only 1 extra attack and its at -2 on BOTH your weapons.

[Yvonne_Blacksword]

one level of ranger will help you solo.
you can put all your skill points in search, spot, hide and move silently for the ranger level
It will give you bow strength, a favored enemy, martial weapon proficiency and shield proficiency
It will put you at a bab of +2.
and it is an option if you like soloing.

mine soloed WW at level3...2rog/1ranger.

Her name is Yarrelle. and she is a halflling...

[Zedim]

one level of ranger will help you solo.
you can put all your skill points in search, spot, hide and move silently for the ranger level
It will give you bow strength, a favored enemy, martial weapon proficiency and shield proficiency
It will put you at a bab of +2.
and it is an option if you like soloing.

mine soloed WW at level3...2rog/1ranger.

Her name is Yarrelle. and she is a halflling...

I also took that very same path with my halfling rogue, and it has been fantastic. At lvl 4 I solo'ed WW with Fumbalo on normal without any trouble. Very good advice, in my humble ol' opinion.