First rogue build help!

[JustBenHere]

Well this is my first 32pt and character I plan on taking to 20 when mod 9 comes out. Just looking for some feedback, want to be able to handle most any trap/box along the way and have viable damage and survival. I plan on doing the mech path until about 9 or so to help out with traps and then redoing my enhancements to the build below. I do not have a lot of money or tomes and such but I should be able to scrounge up enough for a +1 dex tome and afford wands/potions/scrolls, I think.

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Level 16 Lawful Good Drow Male
(16 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 186
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 12\12\17\22
Fortitude: 7
Reflex: 18
Will: 4

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 16)
Strength             10                    10
Dexterity            18                    26
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         16                    16
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             10                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 16)
Balance               8                    27
Bluff                 0                     6
Concentration         2                     2
Diplomacy             4                    19
Disable Device        7                    22
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  8                    35
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  4                    19
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         8                    35
Open Lock             8                    27
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                3                     3
Search                7                    24
Spot                  3                    20
Swim                  0                     0
Tumble                8                    27
Use Magic Device      4                    19

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I


Level 2 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 3 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide I


Level 4 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabber I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide II
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently I


Level 5 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently II


Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I


Level 7 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Way of the Assassin I


Level 8 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabber II


Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II


Level 10 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Cripling Strike
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III


Level 11 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III


Level 12 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Way of the Assassin II


Level 13 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Improved Evasion
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II


Level 14 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II


Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabber III


Level 16 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Defensive Roll
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabber IV
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I

[Varr]

Couple things to consider. With+5 picks and a level app spot and search item you won't have any problems with traps except tr#7 and co6 pt3.1 on hard/e above your level so a mechanic start might not be necissary for you. Also, if you just opened drow I like the assassin drow option. If you do have 32 PTs though I like most other races better. Ie. Stats are better as 14/16/14/14/8/10 to me as a base then race adjust. Forget ac if not splashing and staying pure assassin and be a two weapon dps deamon. I like only one rank of tumble personally. Ac good till ten or though.

[JustBenHere]

I love the drow assassin build I just hate I just feel like I am limited to lawful good or at least some kind of good based character for weapon purposes. I would much rather use a neutral or evil based character but that closes the door on weapons of "Good" am not sure if it would holy weapons though. I am still learning been playing about a week or so now and loving it!

[Varr]

I roll all my rogue true neutral and sacrifice pure good suffex weapons till level nine or so when umd catches up. All for flavor, but like true neutral for rogue and helps me not splash pali or monk unplanned.

[Thriand]

Halflings are the superior race of the rogue world.

[JustBenHere]

And the reason for the tumble is mostly for RP eventually with items and level 20 i want to be able to the flips and such when tumbling, everyone can roll I wanna flip!

[Timjc86]

I love the drow assassin build I just hate I just feel like I am limited to lawful good or at least some kind of good based character for weapon purposes. I would much rather use a neutral or evil based character but that closes the door on weapons of "Good" am not sure if it would holy weapons though. I am still learning been playing about a week or so now and loving it!

You can use UMD to bypass alignment restrictions on weapons. I would strongly suggest maxing UMD (it looks like you already are). Pure good weapons only require a UMD of 20 to bypass, so don't feel restricted to lawful good.

Bear in mind, however, that opposed alignments will grant you a negative level. If you are lawful whatever and want to use a true chaos or anarchic weapon, you can still equip the weapon if you have the correct amount of UMD, but you will also suffer a negative level. This may make neutral good / true neutral appealing as it allows full use of axiomatic, anarchic, true law, and true chaos weapons.

[JustBenHere]

I am not a fan of halflings, everwhere you look monks and rogues are pretty much all halflings.

[JustBenHere]

Thanks for telling me that Timjc86, I honestly was not even aware of that. Looks like true neutral for the drow assassin!

[Thriand]

I am not a fan of halflings, everwhere you look monks and rogues are pretty much all halflings.

because they are superior

[Timjc86]

A couple more things to add, Assassin II is just way too much fun. With a 14 starting intelligence, there are very few things that save against assassinate. It takes some twitch and some practice, but it's just such a blast.

I enjoy a high tumble skill. There's little better to pick when you have that many skill points, it's nice not waiting for ages to feather fall everywhere, and the flips look cool.

Drow is perfectly viable. I personally prefer humans (for the dance). Halfling guile enhancements are extremely appealing and worth at least considering. I also cannot stand dex based finesse characters. There's nothing wrong with them, but I have trouble playing them. Don't go dex and finesse just because someone said rogues are supposed to be that way, consider a strength based rogue. But of course if you want to go dex based then go for it, you may be able to reach a meaningful AC at some point.

Enjoy.

[JustBenHere]

Dex based seems best for the bonus I get from the extra dex including AC. I think it limits me to certain armor or robes since they need to have a high dex allowance. Plus it seems to fit better for RP purposes. Drow elves really are not known for their strength but quick hands and agile feet!

[JustBenHere]

Which would have a higher dps? Dex or str based? I know strength would be easier in the earlier levels just not sure how it fares late game vs dex based

[kamimitsu]

Which would have a higher dps? Dex or str based? I know strength would be easier in the earlier levels just not sure how it fares late game vs dex based

If you are conscious of your aggro management, then Strength based would do more DPS. However, if you are lazy about managing aggro effectively, you'll end up with a monster's attention and will stop getting Sneak Attack damage, which lowers your DPS. SableShadow calls it the damage curve (see link below).

Whenever I see a 'rolling my 1st rogue' thread, I usually post this link if no one already has:

Notes from a Dancing Rogue by SableShadow

It has everything you need to think about before rolling your rogue.

[Timjc86]

Which would have a higher dps? Dex or str based? I know strength would be easier in the earlier levels just not sure how it fares late game vs dex based

Assuming all other things are equal (and with Kamimitsu's comment on aggro management) strength will give you more dps, but reaching a meaningful AC will become very difficult. You will also have a lower reflex save and lower dex based skills (tumble, open lock, balance, etc). Just a few things to bear in mind.