Cowligula - Halfling Rog19/Mnk1

[transtemporal]

Howdy folks.

I'm pretty much a rogue newb but I play with some pretty excellent rogues and it looks like fun so I thought I'd try my hand at building one. This isn't a mod 9 concept build btw so apologies in advance for the lack of originality. Looking for feedback and suggestions from you salty rogue dogs on anything I've missed or not considered.

Where'd I get the name? Well, Caligula was a pretty creepy roman dude and halflings are naturally pretty creepy, so its a good match.

Build goals:

• Decent DPS through TWF rapier + SA (10d6! ) while maintaining an AC that matters
• Has enough HP to take a few hits when AC fails
• Dump aggro in gimp groups with diplo or pick it up in emergencies with intim
• Rogue skills as standard

Edits:

• In the end, I just couldn't do without toughness so I dumped GTWF at 18 for it. If it turns out my ac is good enough to take the heat, I'll swap it out. Many advised swapping ostwf based on current content but I might wait to see how difficult the new content ACs are too hit before I swap it.
• Why balance on an acrobat? As I understand it, acrobat doesn't make you immune to trip and friends have said the times they die are actually when they get overrun; i.e. marilith, mino's, titan, air ele's in reaver
• In the end, I just said "screw it" and decided to factor in litany and +3 tomes. "So I say **** that thing! Let's fight it!"
• Friends have also asked why I didn't factor in the head of good fortune. Basically I've never seen it drop and I don't believe it exists.
• Ended up going Acrobat over Assassin. May make str-based assassin dude.

Cowligula
Lawful Neutral Halfling Rog15/Mnk1 (eventually Rog19/Mnk1)

Stats
14 Str (6 item, 3 tome, 1 Litany) = 24 Str
16 Dex (4 lvl, 2 hlf, 3 rog, 6 item, 3 tome, 1 except (morah's), 1 litany) = 36 Dex
14 Con (6 item, 3 tome, 1 litany) = 24 Con
12 Int (6 item, 3 tome, 1 litany) = 22 Int
14 Wis (6 item, 3 tome, 1 litany) = 24 Wis
08 Cha (6 item, 3 tome, 1 litany) = 18 Cha

HP
90 rog
08 mnk
112 con
20 heroic
30 gfl
18 toughness
20 toughness enhancements
10 favor
18 minos (20 for mod 9, but 18 for the moment)
45 shroud
======
371 HP

Armor Class
10 base
01 size
13 dex
07 wis
08 armor, bracers
05 deflect, DT
03 dodge, DT
01 alchemical armor ritual
05 combat expertise
04 insight
=========
57 AC (beholder, ac mode)

01 haste
02 recitation
04 ac song
05 bark spell
05 pally aura
04 shield spell
==========
78 AC (raid buffed, ac mode)

06 improved uncanny dodge
02 acrobat showtime
==========
86 AC (burst, ac mode)

Saves
Fortitude/Reflex/Will
01/01/01 halfling
06/12/06 rog 15
02/02/02 mnk 1
07/13/07 attributes
05/05/05 resistance
01/01/01 resistance ritual
======
22/34/22 (beholder)

04/04/04 GH
01/01/01 luck
======
27/39/27 (situational)

Attack Profile
01 halfling
12 rog15/mnk1
13 dex
05 weap
02 competence, tumbleweed
-2 TWF
-5 CE/PA
======
+26 first attack, non-sneak

05 tharnes
03 sneak attack accuracy 3
======
+34 first attack, sneak

08 morale, bard songs
02 recitation
======
+44 first attack, sneak, raid-buffed

Feats
1st: twf
2nd (mnk bonus): toughness
3rd: weap finese
6th: ostwf
9th: ce
11th (rog bonus): improved evasion
12th: ic: pierce
14th (rog bonus): crippling strike
15th: pa
17th (future, rog bonus): slippery mind
18th (future): itwf
20th (future, rog bonus): defensive roll

Skills
UMD/Search/DD/OL/Intim/Diplo/Hide/MS/Spot/Balance/Tumble/Jump
00/00/00/00/00/00/04/02/00/00/00/02 halfling
19/18/18/18/18/19/19/19/18/15/01/00 ranks
04/06/06/13/04/04/13/13/07/07/13/07 attributes
03/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15 item
00/00/05/05/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00 tools
00/06/06/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00 shroud int skills item
00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/02/02/02 acrobat
=====
26/45/51/51/37/38/51/49/40/39/31/26 (beholder)

04 GH
02 bard song
01 luck
03 skillboost II
10 acrobat showtime (balance, tumble, jump)
=====
36/55/61/61/47/48/61/59/50/59/51/46 (situational)

Enhancements
Rog haste boost 2
Halfling dex 2
Rog dex 3
Halfling guile 2
Halfling cunning 2
Racial toughness 2
Skillboost 2
Sneak attack training 3
Faster sneaking 1
Subtle backstabbing 3
Sneak attack accuracy 3
Acrobat 2

Gear Load-out
Helmet: Minos Legend, Intimi 15
Goggles: Tharnes
Necklace: Diplo 15
Trinket: Bloodstone, Litany
Cloak: Greensteel int googles, +6 cha cloak
Belt: Morah's Belt
Right Ring: Morah's Band
Gloves: Greensteel hp gloves, Various rog skill 15, seven fingered gloves
Boots:
Left Ring: Tumbleweed
Bracers: Tharnes, Leviks, Armor Bracers (8)
Body: DT Vestments (resist+5, protection+5, dodge+3)
Weaponslot 01: radiance rapier, minii rapier
Weaponslot 02: insight rapier, minii rapier

[FluffyCalico]

Here I was expecting cow porn.

[RavenStormclaw]

Howdy folks.

I'm pretty much a rogue newb but I play with some pretty excellent rogues and it looks like fun so I thought I'd try my hand at building one. This isn't a mod 9 concept build btw so apologies in advance for the lack of originality. I also don't know how easy +4 tomes will be to acquire so I've only assumed +2s for now. Looking for feedback and suggestions from you salty rogue dogs on anything I've missed or not considered.

Where'd I get the name? Well, Caligula was a pretty creepy roman dude and halflings are naturally pretty creepy, so its a good match.


Build goals:

• Decent DPS through TWF rapier + SA (10d6! ) while maintaining an AC that matters
• Has enough HP to take a few hits when AC fails
• Dump aggro in gimp groups with diplo or pick it up in emergencies with intim
• Rogue skills as standard

Questions:

1. Grazing hits - how do you get DR on a halfling outfit-wearing rogue? Symbiont?
2. HP are a little low. Is there any way I can fit toughness in? Drop ostwf, ce, itwf, gtwf?
3. Is there a compelling reason to have a second radiance rapier or is it overkill?
4. Defensive roll - how useful is this? With a reflex of 38 at end game this would seem to be pretty decent damage mitigation. Maybe?
5. Gear - not absolutely sure what the best combo of gear is. Can't be bother farming icy raiments for an extra 1 point of AC so have assumed DT vestments.
6. Disciple of Breezes - can this stance be used with TWF rapier? I fear the answer may be no.
7. The big one - assassin II or acrobat II? I'd love to pick up Asn II (because Asn III sounds so cool) but the prevailing notion seems to be that Acro II is better. Any comments? Apart from the pre-reqs for Asn, would I need to make any build adjustments or is starting int of 12 high enough with an +3 except int shroud rapier?

Cowligula
Lawful Good Halfling Rog15/Mnk1 (eventually Rog19/Mnk1)

Stats
14 Str (6 item, 2 tome) = 22 Str
16 Dex (4 lvl, 2 hlf, 3 rog, 6 item, 3 tome) = 34 Dex
14 Con (6 item, 2 tome) = 22 Con
12 Int (6 item, 2 tome) = 20 Int
14 Wis (6 item, 2 tome) = 22 Wis
08 Cha (6 item, 2 tome) = 16 Cha

HP
90 rog
08 mnk
96 con
20 heroic
30 gfl
10 favor
18 minos (20 for mod 9, but 18 for the moment)
45 shroud
======
317 HP

Armor Class
10 base
01 size
12 dex
06 wis
08 armor, bracers
05 deflect, DT
03 dodge, DT
02 dodge, chaosguard
01 alchemical armor ritual
05 combat expertise
04 insight
=========
57 AC (beholder)

01 haste
02 recitation
04 ac song
05 bark spell
05 pally aura
04 shield spell
==========
78 AC (raid buffed)

06 improved uncanny dodge
==========
84 AC (burst)

Saves
Fortitude/Reflex/Will
01/01/01 halfling
06/12/06 rog 15
02/02/02 mnk 1
06/12/06 attributes
05/05/05 resistance
01/01/01 resistance ritual
======
21/33/21 (beholder)

04/04/04 GH
01/01/01 luck
======
26/38/26 (situational)

Feats
1st: twf
2nd (mnk bonus): weap finese
3rd: ostwf
6th: pa
9th: ce
11th (rog bonus): improved evasion
12th: icierce
14th (rog bonus): crippling strike
15th: itwf
17th (future, rog bonus): defensive roll
18th (future): gtwf
20th (future, rog bonus): slippery mind

Skills
UMD 19
Search 18
DD 18
OL 18
Intim 18
Diplo 19
Hide 19
MS 19
Spot 18
Jump 15
Tumble 1

UMD/Search/DD/OL/Intim/Diplo/Hide/MS/Spot/Jump/Tumble
00/00/00/00/00/00/04/02/00/02/00 halfling
19/18/18/18/18/19/19/19/18/15/01 ranks
03/06/06/12/03/03/12/12/02/06/12 attributes
03/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/10 item
00/00/05/05/00/00/00/00/00/00/00 tools
01/01/01/01/01/01/01/01/01/01/01 luck
03/03/03/03/03/03/03/03/03/03/03 skillboost II
00/06/06/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00 shroud int skills item
=====
29/49/54/54/40/41/54/52/39/42/27 (beholder)

04 GH
02 bard song
=====
35/55/60/60/46/47/61/58/45/47/33 (situational)

Enhancements
Rog haste boost 2
Halfling dex 2
Rog dex 3
Halfling guile 4
Skillboost 2
Sneak attack training 4
Disciple of Breezes (will this work with twf rapiers?)
Faster sneaking 3
Extra action boost 2
Subtle backstabbing 4
Sneak attack accuracy 3
Halfling Luck 1 (fort)
Halfling Luck 1 (will)
WotAsn 2 or WotAcr 2

Gear Load-out
Helmet: Minos Legend, Intimi 15
Goggles: Tharnes
Necklace: Con+6
Trinket: Bloodstone, Litany
Cloak: Greensteel Cloak (), +6 cha cloak
Belt:
Right Ring:
Gloves:
Boots:
Left Ring: Tumbleweed
Bracers: Tharnes, Leviks, Chaosguard
Body: DT Vestments (resist+5, protection+5, dodge+3)
Weaponslot 01: radiance rapier, minii
Weaponslot 02: insight rapier, minii

Not bad however you made same mistake I've made before.... you can't have armor 8 bracers and +2 dodge from chaosguards...... they are both wrist slot.

Stances won't work with non-monk weapons tried and tested by me more than once.

Only way I see to mitiagate some glancing blow damage would be golden greeves since they have DR 3.

They only other then is since you are going finesse build with an endgame Dex of 34 I don't really think you need OTWF early in life it is good but by level 10-12 I would consider switching it out. Heck my first rapeir using rouge never even had it (I mistakenly thought raperis were light weapons since they are fineesable) and I never even noticed the slightly decreased to hit.

[transtemporal]

Not bad however you made same mistake I've made before.... you can't have armor 8 bracers and +2 dodge from chaosguards...... they are both wrist slot.

Ah, good catch. Forgot about that. I guess I could drop chaosguard and change align to LN, which mean I could use litany without a penalty. Or keep chaosguard, drop the armor bracers and take the 6 armor bonus from the DT vestments instead. Either way, its a net -2 to AC.

Stances won't work with non-monk weapons tried and tested by me more than once.

Thanks for the confirm. Still can't bring myself to use kamas.

Only way I see to mitiagate some glancing blow damage would be golden greeves since they have DR 3.

Just to clarify, its grazing hit dmg I want to mitigate. Just not sure how much of an issue it'll be at the moment.

They only other then is since you are going finesse build with an endgame Dex of 34 I don't really think you need OTWF early in life it is good but by level 10-12 I would consider switching it out. Heck my first rapeir using rouge never even had it (I mistakenly thought raperis were light weapons since they are fineesable) and I never even noticed the slightly decreased to hit.

Yeah, thats what I would do in current end game but they've said that attack will count for more in mod 9 because of higher ACs. 3/4 bab classes may need all the attack they can get. I *think* this is his attack profile. Not so hot calculating this.

Attack Profile
01 halfling
12 rog15/mnk1
12 dex
05 weap
02 competence, tumbleweed
======
+32 first attack, non-sneak

05 tharnes
03 sneak attack accuracy 3
======
+40 first attack, sneak

08 morale, bard songs
02 recitation
======
+50 first attack, sneak, raid-buffed

Is that correct?

[RavenStormclaw]

Ah, good catch. Forgot about that. I guess I could drop chaosguard and change align to LN, which mean I could use litany without a penalty. Or keep chaosguard, drop the armor bracers and take the 6 armor bonus from the DT vestments instead. Either way, its a net -2 to AC.



Thanks for the confirm. Still can't bring myself to use kamas.



Just to clarify, its grazing hit dmg I want to mitigate. Just not sure how much of an issue it'll be at the moment.



Yeah, thats what I would do in current end game but they've said that attack will count for more in mod 9 because of higher ACs. 3/4 bab classes may need all the attack they can get. I *think* this is his attack profile. Not so hot calculating this.

Attack Profile
01 halfling
12 rog15/mnk1
12 dex
05 weap
02 competence, tumbleweed
======
+32 first attack, non-sneak

05 tharnes
03 sneak attack accuracy 3
======
+40 first attack, sneak

08 morale, bard songs
02 recitation
======
+50 first attack, sneak, raid-buffed

Is that correct?

With all the calculations I've seen before that seems accurate. Also you are right its grazing hits but the same applies with no armor and no bracers the only two ways you have to mitigate any kind of damage will be dr from something like golden greeve or if you find an outfit with invulnerability property which give dr 5/magic (this actually is probably your best bet).

[transtemporal]

Also you are right its grazing hits but the same applies with no armor and no bracers the only two ways you have to mitigate any kind of damage will be dr from something like golden greeve or if you find an outfit with invulnerability property which give dr 5/magic (this actually is probably your best bet).

Man, where is my brain today? Good suggestion. Invulnerability robe at low levels and stoneskin wand, minii at high level. Won't absorb mobs with the big dice weapons, but I can't really think how to get higher than 10 passive DR.