Epic Raiding Rogues - How do you contribute now?

[WangChi]

Just wondering if any rogues have run some epic raids (or elite ToD/Shroud/etc) since U11 (I've only had playtime to run one epic Colonoscope thus far).

If so, how do you contribute now that boss fort is so thick that our SA damage is all but nullified (opportunist helps a little, but not much)?

In the one run I was able to partake in, my trash dps was the same as before, and I was at or near the top of the pack in the kill count, but we all know that doesn't mean anything in epic raids. Obviously I could contribute base damage on the bosses, but why should I even be in the group then if I can only contribute base damage? Any other dps (fighter/barb/ranger/monk/paladin) would fill the spot better, even caster classes (including artificer, which is probably Turbines point of this whole thing) would be better for their utility at that point.

So - how do we contribute now and stay relevant in the epic raid scene (if that's even possible with the new changes)?

[Bufo_Alvarius]

With scroll healing enhancements of course!

[karl_k0ch]

So - how do we contribute now and stay relevant in the epic raid scene (if that's even possible with the new changes)?

Possible answers:

Scroll Healing!
Being a Snack for the fellow WF!
Being Str-based and still deal damage!

But on a serious note: Which Bosses have their fort enhanced to 100%?

[Qezuzu]

What are the raid bosses' fortification now? I highly doubt it's 100%, but I haven't had the chance to run a raid yet. I've heard Velah has 50% fort, but that's still at the threshold where a rogue can still provide stellar DPS.

If all else fails, bring a FvS shield of condemnation, and someone with a good Improved Sunder DC. Those two things alone can bring fortification down a great deal.

[SableShadow]

There's a host of things a rogue can do while in Invaders!

For example, one can ... oh, wait, wrong thread (and decade).

Srsly, though ... the biggest impediment is going to be folks citing 100% fort for raid bosses with 50% fort.

[LeLoric]

Yeah it sucks they upped the fort real high but it hurts all classes too not just rogues and other classes have ways to also make it hurt less.

Fighters with all their feats should be getting imp sunder. It works great for a 10% fort debuff and the stacking -fort save helps make sure it lands.

FS crown debuff should be dropping fort by quite a bit.

Dark monks and light monks have fort reducers. Each is normally hard to land on epic mobs but a -15 fort save debuff from imp sunder will make this much more feasible. Monks may consider imp sunder themselves.

For the two new raids rogues have wrack construct to assist here for fort reduction.

Even at the ~80% fort these raids are apparently at the boss should be at or near 50% fort if everyone is doing what they can to help.

[HidalgoXaran]

Could bluff help?

[Angelus_dead]

So - how do we contribute now and stay relevant in the epic raid scene (if that's even possible with the new changes)?

Retrain to +75% scroll amplification and heal everyone else.

[SableShadow]

Retrain to +75% scroll amplification and heal everyone else.

If we stay on the Turbine's usual schedule, the answer will be to bump traps up so we all spec into Mech II ... and then throw grenades or pew pew*, as applicable.



*At least this go round we'll have grenades and pew pew as options ...

Could bluff help?

If you time it right, you can spin Lilly around ... wait until she's in melee range, though, or you'll screw up the ball.

Doesn't do anything to resolve the fort issue, though.

[SensaiRyu]

Could bluff help?

Certainly.

Run up to the boss shouting, "My damage is still superior!"

That's a good bluff...

[Corwinsky]

As others have said what they did is make all epic raids compulsory to have a FvS to cast the crown of retribution on the tank.
With 50% stacking fort debuff (which from what I've read works on epic bosses) non Str rogues (or eSOS melees) can still contribute lof of dmgs.
If your healers are all clerics you can forget bringing a non Str rogue but at the same time the party will probably wipe anyway as fort affects the crit hits of all other melees as well.

[voodoogroves]

Turbine will have a new class out soon, that way all raids the perfect party is "one of each, no duplicates"

[SableShadow]

Turbine will have a new class out soon, that way all raids the perfect party is "one of each, no duplicates"

Wish ... granted*!


*as of two days ago.

[SenseRed]

I will continue to contribute with my general funny comments and hilarious deaths.

Might take up role playing, maybe to type a good play by play of every event.

[voodoogroves]

Wish ... granted*!


*as of two days ago.

I'm a bit punchy today and couldn't resist ;-)

[Kmnh]

I took 3 tiers of wand and scroll mastery. I can keep a shield blocking tank up

To-hit is a major issue now, so I'm leveling my crafting. My rogue with a pair of +5 holy silver kukris of greater lawful outsider bane will do a lot more damage than the dumb barb who insists on using his esos.

Being a half-orc has saved my rogue. The +6 I get from strength and power attack enhancements are a major help. I'd hate playing a dex-based halfling or drow now...

[SableShadow]

Being a half-orc has saved my rogue. The +6 I get from strength and power attack enhancements are a major help. I'd hate playing a dex-based halfling or drow now...

You mean the same +6 that the horc fighters and barbs get?

[HidalgoXaran]

Sorry to come back on this but, yeah, I'm doing it anyway.


If bluff makes target vulnerable to SA, does it means that for.. 15 seconds (or 10 I don't remember), the mob fortification will be lowered?

[SableShadow]

If bluff makes target vulnerable to SA, does it means that for.. 15 seconds (or 10 I don't remember), the mob fortification will be lowered?

No. It's a little like a short term blindness if it lands (which can lead to some "entertaining events" on raid bosses n' such, depending on quest specifics), plus a short term agro reducer even if it doesn't land. Nothing else, though.

I'm a bit punchy today and couldn't resist ;-)

I figured. Was just trying to keep my wiseguy cred up.

[destiny4405]

I though my rogue sucked, then i rolled a monk