Rogue Solo Build

[Darthok]

Is it possible for rogues to solo? I've been using the 'Hired Blade' build posted in Arranticus' thread, but I'm having a hard time soloing. Also, I don't really do any outstanding damage besides when I'm sneak attacking (which usually makes me get aggro, and reduces my dps drastically).

If anyone could suggest a rogue solo build I'd appreciate it. I'm a pretty quick learner, so I don't care if it's a build that's typically harder for a newbie to play.

Edit: I forgot to ask, is there a specific weapon type I should be using? I've been using 2 rapiers so far.

[Sydril]

you can, its not easy but you can. There are quite a few ways you can do it but I'd say a strength based Dwarven rogue with a level or two of barb, fighter or paladin would be the way to go.

Use a dwarven axe and shield you can get a pretty decent ac.

[Darthok]

Could you suggest a build? Or give me the link to that build planner?

[Kaldais]

Is it possible for rogues to solo? I've been using the 'Hired Blade' build posted in Arranticus' thread, but I'm having a hard time soloing. Also, I don't really do any outstanding damage besides when I'm sneak attacking (which usually makes me get aggro, and reduces my dps drastically).

If anyone could suggest a rogue solo build I'd appreciate it. I'm a pretty quick learner, so I don't care if it's a build that's typically harder for a newbie to play.

Edit: I forgot to ask, is there a specific weapon type I should be using? I've been using 2 rapiers so far.

Rogues are harder to solo, you might want to considering multiclass into a different class that can heal/use healing wands, such as Paladin/Ranger, taking 1 level in such class would be sufficient to use healing wands. Something else I would recommand is taking 1 level of monk and going Thief-Acrobat as PrE of your rogue class, and using quaterstaff as your main weapon. The pure attack speed of a quaterstaff from Thief-Acrobat with Wind Stance is truly amazing.

[Darthok]

I downloaded the build planner, and I honestly have no idea what to do/what levels I should switch classes.

[cdemeritt]

Rogues can solo, and once you learn how, they can be a lot of fun, However, they can also be the most difficult to start with. personally I recommend going with either a cleric or Warforged Wizard to get started, if you have access to Warforged, as WF Wizzies can selfheal.

If you really want to go Rogue, I recommend this build: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...42#post2169542

It is a really powerful build that does well in both solo mode and in parties. While there are a lot of tomes listed, they are not needed to make the build fun, and my clone of the build hasn't had a tome yet. The build uses the Drow race, which is an easy favor unlock, and can be aquired in a couple days if not faster. and with the ranger, you can wand heal easily.

Just be aware that when soloing, you need to play differently than if you are with a group, and it takes more skill to solo, even with the current changes. if you still have difficulty with this build, I'd suggest hanging out with groups for a bit, to get some practice.

[stz]

Aranticus' hired blade is a good start but I would definitely start with a much lower int. With heroism potions, cleric's or fvs' recitation spell and a bard's heroism / good hope / inspire competence you should do just fine ( but I guess you won't be able to solo traps that way, but u can just run past em, thats what rogues are for ).

The assasin specialty gives you the 'assasinate' ( Performs a melee attack that on a successful sneak attack can kill a living target instantly if the target fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + Rogue Level + Int Modifier). Even on a successful save, the target takes 10d6 additional damage from the sneak attack. Can only be used while stealthed. ) ability which could help soloing - but for group / raid quests, for someone who loves DPS, I don't even bother using this let alone put any points into INT because it takes time to switch on/off to stealth and crawl up to ur enemy, you could kill 3/4 more during that period of time, unless its a solo I guess... ( I started with 8 int, but again its probably harder to get level appropriate items in Cannith idk ).

I'm speaking of end-game content here so I'm not sure how relevant that is to you, but when the time comes, at such high level, you will find all the items / spells / buffs to help your rog abilities in most difficult elite dungeons in the game as well as weapons to help you solo ( weapons that blinds mobs so you get auto-sneaks soloing, wounding of puncturing, weakening of enfeebling etc ).

Lower int, higher dex/str depending which route you're going, and definitely abit more con. A str-rogue / tempest rogue with favored-enemy has much better non-sneak DPS esp at low level so you might wanna try that out. I'd personally go with almost pure rog ( you'll do awesome dps especially in groups / raids, not so much solo unless you've got the gear ), at least 18 or 19 levels for 'Assasin III' enhancement and Aranticus' Hired Blade is a good start for that, just add a splash of ftr / monk / rgr / barb along the way depending of your taste when you're more familiar with the game.

As Cdemeritt mentioned, that tempest rog build by Impaqt is good too.

[Darthok]

I'm going to get 400 favor to unlock drow. And hopefully I can manage a few bucks to unlock monk with turbine points. Thanks for the help.

[SangRahl]

I'm currently soloing with a even-split Ftr/Rng/Rog build derived from the one discussed here: http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=2357938
(Post #22 has the final buildout she decided on.)

The survivability is very nice, and the main adjustments I've made were switching the first +Str Ability upgrade to +Dex (to save on the +Dex Tome requirement), and playing a bit with the early Enhancements to take advantage of the new Falchion/Scimitar weapon specialties available to Elves.

I'm planning on making a post with my adaptations attached, to see if it can be tweaked further (want to try and squeeze in OTWF, but I'm unsure how/where.

Main points:
Very good hitpoints (Toughness and two Toughness Enhancements taken early on)
Good gear loadout capabilities for early levels (Fighter allows use of Shield or good Two-Hander until Ranger pulls out TWF... Currently run w/ Light Shield and swap to a Falchion in crowded 'minion' situations)
UMD-free Wand-healing
All the rogue capabilities that we know and love

In the end... you won't be the #1 DPS contender, but you'll be pretty well off when out in the wilds alone.

[McFunzel]

try playing around with the bluff skill and use it often.
many players dont even know what its good for - that included me at some point when i started a rogue - unless another rogue pointed me to it.
my bluff is ~35 with all items+skills+boost and it work in any at-lvl quest except for a few bosses which obviously require more skill
bluff enables you to drag away a mob from others towards your position when using it.
even if you are hiding behind a rock/door/whatever. most of the time he goes to that position and starts searching for you. Remember to sneak out of sight, then use the skill - it does not require LoS.
That basically enables you to get a sneak attack on any bluffed mob, far away from others
cant judge on combining that strategy with rogue assassin and the vorpal strike, but i guess it will only get better
i only have experienced it to rogue lvl 11 and im a pure rogue not specialized in any kind like slash/pierce/improoved whatever or dualhanded
i hope that helps

[Dax85]

why you need to solo as a rogue? Best thing of D&d and DDO is cooperation between players and classes.. In solo u cant do any raid, most of the quest difficulty are too hard for you, so whats that for? Yes u can grind exp in normal, dont get any nice loot, great job!
If u want to do some solo quests take an hireling with you, otherwise find a good guild and have fun =)

[hecate355]

get a hireling, skill up diplo some and most content is easy to solo as rogue. you hit the mob gang, press diplo, they turn on hireling and you sneak attack them dead befor they even realize.

yes its not 101% fool proof, but works in many cases, other than that just have a hireling and beat em up anyway, there is your soloability :P

[EnjoyTheJourney]

When soloing, bluff is your best friend. You can solo mobs you would never otherwise be able to beat, by using bluff. Diplomacy can be very helpful, as well, because you can employ hirelings and/or use items / scrolls later into the game to summon helpers (ie: for tough fights, when you want something to have aggro other than yourself). Also, you'll almost certainly want weapons (ie: bane weapons, or similar in their effects) that do bonus damage to undead, oozes, and constructs (you can consider wrack construct enhancements, as well); you can't sneak attack these kinds of enemies, and so getting particularly good weapons for them is the key to being able to go toe-to-toe with them, without using up a lot of resources to keep your rogue healed up.

Also, you'll probably want jump and balance built up when soloing, along with a well developed spot skill--you'll sometimes need to jump to get to dangerous foes (ie: spellcasters), you need to get up quickly when knocked down, and invisible enemies are potentially very dangerous, when you are soloing, unless your spot skill is well developed enough to allow you to surprise them, instead of the other way around. Obviously, not having any warning about traps wouldn't be good, either, unless you've essentially memorized the location of most every trap and secret door in the game; traps and secret doors are another reason to consider building up your spot skill.

In Korthos, consider stocking up on the following items, for your solo rogue, to get him or her off to a good start:

1. Different bracers (Cannith Crystal mission) -- get axe bane, spear bane, and several bracers of assistance. The difference that damage reduction and multiple castings of Aid / Bless per rest can make is amazing.
2. Cloaks (Redemption quest) -- get several curative cloaks (self healing), and also get the feather fall cloak if you have no other source for that spell
3. Get either the Anger's Step or Troubleshooter sets (I went for Troubleshooter, for better skills, but the to hit bonus from Anger's Step is also very attractive)
4. Goggles of Insight (+1 to hit is very helpful, I forget which mission reward, perhaps Necromancer's Doom)
5. Rugged belt (Storehouse quest), then Fortitude +1 belt later, if you get false life on another item and don't have a better belt available
6. Headgear that boosts your Will save (Stopping the Sahuagin quest reward, I believe it's the circlet)

Unless you have great gear, and perhaps even if you have great gear, stay away from two weapon fighting in the earlier levels; you won't have the base to hit totals to hit reliably, if you opt for two weapon fighting right away. You also won't be swinging that second weapon often enough, in lower levels, to make it a superior choice to either a two-handed weapon (ie: quarterstaff) or a "weapon + shield" combination.

Hopefully this helps.