Best past life for a rogue?

[Bartholamew]

So, I'm going to mess around with a new character who I ultimately want to be an assassin. However I've decided to use a stone of experience to burn through a new first life first, just for fun. What's the best past life for a rogue? Right now I'm debating between rogue and barbarian. Any input appreciated.

[karl_k0ch]

My personal order of usefulness:

Rogue (active and passive), Paladin (if you can find room for active one), Monk, Barbarian, Artificer, Fighter (less interesting now with the new AC system).

[destiny4405]

what Karl said. might even be in favor for pally a bit more then rogue one, but both are awesome clickies.

[LafoMamone]

what Karl said. might even be in favor for pally a bit more then rogue one, but both are awesome clickies.

Pre-U14, I would always take the pally PL before the rogue one, especially for the duration and the +3 attack bonus. Rogue PL doesn't come close, IMO.

Now with the attack roll changes, I am not sure that +3 translates to the same advantage that it used to.

[destiny4405]

Pre-U14, I would always take the pally PL before the rogue one, especially for the duration and the +3 attack bonus. Rogue PL doesn't come close, IMO.

Now with the attack roll changes, I am not sure that +3 translates to the same advantage that it used to.

it's easier to buff to hit, then to understand the to hit changes

[Bodic]

the rogue passive is awesome in itself.

the active makes some of those early quests a joke just pop the clicky and sneak.

but to grind it all out

barb +30hp is always good
Monk +3 base damage is always good
Pally 15% heal amp is awesome
Ftr +3 hit basically negates PA

[Xynot2]

My personal order of usefulness:

Rogue (active and passive), Paladin (if you can find room for active one), Monk, Barbarian, Artificer, Fighter (less interesting now with the new AC system).

3x each

[Enoach]

The "Best" past life is actually best determined by the importance of the benefit to the character and to the builder

Passives (max stack is 3x)
Artificer: stacking +1 bonus to all Intelligence based skills and Use Magic Device
Rogue: stacking +2 to saves vs. traps and deal +1 damage when sneak attacking
Paladin: stacking 5% more health when affected by positive energy
Barbarian: stacking 10 additional hit points
Fighter: stacking +1 to attack rolls and +1 to the DC's of your tactical feats

Only consider the Active Feats if you are planning to have the ability to squeeze in that feat.

When going through your lives for your ultimate end build the question should be, which of the above passives would benefit me more on my 2nd Life?

Each are potentially good choices.

Artificer would make Trapping easier and put you one level ahead in your UMD progression (assuming 1 full point upgrade per level)

Rogue would add to surviving traps and add a touch more damage while sneak attacking

Paladin will help those wands/scrolls/potions go a bit further

Barbarian will help at earlier levels be a bit less squishy

Fighter would help if there is a To-Hit issue, or if your planning on using tactics like Trip, sunder etc.

Personally I would take the Barbarian, no matter what the next life is the extra HP will always be useful

But Might I also recommend not using the Stone on your first life, but if possible on a TR life where the XP requirement is higher.

[Bartholamew]

But Might I also recommend not using the Stone on your first life, but if possible on a TR life where the XP requirement is higher.

Yeah- it would probably be ideal to stone in the 2nd life, but truthfully I'm not sure I'd get through all of the first life and get my 2nd life character to 8 before the stones expiration come up in August 20th or whatever the date is on the exp stones stop working.

Looking at my rogue build I do have one feat available for sneak of shadows if I would rogue TR- assuming there's a feat, do you think the SoS is the best slot for it or do you leaning more towards the above posters' thoughts on Paladin + divine favor?