New Player Question Regarding Stats

[Paulev76]

I just returned to the game, and I'm tinkering with my rogue build, but I'm wondering if there's any reason not to lower the strength score for a rogue going either crossbow or quarterstaff? It seems that with both of these weapons attack and damage are based off of Intelligence and dexterity scores, so build points are wasted on strength. I'm asking because I'd rather use those points from strength to boost up Charisma a bit for more successful Diplomacy in order to get aggro off of me and onto my hireling, but I'm wondering if I'm missing something I need strength for.

[count_spicoli]

Just enough str to not get burdened or helpless from spells. Generally a str item will probably cover ya.

[unbongwah]

For a repeater build, you don't need STR; but if you're making a staff build, even if you want to be DEX- or INT-based, you need to decide if you're going for the THF feat chain to boost your Melee Power and glancing blows, which req's base STR 17 for ITHF/GTHF.

[Paulev76]

Just enough str to not get burdened or helpless from spells. Generally a str item will probably cover ya.

OK, that's what I suspected. Also, I'm considering taking Sap as an early feat. The first rogue I made couldn't finish "Stealthy Acquisition" because he couldn't get past the kobold prophets without killing them. It occurred to me that Sap could be very useful for this kind of thing, but I'm left wondering how many missions of this variety exist in the game. Also, how effective is Sap at higher levels?

[Paulev76]

For a repeater build, you don't need STR; but if you're making a staff build, even if you want to be DEX- or INT-based, you need to decide if you're going for the THF feat chain to boost your Melee Power and glancing blows, which req's base STR 17 for ITHF/GTHF.

OK, that's good to know. My idea was that I would focus on crossbows and the Intelligence stat, with just enough quarterstaff (Probably 1 Action Point for the Dex based chance to hit) to use Sap for the special occasion I need to pass a mob without killing it or for some rudimentary crowd control.

[count_spicoli]

Sap actually can be quite effective. Especially for soloing ee content. No save so it works as long as you hit with the attack. As soon as you damage them they will come out of it. It's nice to work in with trip and stunning blow. Sap first mob. Trip second and stun 3rd and kill 3 2 1. Works better with twf as thf cleaving maniacs will wake the sapped dude up.