STR-based Rogue

[JumboWheat01]

With my purchase of the Dragonborn, which I've already made a destructive Blue Air Savant, the odd urge to make a Dragonborn Rogue has kicked in, despite their -2 to DEX.

Are STR-based Rogues still a possible thing? I imagine it's mostly geared toward the Thief-Acrobat, which I would be perfectly fine with (I like the idea of clubbing things with a quarterstaff.)

[unbongwah]

Possible? Sure. But they're less common than DEX rogues for two simple reasons:

• Assassinate DC is based on DEX or INT, whichever is higher.
• Apart from ITWF/GTWF DEX 17 pre-req, Improved Sneak Attack epic feat has base DEX 21 pre-req. That's tough to hit on a -2 DEX race if you're also worrying about STR, CON, and probably INT too.

Saekee had an INT-based rogue a while back; I presume it would also work as STR-based instead. It's based on what I presume is now an obsolete gear set though: ToEE armor + ToEE kukri for the set bonus, TF kukri w/Dragon's Edge. In theory it should also work w/khopeshes; AFAIK Lethality works with any 1H melee weapon.

[Nightmanis]

Possible? Sure. But they're less common than DEX rogues for two simple reasons:

• Assassinate DC is based on DEX or INT, whichever is higher.
• Apart from ITWF/GTWF DEX 17 pre-req, Improved Sneak Attack epic feat has base DEX 21 pre-req. That's tough to hit on a -2 DEX race if you're also worrying about STR, CON, and probably INT too.

Saekee had an INT-based rogue a while back; I presume it would also work as STR-based instead. It's based on what I presume is now an obsolete gear set though: ToEE armor + ToEE kukri for the set bonus, TF kukri w/Dragon's Edge. In theory it should also work w/khopeshes; AFAIK Lethality works with any 1H melee weapon.

I'm 99% sure lethality works for my rogue with a gxbow, so it should work a khopesh.

[Saekee]

following up on feedback above--you could do anything in DDO but it might not be optimal.
A STR based rogue might make sense if you develop the DCs for something like Stunning Blow--you would try to stun a mob into a helpless state & then leverage heavy sneak damage. High INT for kta, stun gear etc. A full-frontal melee rogue would lack PRR and have a poorer reflex save.
Maybe a splash with 2 barb for ear smash & rages, or a deeper splash with swash and then go up the barb tree?
Tier 5 assassin works with STR too but you miss out on measure the foe buff to melee power.

On the one hand, I think a Thug rogue would work fine today since there are so many sources of melee power. OTOH defenses are even more essential, especially in reaper content.

Anyway, non-reaper heroics are fine for anything and thug rogues are fun.

[Saekee]

For a STR staff, maybe splash 6 monk for shintao PRR, Henshin MP etc, and ninja shadow veil. In fire stance you boost multiplier & jidz teca will give stacking heal amp (that will help in Reaper). Use a frozen tunic from its lowest ML.