My First D&D combat

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:15:08 -0500

So I finally got to partake in combat with my Rogue. I really enjoyed it for my first experience. But I have my issues with it. For starters the rogues seem to be VERY lack luster in combat, granted it was my first combat and I was only level 1. Nevertheless, it is really hard to enjoy anything when you are spending more than half of the combat trying to get into position just to try to get a Sneak Attack in, only to have a Sorcerer pretty much one shot everything in one turn after it took you 3 just to get into position to even attempt anything.

Mechanically it makes sense. Unless I some how have Nightcrawlers teleport I can't very well Stealth pop up near target and attack. But the fact still remains, unless I get all power gamer, Rogues seem to be lacking damage. I also herd that a Fighter also can do more damage than a Rogue in one round every time. Again this is starting to sound like the short end of the stick is in the Rogue's hands if s/he wishes to play covertly. Attacking every other turn? Very underwhelming and discouraging, ie. Not fun.

And Sneak Attack how exactly does that work? How do I apply it to my rolls? Seems very unclear to me. I understand this much you cannot make a Sneak Attack unless you have an advantage so by proxy making it.

My Attack Roll, if I have the advantage(should I be rolling another d20 here?) Sneak Attack triggers thus granting me damage bonus?

I am using my Rapier for instance giving me a 1d6+mod(and if Sneak Attacking)+2d6?

Also unless I Stealth, is there any other way I can gain the advantage within my power? Cause to me here in lies problem. I mean I can see the Rouge possibly hitting harder as they level up, but when you are competing with the other classes.

To me it seems like Rogues, unless you are going full out power gaming, bring nothing to the table combat wise.

-Alex G.

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My first D&D, Rogues.

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:57:58 -0500

So, this is my first time playing D&D ever. My friend invited me to join him in the Playtest for D&D Next. I desided to make a Rogue, I have always played Rogues for as long as I can remeber, therefore I will be posting my thoughts and stay true to the Playtest and give feedback. And hopefully help make Rogues better, with my two cents and my perspective on them and my understanding of the rules from the Playtest pakage and with help from the community.

So getting right into it it and after a few rereads I cannot help but feel like there are a few too many redundancies. I am making a Wood Elf (I wanted a Drow :( ) Rogue with Background Thug, Rogue Sheme Thief, Specialty Lurker thus giving me..

Traits: Wood;Elf-
Low-Light Vision
Elf Weapon Training
Keen Senses
Trance
Wood Elf Grace
Thug-
Bad Reputation
Theif via Rogue Scheme-
Thief Signs
On top of giving me Class Features for Thief via Rogue Scheme.
Level 1: Thief Sneaking
Level 2: Night Vision
Level 5: Hit and Run

Skills-
Stealth
Open Locks
Find and Remove Traps
Intimidate
Streetwise
Spot (got this in place of the 2nd Stealth since cannot have 2 of the same)

Yes, I know I could have made him more unique. But I based all my choices on the vision of my character and who he is and what he would utilize.

Now if you know the Playtest then you already know what I am refering to about the redandancies. I can see where the D&D Next design team are coming from for a few of their ideas like the Elves racial Traits and having them separate from the others since Humans don't have a passive like Wood Elf Grace they get Thief Sneaking. But Lightfoot Halflings get Natrually Stealthy which is exactly the same as Woodelf Grace AND Thief Sneaking or how Dwarves get Low Light Vision which is (again) excatlly what Evles get along with Night Vision.

Now I can't help but feel like Rogues are getting the short end of the stick here based on just the Character Creation process alone. I know I am speaking out of turn here with not having ever played, let alone battled in D&D to see it all the way through. But again seems kind of silly and to be quite frank...stupid. It is so distracting to me, it takes away from playing.

Like, where is the Backstab? or Pickpocket? Aside from the title, knowing that most of the other races have those rogue like options becuse of thier race (don't get me wrong it makes sense for them to have em), takes away from me being a rogue when pretty much anyone can do what I can if not better.

Another thing. Keen Senses and Spot are the samething along with "Find" and Remove Traps. Another thing that just seems like the short end of the stick, Why is it that my Keen Senses or Spot alone allow me to "Find" Traps? Why not just make it Traps ie. Making, Using and Removing Traps? At the moment I cannot think of a better opinion on Keen Senses and Spot. I'll touch that subject in the future when I have a better mind set on them.

In closing since I am running out of ideas atm. Rogues or Skills in general need more options for customsation or just have Rogues do what Rogues do, better. Adding little perks to seperate them from the Racials and redundancies to make the player feel like he is a Rogue and not have some Wizard Sneak along side with him taking away from the Rogue.

Thank you.
-Alex G.

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My First D&D combat

My first D&D, Rogues.