Rogue (5A)
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Rogues rely on skill, stealth, and their foes' vulnerabilities to get the upper hand in any situation. They have a knack for finding the solution to just about any problem, demonstrating a resourcefulness and versatility that is the cornerstone of any successful adventuring party.
Class Profile
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per rogue level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per rogue level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor.
- Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords, and scimitars. If 5A weapons are in use, add the sabre.
- Tools: Thieves' tools
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence.
- Skills: Choose four from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a rapier or (b) a shortsword.
- (a) a shortbow and quiver of 20 arrows, (b) a shortsword , (c) a light crossbow and a quiver of 20 bolts, or (d) a hand crossbow and a quiver of 20 bolts.
- (a) a burglar's pack, (b) dungeoneer's pack, or (c) an explorer's pack.
- Studded leather armor, two daggers, and thieves' tools.
Alternatively you can start with 4d4 x 10 gp or 100 gp.
Multiclassing
You must have a Dexterity of 13 to multiclass into or out of this class.
Multiclassing into the class gives you proficiency with light armor, one skill from the rogue skill list, and thieves' tools.
Rogue multiclassing gives no spellcasing progression, or one-third progression if you have a subclass with spell progression such as the Arcane Trickster.
Rogue Table
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Sneak Attack | Features |
| 1st | +2 | 1d6 | Expertise, Sneak Attack, Thieves' Cant |
| 2nd | +2 | 1d6 | Cunning Action, Limited Darkvision |
| 3rd | +2 | 2d6 | Roguish Archetype, Steady Aim |
| 4th | +2 | 2d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 5th | +3 | 3d6 | Uncanny Dodge, Ready Strike |
| 6th | +3 | 3d6 | Expertise |
| 7th | +3 | 4d6 | Evasion |
| 8th | +3 | 4d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 9th | +4 | 5d6 | Roguish Archetype feature |
| 10th | +4 | 5d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 11th | +4 | 6d6 | Reliable Talent |
| 12th | +4 | 6d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 13th | +5 | 7d6 | Roguish Archetype feature |
| 14th | +5 | 7d6 | Blindsense |
| 15th | +5 | 8d6 | Slippery Mind |
| 16th | +5 | 8d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 17th | +6 | 9d6 | Roguish Archetype feature |
| 18th | +6 | 9d6 | Elusive |
| 19th | +6 | 10d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 20th | +6 | 10d6 | Stroke of Luck |
Class Features
As a rogue, you gain the following class features.
Expertise
At 1st level, choose two of your skill, vehicle, or tool proficiencies. or one of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency with thieves' tools. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies (in skills or with thieves' tools) to gain this benefit.
Sneak Attack
Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe's distraction. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.
You don't need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn't incapacitated, and you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll.
The amount of the extra damage increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Sneak Attack column of the Rogue table.
Thieves' Cant
During your rogue training you learned thieves' cant, a secret mix of dialect, jargon, and code that allows you to hide messages in seemingly normal conversation. Only another creature that knows thieves' cant understands such messages. This allows you to slip in a message in Thieves' Cant into a normal conversation. It takes four times longer to convey such a message than it does to speak the same idea plainly.
In addition, you understand a set of secret signs and symbols used to convey short, simple messages, such as whether an area is dangerous or the territory of a thieves' guild, whether loot is nearby, or whether the people in an area are easy marks or will provide a safe house for thieves on the run. When in an urban environment or a place frequented by treasure hunters (such as many dungeons) you can use an Intelligence (Investigation) check to find such information.
Cunning Action
Starting at 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can be used only to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Limited Darkvision
At 2nd level you have developed your perception to such a degree that you can see in the dark. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Roguish Archetype
At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you emulate in the exercise of your rogue abilities. Your archetype choice grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 9th, 13th, and 17th level.
Steady Aim
At 3rd level, as a bonus action, you give yourself advantage on your next attack roll on the current turn. You can use this bonus action only if you haven't moved during this turn, and after you use the bonus action, your speed is 0 until the end of the current turn.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Uncanny Dodge
Starting at 5th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack's damage against you.
Ready Strike
At 5th levels you can always be ready for an opportunity to come up. Add Ready to the actions you can use with Cunning Action.
Evasion
Beginning at 7th level, you can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a Fireball spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
Reliable Talent
By 11th level, you have refined your chosen skills until they approach perfection. Whenever you make an ability check that lets you add your proficiency bonus, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Blindsense
Starting at 14th level, if you are able to hear, you have Blindsight with a range of 10 ft. are aware of the location of any hidden or invisible creature within 10 feet of you.
Slippery Mind
By 15th level, you have acquired greater mental strength. You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.
Elusive
Beginning at 18th level, you are so evasive that attackers rarely gain the upper hand against you. No attack roll has advantage against you while you aren't incapacitated.
Stroke of Luck
At 20th level, you have an uncanny knack for succeeding when you need to. If your attack misses a target within range, you can turn the miss into a hit. Alternatively, if you fail an ability check, you can treat the d20 roll as a 20.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Designer's Notes
I get the feeling that the entire rogue class and the subclasses in the PH were made at an early point in the design process, and the other classes then developed in a more powerful direction. The primary clue is found in Cunning Action "You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat." The implication is that bonus actions is something only rogues get.
I think this is the reason why rogues and rogue subclasses from the Player's Handbook are so weak: the other classes were developed later, when power standards were higher.
This revision has three major items.
First, all rogues get limited darkvision at level 2. This allows rogues of races that do not have darkvision to function as scouts in a dungeon, an essential function for a rogue.
Second, Ready Strike greatly improves the rogue's ability to act outside their own turn. Doing so potentially allows a second Sneak Attack in a round.
Third, Blindsense now gives actual blindsight. Since the location of an invisible creature is known until they take an action to Hide, which only rogues do in combat, the old ability basically did nothing.