Rogue (Apath)
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Perceived as a weak class, the rogue has been spruced up.
Alternate Skill Bonuses
Rogues benefit from having alternate attribute modifiers to their skills; choose either one. This ability is free for rogues and available as the Alternate Skill Technique talent to others.
This should allow the rogue to focus more on a few attributes, reducing multi-attribute dependency.
| Skill (Subskill) | Normal Key Ability | Alternate Key Ability |
| Acrobatics | Dex | Str |
| Appraise | Int | Wis |
| Bluff | Cha | Int |
| Climb | Str | Dex |
| Craft (Smith of any kind) | Int | Str |
| Craft (Fermenting) | Int | Wis |
| Craft (Any other) | Int | Dex |
| Diplomacy | Cha | Wis |
| Disable Device | Dex | Int |
| Disguise | Cha | Wis |
| Escape Artist | Dex | Con |
| Fly | Dex | Con |
| Handle Animal | Cha | Wis |
| Heal | Wis | Int |
| Intimidate | Cha | Str |
| Knowledge | Int | Wis |
| Linguistics | Int | Wis |
| Perception | Wis | Int |
| Perform (comedy, dance, keyboard, string) | Cha | Dex |
| Perform (act, percussion, oratory, wind, sing) | Cha | Con |
| Profession (courtesan, gambler, innkeeper) | Wis | Cha |
| Profession (farmer, miner, soldier, woodcutter) | Wis | Str |
| Profession (other) | Wis | Int |
| Ride | Dex | Cha |
| Sense Motive | Wis | Cha |
| Sleight of Hand | Dex | Cha |
| Spellcraft | Int | Wis |
| Stealth | Dex | Con |
| Survival | Wis | Con |
| Swim | Str | Con |
| Use Magic Device | Cha | Int |
- You can't add the same ability score to a particular skill twice. This limits the combinations with effects like the Intimidating Prowess feat.
- A skill that changes what attribute it is connected to is counted as a skill of the new attribute when making skill checks, but not for other purposes. See Paizo errata. Note that a skill that has a primary key attribute that is Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution suffers from armor check penalties, even if used with another attribute as an alternate key ability. An effect (such as rage) that prevents the use of skills tied to a certain attribute always refers to the original attribute of the skill.
- Skills with several subskills (Craft, Knowledge, Perform and Profession) have certain subskills with different alternate key abilities. If a specific subskill has a different alternate key ability, you cannot use it with the common alternate key ability.
Sneak Attack
Taking a bigger view of Sneak Attack, the motivation for this ability lies in the hit point mechanic. Rogues are to be back-alley men and should be able to do things like knock others unconscious with a sap. The hit point mechanic makes this impossible to do. Enter sneak attack, which partially counters the hit point mechanic and lets a high-level rogue have a similar chance of knocking out a high-level opponent that a low-level rogue has of knocking out a low-level opponent.
A rogue can sneak attack any target, including one that has any degree of concealment or is immune critical hits. Only defenses that specifically mention sneak attack work.
Rogue Talents
Many rogue talents have been consolidated or modified. The current table can be found here: Rogue Talents.
Optional Rule: Skill Point Compensation
If using the common (around here) option to give all characters 2 additional skill points per level, rouges get a small boost to compensate for the lessened uniqueness of their large number of skill points.
With this option, a rogue gets an additional advanced talent at level 5.
External Links
- Revised Rogue talents - these are not in play but good inspiration.
- Rogue Eidolon's Guide to Rogues
- More swagger than you're comfortable with - A Guide to the Rogue by kcmorris
- Death from the Shadow A Guide to the Ninja by Jb200 - Ninja are almost-rogues.