New Rogue here!

[Shabranigdo]

Total noobie Rogue here. I'm a long term player of the game, back when it was on Prodigy and such. I just recently got back into it, but I'm not too well informed on Rogues. I'm level 5 so far.

As I said, I know the game, I'm just not up to date on Rogue intricacies, so I have a few questions:

1. I want to be able to pick my own boxes all the time. I currently have 17 ranks of disarm/picking and I can't even pick level 3 boxes. I did purchase a mithril lockpick, and I was able to pick one hobgoblin box, but the pick broke on the next box of the same strength. Any idea what level I'll be able to always pick my own boxes? Also, I may be missing a few commands for picking/disarming. How does one normally look for traps and is there a way to find the strength of the lock before actually attempting to pick it?

2. I'm currently going OHE w/ shield. Any suggestions for a good OHE ambusher? I'm currently using a falchion.

3. Any suggestions what I'd hunt at 5 up to 20?

I'll post my stats and skills for people to comment on them.

Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 82 (16) ... 82 (16)
Constitution (CON): 71 (10) ... 71 (10)
Dexterity (DEX): 99 (29) ... 99 (29)
Agility (AGI): 72 (21) ... 72 (21)
Discipline (DIS): 63 (1) ... 63 (1)
Aura (AUR): 71 (10) ... 71 (10)
Logic (LOG): 61 (5) ... 61 (5)
Intuition (INT): 62 (6) ... 62 (6)
Wisdom (WIS): 70 (10) ... 70 (10)
Influence (INF): 25 (-7) ... 25 (-7)



Armor Use..........................| 35 7
Shield Use.........................| 35 7
Combat Maneuvers...................| 50 10
Edged Weapons......................| 58 12
Ambush.............................| 62 13
Physical Fitness...................| 30 6
Dodging............................| 25 5
Disarming Traps....................| 78 17
Picking Locks......................| 78 17
Stalking and Hiding................| 62 13
Perception.........................| 62 13
Climbing...........................| 10 2
Swimming...........................| 10 2
Pickpocketing......................| 10 2


I've played the game quite a length in the past, but like I said it's been so long since I've played that I might as well be a total noob. I hope someone can help.

[Gan]

Dont expect to be very successful picking until you're at least 20. If you keep at it, expect to miss a lot of traps and break a lot of picks.

If I were you, I would concentrate on hunting and working through your society at this point. Take your boxes to the east tower and get another rogue to pick them. Speak to them in guild speak and they'll usually pick them for free, professional courtesy. I know I do when I'm picking for younger rogues.

Shield/OHE will be your bread and butter for a while. Falchion is one of the best overall type of blades; however, for younger years I would probably switch over to longsword since the critters you're going after wont have much in the way of heavy armor (take advantage of the AvD that the longsword gives you against light armor/skin).

Dont forget that you can get into the guild at level 15. Work on your skills (sweep, gambits, cman, cheapshot, etc.) They'll help you with your hunting strategies.

Someone else should review your stats, I'm feeling too lazy to plug them into the spreadsheet to see how they'll look towards end game.

Everything else looks like you're on track for the time being.

What to hunt 5-20? Are you in the landing? Vaalor? IMT? Stick around town and work the newbie areas, best bet is stay around the populated areas since your chance of rescue will be better if you get nailed.

Also, get deeds. Temple still takes gems, as Hearthstone still takes wands.

Also stock up on pure potion, its a very handy thing to have as a swinging rogue. (see cleric tent in caravansary south of landing).

I'll add more thoughts later. Review some of the threads in the rogue folder here, lots of good ideas on rogue builds, strategies, etc.

[fallenSaint]

Like was mentioned picking pre 15-20ish is just a waste of money. 2x pick/disarm with the hopes of 403/404 will keep you roughly around your level not sure after the changes are implemented.

To check for traps you would disarm the container.

As far as measuring before testing the shiney lockpick you'll have to join the Guild at 15 and get to work on lock mastery as thats when you can use calipers.

OHE/Shield is a good plan to start, and as was mentioned longsword is great and when you get better at ambushing move to a dagger for the eye pokes. Archery is another good run for Rogues.

I'd stick with giant rats til 10, may seem boring but they swarm enough it moves along and doesnt give you so many bumps in the road lets you build up skills to use once you move on.

[Shabranigdo]

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention it was the Landing. It's the area I'm most familiar with, so I headed straight there when I started.

Thanks for the tips so far, they're really helpful!

[Jolena]

My rogue is a ambusher with OHE/Shield and she has used a falchion since she was around 15. Used a longsword before that, but I recommend a falchion for later use personally. Your plan looks solid, as well, and though I don't pick anymore due to preferring to have better hunting skills, I do remember that I didn't pick much at all until level 12 or so.

[Asha]

Double brawling, triple disarm, picking, perception. Single physical fitness, armor use and dodge and make up the rest with combat maneuvers.

Get your strength stat up if you still have the choice.
You can use the adventurers guild points to put them in their proper place later on in game.

[Gan]

See if you can get someone to get you a gleaming crystal-edged longsword. They are a weapon that the Ithzir carry in Illistim (OTF) and they are a natural +2 with nice feras like flares.

I'll put one up in my shop on the 4 winds island since I wont know when you'll be around. If you're a premie you can hop up and get it, or get someone to pick it up for you.

Both of my primary characters (Ganalon/Jaken) are in the landing currently so if you see me on this weekend (only time I usually have to play), look me up and I'll help you out with some starting gear from the rogue guild shop.

The link to my shop is in my signature below, and my IM is at the top of my post.

[Faent]

I think you should be able to pick fine with around fourty ranks of picking/disarm, so long as you have a decent dexterity score and bonus. If you're tripling, that means you can start at around level thirteen. Maybe a little sooner. With enough ranks, you can use a wavy glaes or kelyn lockpick, which will boost your max lock significantly. Triple perception to make sure you spot those traps.

[Shabranigdo]

See if you can get someone to get you a gleaming crystal-edged longsword. They are a weapon that the Ithzir carry in Illistim (OTF) and they are a natural +2 with nice feras like flares.

I'll put one up in my shop on the 4 winds island since I wont know when you'll be around. If you're a premie you can hop up and get it, or get someone to pick it up for you.

Both of my primary characters (Ganalon/Jaken) are in the landing currently so if you see me on this weekend (only time I usually have to play), look me up and I'll help you out with some starting gear from the rogue guild shop.

The link to my shop is in my signature below, and my IM is at the top of my post.

Looks like a nice weapon. I'd really appreciate some starting gear though, thanks! I'll most likely be on at all hours till Sunday. My character is the same name on here.

On a side note, is it still possible to join CoL in the Landing? I thought I read somewhere that you can only join it now in Solhaven and that other place.

Oh, oh! One last question! Is it possible, say at mid-20s or so, to get enough experience from solely picking boxes to get a level or two? Or would that be considerably slower than regular hunting?

[DrZaius]

Yup; I came back recently and was amused to find out that the Poomba attempted to assassinate the Mayor and have a coup. Solhaven would be a good place to look.

[Asha]

The Poohba did have the Mayor assasinated and I remember throwing rocks at his severed head stuck on the town gate.

[DrZaius]

Heh- I couldn't remember, happened over a year ago, and I was away at the time.

[Shabranigdo]

You settle into the difficult task of picking the lock.
You make a good attempt (d100=78).
You struggle with the coffer. As you do, you get a sense that the coffer has a very easy lock (-130 thief-lingo difficulty ranking). Then...CLICK! It opens!
As you push your lockpick into the lock mechanism, you hear a clicking noise coming from within an engraved maoral coffer. A tiny blood red insect with a large teardrop etched on its shell scuttles out of the locking mechanism and darts towards you!

A blood red teardrop-etched scarab clamps its tiny mandibles onto your left hand!
[You have just beaten your personal best lock of -105!]


I know I was warned, but for christ's sake, a scarab on a hobgoblin box? That one I didn't see coming.

[Gan]

Yup; I came back recently and was amused to find out that the Poomba attempted to assassinate the Mayor and have a coup. Solhaven would be a good place to look.


Find the haggred matron in the south part of Solhaven.


http://www.counciloflight.bravepages.com/sol.htm

[liquiddrool]

Currently a 16th train rogue here. Started picking around 11-12 and was able to spot most of the things I hunt, though I tend to underhunt a couple levels. As far as hunting I think I did orcs or something until around 14 where I went to gnoll thiefs and gnoll rangers(awesome loot). Was able to pick and disarm those boxes without a hitch and I only 2.5x picking skills. Now that I'm 16 starting to work on my Volning and just moved to Ta'Vaalor. If you're looking to CoL it's available here and Solhaven. Never been to Solhaven so I can't opionionate on that, Ta'Vaalor is nice though. Hopefully I'll master Voln then move to RR around title or so.

As far as picking DETECTing a box first does something, not sure if it helps you spot the traps better or not.

[AestheticDeath]

Detecting is different from disarm in that it wont attempt to disarm the trap, only locate it. Which means you should not be able to set the trap of if Detecting it.

Disarming twice is the normal method. Detect is a new, and somewhat useful verb.

[Gan]

Nice thing is that you can DETECT until you see the trap without accidentally tripping it unlike if you try to use DISARM multiple times.

Also see if you can get someone to get you a 402 item to use to aid in detection.

[AestheticDeath]

Also, dont pick in a public place, IE the east tower, or TSC, or anywhere else with people. Try to find a private table or something. At a young age you will miss more traps, and you dont want to miss the big ones around a crowd. Fines can be a pain in the ass, especially when you have no coins.

Scales, spheres and other such area affect traps are a good way to lose your coins and/or gear.

[Divinity]

Whoa, things couldn't have changed so much since I've been gone that you have to wait to pick your own boxes successfully until level 20.. has it? If so, jeebus, that blows.

Anyways, with my rogue I went blunt weapon and shield. With the ambushing and such, it was tons of fun to see the damage fly, especially when you get into the higher levels. <3 my morning stars

Edit to add: Take the above advice, pick at a table and someone will locate you for the raise. That and they'll have more access to your corpse.

[Gan]

Also, dont pick in a public place, IE the east tower, or TSC, or anywhere else with people. Try to find a private table or something. At a young age you will miss more traps, and you dont want to miss the big ones around a crowd. Fines can be a pain in the ass, especially when you have no coins.

Scales, spheres and other such area affect traps are a good way to lose your coins and/or gear.

Wiser words have not been spoken.

[Shabranigdo]

I need to say, I'm having a hard time figuring out what to hunt at lvl 6. I'm used to being able to overhunt right from the start, since my last character was a warrior. So far though I'm not able to do that, so I'm kind of limited in what I can go for.

I was hunting hobgoblins up until level 6, but they give so little exp now it's dreadfully boring. Any other suggestions? I tried thraks and manticores, but even those guys are just slightly out of my league.

[Gan]

Forest trolls, ogres around the caravansary. (Upper Trollfang?)

[Gan]

Did you get a chance to grab that crystal hafted longsword I threw in my shop for you?

Edited:

Never mind, you're already level 6.

[Izzy]

Forest trolls, ogres around the caravansary. (Upper Trollfang?)

These are gonna be way too tough at 6. Ogre's may die eaily, but they still swing two-handers with an AS in the 180's. Forest trolls take a long time to kill, and also sing in the 170's. (they're both level 14-16 ish, i think).

I'd suggest running to solhaven and killing stuff on the west road. Pretty decent loot (for low level stuff), and you can start your COL stuff down there, if thats the path you're going.

[Gan]

Cool, its been way too long since I had to hunt that level.

I guess he could run around ocoma vale, lacking anything else better.

I usually did rats/iron until 7, ( with a script ). Then I jumped straight into mants/thraks. But again, thats been a while.

[GuildRat]

Mine Road for lesser orcs or the burrows for greater burrow orcs. With a few spells you should be able to get past those with good exp and not get beat on too bad. After that, move to thraks and mants till 12'ish... then move into the Hanging Inn or Danjirland for hill trolls, cave trolls, war trolls, bears and the occasional grey orc.

After that you'll have plenty of places to hunt. One of my favorites was minotaurs, but be ready to depart alot unless you're in some good armor or good at dodging maneuvers. You'll want a decent TD there too. BTW, you'll need to have a 407 item or someone with you that can cast it.

[War Angel]

For level 6 hunting, vysans and red orcs, off the coastal cliffs outside the Landing got me to 8 painlessly.