Back after 7 years, need some training advice

[Sadumon]

So I'm back after 7 years, and I only played a couple months then (after GSIV was released). I don't have stat change available -- do I have the fixskills from last year even though my account was just activated today?

Anyway, when I played last I was a OHE hiding ambusher that also did some lockpicking and had some spells to boot. I still like the attacking from hiding, and I want to be able to open my own boxes, too.

Here's my current stats/skills at level 25:



Name: Jefferrey Kazenicus Race: Half-Elf Profession: Rogue (not shown)
Gender: Male Age: 42 Expr: 726300 Level: 25
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 85 (17) ... 85 (17)
Constitution (CON): 78 (14) ... 78 (14)
Dexterity (DEX): 89 (24) ... 89 (24)
Agility (AGI): 87 (28) ... 87 (28)
Discipline (DIS): 60 (0) ... 60 (0)
Aura (AUR): 94 (22) ... 94 (22)
Logic (LOG): 73 (11) ... 73 (11)
Intuition (INT): 83 (16) ... 83 (16)
Wisdom (WIS): 64 (7) ... 64 (7)
Influence (INF): 39 (0) ... 39 (0)
Mana: 18



Skills:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 111 27
Shield Use.........................| 140 40
Combat Maneuvers...................| 111 27
Edged Weapons......................| 154 54
Ambush.............................| 154 54
Physical Fitness...................| 111 27
Dodging............................| 154 54
Arcane Symbols.....................| 20 4
Harness Power......................| 20 4
Disarming Traps....................| 153 53
Picking Locks......................| 154 54
Stalking and Hiding................| 154 54
Perception.........................| 111 27
Climbing...........................| 50 10
Swimming...........................| 25 5

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 6

I'm rank 19 in Voln, but without any brawling training I'm not sure how useful that really is. I'd consider switching to another society if it would benefit me.

Not sure if I should scale back on the spells to just 404, stay at 406, or go all the way to 410.

I also have no idea on the cman and armor skills, or which ones to choose there, and it's been so long since I stepped in the rogue's guild I forget everything about it there as well...so I'd appreciate any help people are offering in getting my character back on his feet.

[Fallen]

If you're not planning on using Fu (which requires brawling) I would switch to COL for the AS/DS/TD, or do some reading on the new society, Guardians of Sunfist, and see if that would interest you. Your skills aren't all that terrible. If you feel like you need points to raise up your AS via Combat maneuvers (Which NO LONGER gives DS, BTW), you could certainly drop down to 404. With lock/trap lores, I'm fairly sure you should be fine in opening anything you can find on your own with your current skills.

Make sure you use a buckler if you mean to get the most out of your dodge training. If you don't mean to cast in the field, figure out what armor you want to get into. I imagine you're in brig now, which will work for a hiding build, but just be careful about being caught in the open. You will also want to start getting your Physical Fitness up to atleast 1x. PF determines the amount of stamina you have, which is used to power active CMANs, both guild learned and CM gained. It also helps with Maneuver defense, as well as general climbing/swimming checks.

As for what CMANs to train in (not counting the guild), I would suggest Shadow Mastery if you like ambush hunting. It speeds up your hiding and sneak RT, and helps you remain hidden. It is stamina intensive. Other definite consideration are CMANs Vanish and Divert. Divert allows you to trick one creature to leave the room while you're in hiding. Vanish allows you to hide while you're still in RT, but NOT while stunned. Still, very useful but VERY stamina intensive.

As for guild stuff, I will leave that to actual rogues. Best of luck, and welcome back.

[Middian]

Silent Strike is a great CMAN for an ambusher (allows you to attack and stay hidden). Works well when there is more than one foe in the room. Cripple one with silent strike and ambush the other, rinse repeat. Silent Strike in conjunction with Shadow Mastery is wonderful. Cunning Defense is nice for bandits (aids against CMAN attacks), Combat Mobility is great and it can be maxed at only rank 2 (Instantly moves you to standing, when attacked), while not in rate, when you are lying down or kneeling.

I agree with Fallen on the Voln issue. The "main attraction" that Voln offers for a non-brawler would be the step 25 fog for you and your group. If this does not entice you, I would switch societies.

To check if you have fixskills, type “fixskill”.

In regards to spells. I would state what Fallen has said, make a decision and build from there.

I personally kept 1x in dodge, 3x in hide and got my armor skill up high enough for Metal Breast Plate (MBP). I rarely get hit being in the shadows with silent strike.
All in all, pick your style you see yourself playing and go from there.

PM if you have any questions.

[DaCapn]

Combat mobility is awesome. I'd definitely recommend it.

I always liked dirt kick as an offensive maneuver since it's stance independent.

[Gibreficul]

Reroll. I know it sounds a little harsh, but after such a long time away, grinding the lower levels will really get you back into your groove. That'll let you have 30 days to mess with skills, and up to 6 stat allocations in those 30 days... It is totally possible to get to level 25 in those 30 days too. If that's not an option in your world, well, I suggest CoL or GoS. At this point, it's probably easier for you to master GoS unless you hire someone to skin for ya. It's really easy in the 30 day instant skill migration to pick up skinning ranks when you need them, and drop them away when you don't.

[Sadumon]

In my skills info it says something about "you have 30 days in your current migration period which will begin when you first degrade a skill" or something like that -- does that mean I have the instant skill migrations for those 30 days? On the other character I had just rolled I had that, but I thought that was unrelated to the instant migrations.

Because I played a wizard up to 20 with my free trial, I think I've gotten the hang again. Going out and hunting a couple times with my rogue makes me think I'll do alright hunting.

If I do have the skill migration, then I'll probably go full skin mode to get through CoL as quickly as possible and then switch back.

[DaCapn]

That messaging doesn't have anything to do with quick migration of skills. Basically, if you have doubts about your stats, it's worth it to re-roll. Otherwise, just migrate skills slowly or fixskills to whatever is appropriate.