Fixskill my rogue

[waywardgs]

Looking for some advice on what to do with my rogue. Sick of dying to warding checks and I'd like to be able to hunt self spelled. I'm open to any suggestions at this point. It's a spell-heavy build but I'm not adverse to changing that up. Wearing robes currently but I could get into full plate if I dropped 425 down to 414 and still get 107... dunno. Thoughts? Suggestions? GoS, by the way, and currently hunting OTF but am looking to possibly move to the rift.

(at level 96), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Two Weapon Combat..................| 5 1
Armor Use..........................| 130 35
Combat Maneuvers...................| 198 98
Brawling...........................| 296 196
Ambush.............................| 296 196
Physical Fitness...................| 296 196
Dodging............................| 362 262
Arcane Symbols.....................| 134 37
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Harness Power......................| 128 34
Stalking and Hiding................| 296 196
Perception.........................| 196 96
Climbing...........................| 140 40
Swimming...........................| 140 40
First Aid..........................| 40 8
Pickpocketing......................| 234 134

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 25

Skill name Mnemonic Ranks
Garrote garrote 4
Combat Mobility mobility 2
Evade Mastery emastery 3
Punch Mastery punchmastery 2
Slippery Mind slipperymind 3

Available Combat Maneuver Training Points: 3

[cwolff]

Have you looked at focus? +10 generic TD.

[waywardgs]

Not a bad idea. thanks!

[DaCapn]

I think TWC/brawl was fixed such that 1 rank was no longer a threshold for DS benefits (maybe I'm wrong, just something to think about).

Having considered robes, I use doubles. I'll admit to having not tried robes but if you look at the numbers at all, it's hard to argue for them over doubles (which is an 8-point swing on warding rolls). Assuming you don't want to go ranged, you should really fit vanish into your build. A possibility would be to migrate your MnE ranks from 425 down to 414 for CM, drop garrotte, and take smastery, vanish, and dirtkick as far as you can. In the worst-case scenario you can fit 30 ranks of CM for those points (only losing 15 AS max, all other spells are essentially useless).

If you die a lot to warding rolls, vanish will keep you in the open less (this won't always help but this is a step in the right direction), and dirtkick (the best offensive CM for rogues) can help you manage spell casting enemies somewhat (stance-independent, swinging enemies can be ignored for a bit).

I'm a bit out of touch with the warding difficulties (based on playing a halfling and my hunting practices) but also, it sounds like you could sacrifice a bit of dodging. It's pretty spendy and if DS while in defensive isn't a major concern, you've only to gain by sacrificing it.

[Rhovan]

I never hunted OTF myself, but as for the Rift at 96, you'll soon be on plane 4. A high TD is a good thing there since hunting cerebralites is a pain without it. If you can get it up, you don't really have to worry about the crusader's spells either. Focus is a great combat maneuver, so fit in at least 3 ranks of it. Make sure you keep Sigil of Focus running during a hunt too. Heavy armor is always great, but you might not need it since you already have invested in spells. If you really need a boost, try getting a few enhancives too. My adv guild badge boosts my wisdom just for the TD.

Since you are so close, I'd say keep your spells and go up to 430. The AS from 425 is great to have and 430 gives 15 to DS all the time (including when you are stunned or immobilized hunting crawlers), so I think sacrificing dodge to get it would be worthwhile. As a bonus, it improves your TD too. 15 to elemental and 7 to spiritual isn't shabby.

[waywardgs]

What about the rift/scatter being self-cast only? Wouldn't 107 be better generally? Or should I go for 430?

[Rhovan]

There is a pool that will strip anything but self-cast spells on the way to the Rift. You might be able to ring past it though (I just hunt self-spelled so I don't worry about it). The Rift itself will continually strip non-native spells though, so people generally talk about it being self-cast. It is possible to have someone else give you 100's just outside the Rift or use an item. Since a rogue CAN learn the spell, it won't be stripped. 430 is only self-cast, so getting it yourself is the only way you can get it (excluding rather rare items).

You could also just buy a deed and head up. Get a better idea what you are facing up there and what holes you need to patch with how you hunt. Just make sure you are hidden or kill the vaespilons fast on plane 5 (Plane 5, oddly, is a lower lever hunting ground than plane 4). They can send you back to town rather quickly.

[top shottah]

What about the rift/scatter being self-cast only? Wouldn't 107 be better generally? Or should I go for 430?

101, 103 & 107 are easier to find on scrolls. I'd recommend getting to 430. You can always invoke Spirit Defense & Blues off a scroll.

If you could find a willing sorc to imbed 120 for you in a few wands, that would also boost your TD. Rogues can cast that, so you won't get it stripped off you during your hunt.