Sword/Board Ambusher Training Review

[thendias]

I realize this build probably old hat, but I haven't seen any posts on it in a long time. I've recently come back, so I thought I'd get some input. I am wanting to use my fixskills prior to the new one coming around in May, and I would like some comments on this build to make sure I go in the right direction. I have previously been a picker/hunter ... but I am thinking it would be fun to move to a pure hunter that is practically a ghost.

Stats

Name: Thendias Race: Elf Profession: Rogue (not shown)
Gender: Male Age: 0 Expr: 2108031 Level: 44

Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 98 (24) ... 130 (40)
Constitution (CON): 79 (14) ... 79 (14)
Dexterity (DEX): 98 (29) ... 98 (29)
Agility (AGI): 97 (38) ... 97 (38)
Discipline (DIS): 79 (-1) ... 79 (-1)
Aura (AUR): 85 (22) ... 85 (22)
Logic (LOG): 69 (9) ... 69 (9)
Intuition (INT): 72 (11) ... 72 (11)
Wisdom (WIS): 84 (17) ... 84 (17)
Influence (INF): 54 (12) ... 54 (12)

CoL Master

Training Plan

Armor Use - 1.7x to 90 ranks
Shield Use - 1x
Edged Weapons - 2x
Combat Maneuvers - 2x
Ambush - 2x
Physical Fitness - 1.5x
Dodging - 2.5x (2x then move to 3x after completing armor training)
Stalking and Hiding - 3x
Appropriate climbing and swimming
Various utility stuff later in life

CMan

Current
wspec1 4
surge 4
focus 3
mobility 2
smastery 4

Future
vanish
cdefense
feint
divert
sstrike

Hunting Preferences


I prefer to overhunt slightly.
I don't plan on getting any magic.
I prefer to avoid undead and animals.
I prefer to hunt things with better dropped loot.

Current Gear

6x medium buckler, 5x brig, 4x dcw falchion


Questions


Any general input/comments/concerns with this build?
Armor - Brig with stealth spec vs. MBP with evasion spec? I think I'd prefer to be ghostly, but ultimately want the option that will prevent the most deaths.
Shield - Small vs medium. If small, is there still a way to convert shields?
Am I missing anything with 0x perception in this build?

[Aluvius]

You forgot the moaning and chain rattling training, at least 1x for life.

[DaCapn]

Heavier armor is still way better than light armor in terms of preventing deaths. And if you don't want spells, it's borderline absurd to be in anything below MBP if you can train for it.

With respect to priority of a few skills, I'd consider 1x AU, 1x PF, 2x hide, 2x dodge as base. I think 2x AU should be the first priority to get into MBP, 2x PF. Between dodge and hide it depends what you need most. And yeah, to not even 1x perception seems silly. 2x is good but you could probably do 1x.

For CMs, I'd suggest vanish over surge. And dirtkick is one of the best offensive CMs (if not the best for a rogue).

Cunning defense and focus always seemed expensive to me. For cunning defense, if you're getting hit with a ton of vastly different maneuvers and most of which you can't train in, it makes sense. As a rogue, that's typically not the case. Say there's 4 bandit CMs you're worried about (cutthroat, subdual strike, groin kick, and sucker punch). You can take 1 rank of each for 8 CMP total and it does the same as cunning defense would have otherwise with 20 CMP. With combat focus, you're getting a max of +10 TD. It's not zero, but that's a lot of points early on and typically, all it does is make a 150 endroll a 140 endroll.

[thendias]

Bump.

DaCapn, I appreciate the response. I was really hoping for more feedback too.