I like Masterminds because they can justify the over-the-top roleplay of the other characters and let them all get away with it! It's a thankless job, but it's gotta be done lmao
Arcane Trickster for the reason that this is my only Tier2 character at the moment. Seeing Swashbuckler as the favorite, I'll try to create and play as one soon.
I have a couple of each just so I don't have to choose! My top three are probably the swashbuckler, arcane trickster, and thief. I like the swashbuckler for playing scoundrels (anyone remember the Complete Scoundrel from 3.5?) that aren't necessarily thieves. The arcane trickster has a lot of versatility which allows the rogue to still be useful in cases when resistances or immunities make combat difficult for the rogue skillset. And of course, I just like the sneaky, purloining ways of the thief.
I don't read the SCAG yet, but based on what I read from the PHB and UA I say... I can't decide which one is the best rogue archetype! I like very much the rp and concept of the Swashbuckler (from UA Waterborne), Assassin is the classic archetype focused on damage, and I think Arcane Trickster is very fun. So the group and the game/campaign style influence my choice
Swashbuckler all the way. I love being the party face and rp-ing all over the place, so this has me written all over it. Also, if charisma benefits me mechanically, all the better.
Also, I don't know how many of you watch/listen to Acquisitions Incorporated, but Viari is my man. The catchphrase, the inventive solutions, the chandeliers. Awesome. With how he's roleplayed and his general aesthetic, I was surprised to learn he's not a swashbuckler.
That being said, I have not seen any published archetype I wouldn't play and love.
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A professional engineer and amateur writer who has played D&D since 2015 (started with 5e) and has been a DM more than a player. When I'm not playing god I'm usually your friendly neighborhood rogue.
has anyone done anything with multiclassing within the rogue archtype? There seems to be a lot of skills that would combine to make a pretty epic character. I figure that Jarakle falls into this type of character with, his flamboyance of a swashbuckler, a mastermind for sure, and his love of all things magical, arcane Trickster.
I've never played a Rogue myself but I have a friend starting to put levels in Rogue after going in pretty far as a plain ol' Sorcerer. I'm not sure it's very good in terms of power-play, if that's your thing, but we think it will be fun. They intend to go Rogue 3 and pick Swashbuckler. Expertise, Cunning Action, and if they need to Disengage now then they can simply take the attack option if it's only one monster destroying them, then Cunning Action a Dash or a Hide still too. Or just cast a spell, then Cunning Action disengage. Sneak Attack on lone targets too for those fancy disengages - or when afflicted by Silence. Plus their Charisma is already at stratospheric levels, adding it to their Initiative is a big bonus. As said, not perfect but fun and appropriate for their shady background.
I've been tempted to theorycraft my own Mastermand/Something for potential future use. Just play the other class relatively normally with a few Rogue extras - then on their Bonus Action use Help and try to boss them about. Perhaps an Ediwn-type Wizard standing at the back and being a pest. "That one! Get that one!" [Tooltip Not Found]
I love Mastermind, Swashbuckler and Arcane Trickster.
My character Black Eyed Susan is currently a Rogue 1, she's a Charlatan (really a noble, but in exile and on hard times).There is a family legacy involving a Pact with either the Seeker, the Raven Queen or the Undying Light. Susan wants to take some levels in Warlock (not just for Devils Sight and other invocations) but for spells which would help her get into places that are meant to be hard to get into- Spider Climb, Misty Step, Fly, Invisibility etc
I want her to be a Mastermind to help the party, or Arcane Trickster (to help herself), although Swashbuckler would be also cool.
Been playing around with the idea of possibly playing a Swashbuckler with a dip into Weapon Master Fighter for an Errol Flynn master Swordsman dashing rogue type. Could be fun.
Mastermind for me, it allows me to play someone who fights smarter rather than harder which is quite nice since my last few characters were standard strength based melee characters (even my 3.5 cleric who only rolled a 12 strength, but would often cast extended bull's strength on self so he could fake it, even if he was the biggest klutz in armor with a whopping 5 dexterity).
I like Swashbuckler and Arcane Trickster for how they mesh with both party members and multiclass, but I'll give the edge to Swashbuckler as a preferred standalone archetype.
I don't know about it being the de facto best archetype but my favorite is Arcane Trickster with vanilla Thief in close second. I usually like to go dual wielding daggers and hand crossbows with my rogues but the 5e Arcane Trickster presents a lot cool options, especially at higher levels. Although, Mage Hand Legerdemain at 3rd level is also quite a boon during the early levels. I'm quickly falling in love with my Kenku Arcane Trickster.
I also ought to give some respect to the Assassin archetype. I have a player in my Curse of Strahd group (that I DM) who's playing a Human Assassin and using their archetype features to make some very interesting plays. He pretty much single-handedly destabilized the social hierarchy in Vallaki by assassinating the burgomaster and Lady Wachter (kind of). Which has opened up a lot of cool possible plot points that aren't accounted for in the Curse of Strahd book. I can't wait for the party to return to Vallaki because they pretty much peaced out of the village on the night of the burgomaster's assassination. Things may have gone from bad to worse because, let's face it, that's the way it always is in Barovia.
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Swashbuckler - it's not about the stats, it's all about the over-the-top fun roleplay! :)
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I like Masterminds because they can justify the over-the-top roleplay of the other characters and let them all get away with it! It's a thankless job, but it's gotta be done lmao
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Wary the wizard who focuses on homebrew, for he can create nightmares that you wouldn't even dream of
Swashbuckler, for the mechanics.
I like never having to Disengage. Run in, attack, run out.
Arcane Trickster for the reason that this is my only Tier2 character at the moment. Seeing Swashbuckler as the favorite, I'll try to create and play as one soon.
I have a couple of each just so I don't have to choose! My top three are probably the swashbuckler, arcane trickster, and thief. I like the swashbuckler for playing scoundrels (anyone remember the Complete Scoundrel from 3.5?) that aren't necessarily thieves. The arcane trickster has a lot of versatility which allows the rogue to still be useful in cases when resistances or immunities make combat difficult for the rogue skillset. And of course, I just like the sneaky, purloining ways of the thief.
I don't read the SCAG yet, but based on what I read from the PHB and UA I say... I can't decide which one is the best rogue archetype! I like very much the rp and concept of the Swashbuckler (from UA Waterborne), Assassin is the classic archetype focused on damage, and I think Arcane Trickster is very fun. So the group and the game/campaign style influence my choice
Note: Mastermind sounds great
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Swashbuckler all the way. I love being the party face and rp-ing all over the place, so this has me written all over it. Also, if charisma benefits me mechanically, all the better.
Also, I don't know how many of you watch/listen to Acquisitions Incorporated, but Viari is my man. The catchphrase, the inventive solutions, the chandeliers. Awesome. With how he's roleplayed and his general aesthetic, I was surprised to learn he's not a swashbuckler.
That being said, I have not seen any published archetype I wouldn't play and love.
A professional engineer and amateur writer who has played D&D since 2015 (started with 5e) and has been a DM more than a player. When I'm not playing god I'm usually your friendly neighborhood rogue.
Sorry, but my favorite archetype isn't here, Scout. http://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/2017_01_UA_RangerRogue_0117JCMM.pdf
has anyone done anything with multiclassing within the rogue archtype? There seems to be a lot of skills that would combine to make a pretty epic character. I figure that Jarakle falls into this type of character with, his flamboyance of a swashbuckler, a mastermind for sure, and his love of all things magical, arcane Trickster.
I've never played a Rogue myself but I have a friend starting to put levels in Rogue after going in pretty far as a plain ol' Sorcerer. I'm not sure it's very good in terms of power-play, if that's your thing, but we think it will be fun. They intend to go Rogue 3 and pick Swashbuckler. Expertise, Cunning Action, and if they need to Disengage now then they can simply take the attack option if it's only one monster destroying them, then Cunning Action a Dash or a Hide still too. Or just cast a spell, then Cunning Action disengage. Sneak Attack on lone targets too for those fancy disengages - or when afflicted by Silence. Plus their Charisma is already at stratospheric levels, adding it to their Initiative is a big bonus. As said, not perfect but fun and appropriate for their shady background.
I've been tempted to theorycraft my own Mastermand/Something for potential future use. Just play the other class relatively normally with a few Rogue extras - then on their Bonus Action use Help and try to boss them about. Perhaps an Ediwn-type Wizard standing at the back and being a pest. "That one! Get that one!" [Tooltip Not Found]
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My homebrew: [Subclasses] [Races] [Feats] [Discussion Thread]
I love Mastermind, Swashbuckler and Arcane Trickster.
My character Black Eyed Susan is currently a Rogue 1, she's a Charlatan (really a noble, but in exile and on hard times).There is a family legacy involving a Pact with either the Seeker, the Raven Queen or the Undying Light. Susan wants to take some levels in Warlock (not just for Devils Sight and other invocations) but for spells which would help her get into places that are meant to be hard to get into- Spider Climb, Misty Step, Fly, Invisibility etc
I want her to be a Mastermind to help the party, or Arcane Trickster (to help herself), although Swashbuckler would be also cool.
Been playing around with the idea of possibly playing a Swashbuckler with a dip into Weapon Master Fighter for an Errol Flynn master Swordsman dashing rogue type. Could be fun.
Mastermind for me, it allows me to play someone who fights smarter rather than harder which is quite nice since my last few characters were standard strength based melee characters (even my 3.5 cleric who only rolled a 12 strength, but would often cast extended bull's strength on self so he could fake it, even if he was the biggest klutz in armor with a whopping 5 dexterity).
that would be very cool
I like Swashbuckler and Arcane Trickster for how they mesh with both party members and multiclass, but I'll give the edge to Swashbuckler as a preferred standalone archetype.
I don't know about it being the de facto best archetype but my favorite is Arcane Trickster with vanilla Thief in close second. I usually like to go dual wielding daggers and hand crossbows with my rogues but the 5e Arcane Trickster presents a lot cool options, especially at higher levels. Although, Mage Hand Legerdemain at 3rd level is also quite a boon during the early levels. I'm quickly falling in love with my Kenku Arcane Trickster.
I also ought to give some respect to the Assassin archetype. I have a player in my Curse of Strahd group (that I DM) who's playing a Human Assassin and using their archetype features to make some very interesting plays. He pretty much single-handedly destabilized the social hierarchy in Vallaki by assassinating the burgomaster and Lady Wachter (kind of). Which has opened up a lot of cool possible plot points that aren't accounted for in the Curse of Strahd book. I can't wait for the party to return to Vallaki because they pretty much peaced out of the village on the night of the burgomaster's assassination. Things may have gone from bad to worse because, let's face it, that's the way it always is in Barovia.