I am creating a Half-Elf Rogue Spy character. The Spy Background gives the Deception and Stealth skills. That leaves 6 skills to choose. I would consider Perception as a given. What do you consider the 5 Best skills for a spy and why? Thank you.
Persuasion - Sometimes you are trying get someone to do you a favour
Insight - You will want to know how well you are doing Persuading or Deceiving someone, or how someone is disposed to something or other
Sleight of Hand - Stealing keys, lifting documents, planting evidence
Those, together with Perception and Stealth, are key. I would also encourage you to consider the Urchin or Entertainer background in order to get proficiency with Disguise Kit. You can still pick up the other skill proficiencies through Rogue. Entertainer can open social doors that you might otherwise have difficulty getting through.
You might also consider going High Half Elf in order to get a Cantrip, for which I would take Minor Illusion. That will cost you skill proficiencies, but perhaps you don't need all of them.
You will probably go Arcane Trickster, but Swashbucklers can also make good spies, and they like CHR. Panache and Expertise in Persuasion is broken in social situations.
Going strong on CHR will make a Bard or Sorcerer multiclass attractive down the road.
The Actor Feat, in addition to giving you +1 CHR, makes you a master of disguise, something to consider when you get an ASI.
Thank you for your input. I guess I should have given more information to make everything clear. I can only go single class, so multiclassing with Bard is out unfortunately. I will be taking arcane trickster which will give me 3 more skills and also some spells to enhance or aid skills such as disguise self. I took the Spy background for the contacts. Using the Customizing a background rules I changed out gaming set and Thieves' tools for Disguise and Forgery kits since I already get Thieves' Tools from Rogue anyway. I will be playing in the Harn setting and specifically the city of Tashal. A lot of political intrigue there so charisma skills will be useful. I see myself as a spy for hire. Maybe to the current regime or maybe it's to another faction wanting to usurp power.
Agreed on Perception, Persuasion, Insight, and Sleight of Hand. I think Investigation is also critical for a spy.
Your sixth skill could go a few ways. Do you want Athletics to outrun your enemies when things go bad? Acrobatics for maneuvering over rooftops? History or Region could be useful to suss out the motives of political rivals. Maybe you want Survival to better navigate the city, or maybe you want Intimidation for those tragic times when you just can't bring someone around to your side politely. It really depends on what kind of character you want to play.
For my part, I prefer my characters always have at least one knowledge skill, so I would probably take History. But I think almost any option is good for a Rogue. That's the nice thing about skill-heavy classes; you can really make them whatever you want.
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I am creating a Half-Elf Rogue Spy character. The Spy Background gives the Deception and Stealth skills. That leaves 6 skills to choose. I would consider Perception as a given. What do you consider the 5 Best skills for a spy and why? Thank you.
Those, together with Perception and Stealth, are key. I would also encourage you to consider the Urchin or Entertainer background in order to get proficiency with Disguise Kit. You can still pick up the other skill proficiencies through Rogue. Entertainer can open social doors that you might otherwise have difficulty getting through.
You might also consider going High Half Elf in order to get a Cantrip, for which I would take Minor Illusion. That will cost you skill proficiencies, but perhaps you don't need all of them.
You will probably go Arcane Trickster, but Swashbucklers can also make good spies, and they like CHR. Panache and Expertise in Persuasion is broken in social situations.
Going strong on CHR will make a Bard or Sorcerer multiclass attractive down the road.
The Actor Feat, in addition to giving you +1 CHR, makes you a master of disguise, something to consider when you get an ASI.
Thank you for your input. I guess I should have given more information to make everything clear. I can only go single class, so multiclassing with Bard is out unfortunately. I will be taking arcane trickster which will give me 3 more skills and also some spells to enhance or aid skills such as disguise self. I took the Spy background for the contacts. Using the Customizing a background rules I changed out gaming set and Thieves' tools for Disguise and Forgery kits since I already get Thieves' Tools from Rogue anyway. I will be playing in the Harn setting and specifically the city of Tashal. A lot of political intrigue there so charisma skills will be useful. I see myself as a spy for hire. Maybe to the current regime or maybe it's to another faction wanting to usurp power.
Agreed on Perception, Persuasion, Insight, and Sleight of Hand. I think Investigation is also critical for a spy.
Your sixth skill could go a few ways. Do you want Athletics to outrun your enemies when things go bad? Acrobatics for maneuvering over rooftops? History or Region could be useful to suss out the motives of political rivals. Maybe you want Survival to better navigate the city, or maybe you want Intimidation for those tragic times when you just can't bring someone around to your side politely. It really depends on what kind of character you want to play.
For my part, I prefer my characters always have at least one knowledge skill, so I would probably take History. But I think almost any option is good for a Rogue. That's the nice thing about skill-heavy classes; you can really make them whatever you want.