FAQ

• Can I see some sample mechanics from the book?

  Sure.  In an effort to re-balance the Rogue with other mid-BAB classes, we will be propose adding the following two abilities to the Rogue class:

  Guile pool:  At 2nd level, a Rogue gains a Guile pool equal to half her rogue level plus her charisma modifier.
  
  A Rogue may spend one Guile point as part of any skill check to gain a +2 bonus to that skill check.
  
  A rogue may expend 1 point from her guile pool as a swift action to grant herself a +1 circumstantial bonus to her to-hit modifier until the end of her turn.  For every four levels beyond 2nd the rogue possesses, this bonus increases by 1 to a maximum of +5 at 18th level.
  
  As long as she has at least 1 point remaining in her guile pool, she is treated as if under the effects of the Improved Feint feat.
  
  
  
  Ambush:  At third level, whenever a rogue attacks a flat-footed opponent during a surprise round, he may designate one attack that round as an Ambush, dealing an amount of extra damage equal to his Rogue level if the attack is successful.
  
  In addition, the target of a successful Ambush must make a fortitude save against a DC of 10 + half the rogue’s level + the rogue’s dexterity modifier.  If the target fails this save, he becomes sickened for 1d4+1 rounds.  As a rogue gains levels, he may change the effect bestowed when the target fails this saving throw.  At 8th level, the rogue may choose to make his target staggered.  At 13th level, the rogue may make the target nauseated.  At 18th level, the rogue may stun the target.  All effects last for 1d4+1 rounds.

  Last updated: Friday Apr 6, 11:08am EDT
• Ok, so how about one of your new Archetypes?

  Sure, here's a new archetype for you to look over, complete with flavor text:

  IMPERIAL FLANKER

  Polish, polish, polish.  

  Alister remembered a time when his life was more than marching, military drills, and polishing his armor.  A time when he had spend his time with his students, teaching them the finer points of walking unseen.  Now all he did was march with an army that couldn’t sneak it’s way past a blind and deaf ogre in a tornado.  

  March, polish his armor, and listen to the Captain complain.

  “Burn that wizard!  Burn him and burn the ashes!”

  “Sir,” the Lieutenant said, “we could still try a frontal assault.  With enough of our own wizards shielding us–”

  “That’s exactly what he wants, don’t you see?” the Captain sputtered, wringing his own hair. “We’ll spend all our resources on the approach and have nothing left to throw at him when we arrive!”

  Poor Captain.  He’d dragged an army halfway across the country to hunt a rogue wizard, only to find the wizard had cleared the terrain around his fortress for over a mile in every direction.  Their target was known for raining fire on his enemies, and thus the warning was clear: approach and be destroyed.  The army had wizards of its own of course, each armed with scrolls and wands to counteract all sorts of magical attacks, but not enough to protect the men from aerial bombardment for a mile-long march.

  “Can’t the magic users do anything?” the Captain demanded, crouching over a diagram of the fortress they’d drawn in the dirt, “Is there a way to speed up our march or alter the terrain in our favor?”

  Alister set his breastplate down.

  “Sir,” he called, “It’s a lot easier than you think.”

  The Captain turned.  “Who is this?” he asked his Lieutenant.

  “Alister Greywar,” the Lieutenant said with disdain in his voice.  “He’s a thief caught a few months ago who’s here paying off his debt to the crown.”
  The Captain eyed Alister.  “A thief?”

  “Yes,” Alister said with a salute, “ and I retired from thievery and wanted my bounty removed. I wasn’t caught.”

  “Regardless,” the Captain said, waving the matter away, “what are you saying, soldier?”

  “His defences are designed for an army,” Alister said, stepping over and gesturing to the diagram.  “We’ll never get everyone across, but we don’t really need to.  A small team, say four or five, could sneak inside with nothing but a few invisibility spells.”

  The Captain paused for a moment.  “It wouldn’t work,” he said, more to himself than to Alister, “I’m sure he has defences to detect an invisible approach.”

  “I’ve robbed my fair share of wizards in the past, sir, and they’re much more easily fooled than you would think.  Even if the team is discovered on the approach, you’d be surprised how easy it is to dodge fireballs when you don’t have an unruly army getting in your way.”

  The Captain sat silently, contemplating.

  “Sir,” the Lieutenant said, “You’re not seriously considering the proposal of a thief?”

  The Captain cut him off with a gesture.  “And if you did get inside, soldier, what then?” he asked.  “How would such a small unit defeat such a powerful wizard?”

  Alister smiled.  “Sir, if all goes according to plan, that wizard won’t know we’re inside until I’ve already slit his throat.”

  Imperial Flanker

  A Rogue's skills aren’t only for forest scouts and underhanded criminals.  Militaries have need of such abilities as well, and many small combat units, commando teams and offensive squadrons contain those who specialize in precision strikes and flanking tactics. 

  Whether he is a thief drafted into military service or a soldier receiving specialized training, the Imperial Flanker is one who mixes roguish ability and military training to great effect.  While many Imperial Flankers may also be their unit’s horse thief, scout and saboteur, it is usually on the battlefield where an Imperial Flanker feels most at home.

  
  An Imperial Flanker is proficient with medium armor, shields, and all martial weapons.
  
  An Imperial Flanker adds ride and handle animal to his list of class skills, and gains 2 fewer skill points per level.
  
  Tactical Awareness (Ex):  At 1st level, an Imperial Flanker can always act in a surprise round even if he does not notice his enemies, though he remains flat-footed until he acts. In addition, an Imperial Flanker gains a bonus on initiative rolls equal to 1/2 his Rogue level. At 20th level, an Imperial Flanker’s initiative roll is automatically a natural 20.  
  
  (This replaces the Ambush class ability.)
  
  
  When an Imperial Flanker gains evasion, he keeps the benefits of evasion even when wearing medium armor.  At 7th level, an Imperial Flanker may move in medium armor without a detriment to his speed, and keeps the benefits of evasion when wearing any kind of armor.  At 13th level, he may move in any kind of armor without a detriment to his speed.
  
  (This modifies the Evasion class feature.)
  
  
  Fighter Training (Ex): An Imperial Flanker counts 1/2 his total Rogue level as his fighter level for the purpose of qualifying for feats. If he has levels in fighter, these levels stack.
  
  (This replaces Trapfinding.)
  
  
  An Imperial Flanker may select the combat trick rogue talent up to 3 times.
  
  (This replaces Trapsense.)

  Rogue Talents that complement this archetype: Armor Training, Assault Leader, Combat Trick, Resiliency, Weapon Training.

  Advanced Rogue Talents that complement this archetype: Opportunist, Defensive Roll, Crippling Strike, Improved Evasion, Unwitting Ally.

  Last updated: Monday Apr 2, 4:50pm EDT
• What is the purpose and meaning of life?

  42.

  Last updated: Friday Apr 6, 11:07am EDT