I'm interested in playing a fighter/rogue, and I'm looking for some build advice so I'm not completely terrible in combat. Heavier in rogue than fighter (I'm considering rogue 3/fighter2/possibly assassin if I can successfully kill anyone). Am I better off taking weapon finesse and using a lighter weapon (likely a rapier, if anything for flavor) or pumping points into strength and using a big two handed weapon for the damage? Chances are, I won't be using a shield.

I'm considering putting 14 points in strength, dexterity, intelligence, and charisma.

What feats do you suggest? Am I better off going with strength or dexterity? Are any skills particularily useful in the world of EfU?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Well give us some background first, is he a thief or not ect?

Deepfang would say something like, "Is thinking man wants to succeed in life by OOC planning." :roll:

:? Just go with your gut, Scaley. Don't consult others for your character. I'm sure you can make a great Swashbuckler.

Man... Swashbuckler. That is such a cool title!

I'm only asking for advice because I know very little about build mechanics and I'm looking for advice about what's useful.

He's not really much of a thief. He's more like a diplomat with a fair amount of weapons training who advances his schemes by killing off his rivals personally.

Than he would be more dexterous to me, you don't see that many big muscle guys giving great speeches.

Dex fighter with dodge, mobility, high ac from dex, probably go with a halfling or gnome if you really want a dex based melee character, wep finness a must. I would only go 2 levels or so in fighter, and stick with the rogue as main class..you could also make him a straight rogue, highly effective as dex melee builds, with wicked sneak attacks at higher levels, but to answer your question, 2 fighter, rest in rogue, for a dex base, flip it for a str based melee char. From what you listed thou, diplomat, etc,,dex based heavy on the rogue (and skill points) seems to be the build direction for you. Hope this helps. Remember well balanced build usually lasts longer then the min max in the long run, not that you would min/max.

If you want to go with a strength-based character, you'll want either a weapon focus or at least 16 strength. 2/3/X Fighter/Rogue/Assassin is a good idea, actually. Keep the Intelligence up. Maybe even do the Improved Disarm with a two-handed weapon deal.

I vote strength.

Scalebane7676 I'm considering putting 14 points in strength, dexterity, intelligence, and charisma.

That's pretty solid all around, stick with the 14 STR base and build it up to 16 by lvl 8, that leaves 4 ranks extra to put into another attribute instead of the 4 points it would take just to pump your strength from 14-16 upon creation. It sounds like your opting for the leather type of rogue/fighter as opposed to the wololol rogue/fighter in full plate. Go for the two handed weapon unless you're hellbent that a rapier is the ultimate flavor for your PC, With 16 STR take knockdown over Imp Disarm, it's havoc, saves a feat more than what Imp disarm would and is useful to any party your in, to stealth through minions and Sneak attack/KD that horrid mage before it unleashes elemental doom upon your allies is pretty swell. Skill wise I'd suggest the standard, Hide/MS, UMD and for fun at least 2 of the social skills. Higher damage and a somewhat decent melee build is far better than a dexterity based finesse Assassin or Rogue especially when they are losing d6's of SA damage by taking up fighter levels.

Catch me on IRC for a chat, mate. I never liked making long posts about these sorts of things.

I'd say to go for 15 STR and 13 DEX and expand to 16 STR at 4 and 14 DEX at 8. The +3 modifier of STR adds a very noticeable increase to damage when you're using a two-handed weapon. As well, maybe try and squeeze in some points in Set Trap; I'm not sure on the DCs for setting the different levels/types of trap but they're a very useful addition to PvP as an assassin.

Scalebane7676 I'm only asking for advice because I know very little about build mechanics and I'm looking for advice about what's useful.

He's not really much of a thief. He's more like a diplomat with a fair amount of weapons training who advances his schemes by killing off his rivals personally.

What?! I was just planning to make the exact same character, only he would be a bit old and senile and bumbling, and wouldn't be so eager to kill people himself, more of a spy, really, but still!

Rogue level first for bonus skill points. Dirty Fighting is good if you don't think you'll ever get to Level 7.

That's all I can look for in particular. It really really just depends on what exactly you hope to be able to do, and what your character is like.

Kotenku Rogue level first for bonus skill points. Dirty Fighting is good if you don't think you'll ever get to Level 7.

I second this feat, It can make your rapier viable as a damaging weapon, or make a 2 hander even more deadly. The mix of rogue/ fighter means that second attack is a ways off, so make that single one hurt!

Thank you. Any particular two handed weapons that you suggest?

Two handed swords and greataxes are big favorites for the obvious damage reasons, though personally I really enjoy seeing people with halbards/spears. They don't often get used, and it's refreshing to see the "not the norm" weapons in play. I even had a ftr/rogue who used the quarterstaff with rather spectacular effect.

When it's all said and done though, not matter what your build, it comes down to preparation and play. I've seen mechanically weak builds just trounce min/maxes in PvP just due to the preparation factor and thinking outside the box. The play aspect for me is the RP. It's what makes watching and doing things for any particular character fun for me as a DM.

I agree with The Beggar, halberds are really cool and extremely underused. Succeeding with a quarterstaff would be really cool as I only see druids attempt to use them. But just use something that will both help in battle and perhaps some rp significance to your character.