13th Age Character Builds: Acrobatic Rogue

ROGUE

By ASH LAW

Rogue Overview

The 13th Age rogue is a team player, using allies to help them gain sneak attack bonuses.

Rogues have a lot to track—momentum (a binary state, do you have it or not?), sneak attack bonuses, and complicated class talents make this class one for the pros (or for beginners who don’t mind a challenge).

The rogue has three class features. You gain momentum when you hit an enemy with an attack, lose it when you are hit, and some powers require you to have momentum or spend momentum. Secondly there is sneak attack bonus damage. Thirdly is a reroll on failed skill checks to find traps.

You should also note that for rogues, daggers and the like use d8s for damage instead of d4s.

Acrobatic Rogue

Download Acrobatic Rogue character sheets here.

This rogue build focuses on extreme battlefield mobility: leaping, jumping, tumbling, and dodging to avoid attacks and get into the best position to counter-attack. Use evasive strike to attack while cartwheeling away, and flying blade for enemies that you really don’t want to get close to.

If the assassin build is all about being sneaky, this build is its opposite—flashy and impressive. This character has no problem disengaging from enemies, or dodging attacks when they try to match you in melee combat.

This character’s low Charisma might be because they look untrustworthy, or perhaps they are easily distracted and excitable. They are quick though—very quick.

Talents

Improved Sneak Attack

Because of course we want to improve it.

Swashbuckle

Spend your momentum to automatically pull off a swashbuckling stunt.

Tumble

A +5 bonus to disengage checks, and you can dodge enemies that try to engage with you.

Race

Halflings are evasive and small, a perfect fit for a character who intends to do more than a smidgen of tumbling between the legs of larger creatures so they can lap up onto their backs for a good stabbing!

Attributes

Dexterity is the single most important attribute for this character: Str 8 (-1) Con 18 (+4) Dex 20 (+5) Int 8 (-1) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 8 (-1).

1st level

Attributes: Str 8 (-1) Con 18 (+4) Dex 20 (+5) Int 8 (-1) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 8 (-1).

Racial Power: evasive

Talents: improved sneak attack, swashbuckle, tumble

Feats: sneak attack

Powers: evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike

2nd level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, sure cut), new feat (improved initiative).

3rd level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, sure cut), new feat (tumble).

4th level

+1 to three attributes (Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence), powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, sure cut, deflection), new feat (improved sneak attack).

5th level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, sure cut, deflection), new feat (tumble).

6th level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, deflection, harmless misdirection), new feat (sneak attack).

7th level

+1 to three attributes (Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence), powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, deflection, harmless misdirection), new feat (improved sneak attack).

8th level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, deflection, harmless misdirection, swift riposte), new feat (tumble).

9th level

Powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, deflection, harmless misdirection, swift riposte), new feat (sneak attack).

10th level

+1 to three attributes (Constitution, Dexterity, Charisma), powers (evasive strike, flying blade, roll with it, tumbling strike, deflection, harmless misdirection, swift riposte, true targeting), new feat (improved sneak attack).