InDungeons & Dragons, rogues are one of the most iconic and easy-to-understand classes, perfect for beginners and veterans alike. They are exactly as advertised: conniving scoundrels armed with cloak and dagger, sneaking through the shadows looking for throats and purses to cut. Their vast utility in and out of combat makes rogues a necessity in any balanced adventuring party.
However, building aDungeons & Dragonscharacter takes some work and can be daunting for some newer players. A good Dungeon Master will be more than happy to help out with character creation, but here are a few tips to get players thinking about what kind of rogue they want to be.
Note: This article will be using content fromThe Player’s Handbook. Additional sources and homebrew content will not be included.
5Race/Subrace
The Forgotten Realms Has Many Walks of Life
Like any good fantasy world, theDungeons & Dragonsuniverse containsmany otherworldly races. After choosing a character’s class, their race is the next big step. Now, players can play whatever they like to suit their character’s vision. However, each race does have certain unique characteristics called “Racial Traits” that make them better suited for some classes than others.
For example, elves make for excellent rogues, thanks to their +2 to Dexterity and Perception Proficiency. Lightfoot Halflings have bonuses to both Dexterity and Charisma, and their “Naturally Stealthy” trait makes them great at hiding. Forest Gnomes have +1 to Dexterity and can castMinor Illusion(perfect for creating a diversion), while Tieflings have +2 to Charisma, which is a rogue’s second-most important stat.
4Ability Scores
The Foundation of All Character Sheets
Dungeons & Dragonsuses six base stats: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma.When building a character, players will use a set of six numbers and decide which number to assign to each stat. There are several methods of generating these numbers, from manually rolling dice to using the standard array. The focus here is that different classes prioritize different stats.
When assigning stats to a rogue, Dexterity should always be at the top. The second most important will either be Charisma (for the smooth-talkers) or Intelligence (for the investigators). A good Constitution score is also a good priority since it increases the amount of health points. Last but not least is Strength and Wisdom (since rogues aren’t known for their brute strengthorwise life choices).
3Skill Proficiencies
Building A Rogue With A Specific Set of Skills
Everyone has stuff they’re good at. InDungeons & Dragons, those things are called Proficiencies. They allow players to add their Proficiency Bonus to any roll regarding that skill. At level 1, rogues can be Proficient in four of the following skills. When choosing them, players should consider which skills their rogue will rely on most, as well as their base stat modifiers.
Climbing, swimming, and jumping.
Understanding another person’s intentions or behavior.
Dexterity
Moving without being spotted.
Among the selected Profiencies, players can also choose two of them to have Expertise in, which doubles their Proficiency bonus. They can also use one of these Expertises towards their Thieves' Tools. This is highly recommended since rogues will be lockpicking alot.
2Subclasses
Time For Rogues To Branch Out
At level 3, eachD&Dclass chooses theirsubclass. For rogues, the choices are Assassin, Thief, or Arcane Trickster. Some players may already have a subclass in mind when first creating their character. Others, especiallynewer players, may need to play with their rogues for a while and see what they like best about the class first.
For example, players who love sneaking, stabbing, and doing loads of damage should go with Assassin. Players who prefer agility and skullduggery ought to consider being a Thief. And for those who might be feeling some FOMO toward all thespellcastersin their party should go with Arcane Trickster.
1Backgrounds and Feats
The Final Customization Options
ManyDungeons & Dragonsplayers give their beloved characters backstories to explain why they are who they are and do what they do. Others just prefer to focus on stats and combat rather than storytelling. Regardless, each character has an officialBackgroundto give them a little extra flair. Some ideal Backgrounds for rogues include Charlatan, Criminal, or Urchin.
Similarly, feats are additional talents a character obtains as they level up, making their playstyle more unique. At levels 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 19, rogues can either increase their ability scores or select one of the following suggested Feats:
Skilled
Gain proficiency in any three skills or tools of your choosing.
