Help on being a better rogue?

group5e

Hi everyone,

I've started doing some epic dungeons and have some questions about "being a better rogue". First of all, I'd like to point out that I mostly do PvE. Sometimes I'll grind a PvP session or two out just for the AD, but to be honest, I hate it. I am not a guru at this game by any means and I play because its fun, not because of gear.

My rogue is a stealth-build and I use gloaming cut (for the action points it replenishes) and duelist's flurry as my main at-wills. Sometimes, I'll switch to sky-flourish but I find even though its faster, I'm actually doing less damage (and I can't maintain stealth all the time). For my encounters I use shadow strike (for stealth recovery), bait & switch (for stealth recovery) and lashing blade (for damage). My dailies are lurkers assault and bloodbath.

My armour and companion is as follows: entire battlefield scavenger set with various dark enchantment, stone of ioun at level 25 with profane and eldritch runestones. I'm also using the scavenger long knife as my main hand and the Master Duelist's Parrying Blade in my off-hand.

Things I've noticed during PvE epic dungeons:

1) Many TR's are running ahead first into large fights (I like to stay back and let tank run in first). Is there any merit to this?
2) AoE is massive in some fights and in some cases other party members make it difficult to remain out of harms way. I think it may be easier to solo the bosses as I can be stealthed. Anyone else agree?
3. I feel much of the damage output I used to have is gone now all of a sudden (especially duelist flurry). Anyone else feel this way?
4. I like to explore dungeons, but I noticed most dungeon runs include people going as fast as they can and missing areas in order to get to the end boss. I get the whole "farming" thing, but this isn't very D&D oriented and I like to think things through and explore. What to do in these situations? Let the party run ahead without me?
5. Gear score. Everyone is so hung up on gear score? Isn't the score of of things like Critical, Armour Penetration, Power, etc... more important? Or should I be getting different gear too? I like my gear, but am totally open to suggestions that do not involve spending millions of AD for different types of enchantments (i.e. vorpals, tene, etc...).
6. When there are multiple rogues in a party, it tends to get into a contest of who does the most damage as opposed to working as a team. There is no need to "help someone" if they have the situation under control just to get more damage in.
7. There is very little communication in some groups.
8. I've tried switching to Cloud of Steel for an at will, but to be honest, the damage output is really bad against bosses. Though it is good for drawing aggro away from clerics and wizards when they are being harassed.

Each class should have a bit of a "code of ethics" that they should follow when in a group. For example, as a rogue:
- I try NEVER to fly in and draw aggro on main bosses (this is the tanks job, but I see rogues doing it all the time).
- I try and communicate as much as possible with my team about what everyone is doing before each boss fight.
- I try and protect the clerics and wizards as much as possible and take my shots at the boss when I get them.
- Its not always about damage, its about team-play and winning.

If I'm out to lunch on some of this stuff I'm open to discussion as I would like to improve on my team-play in a PvE environment.

thesakari

1. Every second you aren't doing dmg you are losing DPS
2. This isn't WoW. The aggro in this game is MUCH MUCH more lenient. Stealth grants you very little additional leeway here. The red circles will still hurt you.
3. You have to make the best use of timing with DF
4. Without your party you will die. You have no option here unless you start a group beforehand that actually wants to do what you have said. People want loot.
5. Gear score is a reflection of your gear. It's important for people to know if you will potentially do the dmg they need you to do.
6. Your prerogative as a TR is to "get the most dmg in" why would you roll a TR if you don't enjoy doing that?
7. Yes.
8. There is really no reason to use CoS in PVE.

group5e

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to share your insight. I've never played WoW so I don't know what you are talking about there (don't play much computer games before this). When I played D&D in my youth, rogues were about stealth, being able to detect traps and sneaking past fights sometimes (not that I do that). They were not about massive amounts of damage all the time. I rolled a rogue because I enjoy the traditional sense of the character. I guess that's my fault for not doing more research.

With my stone my gear score says 9458, but my stats are: Power: 2840, Critical: 3351, Armor Penetration: 2412, Recovery: 768, Defence: 616, Deflect: 294, Life Steal: 1150, etc... and they add up to more than 9458 because of the stone and other bonuses. Is this too low and should I seriously consider upgrading for pVe? I've read about a soft-cap on stats but not sure if they actually exist. I do not want to lose my stealth as I've managed to solo Karrandux end boss (took lots of time though) when others have died due to this.

I've found CoS useful in some boss fights in the earlier levels, however, in the epic dungeons I agree it seems like a mosquito biting an elephant.

Thanks again for your response .