When NWN was released I had my doubts about going through OC with pure rogue. I did it last year and dare I say it was fun [IMO more fun than with any other class that I've played]. I really don't want to multiclass .Taking one level of SD just to get HIPS; few fighter levels for Weapon Sp or one ranger level for dual wielding - all these things are beneath me:-] I'm going to rely on My greed, cunning and skills. But before embarking on a treacherous journey I wonder: have anyone here tried something like this?

btw - to make it more suicidial - My henchmen will be: Deekin in SOU [Dorna in first chapter - I'm sure my character will find her attitude most inspiring but overall she is rather boring]; Deekin & Nathyrra [She will be mine. Oh, yes. She will be mine:-] in HOTU.

Well... I know I wouldn't be able to resist the fighter levels, or the SD class.

What comes to mind though, if you meet the requirements for knockdown, that'd really help with a few spellcasters. Would fit the spirit as well, trip them and then fill their backs with stab wounds.

Haven't tried that particular pure-classed build through those games, but it sounds like it might be fun. Likely going to be some pretty rough patches in there though. I personally would probably lean towards a STR-based Rogue for this.

I'd probably lean towards weapon finesse, hoping to deal enough damage through enchancements (and maybe acid or firecoating weapons). Better to try and avoid as much damage as possible with as high dex as possible?

Not sure if that'd be the optimal way though.

I like the STR-based Rogue, albeit I usually grab a level or 4 of FTR to get some extra feats. But if you build him with moderate DEX (16) and use some DEX enhancing gear/potions, you can wear scale mail and not suffer too much as far as Armor Check Penalties. Assuming you get the +7 scale in HotU, you can end up with (at level 28) an unbuffed AC of 30 (10 base +4 scale +7 magic bonus +6 Tumble bonus + 3 DEX bonus). Not too shabby.

A DEX-based character (assuming Human and starting with 16 DEX) wearing +7 Leather armor (equal enchantment to keep the comparison even) at level 28 is going to have (assuming all ability raises to DEX) an AC of 10 (base) + 2 (Leather Armor) +7 (Magic Enhancement) + 6 (Tumble bonus) + 6 DEX bonus (max the armor allows), which is 31 AC.

While the DEX-based character would have a +1 AC advantage, I'd much rather forego that single AC point and have the STR-based Rogue dealing more damage per hit. It's all personal preference though. I'm just a sucker for STR-based Rogues and Bards.

The biggest issue I can see with the character is going to be feat-starvation. Only 7 pre-epic feats (not counting the Rogue bonus feats), 8 feats if Human. Personally, I'd likely go with an Elf for this character. Elves make rocking good Rogues.

I'll have to agree your calculations+numbers arguments sounds a lot more convincing than my sorta+kinda effort. So I'll cede the point to you, especially as going dex-based costs a feat.

So does the STR-based pure Rogue (have to spend a feat for medium armor). I wasn't trying to convince you that you were wrong or anything like that. Just illustrating why I like the STR-based Rogue. It really boils down to preference, nothing more. Both ways are viable, especially in a high magic environment like HotU.

I went through the OC with a pure dex-based rogue using the cleric as my companion for the most part. It was not too difficult actually, until I had to fight dragons. Those involved a lot of reloads. I went though SoTU with Deekin the whole time and it was a lot of fun, but I was playing as a Paladin that time.

I just did my first SoTU and HOTU runthrough using a pure monk. How hard is a pure rogue build in the original game/expanison? I'm doing a cleric/doomguide in the sequel, and I want to try another playthrough in the first afterwards.

I did monk as well, and it went swimmingly. Rogue shouldn't be terribly more difficult, given how they have the same attack bonuses (and it was a bit difficult at times, when the monk didn't connect with most hits). Probably a bit harder, usually rogues don't put more points in intelligence and such (and have worse saving throes and no magic resistance).

Cool, it was quite satisfying laying the devil out with my gloved fists as my monk, and I might try to multi-class my first rogue while I get used to the ins and outs of the class.

I'm particularly fond of Rogue/Fighters, there's certain scoundrel-appeal in that. And when you backstab with a greatsword, they know they've been backstabbed. :)

There won't be much back left to stab if the greatsword attack succeeds ;) How many fighter levels would you recommend for that route, considering the full HOTU epic level scenario?

Minimum 5. 4 by level 20 (to get Weapon Specialization) and 1 after level 20 (to get Epic Weapon Specialization - note, you need Epic Weapon Focus first). If you find you want more feats that can be picked up as Fighter bonus feats, then increase accordingly.

Great, thanks for the advice, now I have a solid base to play around with.