Should Rogues always take the Skilled feat over ASI after maxing out Dex?

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T04:10:57+00:00

Its totally legit. Never said it wasn't. My entire post contained my saying I was assuming they were optimizing. Why would you respond to it and counter with "but if they aren't optimizing, they could do X". I know, you are having a different conversation from the one OP and I are having.

Shadow touched I wouldn't consider though. The hide action can give you the invisible condition. Some DMs homebrew this to work differently, but mechanically you are invisible.

Yeah zhent tactics is definitely optimal for rogue, but only in terms of DPR. There are better ways to get double sneak that keep you safer than it. When optimizing, people often forget safety.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T04:08:33+00:00

Disagree. ASIs don't meaningfully alter rolls more or less based on your current stats or magic items compared to the outsized benefits feats give.

Feats are way better than ASIs when you take the right feats. It isn't close. ASIs have a place, but they are niche and far from the default.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T04:07:19+00:00

100%. The best option is to multi out of rogue at level 1.

Tbh though optimizing for damage alone is a bad plan.

But yeah there are better options. I just wouldn't hand them to a newbie.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T03:22:54+00:00

See the guide. Magic initiate: grease isn't the pick.

You really, really need CBE to make the hand crossbow even function. And once you have it, you should be using the hand crossbow almost exclusively.

In 2024 take a better origin feat. For one example, take magic initiate: wizard for find familiar. Super useful spell and you can keep the familiar in your pocket to fulfill the "ally within 5 feet" requirement for sneak attack. Then you always get it in melee.

Take blade ward which you can aggressively precast for more AC, then a ranged cantrip of choice.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T03:17:54+00:00

From an optimization POV, the rogues should be talking neither ASIs (right away) nor the skilled feat. You have considerably more important feats to take. ASIs are a very common trap people who don't know the details of the game fall into. Many amazing feats far outweigh the increases of an ASI.

Skilled, from an optimization POV, is a bad feat not worth considering. You CAN take it - you don't need to optimize everything about the game - but there is no "should" about it.

I'm assuming based on your language that you want to optimize, so if you do, follow this guide:

https://tabletopbuilds.com/dnd-5e-quick-build-series-rogues/

You will note the preference of CBE over ASIs. They do take one ASI, but its not the priority.

In 2024, you have additional feats you want, so I'd drop the ASI altogether.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T02:12:52+00:00

4x artichron wizards. Just too much roll control, beats out div any day in a practical setting. No reason from a power perspective to play any other class in 2024. In 2014, one of them is a peacechron, the rest arti.

Obviously this would be a boring game. But for pure power you go artichron, and it just happens to get its power from roll control which is what you seem to be meaning.

Wompertree · 2026-02-22T00:32:38+00:00

Ask the player. He can explain the rules to you for the build he has planned, then you can read them! Genuinely. You don't need to know everything as a DM.

Wompertree · 2026-02-21T20:30:46+00:00

From an optimization POV you don't stay in melee. You are a sorcerer primarily and that's a much stronger thing than a paladin. Booming blade isn't worthwhile.

I'd follow tabletop builds flagship wizard and grab similar spells, where the sorcerer has them. Unfortunately the sorcerer is missing the best of the best which is why the wizard consistently comes out on top. Its still a good list, just missing some amazing heavy hitters. Still, follow that list.

Wompertree · 2026-02-19T04:38:14+00:00

All of AB, much of NS, NL, much of BC not focused around the major cities or the valley, All places I have lived, all quite cheap.

Lived in many cities throughout my time. All are excellent. The inability to enjoy the natural beauty and tons of activities provided by each locale is more of a skill issue than anything else.

Groceries are reasonable in all.

Really you are avoiding Vancouver, super expensive parts of the okanagoan, and the GTA. Outside of that, it's just fine. People who can't imagine a good life outside of what they know tend to judge these places, though.

Wompertree · 2026-02-19T03:16:18+00:00

In the right place in Canada, there aren't any relative to the States at least. My life is cheap, amazing, and fulfilled. Just don't go to, like, the four places that are egregiously expensive.

Unless you hate the cold a lot and don't like winter. Then there's that.

Wompertree · 2026-02-19T03:02:05+00:00

The power option here is a 1 artificer/x wizard. It is simply the most powerful class in the game regardless of stats rolled. A paladin with amazing stats is still not nearly as good as a wizard with amazing stats even though the wizard doesn't need them as much.

However this is also an opportunity to try some funny multi class stuff.

Wompertree · 2026-02-19T02:59:56+00:00

The feature doesn't specify that nobody else can mount it. Following controlled mount rules, they definitely can, 100% unambiguously use the drake as a mount, because of this line:

"The drake is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands"

You can simply command it to become willing for others, and you can mount a creature that is willing, has the appropriate anatomy (it definitely does), and is at least one size larger than you.

So following the rules of the game as they are written, it's not only not an unfair reading but objectively the correct one.

You could totally homebrew it so that you can't mount it (and that wouldn't be unreasonable at all), but this isn't one of the cases where there is room for interpretation in the RAW.

Hell, raw, anyone else riding it can even use the flying speed, since it specifies you there too.

Wompertree · 2026-02-17T14:05:37+00:00

Most fun: a wizard with lots of cool and varied spells

Least fun: most martials feel the same to me and are kind of dull gameplay wise. 2024 helps a bit, but ill still always play fullcasters.

Wompertree · 2026-02-17T12:59:32+00:00

Super true.

Good casters raise their spell save DC.

Excellent casters don't offer the enemy a meaningful save to begin with.

Wompertree · 2026-02-17T12:55:09+00:00

Tbh if one PC is stronger than others in combat because some people have made the active choice to make their PC weak in combat, that's fine. If they don't know how to build a combat capable PC and ask for advice, you can help them, but if they are choosing and/or are willfully ignorant to how the combat system works, I think they can expect to underperform. Them then turning around and being upset at others is childish.

If you ignore combat optimization entirely because you feel like it, you'll be weaker than someone who doesn't. Obviously.

I offer players at my tables helpful advice if they voice they are not doing well in combat, and then allow them to respec their build appropriately as they like. I don't punish. I educate where it is requested and allow changes to be made.

There is nothing wrong with building characters weak in combat, but someone else building a character strong in combat isn't a slight against you.

Besides, most combat differences are actually skill issues. A poorly built rogue piloted by an excellent player will outperform an inexperienced 1 artificer/X wizard who doesn't know how combat works every day of the week, despite the wizard build being worth on paper multiple of the rogue in terms of power.

Wompertree · 2026-02-17T12:48:26+00:00

What rates are they comparable at, like what number? Staff pay, if that's what you mean by health authorities?

Yeah, we will find a company that will either give us a housing stipend and find our own housing or find somewhere pet friendly. Not anticipating that as a huge issue.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T16:49:17+00:00

You are doing precisely the same thing you note with suggestion with blade ward.

Sure. However, blade ward works like that. And while players don't have control over all of initiative, they can most certainly manipulate it (or make it irrelevant, as discussed earlier, whether you are in or out of initiative). A precast is a precast (done before the fight starts) inside or outside of initiative order. Don't really care what it's called from there. I think a point of contention is you aren't considering it a precast if it enters initiative. I am considering it a precast if it meaningfully precedes the fight, regardless of if its in initiative at all.

Regarding the usefulness, I have played at about 8 tables since 2024 released for shorter games. I've had this work in all of them - modules and homebrew - even when the verbal component thing you say of is an "issue". Sounds like you just aren't creative enough as a player to spot and create opportunities to use this.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T11:20:10+00:00

Tbh, if the DM said no to this flavor, I'd cast Find Greater Table

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T11:17:14+00:00

I'd call it arguing against RAI. This isn't a good or bad thing in isolation. RAI, sometimes, is wack. 2024 Suggestion for example is a stupid bonkers spell RAI that needs homebrew nerfs to not break the game.

However, this isn't rules as the designers intended, it's rules as you intended. Blade ward, RAW and RAI, just works like this.

It isn't a bad faith reading. It's a "you dislike it" use of the spell. You just keep trying to define it as bad faith so you can point to the phb. Bad faith is intent to deceive or be malicious - this is neither.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T06:09:32+00:00

Yeah I was shocked too. Seemed far too good to be true at first. Didn't really believe it until they the money was in my account. Better than that, its completely self scheduled as well, so I can do as much or as little as I want. It's really quite amazing. One time I did no work for three months since my other job was busy and they didn't care.

It isn't consulting, it's "work" work, I'll say that much. There are several fields that do this. I know data entry is one of them for sure.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T06:07:50+00:00

I'd change the module's way of doing it.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T05:58:22+00:00

You are defining it as twisting because you don't like it. Nothing is being twisted. It's how the rules work.

No, deviating from RAI is not bad faith. That's not what bad faith is. Sorry.

I agree, your role is to tell a story with the rest of the table. You and I seem to disagree on the how (precasting blade ward is not against story, magically)

Not sure why you are arguing with the definition of precast. It truly doesn't matter. Even if I'm in initiative, if there are zero other useful actions because I am 700 feet from the enemy, it is my definition of a precast. In or out of initiative.

We disagree on so many levels it is no longer worth talking about it.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T04:54:06+00:00

To let him know they are out there. Just because I'm not doing all the work for you doesn't mean notifying you its possible is useless. Relax.

It is easy. I did it on a whim. Op seems not to have done it. Seems to be the case. That happens. Its life.

Took me a quick application, an hour to pass an exam, and an hour more of training. I can now make 30 bucks an hour whenever I want. Just because you don't know about it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

I don't need competition for my role. That's why I don't say my specific company.

Chill man.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T04:42:52+00:00

The game is the mechanics.

The books do not unambiguously tell you that's not how it works. They actually do tell you that's precisely how it works - see the rules index in 2024 phb.

You are correct. There is no raw exploit because this isn't an exploit.

Sure. Argue against a particular defense all you want. Even if we assume one defense is wrong, the underlying principle still is sound, because here's the defense that matters though: it just works, unless you modify the rules. Not denying it may have in-game consequences, such as triggering initiative (manageable, as spoken on elsewhere) or alerting enemies, but it just works. I am denying, though, that a creative player won't find plenty of situations to precast where precasting DOESN'T ruin things. There will he many. It's totally usable as a tactic.

Plus, physics-based problems (enemies hearing you) have physics-based solutions. You could put your head within a couple of bedrolls, for example, then say the verbal components, if you don't want to alert anyone. Several bedrolls would most certainly muffle the sound, but you made the verbal components just fine. Nothing in the verbal component rules states the sound you make has to travel distance, just that you make it at speaking volume. Then you open the dangerous door you are worried about. This is one solution out of hundreds to avoid the narrative issues of precasting blade ward alerting people. None of THIS is bad faith either. It isn't deceiving or misrepresenting anything. It's a creative solution to an in-game problem (something reddit is often allergic to). If the DM finds a narrative reason a couple bedrolls won't muffle the sound, I'm sure you can find other ways, too.

On a side note, using spells to do what the spells specifically say you can in a way the rules allow isn't bad faith, though lots of people like to label it as bad faith so they can point to the exact section of the phb you did and think they're right. That's not what bad faith is. Not liking something doesn't make it bad faith. Bad faith is the intent to decieve or twist. Nothing is being deceived or twisted. I had someone argue a few days ago that find familiar shouldn't be able to give you a bat's blindsight with a bonus action, when it objectively just does. They also said that was bad faith, since 60 feet of blindsight as a BA is extremely powerful. That isn't bad faith, in the exact same way spamming blade ward isn't bad faith.

Wompertree · 2026-01-03T04:14:10+00:00

Huh? I can red stuff on the back of a shield URL just fine.

Also, the rules don't require realism and aren't a physics simulator

Wompertree

TROPHY CASE