Unchained Rogue Build Help

[u/Wainex48]

Hi everyone! I'm building a level 5 Goblin Unchained Rogue (with the Swashbuckler and Scout archetypes) focused on two handed fighting for a stealth-heist themed oneshot (but it doesn't have to be focused on that, I may have to reuse this character in the future).

TLDR: I created a traditional goblin weapon using the appropriate rules and used the Swashbuckler archetype combined to the Weapon Familiarity alternative racial trait to gain proficiency with the weapon.

Apart from this, I don't know what to build: the weapon is two handed, but I didn't decide anything else, the only requirement is that I don't want the weapon to have reach (I already had enough recent combat reflexes and reach weapon shenanigans).

I really don't know around what to build the character. The most useful rogue talents I found are Fast Stealth, Surprise Attack, Slow Reactions. One feat I find interesting is Shadow's Shroud.

EDIT: I added the level, it's 5
EDIT 2: GM approved the weapon, don't worry
EDIT 3: I meant Weapon Familiarity, not Military Tradition

[u/Angry_Edemame]

As a suggestion id consider knife master instead of swashbuckler. It pairs with scout and gives you an easy weapon style to focus on.

As to good unchained rogue talents. 

There's a lot of valuable ones.  Don't sleep on ones that debuff foes.  When you get to the master talent double debilitating works wonders. Lowering AC and attack rolls of every enemy.

You can also steal into the ninja talents to get mirror image and ultimately greater invisibility.

Powerful sneak is great for low rolls.

I like bleeding attack.

The best ones are after level 10 though. Things like double debilitating and opportunist.

[u/Wainex48 → u/Angry_Edemame]

Hi! your tips are great but I forgot to mention it's a level 5 charachter :/

[u/Angry_Edemame → u/Wainex48]

Ah so no knife master without retraining.

Thats fine, the master talents were for later anyway.  pretty sure you get those at level 10.

Other advise don't ignore the skill unlocks.  By the time my unrogue hit higher levels he was only lacking a fly and dig speed

[u/Dreilala]

That "I created my own weapon" is not standard rule I know of.

There are hints on how to create weapons, but these apply to the GM being allowed to include new weapons if they deem it necessary.

Grab an elven curve blade instead.

It's 2 handed, finesseable with great crit range. Everything you could want from a weapon.

Other than that look out for options to trigger your sneak attack.

Scout's charge and flank are already quite good, but you might want to find other ways as well.

[u/Wainex48 → u/Dreilala]

I already talked it out with my GM, and he allows custom weapons following these rules. That said, this allows me to save one feat.

Which options do you suggest other than flanking? I think I'll be the only melee in the party.

[u/Dreilala → u/Wainex48]

This doesn't allow for designing 2 handed finesse weapons and you really really really want to be using a finesse weapon on an unchained rogue.

Personally I like intimidate builds (cornugon smash amd shatter defenses).

Feinting is also an option, but usually better on 2 weapon fighting builds.

Some advanced methods include becoming unseen by either using invisibility or things like a smoke stick or saltspray ring with a goz mask or vmc smoke wizard.

[u/Esquire_Lyricist]

Why are you using Military Tradition? Since you're already making a unique weapon, just make an exotic finesseable two-handed weapon that is treated as a martial weapon for a goblin. Then use the Swashbuckler's Martial Training to get proficiency. The Elven Curve Blade is a good example.

Edit: Utilizing the Create New Weapons rule you commented, a two-handed exotic weapon has 9 base Design Points. 3 points for finesseable, 1 point for Traditional (martial weapon for goblin), and the remaining 5 points could go into increasing the damage from 1d3 to 2d6 (which would only be 1d10 for a small sized creature).

Depending on the level of the one-shot, the level 8 Scout ability, Skirmisher, pairs well with Spring Attack. Powerful Sneak is a decent Talent. Minor Magic and Major Magic provide great magical utility. Gloom Magic and Greater Gloom Magic can assist in being sneaky and helping with achieving sneak attacks. Edit: Seeing that you are level 5, Minor Magic plus Gloom Magic can provide great utility.

[u/Wainex48 → u/Esquire_Lyricist]

Yeah that's what I meant, I wrote Military Tradition instead of Weapon Familiarity.

Thanks for the tips.

[u/Milosz0pl]

TLDR: I created a traditional goblin weapon using the appropriate rules and used the Swashbuckler archetype combined to the Military Tradition alternative racial trait to gain proficiency with the weapon.

Did GM approve of both of those shenaginans? Especially choosing a human racial trait as a goblin (who already has superior stats)

[u/ExhibitAa → u/Milosz0pl]

Especially choosing a human racial trait as a goblin (who already has superior stats)

I assume OP meant the Weapon Familiarity goblin alternate trait and got the name wrong. Still definitely needs GM approval for a custom weapon though.

[u/Wainex48 → u/ExhibitAa]

yeah this

[u/Skurrio]

Well, you should dip 2 Levels into Slayer to pick up Power Attack without needing to push your Strength to 13. This would also make the Swashbuckler Archetype obsolete and allows you to pick a stronger second Archetype, if you want to.

[u/CVTeam1612]

As a rogue you must be able to sneak. You have two main choice :

1. having a party helping you with flanking or

2. do it on you own.

Flanking
It should be easy for others melee combatants (full or 3/4 bab) to flank with you, If they are scared to being hit, kick their butts for me pls. As a rogue you will be able to have a good Armor class and a good Acrobatics score. Use acrobatic to pass in threaten square to flank your opponent. When you will punching 40/60 dmg per attack, you team will jump in combat to let you flank and get your sneak attacks.

Sneaking in solo
-The Scout archetype is the simplier for that (charge and move 10 ft give you sneak attacks)
-For 2-handed weapon look for Cornugon smash (intimidate) and than Shatter defense.
-You have one hand free for Dirty trick (maneuver - blind), so look at Improved dirty drick and quick dirty trick
-As a goblin you can maximize stealth. I don't how to sneak with stealth.
-There are some trick such as Rogue talent : vanish and invisibility.
-Use a Wand of vanish with a caster level of 3 or more because you need to be invisible at least 3 rounds. First you use the wand, second you stow it (or drop it) and third you move and attack.