Rogues

Learn about Thief and Bard roles, weapon proficiencies, and high-level abilities like Use Any Item and Enhanced Bard Song in Shadows of Doubt.

Rogues in Shadows of Doubt fall into two distinct categories: the Thief and the Bard. Thieves specialize in disarming traps, picking locks, and scouting ahead. Bards are primarily support characters, enhancing party offense and defense with their songs.

Thieves can deal significantly increased damage when attacking an enemy from behind and while remaining undetected (stealth). This backstab multiplier reaches a maximum of x5 at level 13. The Assassin kit offers even higher multipliers.

All rogues begin with two weapon proficiency points. They can gain an additional proficiency at level 4 and every four subsequent levels (8, 12, etc.), accumulating a total of 12 proficiency points by level 40.

High Level Abilities

Shadowdancers cannot select Set Trap abilities but have their own unique set. Trap abilities do not require points in Set Traps when chosen by Bard characters.

• Use Any Item: Allows the use of items irrespective of class or alignment restrictions. This means a Thief can cast Mage scrolls, or a Blade with two-handed sword proficiency can wield Carsomyr. It also bypasses Kensai/Wizard Slayer restrictions for dual-classed characters. Note that items tied to specific NPCs, like Jansen AdventureWear or Corthala Family Armor, cannot be used even with this ability. Weapons not usable by single-classed Thieves cannot be used for backstabbing.
• Scribe Scrolls: For each selection, the rogue can scribe a low-level scroll from a random list including Magic Missile, Invisibility, Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Haste, Monster Summoning II, Cone of Cold, and Monster Summoning III. This ability requires Use Any Item.
• Alchemy: For each selection, the rogue can brew a potion from a random list including Antidote, Extra Healing, Master Thievery, Oil of Speed, Perception, Regeneration, Superior Healing, and Frost Giant Strength (usable by rogues). This ability requires Use Any Item.
• Set Exploding Trap: Deploys a trap dealing 10-60 fire damage in a wide area, potentially knocking enemies down for one round. Fire resistance negates damage, but magic resistance does not.
• Set Spike Trap: Deploys a trap dealing 20-120 damage to a single creature.
• Set Time Trap: Stops time for one round for everyone except the Thief who set the trap (and some immune enemies). This allows for powerful attacks like Assassination or Whirlwind.
• Assassination: All attacks in the next round become backstabs. This does not improve the Thief's base THAC0 or 1 Attack per Round (APR). This ability cannot be taken by a Swashbuckler.
• Avoid Death: Grants immunity to instant death, a +5 bonus to saves versus Death, and +20 Hit Points for 5 rounds.
• Evasion: Grants +4 AC and +2 to saves for 3 rounds.
• Improved Evasion: Grants +6 AC and +4 to saves, +2 to movement speed, and immunity to normal missiles for 5 rounds.

Bard High Level Abilities

Bards have access to two exclusive high-level abilities:

• Enhanced Bard Song: Grants +4 THAC0 and damage, +4 AC, immunity to fear, stun, and confusion, +5% magic resistance, and immunity to normal weapons. The Bard also gains +10 AC and +10% magic resistance. This ability replaces the Bard's previous song and is superior to the Skald's level 20 song, but the Jester loses the ability to debuff enemies.
• Magic Flute: Creates a magical instrument lasting one day, granting Resist Fear and Globe of U.