Question about Rogue Scholars

[Reddenedone]

I think the rogue scholar would be a great example of an intelligent character - something different and challenging to a player who didn't want a warrior or mage. They start out with some great language skill bonuses, as well as being able to get 24 more skills right off the bat. Plus, they seem to have the curiosity and the drive to share all their knowledge. It may not be the class of choice for hack and slash, but certainly something to play if one wanted to be different. They'd be good too if a player wanted someone quirky, and someone who actually cared a great deal about all the pre-rifts stuff they find, plus, they are kinda described as a political radical - like we have here in the States, someone who actively tries to change they way things are done.

[grandmaster z0b]

plus, they are kinda described as a political radical - like we have here in the States, someone who actively tries to change they way things are done.

If I had more time on my hands I'd make a Michael Moore Rogue Scholar, as a joke of course.

If someone wanted to play one in my group I think I would be quite happy, but I'd probably give them access to any skill they wanted including Physical, Military, Espionage etc. That way one could make a very interesting character but still have some chance on the battlefield (that's only in my campaign where there are some pretty powerful characters).

[Reddenedone]

I think that is a great option that the rogue scholar and other vagabond based characters have - the ability to mold the character into any type you want, starting from scratch.

[Mike Taylor]

The Rogue Scholar might best be thought of as a renegade teacher/archaeologist type. The whole bent of the class is towards the collecting of history and lore from the Time of Man and disseminating it to the public. This makes them very dangerous to the Coalition States and other powers that like to keep their populations weak and ignorant. They may not be masters of combat like Juicers or able to draw on magic, like a Line Walker, but they can be dangerous simply by introducing new ideas and concepts to people. Imagine the trouble that could be stirred up just by a 20th century American history high school textbook, especially if it has the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights in the back? In the hands of a Rogue Scholar, it becomes a tool for seeds of dissent. The scholar can teach others from this book, spreading its ideas. The scholar questions the world around him and a questioning mind is something that the CS leaders don't like.

[Uncle Servo]

I get that. But why play a rougue scholar? Anyone can be quirky a seeker of knowldge. You could be a jucier that was every bit like a rougue scholar you just wouldn't have the skills. Any other character can have a lot of their skills and if a party molds their characters around that they can have every skill they need without someoen based on have lots of skills. I guess my problem is I like versitle classes. Which i guess is why I like mages. Weather or not you take attack spells as a mage, there are allways something you can do as a mage in almost any situation. I like to be able to throw in a bit more chaos than if I wasn't there. Thanks all for listening and please reply.

I think you unwittingly answered your own question with your line "You could be a jucier that was every bit like a rougue scholar you just wouldn't have the skills." Since the skills are crucial to the issue, the more approprirate skills someone has the better off they are in this case.

The Rogue Scholar's skill selections and overall OCC requirements are tailor-made for the person who has a thirst for knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge with others. Sure, just about any character can fancy himself/herself a 'scholar' and try and uncover lost knowledge from the past (in fact I'm currently playing a Dog Boy who's doing exactly that). However, other classes aren't designed to fill that role quite like the Rogue Scholar. It'd be like taking the Chevy Avalanche in which you've gotten 6 speeding tickets and entering it at the Daytona 500.

I'd say the Rogue Scientist is probably the closest OCC in design/scope to the Rogue Scholar, but even then there's a difference. The Rogue Scientist seeks knowledge purely for its own sake. In other words, the Scientist typically wants to learn while the Scholar wants to teach what he's/she's learned.

[Mack]

There's a certain romanticism with Rogue Scholar that's lacking from other OCC's. Kinda hard to explain.

[Uncle Servo]

the two opponents in Raiders of the Lost Ark -- Indy and Belloq -- were both Rogue Scholars/Scientists. Both also needed the help of other adventurers along the way.

Wow, gadrin. Those two are EXCELLENT examples of what most people view as a 'typical' Rogue Scholar. Even spelled Belloq's name correctly!

Of course, drawing on the Indy reference one can easily point out that he still managed to kick his own fair share of booty along the way... so don't make the mistake of thinking that a RS is so brainy he/she can't pull his/her own weight in a fight when he/she needs to.

And you're right, Mack... the RS has garnered a certain 'romantic' perception along the way. I think it has a lot to do with the 'uncovering secrets of the past' and 'working to spread knowledge to the masses in the face of persecution' aspects of their character.

[Svartalf]

There's a certain romanticism with Rogue Scholar that's lacking from other OCC's. Kinda hard to explain.

You mean like Kev the man probably came up with the OCC after Watching anIndiana Jones movie once too many? lool

[Uncle Servo]

Like Servo pointed out, look at Indiana Jones.

I wish I could take that credit, but it was actually gadrin who made the initial reference.

[RockJock]

One of my all time favorite characters was a True Atlantean Rogue Scientist. Not quite the same as the Rogue Scholar, but close. He started off with the basic Marks of Heritage, and was a minor Psych with Total Recall, and Speed Reading(duh, what is more appropiate other then maybe object read?). While he wasn't the best character in the group in a fight he could hold his own. He also had a wide enough base of skills to allow him to fix body armor, or rig an e-clip charger, or stitch up that bullet wound. He became the swiss army knife of the group like many Mystics do. He can operate TW devices, pyramids ect, and at higher levels could understand all languges, and have mystic knowledge with tattoos.

My point is, if you have a combat oriented game, and play a Rogue Scientist, or Scholar and are afraid that they can't keep up give them an edge in an RCC class with low level psychics, or light mdc. Shoot if your really woried about his ability to defend himself let him find an alien force field, rune weapon, or whatever that helps out.

[Uncle Servo]

I think the 1 or 2 Rouge Scholar's I've made all had
super abilities of some kind.

I had one with APS:Metal and Growth once (this was prior to that 'can't combine certain powers' nonsense). Started calling himself 'Golem,' and when attempting a rescue of a child referred to himself as 'Uncle Golem' -- the GM never let me forget about that one.

[R Ditto]

When it comes to a Rogue Scholar, one of the first things that comes to mind is something like MacGuyver. Having a lot of skills and knowledge can give someone the ability to be something like a jack of all trades.

They can be very useful in wilderness towns where they might have some "fancy gizmo" that made life easier, but broke down, and they don't have the "money" to hire some greedy operator. A Rogue Scholar might have the knowledge to easily repair the gizmo with little effort, some simple piece of material. Then he/she could teach them how to resolve the problem should it happen again, and then not ask for anything more than room and board for the night for payment.

They can be unarmed and still be able to have some way to "defeat" numerous armed opponents, and they have various skills to mix and match things in ways that would make others amazed. Teamed up with a Rogue Scientist, or some other "skill" based class (like an Operator or Body Fixer), a lot could be possible.

On the down side, teaming up the two would likely get them on the CS top 10 most wanted, not to far below Erin Tarn.

[Zer0 Kay]

Not everyone is supposed to know all the weakness of every single supernatural creature that has been on earth before, except a rogue scholar with the correct lores.

The correct lores and "the great big book of every monster" Oh no out of no where pops your mutant cat and dog to annoy your dragon, who was permanently metamorphosised into a gold fish, by musically announcing that your going to look in the book and what your looking for in an imaginative limerick. Those with children will get the joke

[Uncle Servo]

Not everyone is supposed to know all the weakness of every single supernatural creature that has been on earth before, except a rogue scholar with the correct lores.

The correct lores and "the great big book of every monster" Oh no out of no where pops your mutant cat and dog to annoy your dragon, who was permanently metamorphosised into a gold fish, by musically announcing that your going to look in the book and what your looking for in an imaginative limerick. Those with children will get the joke

I have a child, thank you... and I can see a Rogue Scholar singing his ABCs until he reaches "Thornhead" or "Peryton..."

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[MADMANMIKE]

..Scholarly Rogue


-Mike >8]

[GaredBattlespike]

Another example of a Rogue Scholar and Rogue Scientist are from Stargate SG-1: Dr. Daniel Jackson is a very cool Rogue Scholar and Major Carter rocks as a Rogue Scientist! Dr. Jackson even learns to have some HTH: Basic (as I see it) and WP:Automatic Rifle by season 5-6, and Major Carter starts with regular military training. (The fact that she is kinda cute doesn't hurt either.... )

Even a Body Fixer has a cool example in the series, and this Doctor Frasier is the cutest gal on the show (in my opinion)

Thanks,
GaredBattlespike

[MADMANMIKE]

Another example of a Rogue Scholar and Rogue Scientist are from Stargate SG-1: Dr. Daniel Jackson is a very cool Rogue Scholar and Major Carter rocks as a Rogue Scientist! Dr. Jackson even learns to have some HTH: Basic (as I see it) and WP:Automatic Rifle by season 5-6, and Major Carter starts with regular military training. (The fact that she is kinda cute doesn't hurt either.... )

Even a Body Fixer has a cool example in the series, and this Doctor Frasier is the cutest gal on the show (in my opinion)

Thanks,
GaredBattlespike

..Uh... Did you not see season 7?

-Mike <8]

[Killer Cyborg]

An important thing that nobody seems to have touched upon is the fact that Scholars are the least limited in their skill selections. Not only do they start with 32 skills at first level, the only skills they can't get are MD, MD of Cybernetics, Wrestling, Gymnastics, and acrobatics.

Of the 27 classes in the main book, only the Rogue Scholar, CS Military Specialist, The Crazy, Cyberknight, Headhunter, and Wilderness Scout are allowed to have full access to Espionage skills. Most classes can't have espionage skills at all, the rest can only have one or two. Considering how vital a number of these skills can be (Intelligence, tracking, detect ambush, and detect concealment, for example), Rogue Scholars gain a significant edge here.
And all the other classes that can access Espionage skills have significant drawbacks;
-headhunters can't use magic items
-Crazies go insane
-The CS military specialist works for the CS
-The cyberknight has virtually no access to any mechanical, medical, or electrical skills (not that big a drawback, I'll admit. What can I say? Cyberknights are pretty cool.)
-Wilderness scouts are limited in the areas of science, medical, mechanical, and electrical skills and don't have as many skills to spend.

[MADMANMIKE]

..KC, you are incorrect, the Rogue Scholor is not restricted in his Medical Skill selections, he just is limited to +5% on those skills.

-Mike >8]

[Killer Cyborg]

..KC, you are incorrect, the Rogue Scholor is not restricted in his Medical Skill selections, he just is limited to +5% on those skills.

-Mike >8]

MadmanMike, you are incorrect.
Under Rogue Scholars, it says "Any, except M.D. and M.D. of Cybernetics (+10%)" in both my Rifts books (one very old and one newer one).

Perhaps you were looking under Rogue Scientist, where it says "Any +5%"

[MADMANMIKE]

..this is what happens whe you work 65 hours a week and only get 4 hours a night sleep interupted by a 3 month old baby's eating schedule...

-Mike <8]