As rogues hone their skills they sometimes discover new, almost supernatural ways to manifest their talents. Presented here are several new options for rogue special abilities. Rogues have the option to choose their special abilities at higher levels, and the options in this article are similar to those already outlined in the rogue’s special abilities.
Façade (Ex): When the rogue disguises himself, he delves so deeply into character that he fools even divination magic. Whenever a creature casts a divination spell (or uses an ability that reproduces the effect of such a spell) that affects the rogue while he’s disguised, the creature must make a Spot check opposed by the rogue’s Disguise check. If the Spot check fails, the divination spell perceives the rogue as radiating the aura and thoughts that the rogue wishes the effect to detect. For instance, a rogue disguised as a zombie might radiate a neutral evil aura, detect as undead, and would have no discernible thoughts for a detect thoughts spell to pick up. Such a rogue would not suffer any ill effects from such a perfect disguise, such as extra harm from a holy or bane weapons.
Face in the Crowd (Ex): The rogue develops an uncanny ability to blend in while among large numbers of people. When within a crowd, the rogue may use the Hide skill even while being observed. For the purposes of this effect, a crowd consists of at least ten creatures at least half the rogue’s size within a 10-foot radius of the rogue.
Handwriting Analysis (Ex): Trained to scrutinize the whorls and loops of a person’s writing along with choices of words and imagery, the rogue may make startlingly accurate deductions about a person from handwriting alone. Upon making a successful Decipher Script check, the rogue may attempt to learn further information about the writer. The result of this Decipher Script check reveals specific traits and all facts of a lesser DC as noted in the following table. For example, a rogue who makes a Decipher Script check and exceeds the DC by 5 reveals the relative age, race and gender of the writer.
When attempting to use this ability to sniff out a forgery (for instance, to see if a love letter purportedly written by a princess was actually composed by a female of her age, race and gender) use the Forgery skill check of the forger in lieu of a Decipher Script DC. By succeeding at a Decipher Script check opposed by the forger’s Forgery check, the rogue may attempt to reveal information about the forger as normal.
| Fact | Decipher Script |
|---|---|
| Gender | Meets DC |
| Race | Exceeds the DC by 2 |
| Relative age* | Exceeds the DC by 5 |
| Highest level class | Exceeds the DC by 10 |
| Law vs. chaos alignment axis | Exceeds the DC by 15 |
| Good vs. evil alignment axis | Exceeds the DC by 20 |
* Child, adult, middle aged, old or venerable
Light Sleeper (Ex): The rogue’s sensitivity to the slightest sound becomes so acute that it is almost impossible for him to fail to react to danger. The rogue no longer suffers a -10 penalty to Listen checks while asleep.
Saboteur (Ex): The rogue’s perception becomes so honed that he instantly notices even the most minute flaws in objects, enabling him to strike at their vulnerable points. When attacking objects or making a sunder attack action, the rogue may ignore an amount of hardness up to half his rogue class level. Further, constructs are no longer immune to the rogue’s sneak attacks.
Swift Kick (Ex): Effortlessly examining mechanical devices, the rogue may affect them with a vigorous jolt. The rogue no longer needs tools to use the Disable Device skill (although he still gains the +2 circumstance bonus when using masterwork thieves’ tools). In addition, the time it takes the rogue to use the Disable Device skill is reduced by one step. Difficult and wicked devices now require ld4 rounds to disable, tricky devices require 1 round and a simple device can be disabled as a free action.
Source: Dragon Magazine #326 (Page 93)