I started out about one year ago. Since then I have tried various classes and have decided that Rogues are simply the best. You can't expect to level up very quickly, but there are some great benefits to being a Rogue.
The first and most important is that it is fun! If you are a real roleplaying type then this is a great class for you. You can act cunning, slimy, mischevious, greedy, sly, seductive, anything you please. You can get away with alot simply because you are a Rogue. You shouldn't be too bad in the beginning cause you don't become a highly saught after class 'til around lvl 20 or higher.
At the mid-level range in the life of a Rogue is where you start to feel needed and loved. You start doing a massive amount of damage due to your duel wield (acquired at lvl 13), double attack (acquired at lvl 16), disarm (acquired at lvl 27), repost (acquired at lvl 30) and of course BACKSTAB (acquired at lvl 10)!!!!! Backstab is magnificent.
As a Rogue you don't get the benefit of critical hits or crippling blows, but you do get backstab. This is a skill that you will thoroughly enjoy. This will hit for anywhere from double your normal hit to over ten times your normal hit. To give you an example; I hit for an average of 20, my backstab will do anywhere from 30-167 damage. And backstabs aren't a random occurance. You set up a button and when it pops up you press it, granted you do have the chance of missing, but it is more controlled this way. The only drawback to backstab is that you do have to be behind the mob. This means you have to rely on your tank to draw aggro, which you will learn is a bit more difficult than it sounds cause Rogues draw aggro like crazy. This also means that you will be a very low damage dealer as a soloer. But never fear, as I said before, you will begin to be looked for at the harder higher levels. Also, if you do feel the need to solo it still provides you with an extra hit, but at normal damage.
Another benefit is Sneak (lvl 1) and Hide (lvl 3). These are my personal favorites. These skills will keep you alive when everyone else in your group is dead. If you sneak/hide when you have to run to a zone line you will drop one spot on the aggro list. This means the mob will go after someone else (in your group) and allow you enough time to get away. This may mean certain death for your group mates, but at least you stay alive. A word to the wise, however, if you run away while sneaking and hiding you will go very slowly and if that person it was after dies then it will catch up to you QUICK! Sneak/hide long enough to get away, take sneak off (this will cause hide to break) and run, run run! It also allows you to go through dangerous zones undetected, some mobs do see invis so be careful. Con anything that seems suspicious, if it isn't indifferent then it can see you. The sneak ability can also be used with merchants that won't sell to you. If you get behind them and sneak then they become indifferent and you can deal with them.
Ok, I have gotten alot of questions about which weapon(s) to use. I prefer to use piercers in both hands simply because I like to upgrade my weapons often and it becomes a pain to have to buy different types of weapons for each hand. You should always have a piercer for your primary hand. It's the secondary hand that you have some flexibility. Some people prefer to use a slasher in their secondary just cause they have, in general, higher damage than piercing. You should also note that NO you can NOT use a two-handed piercer. It's a common question. Now as far as specificweapons I have no suggestions. It's a matter of what you can get. Last I knew, the Rogue epic was the best SECONDARY weapon in game, that may not still hold true.
The other thing to consider when thinking of damage is poisons. I have been working on some but my knowledge is still lacking in this field. It's only good for one hit so you better make it a good one. They also have to ability not to work so that kinda sucks.
