Rogue 1/Fighter 19 Advice

[Bheleram]

So I wanted to create a dwarf fighter that would base on shield + two-handed (works for dwarven axe) combat styles for extra HP, AC, doublestrike and strikethrough all at the same time. But I also thought that I could add trap-disabling on top of that so that's what a rogue level is for. Does it seem valid or it ain't gonna work?
I'd have 34 point hero build and I thought I should invest in STR (18), CON and INT (16) and the rest in DEX (probably would be 10 or 12). This much INT allows me to invest 1 point in disable device. search and open lock for each fighter level. Featwise (in order of priority) - power attack, combat styles (both, up to greater), both cleaves, improved critical (slashing), heavy armor champion and master (for 'em hefry +21 PRR/MRR), weapon focuses and specializations (as a filler when the prereqs for other feats are not met, slashing).
The main question is whether I'll be able to use rogue skills well enough given I'd run R1 quests of my level with sufficient equipment bonuses, heroic pots, would take off armor/shield while disabling and searching. What's your experience of rogue multiclassing?
A different question is: is it worth taking nimble hands (+2 to disable device and open lock) and/or disable device skill focus (+3)? Can be swapped for 1 weapon focus or specialization.
And, fianlly, is it worth taking 1 rogue level instead of 2? I mean I won't be using evasion in heavy armor and that's the only reason people go for 2 rogue levels.

 

[Arkat]

Do Rog2/Ftr18 instead.

Rogue 2 gets you 6 more skill points than a Fighter would. Fighter 19 would really only net you 4 more hit points.

I'd rather have the skill points for finding and disabling traps.

 

[unbongwah]

And, fianlly, is it worth taking 1 rogue level instead of 2? I mean I won't be using evasion in heavy armor and that's the only reason people go for 2 rogue levels.

The other reasons to take rogue 2 are more skill points and access to tier-2 rogue Enhancements. In particular, 8 APs Assassin gets you Venomed Blades and +3 Imbue dice. Pure fighters don't get an Imbue (unless you take a racial option) so it's another way of boosting DPS to offset sacrificing the Vanguard or Kensei capstone.

Besides, fighter 19 gets you literally nothing besides a point of BAB so if you're not taking rogue 2, you'd still be better off either splashing cleric/FvS for a Battle Trance or barbarian for +10% runspeed.

BTW you can't get Evasion in medium/heavy armor but you could go light armor + light shield (which still qualifies for Vanguard and Stalwart Defender bonuses), if you can get your Reflex saves high enough. In epics, you can upgrade to Improved Evasion via The Darkest Luck (Shadowdancer level 26 core).

 

[Palumtra]

Don't forget to start out as a Rogue, you'll get way more skill points at the first level than any other class.
If you have access to the Harper tree you can go full INT based (you still need STR to be able to take THF feats regardless, but you can use your INT for reflex saves with the Insightful Reflexes feat) which helps you with trapping.
2 levels of Rogue also gives access to the +6 skill boost in the Mechanic tree (and +3 Disable/Search/Spot via enhancements).
Look for +INT (Astute) gear, heroism pots (house K guild pot vendor), and get Snakeskin Gloves (Kind of a big deal , The Twelve enclave)at lvl 6, Keylock Ring (Death House in Mists of Ravenloft) at lvl 10 will pretty much last trough the whole heroic levels. In Epics, either the Epic Version of the Snakeskin Gloves or Magnifying Lens (Hobgoblin Horde in Borderlands) can be further upgrades later on. You can also just keep this gear in your inventory and equip it when you need to do the disarming and then switch it back to your combat geat.
Also note that if you don't know where the traps are you might also want to up your Spot.
I'd say Evasion is too good to give up, but if you don't want it it's not mandantory of course, play what you like.

 

[unbongwah]

Sample build:

Kundarak Vanguard Trapper
18/2 Fighter/Rogue
Chaotic Neutral Dwarf


Level Order

1. Rogue . . . . . 6. Fighter . . . .11. Fighter . . . .16. Fighter
2. Fighter. . . . .7. Fighter. . . . 12. Fighter. . . . 17. Fighter
3. Fighter. . . . .8. Fighter. . . . 13. Fighter. . . . 18. Fighter
4. Fighter. . . . .9. Fighter. . . . 14. Fighter. . . . 19. Fighter
5. Fighter. . . . 10. Fighter. . . . 15. Fighter. . . . 20. Rogue


Stats
. . . . . . . .34pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 18. . . . . . . . 4: STR
Dexterity . . . 10. . . .+3. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 16. . . .+5. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . 16. . . .+2. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . . . . . .20: STR
Charisma. . . . .6. . . . . . . .24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Skills
. . . . . R .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .R
. . . . . 1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Disable . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Search. . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Spot. . . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Open Lo . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9. 13
Listen. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Balance . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Jump. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Swim. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tumble. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Haggle. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
UMD . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .44 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Two Handed Fighting
.2 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Slashing
.3. . . . : Insightful Reflexes
.3 Fighter: Precision
.5 Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Slashing
.6. . . . : Stunning Blow
.7 Fighter: Improved Two Handed Fighting
.9. . . . : Shield Mastery
.9 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
11 Fighter: Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
12. . . . : Greater Two Handed Fighting
13 Fighter: Tactical Mastery
15. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
15 Fighter: Greater Shield Mastery
17 Fighter: Tactical Supremacy
18. . . . : Toughness
19 Fighter: Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
22 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
24 Epic . : Epic Toughness
25 Destiny: Perfect Shield Mastery
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Harbinger of Chaos
30 Epic . : Epic Reflexes
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea
31 Destiny: Doublestrike OR Enhanced Elemental Dice OR Legendary Toughness


Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +1u / Max: 80 +0r +1u AP)

Kensei (36 AP)

• Kensei Focus: Axes, Spiritual Bond, Strike With No Thought, Power Surge, One Cut
  1. Extra Action Boost III, Weapon Group Specialization: Axes, Action Boost: Haste Boost III
  2. Weapon Group Specialization: Axes, Ascetic Training: Agility III
  3. Weapon Group Specialization: Axes, Shattering Strike: Shattering Strike I
  4. Opportunity Attack, Weapon Group Specialization: Axes, Liquid Courage, Strike at the Heart
  5. A Good Death: Melee, Weapon Master, One With The Blade, Deadly Strike: Deadly Strike, Keen Edge

Vanguard (31 AP)

• To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I, Shield Combat II, Vicious Shield II
  1. Shield Smash III, Unbalancing Shove III
  2. Brutality III, Stunning Shield III, Missile Shield III, Melee Power Boost III
  3. Follow Up III, Fatal Bulwark
  4. Shield Charge III

Assassin (8 AP)

• Knife in the Darkness
  1. Venomed Blades III, Shiv I
  2. Toxin Affinity III

Harper Agent (6 AP)

• Agent of Good I
  1. Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
  2. Know the Angles I

I think this is about as close to max DPS as this combo can get (+15% attack speed from VG cores, all relevant Kensei bonuses, Venomed Blades with +3 Imbue dice, Know the Angles); while still grabbing some survivability bonuses along the way. Naturally if you envision something tankier, you'd have to change things accordingly.

EDIT: oops just realized I forgot Improved Shield Bash. Well, you can always take it instead of Tactical Mastery or Greater Weapon Specialization.

 

[Thorodd]

You could start out Ranger/Dark Hunter to get the rogue skills if you want two weapon fighting!
18 Fighter/2 Dark Hunter