My core rulebooks have shown up, and I’ve had a chance to take a peek inside. Changes to the Rogue class are few and far between. The D&D intelligencia at WoTC have clearly certified my three-year-old suspicion that this was the best class in 3rd Edition D&D. Fighters received Greater Weapon Specialization, Barbarians have improvements to their damage reduction class ability. Monks have had unarmed attack bonuses simplified (one BAB to rule them all and in the darkness bind them) and special attack properties for unarmed strikes as they progress. Every spellcasting class sees significant changes to spell lists and spell descriptions.

What did the Rogues get? Pick Pockets became “Sleight of Hand” (which it has been used for by many DMs for decades), and Read Lips was rolled into the Spot skill. Outstanding. Other classes picked up new, improved saving throws, additional skill points, conjured mounts, and several prestige classes (not to leak this into the DMG, but there are a lot of arcane spellcaster prestige classes around in the core rules).

The rogue now has a mere two-point skill edge against the Ranger and Bard classes, poor hit points (Barbarian, Cleric, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, and Ranger all fare better in that department), poor saving throws (Bards, Clerics, Rangers, Paladins, and Monks have multiple “good” saving throw progressions, Rogues get only Reflexes), average attack bonus progression (right there with Monks, Clerics, and such), and neither spellcasting abilities nor bonus feats (one optional bonus feat every third level from 10th on, as in 3rd Edition).

How could this be justified? It’s all about the skill selection options and that nifty little sneak attack ability. Rogues are all about skills, and frankly you could give any other class as many skill points without coming up with as versatile and effective a skill-based character as a Rogue. Let’s see a dusty old bookworm Wizard scale a sheer masonry wall, jimmy the latch on a window, snatch everything that isn’t nailed down in a nobleman’s bedroom without him waking up, then sneak up on the guard on his way out the front door and wax him with a single dagger-stroke. If the wizard’s smart, he’ll just hire a Rogue to do it for him.