Rogue (Origins)

Name Specializations Abilities Starting stats Base Bonus Health Power Strength Dexterity Willpower Magic Cunning Constitution Starting secondary stats Base attack Base defense Increasing stats Health per level Power per level Damage per level

Rogue is one of the playable classes in Dragon Age: Origins. Any race can become a rogue. Rogues are crafty combatants who succeed in battle by combining speed, subterfuge, and a wide range of abilities to bring their opponents down in unexpected ways, sometimes before the enemy even perceives danger. Rogues can pick locks with great skill, incapacitate enemies with ease, or sneak up on targets to deliver a devious and crippling backstab.

Unlike the warrior (who can specialize in any weapon type) or the mage (who is unable to specialize in weapon types), the rogue can place talent points into two weapon types:

• Dual Weapon
• Archery

Class benefits for rogue: +4 dexterity, +2 willpower, +4 cunning.

Level up benefits for rogue: +5 health, +4 stamina, +0.2 damage, +1 skill every 2 levels (unlike +1 skill per each 3 levels for warrior and mage).

Class description

While all classes receive a bonus to attack and critical hit chance attacking from behind, backstabs are a specific, rogue-only type of attack that occurs whenever the rogue is flanking a foe and said foe does not have immunity (such as from Shield Tactics). When in such a position, the rogue gets a bonus to attack and every successful hit will deal critical damage, although will not count as a critical hit for the purposes of shattering. Backstabs cannot become critical hits.

Rogues also generate 20% less threat.

Specializations

NOTE: All four of the original rogue specializations can be unlocked in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening expansion, by buying them from shops in Amaranthine, if they were not already unlocked.

For the specialization in Dragon Age: Origins, see Assassin (Origins).

For the specialization in Dragon Age II, see Assassin (Dragon Age II).

For the specialization in Dragon Age: Inquisition, see Assassin (Inquisition).

Assassins are professional killers who usually eliminate their targets for money.

Background

Assassins employ a variety of tools and techniques in their line of work, ranging from poison to armed combat. It's believed that assassins stem from a warrior tradition of “hassarans” who roamed Antiva and the Free Marches during First Blight. These "hassarans" had a reputation of lethal killers in northern Thedas; they were trained to fight using only their hands.

In Antiva, assassination is seen as an art form. The guild of assassins known as the Antivan Crows holds a great deal of political power, comparable to the nobility and the military. According to the local adage, "any man exists within their reach". Some of the most effective Antivan kings belonged to the Crows' ranks. The order started as an arm of the Chantry; monks who lived in an abbey north of Treviso decided to oppose a despotic noble by using herbs grown in their garden to develop poisons. The Crows say: "All that is good has been built on the bodies of the fallen. If we are to be killers, then let us also be architects."

Outside of Antiva, assassination is regarded with less esteem. The Orlesian bards may perform assassinations while on a mission but it's not what they're typically hired for.

Notable assassins

Assassin tarot card from Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Argent
• The Black Rose
• Cole
• Corimae
• Heir
• Jarvia
• Nathaniel Howe
• Nuncio Caldera Lanos
• Rendon Howe
• Senestra the Snake
• Shaevra
• Taliesen
• Tallis
• Velanz
• The Wasp
• Zevran Arainai

The following information is only mentioned in Dragon Age Tabletop. Certain portions of this media may no longer reflect currently established lore.

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• Rivka – an elven assassin in Denerim

Known assassin groups

Assassin in action

• Antivan Crows
• Shadows of the Emperor
• Denerim Avengers
• Carta Loyalists
• Qunari Death Squad
• Rivaini Legendary Beards
• Anderfels' Assassins
• House of Repose

See also

Manual: Assassin

References

• This specialization can be unlocked by Zevran if his approval is high enough, or bought in the Denerim Alienage.

Bard

• This specialization is taught by Leliana if her approval is high enough. It can also be bought from Alimar in Dust Town within Orzammar.

Ranger

• This can only be unlocked by buying the manual from Bodahn Feddic at the party camp.

For the specialization in Dragon Age: Origins, see Duelist (Origins).

For the specialization in Dragon Age II, see Duelist (Dragon Age II).

Duelists are rogues fighters who prefer to duel in light armour and strike with light, but precise attacks.

Background

They want challenge as well as victory and they consider combat as the proving ground where mettle is tested and mastery is proven. Unlike other rogues, followers of this specialization do not master in stealth or lethal tactics but will often announce their intent, inviting attention with bravado and insult. These skillful swashbucklers rely on agility, speed, and wits, to block, parry, counterattack, and dodge enemy's attacks

Known duelists

• Hawke (conditional)
• Isabela
• Jerrik Dace
• Riordan
• Vaughan
• The Warden (conditional)
• The Warden-Commander (conditional)

• This is unlocked through interaction with Isabela. There are three ways of doing this. These are catching Isabela cheating in a game of cards, cheating during the game with Isabela when dealing if your character is not rogue or "Getting to know her better." You can find Isabella at The Pearl in Denerim.

For the specialization in Dragon Age: Origins, see Shadow (Origins).

For the specialization in Dragon Age II, see Shadow (Dragon Age II).

Shadows are self-taught elite rogues, masters of concealment and ambush. They strike from darkness, employing personal decoys and hallucinogenic poisons to distract enemies before sliding a dagger between their ribs. They are not an organisation, but rather freelancers.

Background

When a blade finds its mark despite all precaution, or an arrow kills from out of nowhere, that's the unmistakable work of a Shadow. While certainly capable of standing toe to toe, rogues of this specialization prefer to flank and surprise, taking any and every advantage. Opponents rarely know how their defences have failed, and Shadows have no interest in enlightening them. From the simplest misdirection to the most complex decoy, Shadows rob opponents of certainty, and are never more dangerous than when seemingly face to face with the enemy. To battle a Shadow is to be uncertain that you faced one at all.

Known shadows

• Genlock shadow
• Hawke (conditional)
• Sebastian Vael (debatable)
• The Warden (conditional)
• The Warden-Commander (conditional)

See also

Manual: Shadow

• This specialization requires Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Legionnaire Scout

• This specialization requires Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Talents

See Rogue Talents.

IsabelaNotable Rogues

• Leliana
• Zevran
• Riordan
• Jarvia
• Rendon Howe
• Nathaniel Howe
• Sigrun
• Isabela

External links

• Rogue Mechanics Explained
• DPS calculations for a DW rogue