I found pure rogue easy. But it was more like a pure archer/assassin. I just put perks into Light Armour, Archery, and Sneak. And then later on I carried a single dagger for slit-throat assassinating. I didn't try Smithing or Enchanting as I don't need it nor does it fit my role-play. I never used potions/poisons either as I feel using potions/poisons is cheap as you can drink as many as you want in the middle of a battle. I thought about Alchemy for role-play with my Bosmer (making damage poisons only) but I never bothered as I was powerful enough.

If you meant a Rogue that didn't use the bow, and only a single dagger, that would be hard at first. I play on Master and a sneak attack at the start of a new game with a dagger would do no damage and I'd die in a couple of hits. Just like my warrior but he doesn't sneak.

I always thought a Rogue wasn't a fighter but more like a pure theif/or just a lying, untrustful person.

The dictionary is a little different: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rogue
I guess it's more about the D&D style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29

Nope, actually there's nothing I can find in the dictionary that mentions stealing in reference to rogues, either. I didn't say the term was unstable, but that it was vague - hence the fact that we can have several different interpretations.

My point is that you're drawing some unnecessary semantic boundaries around the term, and none of it warrants the insistence that someone else is "using the term incorrectly". Plus, the guy you're responding to made it very clear that he was referring to his personal playstyle, not planting some abstract flag of semantic certitude. Just seemed like you were looking to bicker for the sake of it.

OP, in those early stages I'd say Stamina is your friend - just run!

rogues don't typically use magic, but if you want you can use illusion spells. They are known for their agile speed, so 1:2 health to stamina ratio would be good or even1:3. Daggers are the typical weapon when used as a rogue. for perks i would go with one handed, light armor, sneak, and alchemy. Speech craft isn't really that great so i would recomend you skipping out on that while smithing would be recomended if you want to play the higher difficulties.

Once again...

They said "I play a Rogue because I don't kill."

A Rogue is not a Rogue because they do not kill. They said "the moment you kill you aren't a Rogue anymore." The term Rogue has nothing to do with killing or not killing so, again, basing your definition of "Rogue" off of killing or not killing is incorrect because the term "Rogue" has nothing to do with killing but rather with morals. A Rogue can kill or not kill as they please and still be a Rogue.

leburns-

in your op, it sounds like you're talking about just using the 'thief' skills as opposed to whatever your rogue defininition is.

the thief skills include the dagger-assassin perk, and, therefore, you wouldn't be failing to use only thief skills, imo.

however, you could also use the oblivion 'rogue' skills and apply them to skyrim.

there are a few threads where people have played no killing, 'thief'-only skills (they disregard the assassin perk) and have found it to be a very fun build to play with.

If you're sneaky enough to pickpocket Forsworn Briarhearts... Well, that's fun.

Another funway to kill, is to reverse pickpocket some poisons.

A rogue is a very independant person, ever hear the term rogue agent or something similar? They have the resources and intelligence to get by just fine.

It's more than interesting. It's an absolute blast. For those of you who think Skyrim is too easy, try this.

1 point in sneak.
Go ahead and max speech, lockpicking and pickpocket.

No magic.
No companions.
No potions.
No killing of anything... ever.

All your level points go into stamina so you can run from the trolls and sabre cats.

As far as the "kill quests".... I just change it up a bit and pickpocket something of value from them and drop it in the house of the quest giver.... or reverse pickpocket the quest giver, giving the pickpocketed item to them that way.

Also, come up with something that your character collects. Jewelry, skulls, bowls, helmets.... something personal that you loot from places you go, whether it be store , a house, cave.... wherever.

Anyone can play the character that kills everything. After you've done that, try doing every side quest in the game without killing.

pure archery is for pure amatures, pure daggers = win

Bah! A real professional uses claws, khajiit style! Im playing a khajiit thief, unarmed, right now. The only non thief skill i use is block. Let me tell you, its an absolute blast! By going shield+claws she is actually good enough in combat. It is strongly recommended. The somewhat limited unarmed damage makes it very hard to make insta-kills, but that can be overcome d by sneaking past the tougher enemies.

I think the original poster meant that he/she wanted to perk only the skills that the game says are Rogue skills. These would be Alchemy, Stealth, Light Armor, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, and Speechcraft. Illusion is a mage skill so would not be used in this build. So I assume that the OP would use a bow or a dagger, but not perk the One-handed or Archery skills. Am I right OP? In that case this is a really squishy build at the beginning of the game, but once your stealth gets high enough you are nigh untouchable. Plus the Steath skill tree does have perks that ups the damage of daggers and bows as long as they are used during a stealth attack.

And once again....

you said "A Rogue steals things." The term Rogue has nothing to do with stealing or not stealing so, again, basing your definition of "Rogue" off stealing or not stealing is incorrect because the term "Rogue" has nothing to do with stealing but rather with... well, I wouldn't say morals exactly, but with a certain scoundrelly approach to life (see? Vague!) A Rogue can steal or not steal as they please and still be a Rogue.

Look, steal, don't steal, kill, don't kill, whatever - while the poster you were responding to may have been unable to base his definition on any dictionary meaning, you're in the same boat. I actually agree with you that a "rogue" can either kill or not kill. What I don't agree with is the certitude you're attempting to apply to a term that is actually rather vague.

It just didn't warrant the 'rofl' emoticon and attitude, I guess.


But aaaanyway...

I fully endorse jpo's approach to the game. One of my best moments in Skyrim was one of my thief characters, sneaking through a Dwemer ruin somewhere. I didn't intend to make a non-killing character, but I just knew I couldn't deal with all the sphere guardians and other automatons. My only option was to sneak past, using arrows for distractions, until I got through.

Also, extremely lucrative!

I am finding that this is really difficult at low level. Sure after I get the higher level Perks it will be all fun and games, but getting there is proving to be a real pain in the tail.

I'm actually finding that the Khajiit unarmed combat is pretty good, and the unarmed Kill-Cams are wicked.

The fact that at low level my archery sneak attacks do not kill most things makes things an issue. And I can't just sneak into anywhere, it will be a while before my Sneak skill and Sneak perks are enough to let me move around freely around enemies. In the mean time I just have to be able to run really fast.

FusRoDah the sabrecat and hit it with a paralyze poison arrow. Make sure you get the perk to stagger your enemies with bows and you have no problem abotu mellee enemies closing the distance.

No Archery Perks for my character. Only Thief Perks.

I'm also trying to not do very much of the MQ, though I may go ahead and finish Act I just for that shout and to activate the Dragons in the world. To be honest Skyrim is kind of lonely without them.

so, are you allowing yourself the sneak dagger perk?

I cannot think of anything more boring. Maybe, MAYBE if you've already played a character of your liking and done everything (EVERYTHING), should you make a character like this. But no killing? F that

Then again, play however you like. It just sounds boring to me

Yes, and the sneak archery perk. I may not be able to perk archery, but I can sneak, put a minor enchantment on the bow (no Enchantment perks), upgrade the bow a little (no Smithing perks) and add a lethal poison (Alchemy Perks YES), so I can still do some damage ... that is, once I get all those perks I want added.

Never thought of a rogue as 'pure'. Always been a jack of all trades IMO. Any combination of stealth, combat and mercantile with a little magic thrown in could be a rogue.

personally, i've never thought of a rogue using magic. that was only added with oblivion.

Not necessarily, I used Illusion in Morrowind too for invisibility, chameleon and calm with a rogue/thief character.

meaning, the official 'rogue' classifications that the game's themselves established. yes, you can create your own rogue with magic.

as well, my own lore has never thought of them to use magic. they are clever and sneaky and conniving and backstabbing with tremendous speech skills.

A rogue should always have some daggers handy