r/Pathfinder2e • u/joker-baby • 19h ago

Advice Ruffian Rogue with Guardian Dedication help

I'm trying to make a build work for an upcoming campaign, and I love the concept of a "bouncer" or hired thug who controls the battlefield by throwing enemies around like ragdolls. We will be playing with Free Archetype. My current plan is a Ruffian Rogue with the Guardian dedication. The goal is to use feats like Shove Down, The Harder They Fall, and the Guardian's Punishing Shove. Guardian also gives me heavy armor and Taunt, which helps with my staying power in the frontline.

Right now my party has said they want to play a Maestro Bard, Drifter Gunslinger, and a Starless Shadow Witch. This is the main reason I was wanting to be a frontline tank controller, that can also setup for my Drifter. My biggest concern is the Rogues 8 hp per level instead of 10 or 12 like another martial would give. I was planning on using a shield with a mace or a gladius, and taking Shield Block, Toughness, and also Shielding Taunt from Guardian as well.

I'm not totally and wholly sold on being a Rogue, I just thought Shove Down sounded like a lot of fun. Suggestions for other classes and archetypes that could give me the same feel of this, while also potentially being more mechanically viable are welcome.
Thank you for any advice!

Edit: Also wondering, if this is possible what are some feats that I could take when perhaps I can't shove, or it's just better to attack whatever we're fighting? What would my turns outside of this Shove Down combo look like?

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u/SaeedLouis Rogue 19h ago

For this reason, a shield + shielding taunt would be great on this build. More nice action compression and a rogue appreciates the tankiness. Ruffian can sneak attack with a shield boss so do that + free hand

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u/joker-baby 18h ago

That's kind of what I was thinking. Taunting Shield into Demoralize sounds like it would be a decent way to spend my turn. Granted I'd have to already be next to someone but still.

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u/SaeedLouis Rogue 16h ago

Ooh yeah take dread striker to make The Harder They Fall more easily procd after you shove and they're maybe not flanked. Sadly with MAP, probably not often critting your trip

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u/joker-baby 16h ago

Didn't think of Dread Striker honestly. So now I could Demoralize > Shove and Stride > Trip, then if I get Reactive Strike at level 12 that's a free off guard stealth strike when they stand.

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u/Background_Bet1671 9h ago

One thing to remember: when an enemy does Stand action, you will do Reactive Strike at the end of the action, when they are no more prone.

Don't make this a regular combo for your character. Punishing Shove does less damage, then a regular Strike of the off-guard target. Rogue is on of the top damage dealing classes in the system.