Sunderfolkis a turn-based tactical RPG, and it wears its inspirations firmly on its sleeves. Chief among these inspirations is undoubtedlyDungeons and Dragons, which appears to have had a particularly strong influence on the game’s classes. In keeping with its tabletop inspirations,Sunderfolkheavily prioritizes collaborative play.
Players still have the option to run a single-player campaign, but are highly encouraged to instead bring a full party of friends for their adventure.Sunderfolkallows for parties of up to four players, along with six playable classes for each player to choose from. Game Rant recently spoke with a few of the developers ofSunderfolk, with Character designer Xavier Gordon and others sharing plenty of information about the game’s classes.
Sunderfolk Classes Explained: The Rogue
Sunderfolk’s Rogue class, its player fantasy, and gameplay role is rather obvious, with it sharing the same name withDungeons and Dragons' own Rogue class. Of course, this would lead one to assume thatSunderfolk’s take on the classic archetype wouldn’t stray too far from what TTRPG fans have come to expect. However, the Rogue boasts a few unique abilities for anyone to keep in mind when selecting which class to play. Explaining the Rogue’s character archetype in detail, Gordon said,
“Are the shadows your friend? Do you pick the perfect chance to strike, always staying one step ahead? Are you a playmaker who never misses an opportunity to show your skills? Then the Rogue is a great match for you.”
Forfans ofD&DRogues and similar classes, this description should sound fairly familiar. The element of surprise is always the Rogue’s greatest weapon, as it allows them to evade capture and deal hefty damage all in one package. Gordon went on to describe more of the Rogue’s abilities, which actually began to paint the picture of a very high-risk, high-reward playstyle.
Rogue Abilities
Rogue Fate Deck
The Fate Deck is Sunderfolk’s D20 and how effects of each attack impact an enemy. Players can customize these further with modifiers and the like, creating unique builds for each playthrough. A lot of the Rogue’s Fate Deck will have modifiers for survivability, sneakiness, and movement, but also let them expand outward with more buff-stealing moves, the ability to create more decoys, and the like.
Rogue Ultimate
Sunderfolk’s Rogue Class Allows Players to Live on the Edge
Similar to the Ranger, the Rogue boasts an array of abilities for getting around the battlefield, but theRogue’s mastery of stealthappears to be a bit of a double-edged sword. The Rogue needs to be more careful about their positioning than other classes, as getting caught outside the shadows could leave them without vital abilities and vulnerable to a counterattack.
Thankfully, this potential weakness is made up for in dividends. Not only does the Rogue boast one of the highest potentials for dealing damage, but it is also the only class that can completely dodge attacks. Both of these abilities can allow the Rogue to join the Berserker on the front line depending on the circumstances and player builds. Even when accounting for the dodge ability, the Rogue still isn’t as resilient as the Berserker, so players will still have to be careful to rely on their teammates throughout each combat encounter.
The Rogue’s design has a pretty clear audience: players who prefer a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Thanks to its large damage output and evasive maneuvers, the Rogue actually has the potential to play either the cat or the mouse. The Rogue does have a few weaknesses to account for, which likewise add complexity to combat in general. Regardless, the Rogue appears to slot best into full parties and can prove one ofSunderfolk’s most formidable fighterswhen given the proper support.
