Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
A dual-wielding backstabbery male rogue is on the agenda for my next playthrough. Looking at the talents, skills and so on I think I shall be able to virtually ignore strength until later on, at which point I'll need it for a few abilities off the dual-weapon tree. That will enable me to pump dex high early on; each point of dex equals one point of defence. Add to that some skills which make me harder to hit, and some liberal skulking for ideal backstab opportunities and I think it should turn out to be a bit of a powerhouse provided I have a tank to pull all the agro. If I add a mage with spells which free, stone or otherwise pin an enemy in position I shall be in backstabbing heaven. Daggers are the weapon of choice as they have high critical chances and armour penetration. I'm thinking the party for this character will be 1 tank, 1 offensive mage with a pinch of healing and 1 healing mage with a pinch of offense.

I had planned to make this character a city elf as that background fits the roleplay best. Alas, the elf's stats are the worst for the build. I expect I shall go ahead anyway or use a human noble with the excuse that he's a duelest and not a thief; the idea of a dwarven rogue does nothing for me.
Apart from playing an elf and not a Dwarf, that is almost exactly my current game (I've still only got Alastair and Morrigan though). I agree that a city elf is the more obviously "roleplay" in traditional terms, but I'd say that it's one of the key differences with DA:O's "world" to say Fallen realms or the BG series.

Arguably, they've made elves a bit lame for anything but spellcasting, although i guess the higher willpower might provide and advantage when using special abilities. Otherwise Dwarves are simply perfect for melee combat (as a warrior or rogue) and Humans can turn their hand to anything.

As to the origin story, the dwarf commoner story is perfect for a rogue, imo.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
Being the absolute lowest of the low, working for a crime boss in a criminal gang and watching while your sister is trained as a concubine to extort priveleges for the boss. Oh, and you have a drunken abusive mother too.