couple of things to add there deathDuring the beginning i suggest keeping quick strike at 1. The reason being is that you want to be able to have enough energy for an entire fight so when you lvl to begin with, dex and focus will be vital. As you go on though it doesn't serve as practical. I have 5 focus at lvl 88 and i still have like 300 energy and all important skills maxed, my energy rarely drops down during a fight and only does when i buff before (Poison weapon, hide and using sneak). Also if you can find a king or lord dagger it can be extremely useful for levelling and getting coins. You can basically one hit all of the under 50's in Shalemont. Money wise, just hang out in Shale and ask some friends to do boss fights there. You can get some decent drops which you can sell if another group doesn't get them first. Otherwise maybe selling fettles or clearing out Crookback is a good option to build up your coins.
there is a down side to using lordking stuff, even if it is rouge, and that is that its speed is like 5/6000, making you attack very slowly. also the only possible reason you would have 5 focus and 300 energy is because you have full zodiac, some meteoric dagger or even lordking, and probably a golden bodkin of some kind.
please correct me if i am wrong but every single one of those gives you an energy bonus?
I plan to keep using the 6 skills i use now until i decide otherwise based on questioning, observation, etc. - poison weapon, fast reflexes, meditate, a combination of rend and quick strike, plus the 'traditional' bandage wounds. i have around 188 energy with 60 focus, and use quick strike at least three times in one fight and rend once - it depends on level.
Any tips?