I have to second everyone's thoughts. The only way rogues don't have (too awful) downtime is using a Mrylokar's BP for the clicky effect. You can get pretty good at landing solo backstabs, but it's not going to work every time.

Intimidate soloing was amazing before they fixed it, but it's more or less like live now.

Tons of respect if you try though!

(at least take cecily up on that haze panther offer aye?!)

If I were to solo an untwinked rogue, I would make a barbarian. It's a rough start, but once you get to Blackburrow things will pick up. Even green gnolls drop fangs, and there are the quests over there to help with money. Once you get to 10, put all your points into backstab and make sure to start the fight with that. Depending on the mob, if it misses I'd run to zone and try again.
It wouldn't be easy, but it would be doable and challenging. You just have to be smart. Fight single mobs...land the first blow...then you should have enough of a head start to get them to run away.
Far more challenging and down time than a ranger for sure. I think Ivory can make it work. :)

Oh, Ivory, you sneaksy little scamp.

I got my rogue to 51 on red untwinked with crap gear and mostly solo. Got so i could land maybe 1/2 of my backstabs. Instill doubt doesn't seem less reliable, just less convenient without the instant cast.

But roll dwarf for barrel roll.

Yeah, it's still more powerful than it should be. Getting closer, though.

You could get to upper 40s with just a fungi. When I did it, you could equip an epic, though, so you'd need to also twink a haste item too, minimum. Wear +HP gear on every other slot.

I did the cliffs in FV and yeti caves in DL for like 10 levels. You still have to be extremely careful about pathing and overpulls and pulling things that con too high.

I ran to FV city and BW zone line a lot during this process.

I'm almost 14 now...and since getting backstab at 10...I've almost mastered the art of front-backstabbing :3 I can do it 60-70 percent of the time now...and slowly getting better at the timing.

Combined with combat bandaging, I can kill blues non-stop while healing during the fight.

Front stabs are a unique to P99.. feature which shouldn't be possible, mobs should always shift direction to face you immediately unless casting. Combat bandaging strikes me as an exploit.

They do shift direction immediately....but there is a very very slight delay :3

And combat bandaging was classic. No more an exploit than recharging items with merchants or fear kiting or looking through walls as a gnome....just part of the game at this point :D

What do you mean by that?

Mobs here stop auto facing your position for about a quarter second after attacking. That's enough to circle strafe a backstab.