What are the controlling attributes for stealth and locks/traps?
Can the Rogue use swords?
Can the Rogue use bow/xbow?

thanks!

Helix

Locks/Traps is Dex/Int, Stealth was Dex/Spd I think.

Rogues can use a few swords, but you're fairly limited. Most of the early game, my rogue used the Diamond Epee that you find in the Jail, but I usually stuck with Thieves Daggers in both hands when I could get them. It's always better if you can use 2 of the same weapon type. Rogues can use Bows and Xbows, I don't remember offhand if they can use the doubleshot and tripleshot xBow... someone can fill that info in?

I never got around to trying my Rogue with bows. Once I armed him with the 2 thieve's daggers (cursed), he couldn't swap to use a bow anyway. And I liked the damage he did dual wielding the daggers.

My rogue uses a sword named Fang, and is considerably more powerful than my fighter. He often takes off over 100 points in a swing (once 150) and in one glorious fight took off 500 hp in a single round.

He also takes off 20-30 points per shot with a hunter's bow and barbed arrows. He gets many instant kills. By far my most effective non-magic character.

thoon

you can build stealth up early in the game by putting everyone on defend in front of some enemies that miss you a lot, as long as you can either heal them when they do get hit or break off to go rest somewhere safe. When enemies miss, rogues, monks, and ninjas get stealthier. In about 4 game hours, they get >60. 10 Stealth=1AC.
If you change class, you keep this added AC.

Can your stealth go up more than one point from a single battle? Just thinking about my next party incarnation and doing just that in the monastery.

Yes any skill can get up an many points the system consider worth. So you can easily get up several points in one battle.