The high ability for critical damage is a third specialization of the Rogue in Requiem. To all classes, the Rogue starts off with the highest amount of dexterity compared. That is the ability to become invisible from the Skills Shadow Runner and Stealth is one final defining characteristic of the Rogue. Dexterity improves the chance for weapons (requiem gold) to cause critical damage.
How the Rogue protects itself with regards to, it seems that the Rogue would rather focus on reducing the chance of being hit through evasion, as opposed reducing how much damage a hit does through Defense. Watching an enemy miss several times in a row is very satisfying. We like this type of protection personally. We provide requiem lant for you.
Because of damage the Rogues base damage is not all that great. It is quite low in fact. But what is very high is that the number of attacks that can perform in a given time. The Rogues style is to hope that his attacks will have critical damage and strike fast. The more often he will ultimately generate critical damage is base on the more often a Rogue hits. In the end we think that is the Rogues speed that gives its edge.