Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Valgoth 01-19-08, 03:37 AM	What's a feat you'd recommend for someone going for an assassin/stealthy killer-type character? Should be a feat available to a 1st level ninja. Nothing in the PHB really suits me. Recommendations?
smeagol_lied 01-19-08, 08:46 AM	Stealthy. Improved initiative. Agile athlete (CAd). More detail please?
unundindur 01-19-08, 08:58 AM	In what setting? If its Faerun, some races can take a feat to walk at normal speed without penalty to hide and move silently. Other than that, it depends a bit on race too. More info please.
Valgoth 01-19-08, 10:26 AM	I'm playing an Asheriki ninja in Eberron (from Xen'drik). I plan on getting into assassin around 6th level. I'm going to do a lot of attacking from hiding and out of invisibility to get my sudden strike damage. Also: My weapon will be a nice 15/20 crit range. I'm taking improved initiative already... and we're allowed a flaw for another feat. Using a homebrew "fear of water" flaw (that I got off this board, actually) and am now looking for another feat.
1 ton ghost 01-19-08, 01:20 PM	perhaps not a feat, but Penetrating Strike (Dungeonscape) alternative class feature for rogues has worked like a charm for my assassin. you trade out Trap Sense (sucks anyway) to get at least 1/2 SA dice vs. enemies that are typically immune, must be in flank though. still, SA is the bread and butter of assassins, you know. -Quick Draw, especially when you get a Full Attack -Improved Feint, cuz' you don't always have a flank or time to waste on a Hide then a SA. -Weapon Finesse because all your good attacks are Dex oriented or should be
wizarddog 01-19-08, 06:28 PM	Are you sure you want to even go into the Assassin prestige? You really only gain death attack cuz you will already have poison use. Spells are the only thing else you gain. I would recommend from complete scoundrel Enduring Ki-it allows you to use 2pts of Ki for 2rds of ghost step. There are also feats to increase your poison DC, to stack Monk and Ninja levels, and trade sudden strike for other effects. You should could also consider the Dodge, Mobility, spring attack chain. You could in theory-swift invisible, move and attack and move past- giving you sudden strike damage (for concealment) and end up somewhere else. (I'm sure someone will correct me on this). If you stayed with Ninja you could Ghost step ethereal and really be nasty! ;)
Cartigan 01-19-08, 07:04 PM	Or you can go into Ghost Faced Killer as well.
Valgoth 01-21-08, 11:42 AM	Or you can go into Ghost Faced Killer as well. I'm kind of on the fence between assassin and ghost faced killer right now. With assassin: death attack at first level, as well as uncanny dodge and assassin spells (which are badass), as WELL a putting me a level ahead on sneak attack/sudden strike. Poison use is redundant. With GFK: Good fort save progression (currently my weak save) and base attack bonus. Frightful strike (or whatever it's called) is a better mechanic than the assassin's death attack, but: can only do it once per day until 6th level and I don't even GET it until 3rd. It also requires that I get power attack, while I can go into assassin without expending a feat. As for that extra feat: DM house ruled in that I could get quickdraw. How annoying and pointless is that "+1 base attack bonus) requirement on quickdraw and weapon finesse? Uh... very.
Valgoth 01-21-08, 11:45 AM	You should could also consider the Dodge, Mobility, spring attack chain. You could in theory-swift invisible, move and attack and move past- giving you sudden strike damage (for concealment) and end up somewhere else. (I'm sure someone will correct me on this). I've considered the spring attack chain, but it wouldn't work that way. Invis goes away when you attack, making the spring attack kinda pointless in that situation. Still... any stealthy, unarmored character can benefit from the chain. However, Enduring ki is nice. I'll probably go with it at a later level.
Captain_Kobold 01-21-08, 01:21 PM	I've considered the spring attack chain, but it wouldn't work that way. Invis goes away when you attack, making the spring attack kinda pointless in that situation. Still... any stealthy, unarmored character can benefit from the chain. Check the Errata. Ghost step invisibility lasts for the entire round, and is not removed if you attack. Telling blow is a nice feat. Also combat reflexes. Combine that with Spectral Skirmisher feat, and you can get really nasty. (Opponents attacking you provoke attacks of opportunity each time they attack you whilst invisible. Since you are invisible, you get your full sudden strike damage on each AoO. :) )
Valgoth 01-22-08, 12:32 PM	Check the Errata. Ghost step invisibility lasts for the entire round, and is not removed if you attack. Telling blow is a nice feat. Also combat reflexes. Combine that with Spectral Skirmisher feat, and you can get really nasty. (Opponents attacking you provoke attacks of opportunity each time they attack you whilst invisible. Since you are invisible, you get your full sudden strike damage on each AoO. :) ) With that bit of errata, I just became exponentially more badass. Thank you. I'll definately be getting spectra skirmisher when I hit BaB +6. I've been thinking about Telling Blow... I think I'll see how often I'm really critting with the 15-20 range and go from there.
VulcanStormwrath 01-22-08, 07:49 PM	Deathblow. Coup-de-grace as a standard action. Combine with Stunning Fist and Freezing the Lifeblood for a great "Finish Him!!!" moment.
TifRhal 01-23-08, 11:19 AM	I would look into just lvling rogue and at 9th lvl look in complete scoundrel and spend two skill points and learn the Acrobatic backstab trick if you have been maxing out tumble your set 12 ranks of tumble and 2 skill points and you can tumble past a target they are now flat-footed so Sneak attack away.
aikimiller 01-23-08, 11:56 AM	If you're looking for more of a ranged build, Able Sniper(rotw) and Crossbow Sniper (PHB2) are both pretty good feats. Whisper gnome is a hilarious race for this, the hide and move silently bonuses are ridiculous, and the silencing strike feat is just broken- targeted silence, no save for rnds equal to character level, that spells death for pretty much any primary caster. There are also some feats that let you trade sneak attack dice for other effects, if you're doing the battlefield control of your group, some of those could be very useful.
The_Shaman 01-23-08, 12:39 PM	If you're looking for ranged, it's good to know whether the Justice of W&W death attack DC stacks with that of any other similar PrCs. Ranged death attack isn't exactly easy to pull, although high-level assassins can do it via a spell
Valgoth 01-24-08, 12:46 PM	Not going with ranged, no. A) doesn't work for death attack B) not spending the feats for it.
RobbyPants 01-24-08, 05:50 PM	I'm kind of on the fence between assassin and ghost faced killer right now. This doesn't really help you now, but if you take either of these PrCs, you might want to take Ability Focus for either Death Attack or Frightful Attack. This will give +2 on the DC of the ability, which makes it a bit more useful. Other than that, make sure you have a good Int of Cha score, depending on the class. Obviously, if you go for GFK, it forces you to take Improved Initiative and Power Attack. Looking at the full BAB advancement, and the rest of the abilities, GFK is suited more for fighter/rogue or fighter/ninja types. You'll want to use a good two-handed weapon, such as a greatsword, to get the most milage from Power Attack. Another good one if you decide to play a rogue instead of a ninja is Skill Focus(Use Magic Device). +3 on that skill is only a good thing.
The_Shaman 01-24-08, 06:21 PM	Not going with ranged, no. A) doesn't work for death attack B) not spending the feats for it. A) you can, with the Justice... prestige class or an assassin spell. B) yes, unfortunately it does require a few feats. Precise shot, PBS, rapid shot, multishot or greater MS... But hey, there are some good parts about not being in melee when you probably don't have the hit points or AC to do so well there anyway.
SkipSandwich 01-28-08, 11:18 AM	Rogues (and by extension, ninjas) actually can get some good milage out of Cleave and Great Cleave (win init, shank a flat-footed foe, he falls and you shank his buddy, he falls and you shank HIS buddy, ect.), and ninjas in partiular are one of the few classes that can take regular advantage of Whilwind attack (because of ghost step letting them sneak up and cuisinart people)