3.5 I'm in an evil campaign and want to be an Assassin... [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 I'm in an evil campaign and want to be an Assassin... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harmor
02-19-04, 03:44 AM I'm in an evil campaign and want to be an Assassin. I know the requirements (I'm LE, Disguise 4 ranks, Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks), but this last one is perplexing.

"The character must kill someone for no other reason than to join the assassins."

So I have to join a guild of assassins. But how do I find them? Isn't not like you can goto your average medium-sized city and yell, "Is there an Assassin in the house?"

Any ideas on how to RP this?

Perhaps kill people until I make a name for myself? To get the attention of the guild? I'm not sure...that might have some ramifications, especially if the town guard start cracking down on the real assassin's guild...

Your help is appreciated.

Edit: Character background: Level 2 Rogue/3 Wizard. Worships Nerull, LE alignment, very good at sneaking, Necromancer Wizard specialist. Have been conscripted into the "evil baron's" elite squad, repretation of being surgical and discrete
Sproik
02-19-04, 04:32 AM How do you qualify for an Assassin? You need 8 ranks of Move Silently, as you have pointed out - but you can only have 6.5 ranks at your level. Surely you need to get to Rogue 4 and Wizard 4 before you qualify?

In any case, the killing someone part of the entry requirments is specifically intended to mean "at the behest of the Assassin's Guild". So you need to find them and tell them you want in. It should not be hard to contact the Assassin's Guild, by the way - they need to be found to be hired.

Once you've explained this to them, they should select someone for you to kill, with no payment other than joining them. Of course, they are liable to select someone in such a way as to ensure you are not an infiltrator of some kind, so siblings, offspring, spouses, friends and important community individuals are always favourites.
Harmor
02-19-04, 04:35 AM I have 8 ranks in those skills because I did the following:

1 Rogue Max 4 ranks
1 Rogue/1 Wizard
1 Rogue/2 Wizard
1 Rogue/3 Wizard
2 Rogue/3 Wizard Max 8 ranks :-)
Harmor
02-19-04, 04:37 AM So you need to find them and tell them you want in. It should not be hard to contact the Assassin's Guild, by the way - they need to be found to be hired.

Hmm...I guess I could do a Gather Information and secretly try to find someone in their organization. Gotta be descrete I guess.

This would be a good hook I guess too for an adventure :-) (*note to DM)
Sproik
02-19-04, 05:42 AM Originally posted by Harmor
I have 8 ranks in those skills because I did the following:

1 Rogue Max 4 ranks
1 Rogue/1 Wizard
1 Rogue/2 Wizard
1 Rogue/3 Wizard
2 Rogue/3 Wizard Max 8 ranks :-)

I don't get it. Your skill progression would look like this:
4 ranks
4.5 ranks
5.0 ranks
5.5 ranks
6.5 ranks
Neverborn
02-19-04, 05:55 AM He must have regarded those skills as class skills when taking wizard levels, which is wrong...
When you are multiclassing, it does not mean that ALL skills from both classes become class skills for you, you just have to look at which class you take a level in when you level up, and for that level, the class skills of that class are your class skills, the other ones, from your other class are cross-class skills...
Brutal Cuddliness
02-19-04, 07:43 AM Neverborn, Sproik, I think what you're missing is this:
Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3.
This is from the SRD, which is online here:
3.5 System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35)

If you're unsure about a rule, and don't have your books on hand, this is a great way of looking it up before you post!
Joe Khol
02-19-04, 07:45 AM Originally posted by Sproik
I don't get it. Your skill progression would look like this:
4 ranks
4.5 ranks
5.0 ranks
5.5 ranks
6.5 ranks

What's stopping him spending more than one skill point per level?
Neverborn
02-19-04, 07:48 AM Originally posted by Brutal Cuddliness
Neverborn, Sproik, I think what you're missing is this:

This is from the SRD, which is online here:
3.5 System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35)

If you're unsure about a rule, and don't have your books on hand, this is a great way of looking it up before you post!

Whoa, i DID miss that! :rolleyes:
Never mind then!:)
Brutal Cuddliness
02-19-04, 08:29 AM OK, back to the original question:
Originally posted by Harmor
So I have to join a guild of assassins. But how do I find them? Isn't not like you can goto your average medium-sized city and yell, "Is there an Assassin in the house?"

Any ideas on how to RP this?

Perhaps kill people until I make a name for myself? To get the attention of the guild? I'm not sure...that might have some ramifications, especially if the town guard start cracking down on the real assassin's guild...
You're right, finding the Assassin's Guild can be tough, (assuming there even is one in a given city) since they don't want to be found by local law enforcement and various do-gooders. On the other hand, they do want to be found by customers and potential recruits, so it isn't hopeless.

Like you said, going freelance might be a good way of getting their attention. If you start disrupting their business, however, that attention might be lethal... So you want to learn as much as possible about the guild before you make your move.

Asking questions in places where the local low-life hangs out would be a good start, but you want to be real careful when you do this, so you don't get into trouble. This gets easier if you're a streetwise character with ranks in Gather Information and Bluff. If not, you might want to see if you can get someone to help you for a fee, just pick someone who's not likely to be an informer for the City Watch.

Depending on what you find out this way, you can make a better decision on how to proceed. If you can't get in touch with them, and they don't seem to territorial; by all means, start building your reputation by doing some "work".

Another thing, just because you become a member of the Assassin's Guild, doesn't mean you have to stay in the Assassin PrC. Since you're a Rogue/Necromancer, it might be a good idea to take levels in Arcane Trickster after taking a level of Assassin.
DDRGasm
02-19-04, 08:33 AM In short, your skill ranks are fine. If, when purchasing skills as a rogue, you spend 1 point per rank, and your ranks are never higher than your level +3, you're fine. If purchasing as a wizard (and it's already a class skill for you because you've had some rogue training), you can spend 2 points per rank, with your maximum ranks never being higher than your current level +3. It's possible to get certain skills at certain times (such as only when taking rogue levels) to get to the maximum ranks you're seeking.

As for finding the assassin's, you're best bet would be to look in a big city (the bigger the better), preferably with some ongoing conflict. Maybe one where merchants are having a private war with each other, or shady politicians are doing deals. Any situation where someone might want to hire an assassin.

Gather Information is probably the best choice of a skill to use to find them. Killing sprees also will attract some attention, especially if the target is high profile or well guarded. If you kill the Mayor of a big city, one that's hard to get to, the assassins might actually seek you out. ;)

Do tell your DM that you're going out looking for assassins because you want to become one. If you just tell your DM you're killing people, and he doesn't know its to attract assassins, then he'll think you're very very strange. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 02-19-04, 03:44 AM	I'm in an evil campaign and want to be an Assassin. I know the requirements (I'm LE, Disguise 4 ranks, Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks), but this last one is perplexing. "The character must kill someone for no other reason than to join the assassins." So I have to join a guild of assassins. But how do I find them? Isn't not like you can goto your average medium-sized city and yell, "Is there an Assassin in the house?" Any ideas on how to RP this? Perhaps kill people until I make a name for myself? To get the attention of the guild? I'm not sure...that might have some ramifications, especially if the town guard start cracking down on the real assassin's guild... Your help is appreciated. Edit: Character background: Level 2 Rogue/3 Wizard. Worships Nerull, LE alignment, very good at sneaking, Necromancer Wizard specialist. Have been conscripted into the "evil baron's" elite squad, repretation of being surgical and discrete
Sproik 02-19-04, 04:32 AM	How do you qualify for an Assassin? You need 8 ranks of Move Silently, as you have pointed out - but you can only have 6.5 ranks at your level. Surely you need to get to Rogue 4 and Wizard 4 before you qualify? In any case, the killing someone part of the entry requirments is specifically intended to mean "at the behest of the Assassin's Guild". So you need to find them and tell them you want in. It should not be hard to contact the Assassin's Guild, by the way - they need to be found to be hired. Once you've explained this to them, they should select someone for you to kill, with no payment other than joining them. Of course, they are liable to select someone in such a way as to ensure you are not an infiltrator of some kind, so siblings, offspring, spouses, friends and important community individuals are always favourites.
Harmor 02-19-04, 04:35 AM	I have 8 ranks in those skills because I did the following: 1 Rogue Max 4 ranks 1 Rogue/1 Wizard 1 Rogue/2 Wizard 1 Rogue/3 Wizard 2 Rogue/3 Wizard Max 8 ranks :-)
Harmor 02-19-04, 04:37 AM	So you need to find them and tell them you want in. It should not be hard to contact the Assassin's Guild, by the way - they need to be found to be hired. Hmm...I guess I could do a Gather Information and secretly try to find someone in their organization. Gotta be descrete I guess. This would be a good hook I guess too for an adventure :-) (*note to DM)
Sproik 02-19-04, 05:42 AM	Originally posted by Harmor I have 8 ranks in those skills because I did the following: 1 Rogue Max 4 ranks 1 Rogue/1 Wizard 1 Rogue/2 Wizard 1 Rogue/3 Wizard 2 Rogue/3 Wizard Max 8 ranks :-) I don't get it. Your skill progression would look like this: 4 ranks 4.5 ranks 5.0 ranks 5.5 ranks 6.5 ranks
Neverborn 02-19-04, 05:55 AM	He must have regarded those skills as class skills when taking wizard levels, which is wrong... When you are multiclassing, it does not mean that ALL skills from both classes become class skills for you, you just have to look at which class you take a level in when you level up, and for that level, the class skills of that class are your class skills, the other ones, from your other class are cross-class skills...
Brutal Cuddliness 02-19-04, 07:43 AM	Neverborn, Sproik, I think what you're missing is this: Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3. This is from the SRD, which is online here: 3.5 System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) If you're unsure about a rule, and don't have your books on hand, this is a great way of looking it up before you post!
Joe Khol 02-19-04, 07:45 AM	Originally posted by Sproik I don't get it. Your skill progression would look like this: 4 ranks 4.5 ranks 5.0 ranks 5.5 ranks 6.5 ranks What's stopping him spending more than one skill point per level?
Neverborn 02-19-04, 07:48 AM	Originally posted by Brutal Cuddliness Neverborn, Sproik, I think what you're missing is this: This is from the SRD, which is online here: 3.5 System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) If you're unsure about a rule, and don't have your books on hand, this is a great way of looking it up before you post! Whoa, i DID miss that! :rolleyes: Never mind then!:)
Brutal Cuddliness 02-19-04, 08:29 AM	OK, back to the original question: Originally posted by Harmor So I have to join a guild of assassins. But how do I find them? Isn't not like you can goto your average medium-sized city and yell, "Is there an Assassin in the house?" Any ideas on how to RP this? Perhaps kill people until I make a name for myself? To get the attention of the guild? I'm not sure...that might have some ramifications, especially if the town guard start cracking down on the real assassin's guild... You're right, finding the Assassin's Guild can be tough, (assuming there even is one in a given city) since they don't want to be found by local law enforcement and various do-gooders. On the other hand, they do want to be found by customers and potential recruits, so it isn't hopeless. Like you said, going freelance might be a good way of getting their attention. If you start disrupting their business, however, that attention might be lethal... So you want to learn as much as possible about the guild before you make your move. Asking questions in places where the local low-life hangs out would be a good start, but you want to be real careful when you do this, so you don't get into trouble. This gets easier if you're a streetwise character with ranks in Gather Information and Bluff. If not, you might want to see if you can get someone to help you for a fee, just pick someone who's not likely to be an informer for the City Watch. Depending on what you find out this way, you can make a better decision on how to proceed. If you can't get in touch with them, and they don't seem to territorial; by all means, start building your reputation by doing some "work". Another thing, just because you become a member of the Assassin's Guild, doesn't mean you have to stay in the Assassin PrC. Since you're a Rogue/Necromancer, it might be a good idea to take levels in Arcane Trickster after taking a level of Assassin.
DDRGasm 02-19-04, 08:33 AM	In short, your skill ranks are fine. If, when purchasing skills as a rogue, you spend 1 point per rank, and your ranks are never higher than your level +3, you're fine. If purchasing as a wizard (and it's already a class skill for you because you've had some rogue training), you can spend 2 points per rank, with your maximum ranks never being higher than your current level +3. It's possible to get certain skills at certain times (such as only when taking rogue levels) to get to the maximum ranks you're seeking. As for finding the assassin's, you're best bet would be to look in a big city (the bigger the better), preferably with some ongoing conflict. Maybe one where merchants are having a private war with each other, or shady politicians are doing deals. Any situation where someone might want to hire an assassin. Gather Information is probably the best choice of a skill to use to find them. Killing sprees also will attract some attention, especially if the target is high profile or well guarded. If you kill the Mayor of a big city, one that's hard to get to, the assassins might actually seek you out. ;) Do tell your DM that you're going out looking for assassins because you want to become one. If you just tell your DM you're killing people, and he doesn't know its to attract assassins, then he'll think you're very very strange. ;)