Hitman assassin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hitman assassin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Raiziel07
06-17-07, 05:53 PM I already have a thread in "Character Optimization" about this, but its not getting many hits, possibly because I need to develop the idea more, so I decided to try it here too to help get some ideas. I'll include a link to the old thread at the end.

Basically, the idea is a character that uses grappling to defeat an enemy, rather than damage. Some ideas I had are: breaking an enemys neck, inject poison(would be with needles, but I don't think there are needles in D&D, so poison daggers instead, I guess), or strangling or throat cutting with a garrote wire(a wire with a handle at each hand used by wrapping a loop of the wire around the targets neck from behind).
Waht I was thinking is taking some levels in monk and rogue and then some levels in assassin and reaping mauler. I wanted reaping mauler because it gives the ability to kill someone by pinning them for 3 rounds, which is the closest I could find to snapping someones neck, or strangling them.
I haven't been able to find any rules on a weapon like a garrote wire, so I hope someone has an idea about where to find something along those lines.
I considered some levels in Justiciar, but it seems more like a bounty hunter rather than an assassin, so I don't think I'll end up using it.
I found some feats for increasing unarmed combat, but not much for grappling, so any ideas there would also be appreciated. I already have "Ascetic Rogue" in mind as well as the skill trick "Acrobatic Backstab".

Beyond that, any suggestions would be much appreciated.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=866720
BroadStreetBully
06-18-07, 03:31 AM there are rules for garrotting opponents, they're in the 3.0 Song and Silence book. if your DM would approve, I'd consider going that route.

also, I'd talk it over with your DM before you try to make a wacky class combination. maybe your DM would be alright with allowing you to keep the assassin death attack ability, but it would be delivered in a different manner (for instance, maybe only 1 round of studying the target, but you'd need to grapple and establish a pin in the first round you attack).
RobbyPants
06-18-07, 10:18 AM Waht I was thinking is taking some levels in monk and rogue and then some levels in assassin and reaping mauler. I wanted reaping mauler because it gives the ability to kill someone by pinning them for 3 rounds, which is the closest I could find to snapping someones neck, or strangling them.
This is actually about the exact class combination I was going to suggest. But it got me thinking about one problem: how much are you going to focus on the grappling aspect? It seems like quite bit from the OP. If you multiclass in rogue/monk/assassin into the mix, you will be mixing three 3/4 BAB classes together (which ultimately can really hurt your total BAB). You need two things if you want to be a capable grappler: Str and BAB.

I suppose there's always the option of mixing levels of ranger (for the Hide and Move Silently ranks, as well as BAB) with fighter (for the feats). This will keep you at full BAB, and the fighter feats will quickly get you into Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple. You can maybe dip upwards to three levels in rogue (getting 2d6 sneak attack and Evasion) for only a one point drop in BAB.

I wouldn't recommend taking Assassin unless you're willing to take it to 10th level. The Death Attack DC is the biggest limiting factor on the class, and if you only dip in, the DC will stay too low to be useful in most situations.

Anyway, it's a great class concept. Let me know how it turns out, or if you have any other ideas you want to try. :D
buzzsawl
06-19-07, 01:10 AM Why not go rogue/assassin and focus on the bluff/disguise/sneak skills/spells...maybe see if your dm will let you take perform(acting) as a trade off for another class skill...

That at least would let you get close enough to people to study them for long enough and death attack. How you deliver the death attack shouldn't really matter too much.

That was my first thought...but I was thinking Hitman the video game when I read the thread title.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raiziel07 06-17-07, 05:53 PM	I already have a thread in "Character Optimization" about this, but its not getting many hits, possibly because I need to develop the idea more, so I decided to try it here too to help get some ideas. I'll include a link to the old thread at the end. Basically, the idea is a character that uses grappling to defeat an enemy, rather than damage. Some ideas I had are: breaking an enemys neck, inject poison(would be with needles, but I don't think there are needles in D&D, so poison daggers instead, I guess), or strangling or throat cutting with a garrote wire(a wire with a handle at each hand used by wrapping a loop of the wire around the targets neck from behind). Waht I was thinking is taking some levels in monk and rogue and then some levels in assassin and reaping mauler. I wanted reaping mauler because it gives the ability to kill someone by pinning them for 3 rounds, which is the closest I could find to snapping someones neck, or strangling them. I haven't been able to find any rules on a weapon like a garrote wire, so I hope someone has an idea about where to find something along those lines. I considered some levels in Justiciar, but it seems more like a bounty hunter rather than an assassin, so I don't think I'll end up using it. I found some feats for increasing unarmed combat, but not much for grappling, so any ideas there would also be appreciated. I already have "Ascetic Rogue" in mind as well as the skill trick "Acrobatic Backstab". Beyond that, any suggestions would be much appreciated. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=866720
BroadStreetBully 06-18-07, 03:31 AM	there are rules for garrotting opponents, they're in the 3.0 Song and Silence book. if your DM would approve, I'd consider going that route. also, I'd talk it over with your DM before you try to make a wacky class combination. maybe your DM would be alright with allowing you to keep the assassin death attack ability, but it would be delivered in a different manner (for instance, maybe only 1 round of studying the target, but you'd need to grapple and establish a pin in the first round you attack).
RobbyPants 06-18-07, 10:18 AM	Waht I was thinking is taking some levels in monk and rogue and then some levels in assassin and reaping mauler. I wanted reaping mauler because it gives the ability to kill someone by pinning them for 3 rounds, which is the closest I could find to snapping someones neck, or strangling them. This is actually about the exact class combination I was going to suggest. But it got me thinking about one problem: how much are you going to focus on the grappling aspect? It seems like quite bit from the OP. If you multiclass in rogue/monk/assassin into the mix, you will be mixing three 3/4 BAB classes together (which ultimately can really hurt your total BAB). You need two things if you want to be a capable grappler: Str and BAB. I suppose there's always the option of mixing levels of ranger (for the Hide and Move Silently ranks, as well as BAB) with fighter (for the feats). This will keep you at full BAB, and the fighter feats will quickly get you into Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple. You can maybe dip upwards to three levels in rogue (getting 2d6 sneak attack and Evasion) for only a one point drop in BAB. I wouldn't recommend taking Assassin unless you're willing to take it to 10th level. The Death Attack DC is the biggest limiting factor on the class, and if you only dip in, the DC will stay too low to be useful in most situations. Anyway, it's a great class concept. Let me know how it turns out, or if you have any other ideas you want to try. :D
buzzsawl 06-19-07, 01:10 AM	Why not go rogue/assassin and focus on the bluff/disguise/sneak skills/spells...maybe see if your dm will let you take perform(acting) as a trade off for another class skill... That at least would let you get close enough to people to study them for long enough and death attack. How you deliver the death attack shouldn't really matter too much. That was my first thought...but I was thinking Hitman the video game when I read the thread title.