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Holy Assassin Build

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
flamepheonix182
Mar 30, 2008 2:56:49 I'm trying to make a character who is an assassin for a church ( haven't decided what deity yet). I kinda want him to be a divine caster/Sneak attacker but so far I can only seem to find the Black Flame Zealot prestige class, but I'm worried if I take that class, I will fall behind the other members of the party because he seems pretty weak.

So basically i'm asking does anybody know of any builds that would fit in that flavored? or a way to make the black flame zealot playable in a relatively high powered campaign?
#2
zendu
Mar 30, 2008 3:11:41 You can either sneak, or gain caster levels, you cant have it both ways. Don't forget the golden rule of char-op don't lose caster levels. If you are stuck on the sneak attack route, why the divine route? Can't an assasin be religious?

That said, I actually have an assasin cleric stub lieing around. The feats Profane Boost (LoM? BoeD?) and Holy Potency (CC) stack together quiet well. Especially if you have Qucken Turning.

Looking for a PRC that might fit him...
#3
flamepheonix182
Mar 30, 2008 3:15:50 I appreciate the help, I'm not married to the divine route I was just hoping something like that existed, otherwise I'll try something else.

By the way Kudos on "Knight of the hokey pokey" avatar, I haven't seen that card in years
#4
zendu
Mar 30, 2008 3:22:56 master of shrouds with perhaps a divine oracle lead in could be about your only shot. youll be very feat strained if you want to do the rebuke to do more inflictions.

what level?

I've never seen heirophant used like that, but divine reach with inflict spells really isnt that bad.
#5
Dictum_Mortuum
Mar 30, 2008 3:23:29
factotum 1/archivist x/turn undead class y
DMM persistent (feat CD)
hunter's eye (spell, PHB II)
divine power (spell, core)
Able Learner (feat, RoD)

==
Full BAB
Sneak attack = CL/3
Full caster
Competent skill monkey
#6
zendu
Mar 30, 2008 3:26:59 I wonder how BFD stacks against straight assasin, both spell lists are pretty impressive.
#7
empirate
Mar 30, 2008 3:27:18 How about a little Divine Seeker (FRCS)? Gets SA at 2nd and 4th level. No spellcasting, but some other nifty stuff (like save bonuses vs. divine spells, and locate creature/object as an SLA), and much of the flavor you'd like.
For a really evil divine casting assassin consider the Strifeleader (Faiths&Pantheons): D6 hit dice, little skillpoints but good list, only loses CL at 3rd, 6th and 9th level (which are the levels at which he gains SA dice, but has some other nice abilities like adding some arcane spells to his spell list: Invisibility, Mirror Image, Phantasmal Killer, Major Image... He also gets some social skill bonuses (Bluff, Intimidate), and later he gets Death Attack. The capstone ability is Greater Death Attack, which increases the save DC by 4!
From a CO perspective, Death Attack is often derided as suboptimal, but it really depends a lot on the kind of campaign you're playing. Greater Death Attack means the Strifeleader is a better assassin than the Assassin!
#8
surreal
Mar 30, 2008 3:27:27 Shadowbane Stalker comes immediately to mind. The Daggerspell Shaper works too if consider a nature oriented church. Both are from Complete Advanturer.

What's to say you can't be an arcane sneak for a church? Potayto pothac0 really.
#9
zendu
Mar 30, 2008 3:29:37 I've always wanted to make use of savage grapple, which could make for a very imposing evil character.
#10
flamepheonix182
Mar 30, 2008 3:31:12 I'll be starting at level 12 and probably continuing to low epic levels ( providing I don't die of course). What book is master of shrouds in?

Actually now that you mention in maybe a sneaky cleric using inflict spells would work well as a divine assassin

Edit: woah a lot of posts while I was writing. ya the shadowbane stalker fits really well into my character idea. I have to check out strifeleader as well.
#11
zendu
Mar 30, 2008 3:35:09 sorry about that, MoS is in LM.

Ya, I made that cleric for a friend as the bbeg, his game plan was to contagin someone from a royal house, claim to be a great healer to get in, then have them all help him cast symbol of sleep.
#12
the_shaman
Mar 30, 2008 5:54:06
I'm trying to make a character who is an assassin for a church ( haven't decided what deity yet). I kinda want him to be a divine caster/Sneak attacker but so far I can only seem to find the Black Flame Zealot prestige class, but I'm worried if I take that class, I will fall behind the other members of the party because he seems pretty weak.

Well, there are a few other PrCs that are better for skilled sneaker, such as the shadowbane stalker, but in general most cleric PrCs aren't very good for sneaks.Besides, unless you go archivist the Int requirement for Death attack will be a pain - if you use death attack. Strifeleader isn't a bad idea; Darkmask from Lords of Darkness is another option, although both are evil. Non-evil, non-lawful characters might have a harder time... presuming you don't use theDivine Tricksterfrom Rich Burlew's Giant in the Playground site. Quite frankly, I consider it a very good class - despite the relatively high prerequisites.
#13
Dictum_Mortuum
Mar 30, 2008 6:18:32 why? roguish class 1 - cloistered cleric 19 with able learner is the same, only better.
#14
bowensilverclaw1986
Mar 30, 2008 9:03:59 Especially with that feat from Dragon Mag that let's you stack Rogue & Cleric for SA (forgot the name of the feat though, I saw it mentioned somewhere on these boards though).
#15
operation_shoestring
Mar 30, 2008 13:05:11 What dictum said. Factotum1/Archivist5/Divine Oracle4/Sacred Excorcist10.

Grab Hunter's Eye for Sneak Attack. It's persist-able.
#16
the_shaman
Mar 30, 2008 14:13:41 Rogue/cloistered cleric sounds like it has more skills, though.
#17
flamepheonix182
Mar 30, 2008 19:33:33 I think I'm going to go with shadowbane inquisitor. I also think i'm going to try and use moonblade as his primary weapon, (for the obvious synergy with sneak attack and disrupting spell casters) but I was wondering can i make a full attacks with a moonblade? (Spell compendium)
#18
operation_shoestring
Mar 31, 2008 2:30:31
Rogue/cloistered cleric sounds like it has more skills, though.

but not as much sneak attack Only Rangers, Archivists and Unseen seers can use Hunter's eye for caster-level/3 SA. Besides, with Guidance of the Avatar and Divine Insight, you don't need *that* many skill-points.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 flamepheonix182 Mar 30, 2008 2:56:49	I'm trying to make a character who is an assassin for a church ( haven't decided what deity yet). I kinda want him to be a divine caster/Sneak attacker but so far I can only seem to find the Black Flame Zealot prestige class, but I'm worried if I take that class, I will fall behind the other members of the party because he seems pretty weak. So basically i'm asking does anybody know of any builds that would fit in that flavored? or a way to make the black flame zealot playable in a relatively high powered campaign?
#2 zendu Mar 30, 2008 3:11:41	You can either sneak, or gain caster levels, you cant have it both ways. Don't forget the golden rule of char-op don't lose caster levels. If you are stuck on the sneak attack route, why the divine route? Can't an assasin be religious? That said, I actually have an assasin cleric stub lieing around. The feats Profane Boost (LoM? BoeD?) and Holy Potency (CC) stack together quiet well. Especially if you have Qucken Turning. Looking for a PRC that might fit him...
#3 flamepheonix182 Mar 30, 2008 3:15:50	I appreciate the help, I'm not married to the divine route I was just hoping something like that existed, otherwise I'll try something else. By the way Kudos on "Knight of the hokey pokey" avatar, I haven't seen that card in years
#4 zendu Mar 30, 2008 3:22:56	master of shrouds with perhaps a divine oracle lead in could be about your only shot. youll be very feat strained if you want to do the rebuke to do more inflictions. what level? I've never seen heirophant used like that, but divine reach with inflict spells really isnt that bad.
#5 Dictum_Mortuum Mar 30, 2008 3:23:29	factotum 1/archivist x/turn undead class y DMM persistent (feat CD) hunter's eye (spell, PHB II) divine power (spell, core) Able Learner (feat, RoD) == Full BAB Sneak attack = CL/3 Full caster Competent skill monkey
#6 zendu Mar 30, 2008 3:26:59	I wonder how BFD stacks against straight assasin, both spell lists are pretty impressive.
#7 empirate Mar 30, 2008 3:27:18	How about a little Divine Seeker (FRCS)? Gets SA at 2nd and 4th level. No spellcasting, but some other nifty stuff (like save bonuses vs. divine spells, and locate creature/object as an SLA), and much of the flavor you'd like. For a really evil divine casting assassin consider the Strifeleader (Faiths&Pantheons): D6 hit dice, little skillpoints but good list, only loses CL at 3rd, 6th and 9th level (which are the levels at which he gains SA dice, but has some other nice abilities like adding some arcane spells to his spell list: Invisibility, Mirror Image, Phantasmal Killer, Major Image... He also gets some social skill bonuses (Bluff, Intimidate), and later he gets Death Attack. The capstone ability is Greater Death Attack, which increases the save DC by 4! From a CO perspective, Death Attack is often derided as suboptimal, but it really depends a lot on the kind of campaign you're playing. Greater Death Attack means the Strifeleader is a better assassin than the Assassin!
#8 surreal Mar 30, 2008 3:27:27	Shadowbane Stalker comes immediately to mind. The Daggerspell Shaper works too if consider a nature oriented church. Both are from Complete Advanturer. What's to say you can't be an arcane sneak for a church? Potayto pothac0 really.
#9 zendu Mar 30, 2008 3:29:37	I've always wanted to make use of savage grapple, which could make for a very imposing evil character.
#10 flamepheonix182 Mar 30, 2008 3:31:12	I'll be starting at level 12 and probably continuing to low epic levels ( providing I don't die of course). What book is master of shrouds in? Actually now that you mention in maybe a sneaky cleric using inflict spells would work well as a divine assassin Edit: woah a lot of posts while I was writing. ya the shadowbane stalker fits really well into my character idea. I have to check out strifeleader as well.
#11 zendu Mar 30, 2008 3:35:09	sorry about that, MoS is in LM. Ya, I made that cleric for a friend as the bbeg, his game plan was to contagin someone from a royal house, claim to be a great healer to get in, then have them all help him cast symbol of sleep.
#12 the_shaman Mar 30, 2008 5:54:06	I'm trying to make a character who is an assassin for a church ( haven't decided what deity yet). I kinda want him to be a divine caster/Sneak attacker but so far I can only seem to find the Black Flame Zealot prestige class, but I'm worried if I take that class, I will fall behind the other members of the party because he seems pretty weak. Well, there are a few other PrCs that are better for skilled sneaker, such as the shadowbane stalker, but in general most cleric PrCs aren't very good for sneaks.Besides, unless you go archivist the Int requirement for Death attack will be a pain - if you use death attack. Strifeleader isn't a bad idea; Darkmask from Lords of Darkness is another option, although both are evil. Non-evil, non-lawful characters might have a harder time... presuming you don't use theDivine Tricksterfrom Rich Burlew's Giant in the Playground site. Quite frankly, I consider it a very good class - despite the relatively high prerequisites.
#13 Dictum_Mortuum Mar 30, 2008 6:18:32	why? roguish class 1 - cloistered cleric 19 with able learner is the same, only better.
#14 bowensilverclaw1986 Mar 30, 2008 9:03:59	Especially with that feat from Dragon Mag that let's you stack Rogue & Cleric for SA (forgot the name of the feat though, I saw it mentioned somewhere on these boards though).
#15 operation_shoestring Mar 30, 2008 13:05:11	What dictum said. Factotum1/Archivist5/Divine Oracle4/Sacred Excorcist10. Grab Hunter's Eye for Sneak Attack. It's persist-able.
#16 the_shaman Mar 30, 2008 14:13:41	Rogue/cloistered cleric sounds like it has more skills, though.
#17 flamepheonix182 Mar 30, 2008 19:33:33	I think I'm going to go with shadowbane inquisitor. I also think i'm going to try and use moonblade as his primary weapon, (for the obvious synergy with sneak attack and disrupting spell casters) but I was wondering can i make a full attacks with a moonblade? (Spell compendium)
#18 operation_shoestring Mar 31, 2008 2:30:31	Rogue/cloistered cleric sounds like it has more skills, though. but not as much sneak attack Only Rangers, Archivists and Unseen seers can use Hunter's eye for caster-level/3 SA. Besides, with Guidance of the Avatar and Divine Insight, you don't need that many skill-points.