Re Flavoring a ninja-----> Montebank


Advice


I don't like rogues. (pause for gasp)

People tell me they're a versatile class with a lot of potential, that you can do a lot sticking and moving, vanishing and popping out of the shadows... but whenever i ask HOW you do that with a rogue i either get "lrn 2play nwb", an option for spending every other round running for cover, or something that runs smack into the raw like wet spaghetti on concrete. By the time i've gotten off two sneak attacks the barbarian has already cleaved 5 enemies, seen them driven before them, heard the lamentations of their women and used their tears for a bath.

Along comes ultimate combat and the ninja. With a swift action cast vanish, it seems like its finally possible to have a dashing rake that doesn't need to stand in one place to rack up the body count.

This is what i'm going for flavor wise (note this is merely inspiration, i'm not actually making him)

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VNsjjYRgjc]
From the halls of montezuma....

Race: I think i HAVE to pick half orc. The lighting rules make sneak attacking someone in the dark hell on anyone without dark vision, you can't scout ahead when carrying a torch, and the only other option with darkvision is slow, meaning it can be hard to set up flanks.

Stats: We use an assign dice method, so i won't be able to KNOW what i'm getting till i sit at the table and make the character. Its usually roughly a 25 point buy, so i'm thinking

Ability
STR 18 (with the +2)
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14

Why a high strength? He's going to be using a bastard sword (katana) for big two handed swings when he can't sneak attack... and when he can sneak attack for more damage. I can't see the point in using a feat for weapon finesse when i get so few. I dont need a super high stealth score because hey, i'm invisible!

Intimidating: Half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate skill checks due to their fearsome nature.----> The groups barbarian probably has this covered. I can move it to Rock Climber, since the bandit here routinely drops out of trees.

Orc Ferocity: ---->I'm loathe to replace this. I can get perception check bonuses no problem, but swift action invisibility, run to the cleric "HEAL ME" is kind of hard to beat.

Weapon Familiarity: Half-orcs are proficient with greataxes and falchions and treat any weapon with the word “orc” in its name as a martial weapon.- My only other option is chains. Not seeing that in a happy go lucky characters backstory.

The game will start at level 1 (probably). if we hit 8 I'll be surprised.

1 improved initiative
2 Ninja trick- Vanish
3 Extra ki
4 Ninja trick- Fast stealth
5 Sap master (to punch people from invisibility, They can't make an AoO so there's no need for Improved unarmed strike)
6 Ninja trick- combat trick, shield proficiency?
7 Extra ki
8 Acrobatic master


BigNorseWolf wrote:
I dont need a super high stealth score because hey, i'm invisible!

In my experience, at high level this is a road to death, expecially with demons and similar monsters.


Kaiyanwang wrote:
BigNorseWolf wrote:
I dont need a super high stealth score because hey, i'm invisible!
In my experience, at high level this is a road to death, expecially with demons and similar monsters.

Ahh but i won't be getting to high level.

Also at that level you can't sneak anyway.


Since you don't go there, fine.

What do you mean for "you cannot sneak"?

(more OT, I like the idea of the TH bruiser -do you remember the gosht-faced Killer from Complete Adventurer?)


Kaiyanwang wrote:

Since you don't go there, fine.

What do you mean for "you cannot sneak"?

(more OT, I like the idea of the TH bruiser -do you remember the gosht-faced Killer from Complete Adventurer?)

Because see invisibility negates the only thing that allows you to sneak 99% of the time. The rest of the time, you have to have your Wizard buddy cast something that grants concealment or cover.

Yes, there are Bluff checks to distract, but good luck with that on a regular basis.


Other than Vanishing Trick and Invisible Blade, what Ninja tricks are useful? At first I thought the Smoke Bombs would be useful but I'm having second thoughts.


Serisan wrote:
Kaiyanwang wrote:

Since you don't go there, fine.

What do you mean for "you cannot sneak"?

(more OT, I like the idea of the TH bruiser -do you remember the gosht-faced Killer from Complete Adventurer?)

Because see invisibility negates the only thing that allows you to sneak 99% of the time. The rest of the time, you have to have your Wizard buddy cast something that grants concealment or cover.

Yes, there are Bluff checks to distract, but good luck with that on a regular basis.

There are things like flanking and such. I admit that the more you level up, the more is difficult beacuse of fly, true seeing and stuff - but say it's 99% of times is just ridiculous.

Anyway, the OP said low level, so...


Hmmmm I just noticed I don't need a shield proficiency i can just get a buckler and make it masterwork.


BigNorseWolf wrote:
Hmmmm I just noticed I don't need a shield proficiency i can just get a buckler and make it masterwork.

What if you were going onto like 16? What would you add?

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