So, I'm about to start a Council of Thieves game and have elected to play a fetchling ninja, as there is some interesting mechanical and flavor aspects to such. I figure him to be a sort of 'shadow assassin', doing the dirty work of the rebellion.
My problem is, I can't really figure out how I want to build him. Ostensibly, the same way you'd build a normal rogue, but that seems a bit boring. I'd like to play up his shadow ties, but I'm not necessarily sure how to go about it. Moonlight Stalker chain? Gloom Strike? Though feat intensive builds aren't a rogues best friend.
25 point buy, two traits, all available Paizo material (no third party). Here's what I was thinking. I might be able to convince my GM to allow some of the more thematically appropriate traits available to tieflings (like Shadow Stabber).
Str 13
Dex 16+2
Con 12
Int 13
Wis 12-2
Cha 14+2
Traits: Shadow Stabber, Conspiracy Hunter
Level 1: Weapon Finesse
Level 2: Vanishing Trick
Level 3: Blind-Fight
Level 4: Combat Trick: Combat Expertise
Level 5: Moonlight Stalker
Level 6: Pressure Points
Level 7: Moonlight Stalker Feint
Level 8: Shadow Clone
Level 9: Moonlight Stalker Master
Level 10: Assassinate
This character is set up to do solo work. The idea being to get the drop on opponents in total darkness (likely through a magic item if needed) and assassinate them. With low-light vision, darkvision, Stealth, the Shadow Walk SLA, and Vanishing Trick, I should be able to get anywhere to take out a target.
Any thoughts?
What do you get from pumping Dex? I'd go with a higher Str and a 2hander, unless you can reliably get an Agile weapon.
If you're intent on using the Moonlight feats, consider the Gloom Shimmer alternate racial, which replaces Shadow Walk with Displacement. Shadow Walk is a good escape after an assassination (not so much an entrance since you end up 100-1000ft from where you want to be), but Displacement gives you concealment even in broad daylight.
There's a neat suggestion I saw someone make on the forums, dipping in Manuever Master Monk for Dirty Trick to blind opponents, allowing yourself to SA them.
2c