Inquisitor going into assassin advice


Advice


Yes, I know this probably seems pretty weird to the old hands (this is my first game), but I was given this option by my GM after story started developing. His original god (Cayden Cailean) has been killed, along with a few others, including Iomadae. Asmodeous is being an evil dick, trying to start the end of the world, so a few of the gods chose to sponsor the players, against all natures my Inquis was picked by Norgorber, and was given the opportunity to transition into a neutral assassin (Norgorber being painted by GM as a 'misunderstood' god who will allow PC to approach assassination as a balancing act (think Assassin's Creed or Dishonored).

TL;DR: GM setup Inquisitor character to become assassin

Inquisitor was a stretch for me, I am a far cry from any kind of optimizer. Out of my depth, now trying to go into assassin will seem like a BIG f%%&-up

Stats:
Lvl 2, str 13, dex 14, con 17, int 16 (14+2 human), wis 17, cha 12
Rapier, Longbow, Silver Rapier, Cold Iron rapier
Weapon Finesse (rapier), Judgment surge

I looked it up, and barring the 'evil' necessity for assassin (gm approved), I won't be able to take assassin until at least level 5.

Here is where I have no idea how to make it work, mechanically. Eventually I need to take leadership (lvl 7?) for story issues, but other than that, I have no idea what to do.

Help?


Why do you even want to go into the assassin class? You would be much better off remaining a straight inquisitor. Inquisitors are a very powerful class that given a small amount of time can boost their combat ability through the roof. The thing that makes them powerful is they can adapt to any situation they need. Judgments can boost almost any aspect of your character that you need. Combined with a few buff spells and bane you will be doing a lot more damage than an assassin.

An inquisitor gets the same attack bonus but better saves and more skills and special abilities. The sanctified slayer archetype trades away judgments for studied target, sneak attack and slayer talents. While the sneak attack dice is lower you still have bane so it works out to be the same damage.

You are also passing up getting your higher level spells which are worth more than anything the assassin has to offer. Do yourself a favor and just stick with inquisitor.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Assassins were created before the Inquisitor class existed. Assassins were initially designed to give some magic spells to sneaky combatants.

Inquisitors start out being sneaky combatants that get even more magic spells than assassins.

The one positive for multiclassing inquisitor/assassin is that you get both Wisdom-based divine spells AND Intelligence-based arcane spells, and you have good Int and Wis already.

Maybe go Inquisitor 5/Assassin 5/Mystic Theurge 10--IF YOU'RE CRAZY! ;-)

But seriously, is there something the assassin gives you the inquisitor doesn't? Besides sneak attack (which Mysterious Stranger already told you that you can get by taking the Sanctified Slayer archetype).

Honestly, if you are a new player, going straight-up inquisitor is probably the best bet. It's already a really complex class (Judgments + spells + Teamwork feats + myriad class abilities, all of which synergize in complex ways). At least it will teach you lots and lots about the Pathfinder rule system, particularly the action economy (standard actions, move actions, swift actions, immediate actions, free actions, stuff that you can do that aren't actually action types, full-round actions, etc.). You also don't want to spend all your time buffing during combat to the point where you don't get to do anything else.

"Easier" "sneaky combatants" include the ranger and the slayer--just something to consider if you find the inquisitor a bit overwhelming.


The assassin does not get arcane spells. I think the 3d edition assassin did, but the Pathfinder assassin does not. What they get is a weak death attack with a lot of restrictions, sneak attack and a few other special abilities most of which are not that good. The only really unique thing about them is that people they do manage to kill with the death attack are more difficult to bring back from the dead.


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Your attack stat is you fourth highest and your racial bonus went into your third/fourth highest stat.....this is painful to me.


Balancing the stats will be painful. I would only really consider Assassin for a class that only needs dexterity and intelligence. So rogue. If it's for flavor sanctified slayer would work a lot better. It'd also be easier to play. There's all sorts of sneaky Inquisitor stuff like WIS to stealth and whatnot.


My ardent recommendation as someone who is finishing up Rise of the Runelrods as an Inquisitor is don't both with the assassin prestige class. You can RP becoming an assassin, you can RP going through initiation and whatever else. But you don't need those assassination mechanics. They're just not good for your character. At all.

Don't bother with levels in assassin. You can be an assassin without the levels.

Menacing Shade of mauve wrote:
Your attack stat is you fourth highest and your racial bonus went into your third/fourth highest stat.....this is painful to me.

Man, those stats are all the damn place. I'm not sure it's salvageable for something good.

SmiloDan wrote:

Assassins were created before the Inquisitor class existed. Assassins were initially designed to give some magic spells to sneaky combatants.

Inquisitors start out being sneaky combatants that get even more magic spells than assassins.

The one positive for multiclassing inquisitor/assassin is that you get both Wisdom-based divine spells AND Intelligence-based arcane spells, and you have good Int and Wis already.

Yeah, that was the 3.0 (maybe 3.5) assassin. Paizo's version of the assassin doesn't get any spell casting at all.


I'm gonna have a unpopular opinion but I like to let my characters evolve with the story if the story goes one way and your character feels inclined to go that way go with it, you don't always have to look at what's optimal or what's the strongest, going with the flow can be a lot of fun, and with this set up it sounds like a lot of really cool things could happen to your character with boons and the backing of a god I'd go for it definitely


I like the Rp aspect of it. I might suggest that after your training and initiation, instead of taking the assassin prc, you can simply retrain your inquisitor to have the sanctified slayer archetype... you have all the good things of the inquisitor, but you also gain sneak attack.


Maybe ask to change stats around they are a little strange


Please, don't take levels in the Assassin class...

That class is made of misery and pain! Taking levels in Assassin is shooting your own feet... With a freaking rocket launcher!

Okay... That's a bit of hyperbole...

But it's a terrible, terrible class. All it gives you is the word "Assassin" written on your character sheet and a bunch of neigh useless abilities that will either never be used or never make any real difference. -.-'

Assassins make Rogues look a powergamer's wet dream!

- - -

Ask your GM to allow you to take the Sanctified Slayer archetype... It gives you the "Assassin" vibe without crippling your character. It's also easier to play, IMO, so a good pick for new players...

(I'd also ask to switch my stats around a bit, having a 14 in your attack is... Painful, to say the least).

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

My bad. I haven't really looked at PrCs in years, so I was remembering the 3.5 one.

Assassins are yucky, anyways.


Appreciate all the advice guys. I liked the idea of following through with the story of 'becoming' an assassin, and remaining an Inquisitor. It fits, and I didn't even think about that. Appreciate it gentlemen...(ladies?)


Assasin PrC sucks bawwwwls.

You can be an assassin and an Inquisitor just fine. If you want some more assassin-y stuff, be a Sanctified Slayer. It'll give you a bit of Sneak Attack, a very small number of Slayer Talents, and Studied Target instead of Judgment (a good trade if you don't care about the defensive aspects of Judgment).

Just do a bit of Retraining.

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