I've been toying with a new ninja build in an upcoming adventure.
My current line of thinking is that finesse is a trap.
Here's the character at level five (starting level 1 but this gives a flavour of the build):
"The Black Moon"
Human Lawful Evil Assassin of Achaekek
Fighter 1/Ninja 4
STR: 19 (+2 Racial, +1 Level 4)
DEX: 14
CON: 12
INT: 8
WIS: 10
CHA: 14
Traits: Reactionary, Indomitable Faith
Feats/Abilities
Fighter (1) [Feat1]Power Attack, [Human]Dodge, [Fighter]Furious Focus
Ninja (2) Sneak Attack +1d6, Poison use
Ninja (3) [Feat2]Mobility, Ki pool, Vanishing Trick
Ninja (4) Sneak attack +2d6, No trace
Ninja (5) [Feat3]Spring Attack, Shadow Clone
Weapon choice: Katana
The idea would be to use positioning and Spring attack to set up my sneak attack dice with Power attack for 1d8+12 +2d6 Damage. If I need to stand toe to toe I can using shadow clones.
Perhaps later Combat reflexes at 7 and 2 levels of Shadowdancer at 8 and 9 for HiPs, Darkvision and Evasion.
Opinions very welcome, anything I've missed here with this deadly blade?
I like it. I see combat rogues (and ninjas) too often who are all int and dex, and who can't fight worth a damn.
You'll want a ranged weapon, and to think about skills. I's recommend Stealth and Perception to start with.
what's the point buy? and in all honesty it seems like your not utilizing the ninja's ki pool. spend a point to do an aextra attack on your full attack. I had a build close to yours once for second darkness (was closed because we had a witch sleeping everything and the ninja was just one shotting everything with a nodachi so sad that the DM is a quiter)
Point buy is 20. I would be utilizing the ki pool. Are you suggesting extra ki at 3rd? I'm not sure about that.
Don't forget the shadowstrike feat to sneak in dim light or with other concealment, so you can use smokesticks.
No more advice?
if youre 2hing the katana consider your fighter in 2h fighter (3 levels, staggered in as needed).
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Well, any advice I could provide would be contingent on knowing what the rest of your levels look like?
Will you be taking anymore levels in Fighter?
If no, then I would give a long look at dropping Fighter altogether. If you are thinking about additional Fighter levels you could consider going half-elf for the extra favoured class hit point/skill points. You could also take Dual Minded to boost your WILL saves.
Will you be taking Red Mantis Assassin prestige class at all?
To be honest I like this build a lot and have come up with something very close to this. I flip flop between going Fighter or Ranger or just Ninja all the way. Later on when you get iterative attacks Spring Attack becomes less optimal then using Vanishing trick to unleash a full attack - to help make up for that "lost" damage the Vital Strike feats could be handy.
I am curious how the character went.