Okay, so I sort of have a "20th level bro-mancer" with the archaeologist archetype for bard. I love how it fuses the lore seeking and knowledge-base of the bard with the daring-do of the rogue. However, I had a question about the rogue talents you have access to as an archaeologist.
An archaeologist's rogue talent class feature "otherwise works as the rogue's rogue talent ability." This includes the ability for the archaeologist to take the "Ninja Trick" talent.
When a rogue or archaeologist gains access to advanced rogue talents, they gain access to advanced ninja tricks (just as the ninja gains access to advanced rogue talents).
The Assassinate advanced ninja trick allows the user to study a target for 1 round and make a "sneak attack" on the target that requires the target to make a saving throw or die in addition to normal damage.
While I understand an archaeologist doesn't have sneak attack and shouldn't therefore be able to take talents or tricks that modify or enhance a rogue's sneak attack ability, Assassinate doesn't have an * denoting it as modifying sneak attacks.
My question:
Should an archaeologist be allowed to take the Assassinate ninja trick even though they don't deal extra damage on a sneak attack?
No. No sneak attack = no Assassinate. The description of Assassinate is pretty clear about that:
Assassinate (Ex): A ninja with this master trick can kill foes that are unable to defend themselves. To attempt to assassinate a target, the ninja must first study her target for 1 round as a standard action. On the following round, if the ninja makes a sneak attack against the target and the target is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly killing the target. This attempt automatically fails if the target recognizes the ninja as an enemy. If the sneak attack is successful and the target of this attack fails a Fortitude save, it dies. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the ninja’s level + the ninja’s Charisma modifier. If the save is successful, the target still takes the sneak attack damage as normal, but it is immune to that ninja’s assassinate ability for 1 day.
It's not that it "allows the user to study a target for 1 round and make a "sneak attack" on the target"
It allows the user to study a target for 1 round to trigger a special ability when they make a sneak attack on the target.
Text is pretty clear.