Playing as an assassin vs playing as a ninja

[xLegionx]

I was wanting some advice on this topic. In our pathfinder group we are currently 5th level and I'm currently a 5th level rogue. I was wondering whether or not I should take levels in assassin because I have been reading about the ninja and to me it poses as clearly the better "killer" class compared to a rogue/assassin (I hate they took out the assassin spell list ugh!)

To be honest, I don't know if my gm will let me convert my rogue to an actual ninja but just incase he does allow it can someone tell me which class would probably be better for me and my party? Rogue/assassin or ninja?

[Master of the Dark Triad]

Rogue, because their death attack power is do much better.

[ShadowcatX]

Ninja's considered a more powerful class by far. Ki and the vanish trick help them do damage that leaves the rogue crying. Assassin is generally considered a very weak prestige class and pretty much never worth taking.

[xLegionx]

Master of the Dark Triad wrote:

Rogue, because their death attack power is do much better.

How very cute...

[Cevah]

Master of the Dark Triad wrote:

Rogue, because their death attack power is do much better.

Death Attack is Assassin level 1, not Rogue. You need 5 ranks in Stealth, so this is minimum level 6.

Death Attack (Ex):

If an assassin studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (assassin's choice). Studying the victim is a standard action. The death attack fails if the target detects the assassin or recognizes the assassin as an enemy (although the attack might still be a sneak attack if the target is denied his Dexterity bonus to his Armor Class or is flanked). If the victim of such a death attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the assassin's class level + the assassin's Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the assassin. If the victim's saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the assassin has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.

If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the assassin does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.

Master Strike is the capstone ability of a Rogue, Level 20.

Master Strike (Ex):

Upon reaching 20th level, a rogue becomes incredibly deadly when dealing sneak attack damage. Each time the rogue deals sneak attack damage, she can choose one of the following three effects:

The target can be...

* put to sleep for 1d4 hours
* paralyzed for 2d6 rounds, or
* slain

Regardless of the effect chosen, the target receives a Fortitude save to negate the additional effect. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the rogue's level + the rogue's Intelligence modifier. Once a creature has been the target of a master strike, regardless of whether or not the save is made, that creature is immune to that rogue's master strike for 24 hours. Creatures that are immune to sneak attack damage are also immune to this ability.

Assassinate is a Ninja Advanced Talent, available at level 10.

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.

Note that the Ninja spends 1 round vs. the Assassin's 3 rounds.

/cevah