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So, I am am going to start GM-ing soon, and this gives me a chance to design a few particular bad guys. I'm fond of the "crimson assassin" prc, it's weird and flavorful and has a nice theme to work with. So I'm going to try to build one, and then create more "assassins" to go along with it.
One houserule:
-As james jacobs seems to have intended, I am considering the "sawtooth sabre" a fully light weapon when you have the EWP (and thus you can finesse it). I'll be generally more liberal as to what weapons can be finessed as well.
So, here's my basic build for the "BLOOD MANTIS"
Race: hobgoblin
Class: Fighter 1/ Ninja 4/ Crimson assassin 10/?
Stats (20 pt buy)
Str: 11 Dex: 17 Con: 16 Int: 10 Wis: 12 Cha: 14
Favored class bonus (rogue special: one EWP per 4 levels)
Traits (indomitable will, ?)
Fighter:
1 Weapon Finesse, Two Weapon Fighting
Ninja:
2
3 Alertness, Ninja Trick: vanish
4
5 EWP (sawtooth sabre), Weapon Focus (sawtooth sabre), Ninja trick (fast stealth)
Crimson Assassin
6
7 Extra ninja trick (pressure points)
8
9 Improved Two Weapon FIghting
10
So, this is the basic idea for the blood mantis. I'm planning for assassin number 2 to be basically identical to ravingdork's "raven king", and to be called the "shadow raven".
Now I'm looking for more ideas, both for the builds AND for thematically appropriate other assassins. While I am open to any class, they should be able to be sneaky. There are two PrCs that have my attention, but I'm not sure what the best names would be for them:
-Assassin (the regular one)
-Veiled illusionist
So, any other ideas? I'd like to try to stay with the animal theme if at all possible, and come up with some cool foes to entertain my future players.
maybe a kitsune sorcerer? could focus on the suffocate spells as a signature assassination; but also invest in hold spells and a x4 crit weapon (for coup de grace) as a back up plan for things with high Fort...
Not a bad idea. Maybe it could be called the "void fox"? I could probably combine it with the "veiled illusionist" without too many losses. Is there one bloodline that is recognized as best for suffocation builds?
So, I,ve got a basic build for the "blood mantis".
So now, I have 3 assassins:
-Blood mantis
-Shadow Raven
-Void Fox
?
Any other ideas?
A vivisectionist (Alchemist) Ratfolk. He implants bombs inside trained rats who sneak into homes and kills its targets.
For the moment, the blood mantis will have a lot of poison focus. Though if you have another idea for a build, I'd love to hear about it.
I like the vivisectionist idea. Any idea for a good name?
Note: I'd probably go beastmorph/vivisectionist for the ratfolk idea. Though I might not go ratlfolk and give it a strength focus.
Note: I'd probably go beastmorph/vivisectionist for the ratfolk idea. Though I might not go ratlfolk and give it a strength focus.
Maybe Hobgoblin instead of Ratfolk.
Ok, we've got a new assassin:
Venom serpent (druid, naga aspirant)
I'm still thinking for the vivisection/dbeastmorph. I would prioritize beast shape, which do you think would be best for a cool name?
P.S: If you want to try to build a naga aspirant MOTDT, I'd be interested in seeing/including it.
While the combo could work... tha name need a bit more "oumph". The panda fist is a bit boring. How about something along the lines of "stone bear"?
Oh, honestly this is just random references, with a combo of animal+ "theme"; blood mantis because it's a red mantis assassin, shadow raven because it's a shadowdancer with racial heritage (tengu), venom serpent because it's a naga aspirant, void fox because it's a kistune that suffocates people.
Honestly, this is my own furious five. It just seemed like a poetic name.
yeah- unfortunately there isn't really a bloodline that really benefits suffocate... sanguine (wildblooded undead) gives +1 CL on all necromancy spells but would make for a pretty creepy version (especially with using the first level power while in hybrid form). personally, i really like void-touched (wildblooded starsoul, though regular star soul isn't bad either)- the arcana is perfect for the theme, and the 15th level ability is a really nice fit too.
Put it up MODT! I'm focusing on "simple" multiclassing for the moment (IE, only when going for a prestige class) but if you find something cool, I'd love to see it.
Ok, I think I've got my "Fatal Five" (thanks Jealithe):
"Shadow Raven": (using the "raven king" build by ravingdork): standing in the darkness, this mysterious figure leads the fatal five.
"blood mantis": (fighter 1/ninja 4/crimson assassin 10/eldritch knight 5) Left for dead on a battle field by dwarves, shadow raven in took him in and had him trained in the way of the red matis assassins!
"Void fox": (sorcerer 5/ (veilled illusionist or sorcerer, not sure yet)
"Venom Serpent": (druid, naga aspirant) As the fell naga, this dark nagaji strives to achieve the true form of the serpent. All fear his venom, and if not his venom his coiling body!
"Mirror cuckoo": (vivsectionist 5/ assassin 7/ master chymist 8): The duo composed of cuckoo (appearing as a young female human child) and Darabont (appearing as a hulking, mentally feable adult male human) have managed to kill more unsuspecting targets that should be possible.
Two of the builds already exist, 2 are on their way, and one (cuckoo) needs to be worked on. Thanks for the help everyone, any more ideas would be fun.
I'm not looking for anything specific MOTDT, put anything you want, as long as you could think it could be a crafty assassin!
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<_<
>_>
goblin ninja
dooooo it
i wasn't real familiar with the veiled illusionist, so i read through it... i understand the allure of it, but i'm not sure how beneficial it'll really be, especially for a kitsune. it doesn't add anything to your ability to assassinate, and while it does have a couple buffs to you're casting (mostly illusion specific) it seems that the main benefit is the disguise stuff- kitsune don't need a prestige class for that.
NE Kitsune, Wildblooded Sorcerer[Void-Touched]
stats: Cha=Cha>Cha>everything else
traits: Magical Lineage[suffocation], Keeper of the Veil
feats: 1- Realistic Likeness; 3- Spell Focus[necromancy]; 5- Greater Spell Focus[necromancy]; 7- Extend spell;S7- ???; 9- Persistent Spell; 11- Sorcerous Bloodstrike; 13- Swift Kitsune Shapechanger; S13- Quicken Spell; 15- Spell Perfection[suffocation]; 17- ability focus[breaching the gulf]; 19- ???; S19- ???
you can handle all your disguise needs with the ability to "mimic the physical features of any individual you have encountered" (realistic likeness), and your suffocation abilities will be as good as they can be (if you have to hold person/monster and Coup de Grace, you may need an ally to do the deed though).
at 15th level you get +4 to the DC for suffocation from feats, and should have like +8-10 from Cha (so DC 27-29) and in a 5th level slot you can cast it with persistent and extend... so 2 saves to avoid the effect, and (if one of them fails) 2 saves/round for 6 round to avoid death! (and if the enemy makes both initial saves you could use a 7th level slot for a quickened persistent one...) a barbarian probably won't have too much trouble making the 2 initial saves, but a wizard or rogue will be screwed. and against the high fort save guy you can use breaching the gulf (and should be able to do so twice per day with sorcerous bloodstrike).
An Angel of Death Aasimar "Killing Me Softly" Bard could have deadly performance at level 14.
And I'm kind of disappointed you don't have a sniper/assassin.
I'd go with a Wayang Alchemist with a MoMS dip for Kirin Strike for exceptional long distance death capability using explosive missile and targeted Admixture. And he creates disposable copies of himself for suicide missions if need be.
Alchemist 10, Master of Many Styles 2, 20 pt buy, level 12
8
18
12
18+3 lvl +4 Alcemical +6 Headband
12
7
Feats: 1 Point Blank Shot, 3 Deadly Aim, 5 Rapid Shot, 7 Rapid Reload (Light Crossbow), 9 Precise Shot, 11 Improved Unarmed Strike, Kirin Style, Improved Precise Shot 12 Kirin Strike
Discoveries: 2 Chameleon, 4 Explosive Missile, 6 Concussive Bomb, 8 Cognatogen, 10 Doppleganger Simulacrum
He can go with the Cognotogen for extra damage on the hit, or Mutagen for the difficult shots. He can up this with Cat's grace and Fox's cunning for extra benefits. Saying he's completely buffed, with equipment he has a +10 to his Int, which due to Targeting Admixture counts four times with a hit. For 1d6(bolt)+5d6+10(bomb)+10(Targeting Admixture)+20(Kirin Strike)+6(Deadly Aim).
Then get him Slaying and Bane Bolts and have some fun sniping.
Love the concept. Dotting for future reference.
An Angel of Death Aasimar "Killing Me Softly" Bard could have deadly performance at level 14.
And I'm kind of disappointed you don't have a sniper/assassin.
I'd go with a Wayang Alchemist with a MoMS dip for Kirin Strike for exceptional long distance death capability using explosive missile and targeted Admixture. And he creates disposable copies of himself for suicide missions if need be.
** spoiler omitted **
You got an idea, build it up. The only thing missing now is a cool name.
I will admit I didnt include a sniper because the way pathfinder is made makes them very inneficient/difficult to use. And have no clue how to build one.
In the end, I called it the fatal five for alliterative reasons. It could be the serious seven, or the terrifying twelve, or whatever. This is a thread to create some interesting NPCs for everyone to use.