So I'm looking to create an assassin-type NPC for the game I'm running. Thinking 13th level or so. I haven't decided on class, but I want it to be a martial character, not a primary spellcaster. Thinking of ranger, since it seems to me a ranger could make a pretty good assassin, but if anyone has any other ideas, I'm all ears.
I've always felt there should be a Bounty Hunter Archetype for Rangers that gives them Favored Enemy against all Humanoids. The spells would probably be replaced with something, maybe give them some sneak attack and something else, I don't know.
If you're willing to homebrew it, I think that'd be best.
What kind of assassin do you want?
Kennedy Assassin? Perch on a rooftop and fire a hail of arrows?
Altair Assassin? Creep in places you're not supposed to be, stab and run/disappear?
Poison Assassin? Use social skills to work your way into where you're not supposed to be, poison some food then leave without fuss?
The slayer class from the Advanced Class Guide playtest can be a pretty capable assassin. It's a mix of good features of the ranger and the rogue, without any magical stuff. It gets access to the assassin's death attack at round 10th level, as I recall.
The Slayer or the Ranger are the best options. Do not use the Assassin PRC. An assassin does not have to kill you with one hit to make you stay dead. Kill them, and keep the body parts of possible so it is much more difficult to bring them back. At the very least, mutilate the body so raise dead does not work, but getting a PC alone may not be easy.
Most of them know to not split the party.
The fact he mentions ranger makes me suspect it's a Dark Knight assassin. BBEG is sending some of his more quality minions after the PCs, who are currently wandering around doing the "aimlessly itinerant murderers for justice*" thing that PCs do and therefore have to actually be tracked down in the trackless wilderness.
This is actually pretty close to the situation. The first assassination attempt on the PCs failed miserably, but the PCs killed their attackers before interrogating them, so they don't know someone's out to murder them. This next assassin represents the next step up.
Since the PCs do travel around a lot, tracking is involved. The first attempt involved an ambush and straightforward combat against the whole party, but since that failed, I'm thinking of someone who could pick off the PCs one by one. After reviewing the spell list, I'm even more strongly leaning toward ranger since they have several spells useful for assassination attempts.
Also: I'm not going to consider any of the new advanced classes until I have the book and have reviewed to see if I want to use it in my campaign.
Why not create a npc who is very cordial, hospitable, and charismatic but then poisons them? It would at least be interestingly different from a martial assassin.
Poisons don't normally kill in Pathfinder, and the party might pass the sense motive check to realize he is hiding something. Yeah I know some poisons do con damage, but at level 9 to 13 they can probably take care of that before they die.
Now if he really does not want to kill them, but only harrass them, then that idea may work.. :)
@ the OP: You might want to give your assassin some backup.
Here's an assassin: Gar'tok the Scarred Strangler. Neutral Evil Male Orc Scarred Witch Doctor1/Barbarian1/Rogue (Or Slayer!)1/Assassin10 with the Strangler feat. They will HATE you for it! Trust me, I tore through a group of PCs with a similar build. It would be preferable though, to have a second assassin, possibly a spellcaster or trapper that could separate PCs so Gar'Tok can grapple a PC and demolish them without aid from the others. Witch buff spells+Barbarian rage+grapple=massive sneak attack damage each grapple check! Make his mask intimidating looking and possibly made of pitted iron instead of wood.
Your thoughts?
Somehow I saw Esper's post, but not the one above it.
What level is the party?
What you can do is send them on a fake quest inside of a dungeon/old keep/etc. The assassin can setup traps, and also use hit and run tactics. If they think the person is going for the same goal they are they wont run away.
6 level ranger x level crimson assassin. Sawtooth sabers ftw. Crimson spell list is pretty strong. You get leadblades 2 favored enemies 1 terrain. You can keep a lower Dex because of twf combat sytle. Its a little mad but it would make a great NPC villain.
6 level ranger x level crimson assassin. Sawtooth sabers ftw. Crimson spell list is pretty strong. You get leadblades 2 favored enemies 1 terrain. You can keep a lower Dex because of twf combat sytle. Its a little mad but it would make a great NPC villain.
IIRC the abilities use charisma, and that makes the class MAD.
This is even more true if the PC's optimize their saves. Now if they are more casual a lower save might be good enough.
Oh, and if the party is full of humans or they can't see at night without torches use something with darkvision and attack them at night, using the darkness spell in some form so they are blind. A heightened(to 4th level) scroll of darkness means that even a daylight spell won't help them. UMD is a good skill to have.
PS:I still think a straight ranger is a better assassin. I prefer the guide archetype, and I would make him the head of a guild that has been hired. The other assassin are used to wear them down.
What level is your PCs?
You could turn the assassination on its head a bit. Make them come after you.
Using a Trapper Ranger you'd lose spells, but still have great tools at your disposal. Using Stealth and Disable Device you'd be able to break into the party's camp quite easily. Steal some of their loot (they will never forgive you) and lay an easy-to-follow trail. Right into, as boring7 suggests, your horribly trapped woods. This trail could be followed by a blind man, and they occasionally find bits of discarded loot.
Wear them down with traps, mooks and animals. Once they're lost, low on spells and thoroughly fed up your Assassin strikes.
What level is your PCs?
PCs are level 8, and there are six of them. Well-optimized for the most part.
Due to the fact their are six PCs I'm thinking the assassin will need to use diversionary and hit-and-run tactics. Since I use random encounters when the PCs are travelling, he could follow them out of sight, choosing to attack them when they found themselves engaged in combats, picking off one PC at a time. Because of this I'm strongly considering an archer of some sort, because melee is just too dangerous; he'd have to kill them all in a single fight, which is too risky with six PCs.
The reason I want the assassin to be a martial character is because I already have plans for a similar scenario using a spellcaster.
You might be better off with an assassin duo, since there are 6 of them, or give the assassin minions.
|
Slayer's definitely the way to go. Or, if you really must avoid it, Ninja. Ninja has the advantage of attacking from Greater Invisibility but is less good otherwise, and frankly, the Slayer can use Greater Invisibility just as easily with a Wand (probably one with only a few charges) or even Potion (though it can only be made into a potion due to Summoners being mechanically weird).
I would like to second the tag-team idea. A Slayer and a spellcaster working together, both 11th level, is a lot better and more effective than one 13th level guy working alone. Tossing in a few minions can make it even better...though dropping them below 11th could be problematic.
Another good way to do it would be keeping them separate encounters, dropping both to 11th level and giving each of them, say, four 7th level minions. That'll really decrease the PCs action economy advantage, and you can make them synergistic, too. A 7th level Bard backing up the Assassin is particularly nice, and can be very thematic if done properly (maybe they're the lure to get the PCs in position).