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I recently played a Ninja pregen at PFS and found the experience to be enjoyable. While my current PFS character is nice and all, I am thinking about rolling up a new ninja character. I have been tossing around some ideas and wanted to post them for evaluation. I was hoping you folks could give me suggestions and maybe help me narrow down my build.
Before I start, I want to toss out some generalizations that will probably apply to all of these.
Fancy Items - I posted in another thread about experimenting with alchemical items such as caltrops and smoke sticks, so I will be trying to use more of these (generally) cheap items rather than spending feats or class abilities to do the same thing. In other words, I am going to make the probably very poor decision of not taking Vanishing Trick.
Don't call me a monkey - I enjoy skills and I weep when I see characters who gain something awful, like 1 skill point per level. I won't be shooting for the title of skill monkey, but I will try to have a decent number.
Standard Ninja
The Standard Ninja is pretty much the ninja you will see at your typical PFS game. He is probably human, takes Weapon Finesse and Two Weapon Fighting so he can dual wield keen wakizashi. He stays Ninja his entire career and picks up typical Ninja tricks (sans Vanishing trick, as explained above). Probably the most useful and optomized... therefore, making it the most boring. XD
Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior knows he is going to be a Shadow Dancer eventually, so he is still probably a human and takes Weapon Finesse (but only one wakizashi) and Dodge. Pick up the other requirements and at level 7, become a Shadow Dancer. He could become one at 6, but I would like the extra Ninja Trick and Light Steps (which was incredibly useful in the game I played the Pregen in). From there, He remains a Shadowdancer, using Hide in Plain Sight to gain more unflanked Sneak Attacks and eventually his Summon Shadow to gain a permanent flank partner (and thankfully, one not controlled by the barbarian played by a player who shares the same RL Int score. ;D ) Also, Shadow Jump is cool and totally iconic for a ninja.
Foxfire
Kitsune are now PFS legal and a Kitsune Arcane Trickster just seems perfect to me. Go Ninja for 4 levels (Their stats are kind of awesome for it) and take Weapon Finesse (again, with Wakizashi). Every once and a while, get a bite attack too. At level 5, become a Sorcerer. I thought about one of the blood lines that grants temp. claws, so I could get triple sneak attack (two claws + bite) up to 6-8 times per day (depending on what I can boost my Cha to at that time). Try to avoid any blast spells (casting lvl 1 blast spells at level 5 feels like a waste of an action, even with the trait that would give a boost to caster level) and probably focus on spells that would make sneaking easier. At level 9, Arcane Trickster for the final few levels. I feel like this build is kind of cool and thematic, but a weird mix of self sufficient yet weaker. I think this character could be useful in any PFS group but I doubt it would ever be the star PC.
Werefox
This is kind of like the Standard Ninja, but with one main twist. Start as a Kitsune Ninja with Weapon Finesse, then take two levels of Ranger. This nets a Favored Enemy (probably either Human or Undead, which is generally the things I have fought most with my other characters in PFS). But more importantly, it nets me the Natural Weapon Fighting Style. Pick up Aspect of the Beast and gain a free set of claws. At level 3, three sneak attacks that equal 1d4+5d6 if all three hit. Then return to Ninja at level 4. Spend any other feats increasing NA damage (Rending Claws would seems nice and I think I could pull some shananigians to gain it plus Aspect of the Beast at level 3, turning it into 1d4 + 6d6 at level 3 if all three hit).
You can qualify for Arcane trickster early if you take the Kitsune feat Magical tail 3 times to get Misdirection as a SLA. I realize it's a pretty hard tax, but it should make the Foxfire idea a bit stronger.
1 Ninja: Magical Tail (Disguise Self)
2 Ninja: Finesse Rogue
3 Ninja: Magical Tail (Charm Person)
4 Ninja: Pick a talent
5 Sorc: Magical Tail (Misdirection)
6 Arcane Trickster
At the PS cap, you'd be casting at 10th level (assuming Magical Knack) and dealing 5d6 or so of sneak attack damage. Not too shabby i'd say.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rcf6?Touchy-and-Bewildering-Gnome-Ninja-for-PF S#8
Here's a thread about a Gnome Bewildering Koan Ninja I'm working on. Dips into Cleric to pick up Channel (for extra ki-points via bronze gong) and access to Recharge Innate Magic. Combined with either fell magic or Pyromaniac this grants you access to touch spells which give you a good sneak attack option.
Bewildering Koan lets you nullify one foe per turn as a swift action for a ki point.
Since the one level dip into Crusader Cleric of Irori grants me both IUS and WF(Unarmed) I'm planning on picking up the sap adept, and master feats as well as the scout archetype for massive nonlethal damage charging.
Additionally Deific Obedience and Breadth of Experience can turn you into aa awesome knowledge Monkey.
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@Imbicatus
That actually is way easier. I forgot that Tengu are PFS legal (unless they are being dropped from the list like Aasimar and Tieflings are?). I will have to factor that in and maybe choose them.
@revaar
Interesting idea. Do you think the sacrificed feats are worth the extra levels of Trickster? While I see using Disguise Self and Charm Person in PFS, I doubt I would ever use Misdirection. Then again, it would get me up to 6d6 sneak attack damage and 6 levels of spell casting by the end of my career... *strokes beard*
@LoneKnave
What is the Sensei and Smoke Gunner build? I typed them into the search and brought up nothing.
@Alex Mack
That is awesome. This is why I ask for advice because I never would have thought of anything like that. I thought I was clever by suggesting two levels of Ranger to get claws. XD
@Bigdaddyjug
My goal is to play something fun. That sounds dumb and pretty straight forward, but I find it slightly harder to pull off than expected. My current PFS character is a Paladin that can go toe to toe with any enemy thrown at her. Despite often being lower level than a lot of the other players at the table, She can face the worst of it and trade blows with incredibly powerful enemies. But I find it incredibly dull. Then the party comes to a narrow ledge or Sarenrae forbid a river that needs to be swam through and suddenly my character is really putting her Aura of Courage to the test. (I have a very real fear that it will not be a demon or dragon that kills her, but drowning. It almost happened during the Confirmation.)
While playing the Pregen, dealing 30 points of damage on a SA roll was mildly satisfying, but what was infinitely more satisfying was using a combination of my skills, abilities and out of box thinking that made the whole table stop and go "Wow... that was cool." And that seems like something I am just unable to do right now.
I know that probably doesn't help, but it is what I want to make.
In case you're worried of drowning check out Air Crystals. 50GP a pop and a real life saver.
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@Imbicatus
That actually is way easier. I forgot that Tengu are PFS legal (unless they are being dropped from the list like Aasimar and Tieflings are?). I will have to factor that in and maybe choose them.
Nah, they are staying legal as there will be more Tien influence in season 6, that's why they added the three other races from the area.
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@Bigdaddyjug
Just tossing this out there, but why not an Elf? Just for the free prof. with the ECB? Stats would be somewhere around (at level 5) Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 14 or something in that range, off the top of my head. Like you said, being small grants a bonus to hit and AC, but being medium grants a slightly larger damage die (you said it averages out to 1 more damage? Wow... that is depressing. lol) and 10 more feet of movement.
Yours is still probably better, but just tossing it out there.
@Imbicatus
I wonder if they are going to bring back the Lantern Faction then. I didn't join PFS until after the Lantern Faction was gone, but there are a lot of people who talk dearly about them.
@Anyone
Does the feat Fox Shape allow for early entry into Trickster?
You can take the form of a fox whose appearance is static and cannot be changed each time you assume this form. Your bite attack’s damage is reduced to 1d3 points of damage on a hit, but you gain a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a fox. Changing from kitsune to fox shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape II, and your ability scores change accordingly.
I would probably say no, since it only functions like the spell and isn't actually the spell. But IDK, I bet some people might interpret it that way.
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@Bigdaddyjug
Just tossing this out there, but why not an Elf? Just for the free prof. with the ECB? Stats would be somewhere around (at level 5) Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 14 or something in that range, off the top of my head. Like you said, being small grants a bonus to hit and AC, but being medium grants a slightly larger damage die (you said it averages out to 1 more damage? Wow... that is depressing. lol) and 10 more feet of movement.
Yours is still probably better, but just tossing it out there.
@Imbicatus
I wonder if they are going to bring back the Lantern Faction then. I didn't join PFS until after the Lantern Faction was gone, but there are a lot of people who talk dearly about them.
@Anyone
Does the feat Fox Shape allow for early entry into Trickster?
You can take the form of a fox whose appearance is static and cannot be changed each time you assume this form. Your bite attack’s damage is reduced to 1d3 points of damage on a hit, but you gain a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a fox. Changing from kitsune to fox shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape II, and your ability scores change accordingly.I would probably say no, since it only functions like the spell and isn't actually the spell. But IDK, I bet some people might interpret it that way.
They are not bringing back the Lantern Lodge, but with the changes to the nation based factions, I think Tien characters will be more at home in them, especially Liberty's Edge and the Sovereign Court.
@Bigdaddyjug: that's a 29 point buy try that with 20 and it looks even less exciting.
20 pts: STR 13 DEX 18 CON 14 INT 7 WIS 10 CHA 14
Spending 7 points on STR so that you qualify for PA seems like a weak tradeoff for a class which needs to hit far more than damage bonuses.
I'm interested in the sensei ability mystic wisdom. This seams to have a lot of potential... Could u use it to grant shadowdancer abilities? Like hide in plain sight, or shadow powers like shadow conjuration or shadow jump?
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@Bigdaddyjug
Just tossing this out there, but why not an Elf? Just for the free prof. with the ECB? Stats would be somewhere around (at level 5) Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 14 or something in that range, off the top of my head. Like you said, being small grants a bonus to hit and AC, but being medium grants a slightly larger damage die (you said it averages out to 1 more damage? Wow... that is depressing. lol) and 10 more feet of movement.
Sadly, an Elven Ninja is not proficient with the Curve Blade. It's a martial weapon for you though, so you could gain proficiency with a dip into any class with proficiency in all martial weapons. Fighter, Ranger, and Urban Barbarian could all be useful to the build in different ways.