I was thinking that thematically, taking the Mantis Zealot Warpriest Archetype into the Red Mantis Assassin Prestige Class sounds great. I just want to ask everyone whether they think that this build is mechanically Viable.
You're going to hurt for stats.
If going the normal finesse-route, then you'll only need Dex (obvious), Con (hp), Wis (casting and fervor and Cha (Mantis casting and DCs for all abilities, including that trance thing).
So, yeah. It'll be hard to play this combo on even a 20 point buy, although why they didn't make it easier to transition into the Prestige Class confuses me.
Heck, making everything based on Wis now based on Cha would help immensely, and wouldn't break much.
Really, without Dex to damage somehow (unchained rogue?) I don't think Warpriest meshes very well with Red Mantis.
However, I could see Warpriest 2 (normal, as the archetype doesn't actually do anything for you beyond 4th, or Cult Leader for the synergy and extra skill ranks)/Unchained Rogue 3 into Red Mantis assassin is setting in a much better spot.
The 2 levels of warpriest will get you 4 blessings per day (most likely War and Trickery), the all-important fervor (at least a few uses of it for Fate's Favored Divine Favor), and some spells, plus Weapon Focus or 4+Int skills and a +2 stealth/disguise if you go Cult Leader.
Rogue 3 gives you the fantastic finesse training, along with a rogue talent and +2d6 sneak attack, along with a rogue talent, which could be a bonus combat feat if you need it (you probably will, as Red Mantis requires Alertness and TWF).
Disclaimer: I don't know if I'd want to play this build below 4th or 5th level, as we're relying on warpriest for saber proficiency, and on rogue for the whole Dex-focused thing.
Playing either of the classes before having the other makes it a bit harder to play, as you either pretend your sabers are longsword for a bit (going without warpriest levels at first) or take Weapon Finesse before you take rogue levels, and then retraining it to Awareness or something (going without rogue levels at first).
So... opinions?James Jacobs (Creative Director): "Sawtooth sabres are detailed in the hardcover Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting; before this, they were detailed in the Curse of the Crimson Throne Player's Guide. The Red Mantis assassins all use them... in fact, using 2 of them TWF style is their thing.
They're basically the "bastard sword" version of a longsword; a 1H weapon that deals 1d8 damage and has a threat range of 19–20 but that can be used as a light weapon if you have the Exotic Weapon Feat."
James Jacobs (Creative Director): "The main advantage of the sawtooth sabre as written is that, as a light weapon, you can wield one in your off hand with minimal penalty when fighting with two weapons."
James Jacobs (Creative Director): "the Sawtooth Sabre should be categorized as a light blade; that's how it's meant to be used, after all, and therefore it should be categorized as how it's meant to be used."
James Jacobs (Creative Director): "If you like how sawtooth sabres used to work—that the exotic weapon proficiency allows you to treat it as a light weapon... do it. Trust me, it won't hurt your game."
That last one seems to imply that the rules changed, so the newest sawtooth is the one that is 'correct' (rather than there being 2 different weapons with the same name) - which has sad implications for the scorpion whip.
From a thread about finesse-ing from a long time ago.
You can do this. I think I went mantis zealot 7 levels with 3 levels of slayer to go into the prestige class at level 11. The "best" way to go into RMA at this point IMO is to go 7 levels of slayer then hop into RMA for the next 10 levels.