Nagaji Ninja

[Obsidian Blade]

Decided to make a Nagaji Ninja. However I am relatively new to the PFS style and I am not certain how to accomplish this. The character is going to be a traditional Ninja in that he will sneak around, work in the shadows, and seek to do damage from flanking and surprise. Weapons will be the traditional stars, sword, smoke bomb/flash bang, etc... The key stat is DEX not STR. However the bugger is trying to figure out feats, skills, etc, but still cover the obvious. This is the part about building a character that is laborious and very confusing. I would like to really push the PFS structure/restrictions but stay legal and lethal. Thoughts?

[Shifty]

Just a bit of food for thought...
PFS is a party endeavour so the amount of times you get to sneak about and strike from the shadows is very limited. The big heavy plate wearing party members sort of wreck the stealthy approach. Similarly smoke bombs and the like can mess your friends up as badly as your foes, so have some other way to contribute or you might get annoyed :)

[Chess Pwn]

also nagaji are set up nicely to do str, and have no dex bonus.

[Alex Mack]

Nagaji work well for the hulking ninja (i.e. STR based) approach. Go mainly STR +CHA but keep your dex decent for skills and AC and Shuriken. Wield a Katana 2 handed to get the most out of your Ki-pool extra attack.

[Obsidian Blade]

If one goes the STR path does that change the skills and feats, as well as the weapons? Any thoughts on stat assignments, etc... Thank you for the thoughts it does help.

[Alex Mack]

STR 18 DEX 14 CON 14 WIS 10 INT 6 CHA 14

INT 6 looks painful but due to 8 class skills it's no big deal. You could RP him as a muscular guy from the jungle who likes to brag about his biceps. Max out Perception+Disable Device+Use Magic Device along with some social skills. You can Stealth but wont be great at it.

Traits: Irrepresible/some other bonus to WIL saves or Vessel Between

Main weapon Katana wielded in two hands
Back up weapons Wakizashi+ Shuriken

Consier a dip into Savage Technologist Barbarian or Unchained Monk for Flurry

Feats: Power Attack/Weapon Focus/Extra Ki/Toughness/Improved Critical (Katana)
If you want to be more of a switch hitter consider PBS+RS
There's a number of ways to get SA via feats but they tend to be complicated. At level 10 the Talent which grants imp. invisibility will handle this for you.
Ninja tricks: Offensive Defense, Kamikaze, Flurry of Stars, combat trick, Weapon trick

Get some wands for utility and buffing.Use your Ki-Pool for extra two handed attacks or Shuriken versus flat footed fools.

MAke sure you don't get too many abilities that use Ki and Swift actions both are limited ressources.

[Gray Warden]

I like ^ this!

Consider also the Minor Magic + Major Magic + Familiar Ninja tricks chain, but you would need at least Intelligence 11 :/

Another way is Skill Focus[Knowledge] + Eldritch Heritage[Arcane], which is better due to your high charisma.

Get a Mauler familiar (Compsognatus, Arctic hare, Greensting Scorpion) or a small Figment familiar (Dodo) that gives you a +4 to initiative and may help you flanking your enemies in case you happen to be in a party without melee fighters (PFS may be quite aleatory). You can even take Improved Familiar to get a nice magical support through your ranks in UMD and wands.

[Alex Mack]

If you want a familiar the easiest way is to dip 1 level of bloodrager.

Personally I'm rather fond of Hedgehog Protector Familiars.

[Alex Mack]

Here's a fun idea for a Kamikaze Ninja which uses the combination of Tumor Familiar and the Protector Familiar Archetype to compensate for damage taken from the Kamikaze Ninja Talent. Makes Shuriken rather viable :).

Str 16 DEX 16 CON 14 WIS 10 INT 6 CHA 14

1 Aberrant Urban Bloodrager - Point Blank Shot, SA
2 Ninja SA 1d6
3 Ninja - Aberrant Tumor, Ki Pool, Combat Trick: Rapid Shot
4 Ninja SA 2d6
5 Ninja - Boon Companion, Kamikaze

No idea where to go after level 5 however...

[plaidwandering]

Other thoughts for feats if you continue higher and things start getting more senses to nullify your vanishing trick/greater invis, dampen presence(stealh focus prereq, bleh) and conceal scent(no skill prereq in pfs per adtl resources)