Hire Zadim, the iconic Slayer. His stats are already done up for you as a level 1, 4, or 7 pregen.
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Inquisitors actually make quite good assassins.
Inquisitors actually make quite good assassins.
Especially the Sanctified Slayer archetype
This could help:
I like the Nature Fang Druid with VMC Rogue to help add more Sneak Attack dice. They can study targets, have access to a Domain and divine magic and can gain plenty of Poison Use talents (Lasting Poison, Swift Poisons, etc).
With Treacherous Toxin, Accomplished Sneak Attacker and VMC Rogue you can make a dangerous natural divine assassin.
Velvet Blade Slayer if the targets are part of the upper echelon of society.
the issue is that sneak attack only prokes on denied dex or flanking
The feats Cornugon Smash combined with Shatter Defenses means your target is flat footed to you pretty much for the duration of the fight as long as you can succeed on the intimidate check on them when you hit.
And flat footed loses you your dex to defense letting you sneak attack at will.
It takes a lot of feats but you said this NPC is 18+ level so should be doable.
I would go with a regular slayer or a stalker vigilante unless they are actually blessed with spells from their deity, zealot vigilante or (sanctified slayer) inquisitor if they are.
Red mantis assassin prestige class? Switch out weapons as needed.
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Well the obvious choice is Slayer (the most fitting archetype flavor-wise might be Deliverer, but there are more powerful archetypes).
If you actually think (for some reason) that slayer wont be good enough in combat, or you simply dont want to put any effort into setting up your damage (sneak attacks etc) then you're running out of options pretty fast. The only things I can recommend if that's what you want are avenger vigilante (which comes with a lot of social identity "stuff") or just being a straight up fighter and using your imagination. I'd recommend picking up a deific obedience or celestial obedience to pick up some divine flavor and eventually some pretty cool spell-like abilities. There's an advanced weapon training option to get some more skills if that's something you feel you need to fulfil the assassin vibe. Then theres the sheer number of fighter archetypes that can specialise your character even more.
If you want actual spells, expect them to come at the cost of your martial ability, which may not be want you want, so sanctified slayer inquisitor is probably not the best. Even the more martial spellcasters require buffing time to keep up with other classes.
If you want token spells just to show off the fact you're blessed by the divine and you're 12th+ level you cant go wrong with the deific obedience or celestial obedience feats, that goes for any martial class that wants a bit of divine "oomph".
At 18th-19th level, right? NPC wealth I assume?
Any other predefined stuff like race, preferred tactics etc?
I'd say make him an Executioner Slayer, they are evil but swap out quarry and improved quarry for 0 study time on their death attacks up to 2x day.
All they have to do is sneak attack someone and they have to save or die, no waiting around in the shadows required.
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I'd say make him an Executioner Slayer, they are evil but swap out quarry and improved quarry for 0 study time on their death attacks up to 2x day.
All they have to do is sneak attack someone and they have to save or die, no waiting around in the shadows required.
What product is that archetype from?
With PC wealth at 18 or 19 it's not so much good items for a slayer as good items for any paranoid killer. The specifically slayer items are a bit cheaper than you'd be aiming for.
Deliverer + Executioner; that means the 2nd, 6th, 10th and presumably 12th level talents are used, 4, 8, 14, 16 and 18 remain. I'm on it, aiming for the No-dachi.
Slayer's Robe, Headsman's Blade, Lenses of the Predator's Gaze etc. Run a search on Archives of Nethys if you want to see more. They probably should have a Preyfinder though.
TWF is certainly possible for a slayer but it goes a bit against the one-round takedown I thought you wanted - TWFers damage drops a lot if they have to move and attack.
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Reason I consider TWF is because of the Circling Mongoose and the Chance to get off more sneak attacks
Well, if you are shooting for a one shot kill and using assassinate, you are already getting your sneak attack,and if you are shooting for getting a lot of slayer items, the headsman's blade is a great sword, so will definitely want to power attack and maybe vital strike the target. That will more than make up for less attacks via two-weapon fighting. It also requires a lot less feats to be effective.
OK. TWF/Circling Mongoose or Vital Strike? i.e. max damage or one big strike + mobility?
If they can start the round adjacent then the kukri (not necessarily with circling mongoose, hunter's surprise and a couple of sneaky blades will work), if not then the no-dachi. It really is that simple.
Edit: feat and talent plan assuming kukris. If built from level 1 it'd likely be different, I only did it to make sure all the feats would be legal. The level 19 stuff is not essential and can be left out if they're level 18.
1: Power Attack
Human: TWF
3: Double Slice
Talent 4: Ranger Combat Style (Quick-draw)
5: Skill Focus (Stealth)
7: Dampen Presence
FCB Talent 7: Ranger Combat Style (Improved TWF)
Talent 8: Combat Trick (Improved Critical: kukri)
9: Hellcat Stealth
11: Hellcat Pounce
13: Critical Focus
FCB Talent 13: Ranger Combat Style (Greater TWF)
Talent 14: Feat (Two-Weapon Rend)
15: Staggering Critical
Talent 16: Weapon Training (Weapon Focus: Kukri)
17: Stunning Critical
Talent 18: Hunter’s Surprise
19: Possessed Hand
FCB Talent 19: Evasion