Zabuza themed assassin advise & help

[Rylden]

As the title suggests I want to build an "assassin" type character modeled after Zabuza Momochi. For those who don't know the character, hes a ninja with strong ties to water elemental magic, and the art of silent killing. He uses a greatsword as his primary weapon, and throwing knives as needed. Water magic for entrapment, concealment, and battlefield control. The silent killing style is basically assassinate, even when people know your around due to not seeing you from fog banks, and such.

I kind of want to go Undine for the water flavor, with a few alternate racial traits, build a high initiative, and wield a massive sword. Water elemental magic, and stealth are a must. Now how best to make this work, I realize assassinate is a terrible skill with how high Fort saves get, and the inability to make it worth while. So how do I go about doing "mock" assassinates?

I was debating a dip into MoMs monk, for the blinded blade style, and using Obscuring mist, and Fog bank for silent killing. Possibly Blood Rager for the main build with Wizard Divination VMC for the high Initiative bonus. Is this to spread out to work, or should I drop the VMC as feats will be tight enough as is?

[Tarik Blackhands]

Have you considered a Vigilante?

You'll get a healthy number of skill points to ensure you can have maxed stealth and a fair amount of staples as well and you start off with martial weapon proficiency to start with. Further, there's a litany of choices for sneaky stabby talents out there (Silent Dispatch basically lets you fight people in relative silence and if you choose to be a Stalker/Teisatsu, that opens Throat Jab and more critically Mighty Ambush for better quiet and an instant incapacitate respectively). The magic is a bit harder, but there are talents for L0 and L1 magic which is enough to get obscuring mist if nothing else or you can just multiclass to wizard or some other magic class since there's a good chunk of vig talents that offer feats+bonuses on top of that (lethal grace, strike the unseen, etc).

[Starbuck_II]

Why not Kineticist (water) though seeing through fog is a Mystery for Oracle I think.

[Louise Bishop]

It will be Hard to get both Jitsu's and Martial abilities down in 1 sweet package.

You may have to sacrifices one some so the other is up to par and dependable. 100% duplication will not happen as Naruto characters are very high powered and can do a mix of everything.

I have a guy in my current group doing a Haku style character with a Kineticist.

You could make a Magus fit the bill, Mists/Fogs are actually just images (or you can cast the real thing). Water clones? Just mirror images and your DM can flavor that when they pop they leave a puddle. The only downside is a large 2 handed sword does not work well with Magus. You might have to make due with a normal sword. Like I said might have to sacrifice something.

[Claxon]

Unfortunately, Naruto style characters just don't translate to Pathfinder very well.

You basically need the sort of powers of a kineticist with some martial abilities as well.

[Carnithia]

The inquisitors archetype Ravener Hunter will let you get the Wave mystery. Water sight and add your wisdom to initiative. With a penalty to Strength, you should go elven curve blade instead of great sword. This will let you get your dex higher for better initiative. Get agile asap for it.

[Derrick Winters]

Err...the things the OP is asking for is possible, easily.

If Variant Multiclassing is allowed: STR-based Ninja 20(VMC Oracles, Waves mystery & legalistic curse)

If VMC isn't allowed: Waves Oracle 1, STR-Based Ninja 19

Generic idea: Zabuza's shtick is basically Obscuring Mist + Sneak Attack with a Greatsword.

That works lovely in Pathfinder.

For his more advanced stuff, e.g. Water clones and other stuff, use UMD with scrolls (also compatible with Naruto-ninja-flavor).

Ninja is actually a class that works great with high STR; at low levels you can use 18 STR & Greatsword to kickass in melee even if SA isn't an option, and shuriken add your STR to dmg, so you can deal respectable damage with shuriken even if SA isn't available. If it is, awesome!

Consider adding some Intimidate-related feats(Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, Hurtful) and if your DM allows it, take Damnation feats to represent his "demonic chakra".

Shadows of Fear is also a lovely feat that allows you to "flank" a shaken target 1/turn by yourself.

Vigilante is extremely awesome too; furthermore Slayer is also very awesome - both classes can easily replace Ninja in the above build.

[Marcus Steelfeather]

Let's see, Giant Sword style character who uses bushin and has some neat tricks.

I'd go with Ninja plus some levels of Shadow Dancer.
Since Ninja does not have Greatsword proficiency, you'll need to waste a Trait or a Feat on that.

Ninja already cover the Bushin part with Shadow Clones, that you can ask a GM to be water clones for flavor. It also can have some cool tricks like Vanish or Kawarimi.

I suggest you take a look at this guide:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ECKpD15DbcDuEyPKiR1BsY2JLSGRjLwEp8Fncq3 Smjw/edit

[Rylden]

@Marcus

Link doesnt seem to be working

[Kobold Commando]

Rylden wrote:

@Marcus

Link doesnt seem to be working

There was accidentally a space inserted in the long string of letters and numbers at the end. Take that out and you're good to go!

[Rylden]

@Kobold

Thanks, i didn't even notice, appreciate it!

[Rylden]

I like the direction Derrick mentioned with the Waves Oracle, would a Bloodrager ID Rager VMC into Oracle of Waves with the Legalistic curse work for this idea?

Assuming I drop the race, and move on to something strength based. It loses the sneak attack damage, but the sustained damage would be higher. Mix in Dedication phantom skill and Dutiful Strike, I'm treating my character large, toss in Impact on the "Greatsword" and I believe I'm swinging around a huge greatsword (equivalent)dealing 4d6 damage?

Picking up UMD from a trait, I could use obscuring mist, and fog. Mirror Image for clones. Oracle will let me see through the mist and fog. All I'm missing is sneak attack, which isn't a great need. Possibly a level dip to get Opportune Parry and Riposte from Swashbuckler as I can parry with a greatsword, I just wont be getting any panache back.

TL:DR
Ive never played a Bloodrager, or a Spiritualist so Im not sure how it would work. Basically is this worth the time to build, or am I failing from the start. This group is far from heavy optimization so this is more "flavor with crunch" less "Crunch with flavor"