Building a (charming)Assassin

[Olfgar]

So I'm planning on building a a Rogue into an Assassin at some point, with a high use of skills, and had a nifty little idea of getting my self some scrolls or a wand of....True seeing I think would be the one that works with step 2 of my plan. Spell Storing throwing daggers of returning, that hold Darkness or another such spell in it (the kind where you need true seeing to see your own hand).

Now what I was thinking was to supplement my high skill points on the stealthy and deceiving abilities, to pick up a few points in sorcerer or wizard to get my self some enchantment spells and such to make my self be able to enter almost anywhere and "convince" people to let me have my ways.

I have not actually decided how many levels of rogue, assassin and sorcerer I would dedicate to each class, it's just an idea im brewing.

Would this Rogue/Sorcerer/Assassin build work or should I just stick to a simple Rogue/Assassin and just bust out the money to buy scrolls of spells on their own.

[Olfgar]

Bump? Id really appreciate knowing if the spell storing throwing dagger of returning (holding darkness) and taking some levels in Wiz/Sorc would be worth it for the enchantment spells.

<3

[Keld Denar]

Have you considered Beguiler from the PHBII? It sounds like exactly what you want. Its an Int based caster (like a Wizard), but spontaneous (like a Sorcerer), but has a fixed spell list (like a Warmage). They also get 6+Int skill points from a MASSIVE skill list, who focus in enchantments and misdirection spells, can wear light armor and wield some weapons, and are altogether pretty badass in general.

So...have you considered it?

[Person_Man]

You may wish to consider the Binder. He's Cha based, has excellent Bluff/Diplomacy/Disguise options (Naberius), can use Suggestion at will (Astaroth), and can use Death Attack (Marchosias), among many other options.

If you're stuck on Assassin, then I suggest that you do not take Sorcerer levels. Your Assassin spells and UMD should be more then sufficient.

[Olfgar]

I havent considerd either of those yet (mainly because i havent seen either of them lol) but as of yet I havent concretley decided WHAT classes I was going to use, just the concept of the character and play type I was aiming for. So far in either campaign ive always needed to play either a tank (Knight, Fighter, and yes even samurai, and yes i know its considerd the worst base class but I like the challenge and samurais are bad assed) or a caster (enchantment sorcerer or evo wiz). I just felt like it was time to finish off the triumvate and use a stealth based agile character, you know the whole classic Knight, Mage and Thief thing.

So it came down to Rogue or Ninja for me, and i figured since I want that nice burst potential and the extra skills, that I would take rogue, even though, again ninjas are bad ass.

So far, i'll make sure to check out anyother classes or builds you guys have reccomended or anyone else who hopefulyl posts. But so far, I am going to use a "thief/assassin" type of class..so rogue...who knows I might have a change of heart and go ninja instead.

[Duncan_Ruadrik]

well, a rogue/assassin does well, as long as you don't focus on the death attack ability. As an assassin, you ought to remember that even if you are not a high enough level to cast a spell on you spell list, you can still use a wand or scroll of said spell. The assassin actually has a fairly awesome spell list if you include all the splat books. even just core, its decent and to the point. Its enough of a boost to the rogue that it could bump the it up a tier.

Also, if you're going to dip a caster class, I generally would recommend wizard for a rogue based character. you have more spell versatility, which is important for a rogue character, but also for any character that is going to have a limited number of spells per day... such as from a caster dip.

[Olfgar]

Oh? which splat books are you talking about? like complete scoundrel or vile darkness?

I'll admit it, I dont get to spend enough time as id like on the oots forums or learning about all the dnd books or acronyms, etc due to college (which im finished in a month, thank god).

[hex0]

You don't have to have a high CHA to charm people. If you were an Enchanter going into Master Specialist, possibly with some Mindbender, you could really charm people.

Of course you could just be a Beguiler for the skills. Specialist Wizard variant from UA get the social skills too.

Enchanter/Beguiler/Ultimate Magus would be pretty fancy as well.

Edit: I'd probably skip Assassin, unless you could have it advance the Beguiler's Surprise Casting instead of having Death Attack. Ask your DM if you could do that.

[Treblain]

A one-level dip in Warlock can let you cast Darkness at-will and see in the dark. Darkness is cast centered on an object, so you don't even need spell-storing daggers.

[Socratov]

A one-level dip in Warlock can let you cast Darkness at-will and see in the dark. Darkness is cast centered on an object, so you don't even need spell-storing daggers.

a 1 level dip in warlock wil let you use 1 invocation at will. good picks are: Beguiling influence, darkness and shatter.

[Olfgar]

Hmm i had completley forgotten about warlock...are you talking about the one in Complete Aracne?

[dgnslyr]

That would be the one, yes.

Also, even if Eldritch Blast won't do any damage worth noting, it can still apply Sneak Attack damage if you meet the necessary conditions, because it uses an attack roll. Good for long-range death-dealing, should you need it, though maybe not the best way to down enemies in a fight.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Or, if you're open to stuff that's setting specific or from dragon, consider these divine prestige classes:

Dragon 320- Deathstalker of Bhaal- Cha based death attack, add double your class level instead of your class level to Death Attack DC. Only 5 levels long.

Faiths and Pantheons- Strifeleader- lots of demoralizing. Gains Death Attack, illusion spells, and at 10th level a +4 to the DC.

Complete Divine- Black Flame Zealot- immune to fear and gains Death attack.

Any of these can outstrip the assassin. A cleric is only as "classic cleric" as you want them to be. The first two even dovetail together nicely, as Bhaal is dead in FR, and Cyric (the strifeleader god) has absorbed him.

[Elric VIII]

Something you might like is Psychic Rogue (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) going into Psychic Assassin (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d).

You have the added benefit of not having to speak verbal components while you'r sneaking around. Int-synnergy for yoru casting stat lends itself more to socializing (as opposed to Cha) si you cab afford the 3 social skills, Sense Motive, Gather Info, and synnergy bonus skills.

You could even go Rogue/Psion or Wilder/Psychic Assassin to pick up stuff like Psionic Charm Person. Telepath discipline even gets Bluff and Diplomacy. You can supplement your loss of SA with Assassin's Stance/Craven. I think there's even a feat that grants you bonus SA if you're psionically focused.


Any of these can outstrip the assassin. A cleric is only as "classic cleric" as you want them to be. The first two even dovetail together nicely, as Bhaal is dead in FR, and Cyric (the strifeleader god) has absorbed him.

Not to mention there's a feat called Sacred Outlaw that stacks Cleric and Rogue for SA.