[PF] Mundane "Assassin"

[Spore]

Greetings playground,

I am trying to expand my library of emergency characters and want to create NE (remorseless killer with redeeming background story) assassin TYPE character. I wonder what the best class setup is for 1) gathering information about a target, 2) tracking down the target 3) ambushing said target. Combat should be primarly ranged with easy access to (finesse) one handed fighting (poisoned blade). Sources are CRB, APG, UM, UC, UE. 10th level with 25 point buy.

Ideas in my head right now:

Using poisons is flavorful, but mechanically weak
ranger is good for tracking, but has no huge advantage when attacking from the shadows
gathering info (diplomacy) is not great on rangers (WIS class, not CHA)
MAD is not a huge problem, since nothing should be casting stat anyways


From what I have seen, the following parts are true:

Vivisectionist is great, but I don't think I could refluff an extract of flying as enhancing drugs, also lacks skill points
Ranger is a great mundane option with companion, tracking, but can't use poisons (1 level dip into assassin could fix that)
Rogue is another good choice but the class is broken beyond redemption
I really like bullet points


If you could post me some rough outlines, ideas or existing characters, that would be nice. Flavorful combinations of 2-3 classes are greatly appreciated. My ideas: Urban Barbarian 1/Ranger 9, with Weapon Finese and bow talents plus dog companion and boon companion. Ranger 9/Assassin 1 for poison use. Ranger 2/Invulnerable Rager 8 for a more brutish attempt (if you want someone's bones broken and no finesse and sublety whatsoever). Fighter builds are a good idea, if you can get archetypes with more skill points (not Lore Warden or Tactician as they don't fit the build of a lone wolf assassin).

[Vanitas]

Have you considered Slayer, from the Advanced Classes Guide playtest?

[avr]

How mundane does it have to be? An inquisitor might have no spells with an obviously magical effect, for example. Add the secret signs feat and silent spell, and it's difficult for anyone to tell - also useful for buffing when quietly setting up an ambush. They'd need the Animal domain for a companion to make their teamwork feats/solo tactics work, and be best to use sense motive & intimidate to gather info (not the nice guy method of diplomacy). Delay Poison is on their spell list if necessary.

If you don't want the alchemist flying, grab PrCs. Alchemist 5/Sleepless Detective 2/Assassin 1/Master Spy 2 can do sneak attack, death attack, poison use and is very good with skills but doesn't have more than 2nd level extracts.

[Spore]

How mundane does it have to be? An inquisitor might have no spells with an obviously magical effect, for example.

I thought about the Inquisitor, but it feels a touch too divine for me. I wouldn't mind some arcane tricks up the sleeve, because we're playing mid to high magic after all, but in our home-brew world, the divine casters are either agents of very specialised neutral aligned gods or demon worshipers, if they have an evil god.

I wanted to settle for a justified evil character, not a cultist of some sort.


Have you considered Slayer, from the Advanced Classes Guide playtest?

Books in playtest wouldn't be allowed, I am afraid. Smart choice when it's released.


If you don't want the alchemist flying, grab PrCs. Alchemist 5/Sleepless Detective 2/Assassin 1/Master Spy 2 can do sneak attack, death attack, poison use and is very good with skill

Hum, this doesn't seem to be able to hit anything in open combat. Perhaps, I should mention that I want a well rounded character. Ambushes should provide an advantage but he shouldn't be useless in open combat.

It's a BAB of +5 with weak extracts and skills like a rogue.

Skirmisher+Infiltrator Ranger sounds quite promising (the lack of spell triggering items is bad, but not terrible).

[HylianKnight]

You could try Ninja, I know it's often considered a superior Rogue around these parts.

[Spore]

You could try Ninja, I know it's often considered a superior Rogue around these parts.

I totally forgot about him. God, it's so obvious too. Thank you.

How does a Monk 4/Ninja 6 sound? I would like the Martial Artist, but the ki pool of the ninja then isn't keyed off of Wisdom, if I read it right? Any monks archetypes fitted towards my goals?

[A Tad Insane]

Bloodhound is a prc focused on tracking down a target and they get a few edges vs their target

[Stitches]

I thought about the Inquisitor, but it feels a touch too divine for me. I wouldn't mind some arcane tricks up the sleeve, because we're playing mid to high magic after all, but in our home-brew world, the divine casters are either agents of very specialised neutral aligned gods or demon worshipers, if they have an evil god.

I wanted to settle for a justified evil character, not a cultist of some sort.



Books in playtest wouldn't be allowed, I am afraid. Smart choice when it's released.



Hum, this doesn't seem to be able to hit anything in open combat. Perhaps, I should mention that I want a well rounded character. Ambushes should provide an advantage but he shouldn't be useless in open combat.

It's a BAB of +5 with weak extracts and skills like a rogue.

Skirmisher+Infiltrator Ranger sounds quite promising (the lack of spell triggering items is bad, but not terrible).

Maybe look into Warblade or swordsage from Tome of Battle. Pretty sweet stuff.

[Dayaz]

There's the sniper rogue archetype. Mix that with a Halfling who has the +10 to hiding racial trait, and he can hide and snipe pretty much endlessly, hitting SA oh each Arrow from quite a distance (I think he ends up being able to hit SA from like, 60+ ft away)

[Ravens_cry]

I totally forgot about him. God, it's so obvious too. Thank you.

How does a Monk 4/Ninja 6 sound? I would like the Martial Artist, but the ki pool of the ninja then isn't keyed off of Wisdom, if I read it right? Any monks archetypes fitted towards my goals?
Generally, if you are going Ninja, go Ninja all the way. You want Invisible Blade (a Greater Invisibility that can't be dispelled for the low, low cost of 1 ki point) master trick ASAP.
As for ki pools, if you have two, you choose which ability score (Charisma or Wisdom) adds to it when you gain the second, but a Ninja's ki pool (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/alternate-classes/ninja#TOC-Ki-Pool-Su-) is Charisma based