Assassin in Pathfinder

[GrinningDemon]

Hello, I love this forum :) I'm working on a new character for a new game. We're going to be playing Pathfinder, I don't have as much knowledge of this system, mainly play 3.5. Do you have any suggestions for things I need to take and things I should avoid that would be an attractive waste of time. I've been doing some research but I also feel this knowledge pool is extremely helpful. All Pathfinder books are good and as far as I know we will be starting level 1. I'm also half human half devil, I did choose to give up my wings to be able to hide my devil side. I have claws, I think I'm going to start as a rouge for the sneak attack and then move into a prestige class of Assassin since I haven't seen much about an Assassin base class. I'm open to any and all ideas. :)

[Ydaer Ca Noit]

If you want to play a rogue for the skills, don't do it (because there aren't cross class skill penalties except a +3, and meaning that wis based classes find traps better than you etc). If you want the death attack, you could play a ninja and get a better death attack than the assassin at lvl 10-12.

[StreamOfTheSky]

If you want to play a rogue for the skills, don't do it (because there aren't cross class skill penalties except a +3, and meaning that wis based classes find traps better than you etc). If you want the death attack, you could play a ninja and get a better death attack than the assassin at lvl 10-12.

This. Rogue is just bad in PF, and they nerfed the Assassin terribly as well. Ninja's assassinate ability is pretty cool, too.

Another option is to be any class with sneak attack (my favorite is Vivisectionist Alchemist, combined with either Beastmorph or Internal Alchemist archetype as well) and when you hit +5d6 sneak attack, to take Dastardly Finish (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dastardly-finish-combat) and maybe combine it with Shatter Defenses (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shatter-defenses-combat---final) if you can reliably force foes to cower. Having access to the 3E feat Imperious Command greatly helps for pulling this off, without it it might not even be plausible as a build, normally getting enemies to cower instead of finding a way to flee is hard.

[grarrrg]

If you want the death attack, you could play a ninja and get a better death attack than the assassin at lvl 10-12.

Alternate approach:
5 levels of Ninja (or Vivisectionist Alchemist if desired)
2 levels Assassin
10 levels Master Spy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/i-m/master-spy)
Finish with Assassin

Master Spy gets a Death Attack the same as an Assassin. They _normally_ do not get Death Attack until level 8.
BUT if you already have a Death Attack ability (from Assassin maybe?) then the Master Spy levels stack from level 1.
Your Death Attack save DC at level 20 will be 25+INT

Link to thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311369)
Feel free to drop some (but not all) Assassin and take more Ninja if desired.

[Ravens_cry]

Assassin in Pathfinder is very much an NPC class. Not only is it Evil only, which in almost every campaign I have been part of puts it on the out, but the abilities are really only useful when used against a PC. Who cares if Mook #45b has a harder time getting raised, and bosses are likely going to have the resources to keep trying or try more expensive methods until they work. PCs, on the other hand, will care and will be frustrated by such tactics.
Honestly, I'd just go Ninja for this. The Assassinate Master Trick works a heck of a lot faster, and action economy is king.

[Kudaku]

You could check out the Slayer class from Paizo's Advanced Class Guide play test - it plays as a mix between ranger and rogue with a distinct "assassin"-feel to it.

[Psyren]

The Crimson Assassin (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/red-mantis-assassin) will give you a closer feel to the 3.5 one, but honestly you are better off going straight Ninja as ravens_cry suggested.