Biscuit's Straight-Forward Ninja Fix

[Biscuit]

D&D 3.5 - The Ninja
(Complete Adventurer, p. 5)

Ninjas move through the shadows, striking down the unwary and vanishing again with ease. Ninjas walk where others cannot. They blend their training in stealth and assassination with a focused mind. Their rigorous preparation sharpens their minds and bodies, giving them supernatural abilities of stealth and making them phantoms in the eyes of many. Although ninjas in battle lack the staying power of martial characters such as fighters or barbarians, they excel at making combat occur on their terms, appearing and disappearing seemingly at a whim.

Historically, ninjas came from clans of assassins and guerrilla warriors in feudal Japan. In a fantasy setting, they blend a gift for stealth and infiltration with devastating surprise attacks and supernatural means of avoiding blows. Although the specific abilities of the class differ from those attributed to the historical ninja, they mirror the ninja's fearsome reputation as a spy, assassin, and martial artist.

Hit Dice: d6

Alignment: Any

Starting Gold: 5d4x10

Skill Points: 6 + Int

Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spot, Swim, Tumble


LevelBABFortReflexWillClass FeaturesNinjitsu Known[/tr]
1+0+0+2+2Novice Ninjitsu, Ki Pool, Trap Finding1
2+1+0+3+3Ninja Arts +1, Sneak Attack +1d62
3+2+1+3+3Poison Use, Trap Sense +12
4+3+1+4+4Sneak Attack +2d63
5+3+1+4+4Uncanny Dodge3
6+4+2+5+5Ninja Arts +2, Adept Ninjitsu, Sneak Attack +3d64
7+5+2+5+5Evasion4
8+6/+1+2+6+6Sneak Attack +4d65
9+6/+1+3+6+6Improved Poison Use, Trap Sense +25
10+7/+2+3+7+7Ninja Arts +3, Sneak Attack +5d66
11+8/+3+3+7+7Expert Ninjitsu7
12+9/+4+4+8+8Sneak Attack +6d67
13+9/+4+4+8+8Erase Presence8
14+10/+5+4+9+9Ninja Arts +4, Sneak Attack +7d68
15+11/+6/+1+5+9+9Improved Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +39
16+12/+7/+2+5+10+10Master Ninjitsu, Sneak Attack +8d610
17+12/+7/+2+5+10+10Improved Evasion10
18+13/+8/+3+6+11+11Ninja Arts +5, Sneak Attack +9d611
19+14/+9/+4+6+11+11Master Poison Use11
20+15/+10/+5+6+12+12Ghost Walk, Sneak Attack +10d612


Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Ninjas are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, kama, kukri, nunchaku, sai, shortbow, short sword, shuriken, and siangham. Ninjas are proficient with light armor (which many forgo), but no with any type of shield.

Note: If using the 'Weapon Group feat' variation listed here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/weaponGroupFeats.htm), Ninjas start with Basic weapons, Monk weapons, and two other groups.


Ki Pool (Su): A Ninja has a Ki Pool with which to draw from to fuel certain Ninjitsu equal to their Ninja level + their Wisdom Modifier. A Ninja can channel their ki to manifest special abilities and Ninjitsu. Class abilities and Ninjitsu that rely on the expenditure of Ki can not be used if if a Ninja is wearing medium or heavy armor, or carrying a medium or heavy load. A Ninja's Ki Pool refills at either dusk or dawn (chosen at level 1).

As long as a Ninja's ki pool is not empty (that is, as long as they have at least one point remaining), she gains a +2 bonus on her Fort saves, as their body is naturally more durable when saturated with their Ki.


Ninjitsu (Su): Broken into three categories, Ninjitsu are made up of Disciplines, Techniques, and Tricks. Disciplines are general permanent passive bonuses that denote the type of training a Ninja focuses his time mastering. Techniques are special abilities that use up Ki from your Ki Pool that require a swift action to augment a Ninja's actions. Tricks are lightning-fast abilities that provide a Ninja with more options to react as an immediate action to the situations they find themselves in. As a Ninja gains in levels, higher tier Ninjitsu becomes available to them - they start out being able to develop Novice Jutsu at level one, gain access to Adept Ninjitsu at level 6, Expert Ninjitsu at level 11, and Master Ninjitsu at level 16. (See the second post for the list of Ninjitsu and their effects.)

The four grades of Ninjitsu, in order of their relative power, are Novice, Adept, Expert, and Master. A Ninja begins with knowledge of one Ninjitsu, which must be of the lowest grade (Novice). As a Ninja gains levels, he learns new Ninjitsu, as summarized on the advancement table and described above. A list of available Ninjitsu can be found following this class description in the second post, along with a complete description of each.

At any level when a Ninja learns a new Ninjitsu, they can also replace a Ninjitsu they already know with another Ninjitsu of the same or lower grade. At 6th level, a Ninja can replace a Novice Ninjitsu they know with a different Novice Ninjitsu (in addition to learning a new Ninjitsu, which could be either Novice or an Adept). At 11th level, a Ninja can replace a Novice or Adept Ninjitsu he knows with another Ninjitsu of the same or lower grade (in addition to learning a new Ninjitsu, which could be Novice, Adept, or Expert). At 16th level, a Ninja can replace a Novice, Adept, or Expert Ninjitsu he knows with another Ninjitsu of the same or lower grade (in addition to learning a new Ninjitsu, which could be Novice, Adept, Expert, or Master).


Trapfinding: A Ninja can use the Search skill to locate traps with a DC higher than 20, and she can use Disable Device to bypass a trap or disarm magic traps. See the rogue class feature, on page 50 of the Player's Handbook.


Ninja Arts (Su): A Ninja's Ninja Arts is a variable used in certain Ninjitsu that can dictate the range, potency, duration, and other effects.


Sneak Attack: If a Ninja can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Basically, the Ninja's attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the Ninja flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every two Ninja levels thereafter. Should the Ninja score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. (See Table 8—5: Attack Roll Modifiers and Table 8—6: Armor Class Modifiers, page 151, for combat situations in which the Ninja flanks an opponent or the opponent loses his Dexterity bonus to AC.) Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. A Ninja can't strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range.

With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a Ninja can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual —4 penalty because she must make optimal use of her weapon in order to execute a sneak attack. (See Nonlethal Damage, page 146.)

A Ninja can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The Ninja must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A Ninja cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment (see page 152) or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

(For the purposes of prerequisites, a Ninja's Sneak Attack count as 'Sudden Strike', and anything that furthers Sudden Strike can and does further a Ninja's Sneak Attack)


Poison Use (Ex): At 3rd level and higher, a Ninja never risks accidentally poisoning herself when applying poison to a weapon.

At 9th level, a Ninja can apply poison to a weapon as a move action. (Normally, applying a poison is a standard action, like applying an oil.)

At 19th level, a Ninja can apply poison to a weapon as a free action. (Normally, applying a poison is a standard action, like applying an oil.)


Trap Sense (Ex): At 3rd level, a Ninja gains an intuitive sense that alerts her to danger from traps, giving her a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps. These bonuses rise to +2 when the Ninja reaches 6th level, to +3 when they reach 9th level, to +4 when they reach 12th level, to +5 at 15th, and to +6 at 18th level. Trap sense bonuses gained from multiple classes stack.


Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 5th level, a Ninja can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. They retain their Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if they is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, they still lose their Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

If a Ninja already has Uncanny Dodge from a different class (a Ninja with at least two levels of barbarian, for example), they automatically gain Improved Uncanny Dodge (see below) instead.


Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A Ninja of 15th level or higher can no longer be flanked; they can react to opponents on opposite sides of her as easily as they can react to a single attacker. This defense denies another Ninja the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at least four more Ninja levels than the target does.

If a character already has Uncanny Dodge (see above) from a second class, the levels from the classes that grant Uncanny Dodge stack to determine the minimum Ninja level required to flank the character.


Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a Ninja can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If they make a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save (such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a fireball), they instead take no damage. Evasion can be used only if the Ninja is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless Ninja (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of evasion.

If a Ninja already has Evasion from a different class (a Ninja with at least two levels of Rogue, for example), they automatically gain Improved Evasion (see below) instead.


Improved Evasion (Ex): This ability works like evasion, except that while the Ninja still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks such as a dragon's breath weapon or a fireball, they henceforth take only half damage on a failed save. A helpless Ninja (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.


Erase Presence: Starting at level 13, a Ninja can move through any type of terrain—mud, snow, dust, or the like—and leave neither footprints nor scent. The Tracking the Ninja is impossible by nonmagical means, they are treated as having Spell Resistance equal to their Ninja Level + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts for any magical means of tracking, locating, divining, or scrying on the Ninja. When granted a saving throw against any such magical means, they also recieve a bonus to that saving throw equal to 1 + + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.


Ghost Walk (Su): A 20th-level Ninja can expend a point from their daily Ki Pool to enter the Ethereal Plane for an extended period of time. This ability functions as the ethereal jaunt spell with a caster level equal to their Ninja class level.




I've kept the core of the Ninja class true to form as well as spirit and simply incorporated some class features that everyone who plays a Ninja usually adds in themselves with various sub-par feats and lots of dipping. It was my firm belief that you shouldn't have to piece together a usable class from disparate parts just to do what the class was originally meant to do. I simply added those bits to the basic class itself, allowing people to spend their oh-so-precious feats on actually improving their unique combat potential, just like every other sneaky class does.

All-in-all, when you compare this fix with the existing tier 3 classes... I believe that it still falls a bit short. But only a bit. And it feels a lot more comprehensive and well-balanced, which is generally more important to me than sheer power, so I'm satisfied with the new middle-ground this fix provides. I'd say it went from an inefficient mid-tier 5 to a balanced high-tier 4 or low-tier 3.

Below is the changelog, detailing the changes made to the class for ease of reference. I hope this straight-forward fix to the Ninja class aids you on your adventures.

~ Biscuit


It was switched from Sudden Strike to the more user-friendly Sneak Attack. Because it was already a bottom-of-the-barrel tier 5 class. So why was Ninja being extra shafted? It needed to be rectified.
Good Saves were changed from Reflex to Will and Reflex. A Ninja's training is all about mental discipline and manual dexterity, so this is only natural.
Ninjitsu were added in the same vein as Warlock or Dragonfire Adept invocations, but overall they are weaker in functionality than invocations by any measure. They exist to 'customize' your playstyle within the realm of the Ninja - there are many things associated with ninjas, and they can't all be good at everything. This allows unique flare and serviceable but not overpowered functionality to the otherwise weaker original rogue clone class.
Notes were taken from the base Ninja class, the Rogue class, and the Scout class, and you can see a little of each in this re-write, which I believe takes the Ninja from a bottom-rung Tier 5 class to a Tier 3 class.
While lacking somewhat in straight combat ability, the Ninja now excels in not being hit, ambush tactics, and deception to win the day. As is appropriate for a Ninja.
Ninja has been almost exclusively used in any game I've seen it in as a one-level dip class for adding Wis to AC when Monk isn't a good fit. Hopefully, as a low-end Tier 3 class, the spirit of the Ninja can live on in 3.5 gameplay across the realms.

[Biscuit]

Disciplines
These Ninjitsu are so ingrained into a Ninja that they are permanent benefits and do not need to be activated. While Novice Disciplines rely on mental conditioning, higher teir disciplines begin to incorporate the power of Ki to enhance themselves beyond simple conditioning.

Novice Disciplines
Acrobatics - By pushing past their physical limits, a Ninja can temporarily gain a moral bonus their Balance, Escape Artist, and Tumble skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).
Athletics - By pushing past their physical limits, a Ninja can temporarily gain a moral bonus their Climb, Jump, and Swim skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).
Diligent Study - By focusing a portion of their mind on their studies, a Ninja is able to more easily remember their education, gaining a bonus to all Knowledge skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).
Doublespeak - By focusing a portion of their mind on their wordplay, a Ninja is able to more easily manipulate people, gaining a bonus to their Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).
Heightened Awareness - By focusing a portion of their mind on their surroundings, a Ninja's senses are honed and focused on detecting the unexpected, giving them a bonus to their Listen, Spot, and Search skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).
Poison Study - By focusing a portion of their mind on their abilities with poisons, a Ninja's senses are honed and focused on that aspect of their training, allowing them to better ration their supply of poisons by infusing them with their ki for extra potency to extend their supply. Each 'dose' of poison the Ninja possesses is treated instead as a number of doses equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This only applies when using applying such poison to weapons native to the Ninja Class weapon proficiencies, and not weapons whose proficiencies are gained by other sources. Any poison already used in conjunction with this class feature becomes worthless and inert when not in possession of the Ninja who first used it, losing any effects for anyone but the Ninja who first started using it.
Social Camouflage - By focusing a portion of their mind on people's body language, a Ninja is able to more easily navigate society, gaining a bonus to their Disguise, Gather Information, and Sense Motive skills by 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable).

Adept Disciplines
Clearing The Way - By focusing a portion of their mind on their training, a Ninja gains a bonus to Disable Device and Open Lock equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. As an added benefit, they can expend 1 Ki point as an immediate action in order to re-roll such a check - this can only be done once per such skill check.
Lesser Shadow Dodge - By focusing a portion of their mind on predicting the flow of battle, a Ninja's senses are heightened to danger, giving them a Dodge bonus to AC equal to their Wisdom modifier + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This does not stack with other abilities that add Wisdom to AC (such as a Monk's armor bonus). A Ninja loses this benefit when wearing armor of any kind or when carrying a medium or heavy load. However, if they have taken the Armored Ninja alternative class feature, this Discipline will function while wearing light armor. An Armored Ninja still loses this benefit when wearing Medium or Heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.
Restful Trance - By focusing a portion of their mind on meditation and their body's recovery, a Ninja need only rest half the normal amount for their race to benefit from rest, and no longer actual sleep if their race would normally require. Instead, they enter a meditative trance while in a seated position that fulfills their normal rest-related needs in half the time, and also allows them to be perfectly aware of their immediate surroundings at all times while resting. This trance also increases the base rate of Natural Healing (normally 1 per character level per appropriate rest) is increased by an additional amount of hit points recovered equal to the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. Ninjas who require a period of inactivity to recover spells or other rest-related powers with a time requirement must still take the additional required time to do so.
Target Acquisition - By focusing a portion of their mind solely on their prey, a Ninja's senses are heightened to signs of their passing, giving them the benefit similar to the Track feat, but with two differences; They use a Search skill check instead of a Survival skill check, and can move at their normal speed while tracking.
Quick Steps - By conditioning their limbs over time by constantly infusing them with Ki, a Ninja's speed is permanently enhanced, giving them a bonus to their land speed equal to 5 feet x the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Shadow Piercing Eyes - By conditioning their eyes with over time by constantly infusing them with Ki, a Ninja's sight is permanently enhanced, granting them darkvision with a range equal to 10 x the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This discipline also allows the Ninja to see through magical darkness as well, but only at half the range of the darkvision.

Expert Disciplines
Cat's Grace - By allowing Ki to permeate their body, a Ninja can slow their fall from great heights. A Ninja takes no damage when falling from a height of 10 feet + 10 feet times the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.. When falling from a greater height than their safe fall distance, the calculated height of the fall is reduced by range of their safe fall distance. For example, if a Ninja would take no damage from a 30' fall, but fell from a height of 50', the damage would be calculated as if they only fell from 20'. No matter the fall damage, however, a Ninja always lands on their feet. This benefit is lost when carrying a medium or heavy load.
Fade - By allowing Ki to permeate their body, a Ninja can use the Hide skill in any environment even while being observed. A Ninja loses this benefit when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load. Their Hide and Move Silently skills also receive a bonus equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Ki Strikes - Empowering their strikes with Ki, A Ninja's melee attacks automatically bypass any non-divine damage reduction equal or less than 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. When using Ki Strikes and Taijutsu together, a Ninja's unarmed strikes also enjoy a damage bonus equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Martial Focus - By focusing a portion of their mind on their weapons, a Ninja's senses are honed and focused on personal combat, giving them the ability to ignore all forms of Damage Reduction their targets may possess when attacking them with melee weapon attacks up to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (if applicable). This only applies when using weapons native to the Ninja Class weapon proficiencies, and not weapons whose proficiencies are gained by other sources.
Taijutsu - With constant dedication to martial arts, A Ninja is treated as having the Improved Unarmed Strike and Versatile Unarmed Strike (Player's Handbook II, p. 85) feats. The Ninja's unarmed attacks may be with either fist interchangeably or even from elbows, knees, and feet - this means that they may even make unarmed strikes with her hands full. They can also use a swift action to opt for their Unarmed Strikes to deal their choice of Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage (once they make this choice, their Unarmed Strikes continue to deal the chosen damage type until they use another swift action to change it). There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a Ninja striking unarmed who has mastered this discipline. The Ninja may applies their full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all unarmed strikes. They also enjoy an attack bonus for all Unarmed Strikes equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.. When using unarmed strikes, a Ninja is also considered to have the Weapon Finesse feat if it is beneficial to do so - this benefit only applies to unarmed strikes. A Ninja who already has Improved Unarmed Strike from another source instead are treated as having the Superior Unarmed Strike feat. A Ninja who already has Superior Unarmed Strike from another source is are treated as four charcter levels higher when calculating Unarmed Strike Damage.

Master Disciplines
Unshackled Spirit - By conditioning their willpower over time by constantly infusing themselves with Ki, a Ninja's soul is permanently warded, giving them a permanent Death Ward effect (as the spell).
Unshackled Body - By conditioning their body over time by constantly infusing them with Ki, a Ninja's movement is permanently enhanced, giving them a permanent Freedom of Movement effect (as the spell).
Unshackled Mind - By conditioning their mind over time by constantly infusing them with Ki, a Ninja's mind is permanently warded, giving them a permanent Nondetection effect (as the spell). DC to overcome is 10 + their Ninja Level + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Greater Shadow Dodge - By focusing a portion of their mind on predicting the flow of battle, a Ninja's senses are heightened to danger, giving them a Dodge bonus to AC equal to their Wisdom modifier, plus the numerical value of their Ninja Arts (if applicable). This does not stack with other abilities that add Wisdom to AC (such as a Monk's armor bonus or Lesser Shadow Dodge). A Ninja loses this benefit when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load. However, if they have taken the Armored Ninja alternative class feature, this Discipline will function while wearing Light or Medium armor. An Armored Ninja still loses this benefit when wearing Heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.




Techniques
These Ninjitsu are powerful Ki-based techniques that require a Swift Action to activate, allowing a Ninja who has trained in these techniques more options on and off the field of battle. Ninjitsu Techniques draw on your pool of Ki to use. Each technique uses 1 Ki point from your Ki Pool.

Novice Techniques
Fleeting Charm - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can affect someone as if having used the Charm spell, but the duration is only for a number of minutes equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This is a mind-affecting effect & the DC to Disbelieve is 10 + 1/2 Ninja Class Level + Wisdom Modifier.
Deepening Shadows - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can create a patch of darkness as the Deeper Darkness spell, but the duration lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Minor Ghost Step - Harnessing their inner Ki and bending the light around them, a Ninja can make themselves invisible (as the Invisibility spell) for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Spiritual Strikes - Harnessing their inner Ki and infusing their weapons with it, a Ninja can make their weapons more solid in more ethereal parallel planes allowing them to better strike incorporeal enemies (as the Ghost Touch weapon special ability) for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Water Step - Harnessing their inner Ki and concentrating it into the souls of their feet, a Ninja can walk on water at their land speed for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Wall Step - Harnessing their inner Ki to shift their own personal gravity for a brief time, a Ninja can walk on walls (but not ceilings) at their land speed for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.

Adept Techniques
Ki Toss - Harnessing their Ki and concentrating it into a splash weapon or other grenade-type weapon, a Ninja briefly increases the potency of such items while launching it at a target. When using this technique, the range of the weapon in question becomes 10 feet + 10 feet x the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. When activating this technique, a splash or grenade type weapon's damage is increased by 1 die as well (example: a flask of acid would deal 2d6 points of acid damage instead of just 1d6).
Mirage Step - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can project illusionary doubles (as the Mirror Image spell), but the duration lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. Unlike Mirror Image, this Technique only makes a number of images equal to 1 + 1/2 the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. (rounded down). This is a mind-affecting effect & the DC to Disbelieve is 10 + 1/2 their Ninja Class Level + their Wisdom Modifier.
Murderous Intent - Harnessing their inner Ki to manifest their murderous intent, a Ninja can make an Intimidate check against a single target within their melee threat range against that target's Sense Motive check. Should the Ninja succeed, the target flinches, suffering a penalty to their Attacks as well as their AC equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts until the end of their next turn. This is a mind-affecting effect & the DC to Disbelieve is 15 + their Wisdom Modifier. The DC is additionally increased by 5 for every additional step of fear the target is already experiencing. (Shaken = +5, Frightened +10, Panicked +15)
Shadow Shuriken - Harnessing their Ki and concentrating it into their shadow, a Ninja causes pieces of their own shadow to break apart and fold itself into a number of floating shuriken equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts that last for a number of rounds equal to the amount of shuriken produced. Starting on the round they are formed, the Ninja may will one of the shuriken towards a target within 60' of the ninja as a free action each round that at least one shuriken remains. The shuriken finds its target without fail, never missing so long as the Ninja has clear line of site, and does an amount of Force damage the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. If there is no valid target during a round the shuriken exist to be fired at, one shuriken simply fades away, unused.
Sudden Fling - Harnessing their inner Ki for a burst of speed and power, a Ninja can draw a throwing weapon and throw it at a target within a range equal to 10 feet + 10 feet x the numerical value of their Ninja Arts at their full Base Attack Bonus. The throwing weapon can weigh no more than 1lbs, and must have a listed range increment (even though that increment is being ignored by this ability).

Expert Techniques

Ancestor's Wrath - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja calls upon the spirits of their ancestors (either familial or fellow Ninjas of the past) to cleanse nearby undead enemies. A burst of energy that resembles several translucent ninjas striking out with ghostly weapons causes damage to all undead within 30' of the Ninja, dealing magical Force damage equal to 1d4 + 1d4 per the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This only affects undead that are hostile to the Ninja.
Cloud Step - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can walk on air (as the Air Walk spell) at their land speed for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts..
Flash Step - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can instantly transport themselves (as the Dimension door spell) a distance of equal to 10 feet + 10 feet times the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. When doing so, any enemy within 10 feet of the Ninja before and after their transposition must make a Will save or become Dazzled until their next round. The DC for the Dazzle effect is 10 + 1/2 their Ninja Class Level + their Wisdom Modifier. The Dazzle effect is a mind-affecting effect & the DC to Disbelieve is 10 + 1/2 their Ninja Class Level + their Wisdom Modifier.
Major Ghost Step - Harnessing their inner Ki, a Ninja can make themselves invisible (as the Greater Invisibility spell) for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.

Master Techniques
Bleeding Strike - Using Ki-enhanced precision, a Ninja can declare their next melee attack a Targeted Strike. If that strike is successful, the target continues to 'bleed' and loses hit points equal to one quarter of the total damage (including precision damage from Sneak Attack, if applicable) of the successful strike (minimum 1) each round after that for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. This attack only effects targets with blood or a blood-like equivalent that serves the same purpose.
Quick Feint - Using Ki-enhanced speed, a Ninja can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as part of the swift action used to activate this ability. If the ninja can already feint as a swift action by some other means, they can feint as an immediate action instead.
Bladed Shadows - Enhancing their shadows with their Ki, a Ninja can extend the Reach of their Ninja weapons by 5' for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. When the Ninja makes a melee attack at the new range, they strike as if the target is adjacent to them and their own shadow elongates and strikes the target at reach to deliver the blow. This only applies when using weapons native to the Ninja Class weapon proficiencies, and not weapons whose proficiencies are gained by other sources.




Tricks
These Ninjitsu are quick physical and environmental techniques used to supplement their skills in and out of combat, or to create opportunities for a Ninja to capitalize on that only require an Immediate Action to activate. Only one Ninjitsu can be used per round. Tricks do not require ki to activate, and instead reflect specific maneuvers that have been gained through rigorous training. However, tricks can be further enhanced by investing Ki, granting them increased effectiveness, if desired.

Novice Tricks
Dancing Shadow - By using your own clothing, the environment, shadows, physical barriers, etc, a Ninja can make himself less of a target at a moment's notice. As an immediate action, you gain partial concealment until your next turn, granting attacks against you a 20% miss chance for that duration. If used on a turn other than your own, this uses up your one-per-round use of Ninjitsu for your next turn. This is a mind-affecting effect & the DC to Disbelieve is 10 + 1/2 their Ninja Class Level + their Wisdom Modifier. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the Mis Chance ins instead equal to 10% * the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.
Rolling Rise - Harnessing their keen sense of balance, a Ninja can quickly react to becoming prone by rolling backwards and jumping to their feet before an opponent can capitalize on it. When made prone, a Ninja can stand as an immediate action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the Ninja can also make a 5' step as part of this action - this too does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Quick Conceal - Reacting through sheer muscle memory, a Ninja can make a Slight of Hand check as an immediate action to stow and/or conceal something weighing less than 5lbs on their person that is adjacent to them and considered unattended. If this trick is used successfully when picking an object up, it appears to simply vanish - doing so allows you a Bluff check vs any witnesses' Sense Motive Check to not notice anything had even been taken. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the object no longer needs to be adjacent to the ninja and can be anywhere within 10' of them, so long as it still considered unattended.
Manufactured Opportunity - Using special counter training, a Ninja can manufacture their own opportunities in the wake of an opponent's failure. If someone attempts to Bullrush or Overrun you and fails in the attempt, they always become prone, even if they square they came from is not occupied. If someone attempts to Disarm or Trip you but fail in the attempt, you gain a bonus on your counter attempt equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, you get a bonus to your check for any such maneuver equal to 1 + half the numerical value of their Ninja Arts, rounded down.

Adept Tricks
Counter Strike - Keeping track of the flow of battle, a Ninja can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just initiated an attack against them that failed to hit. This attack counts as the Ninja's attack of opportunity for their next round. Even a Ninja with the Combat Reflexes feat can't use the opportunist ability more than once per round. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, it does not count as the Ninja's attack of opportunity for their next round.
Opportune Strike - Keeping track of the flow of battle, a Ninja can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been struck for damage in melee by someone or something else. This attack counts as the Ninja's attack of opportunity for their next round. Even a Ninja with the Combat Reflexes feat can't use the opportunist ability more than once per round. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, it does not count as the Ninja's attack of opportunity for their next round.
Quick Step - Harnessing a small burst of speed, a Ninja can quickly react to situation at need. As an immediate action, you can take a 5-foot step. If used on a turn other than your own, this uses up your one-per-round use of Ninjitsu for your next turn. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, it does not count as the Ninja's one-per-round use of Ninjutsu for their next round.

Expert Tricks
Dispelling Strike - When making a successful Sneak Attack or Skirmish Attack, the Ninja can sacrifice the extra damage dice and instead imbue their successful strike with a dispelling effect (as the Dispel Magic spell). The Ninja makes a dispel check (1d20+5 + the number of extra damage dice sacrificed, to a maximum of 30) against each ongoing spell or spell-effect currently affecting the creature. Successfully dispelled spell effects granted by continuous-effect magic items are instead suppressed for a number of rounds equal to the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the dispelling effect is instead treated as the Greater Dispel Magic spell and the dispel check is made as: 1d20+ 5 + the number of extra damage dice sacrificed + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts, to a maximum of 40.
Quick Hands - Using muscle memory, a Ninja can snatch a object of 5lbs or less that was thrown at them or into their square from the air and can choose to return it from whence it came in the blink of an eye. This functions similarly to the Snatch Arrow feat, but only applies to thrown objects of 5lbs or less and does nothing for fired projectiles. A Ninja cannot use this trick when wearing medium or heavy armor, when all of their hands are full, or when carrying a medium or heavy load. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the Ninja ignored the normal restriction on fired projectiles, sending them back to their originator with a ki-infused throw as if it were fired with the same modifiers as the original attack.

Master Tricks
Crippling Strike - With deadly precision, a Ninja can sneak attack opponents with such precision that their blows weaken and hamper them. When making a successful Sneak Attack, the Ninja can sacrifice the extra Sneak Attack damage dice and instead inflict ability damage to the target's Strength, Constitution, or Dexterity equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts. Ability points lost to damage return on their own at the rate of 1 point per day for each damaged ability score. Optional: By investing a point of Ki into the use of this trick, the Ninja can instead choose to damage the Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma attributes.

[Biscuit]

The Epic Ninja


Requirements:

Must have 20 levels of Ninja


Hit Dice: d6

Alignment: Any

Skill Points: 6 + Int

Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spot, Swim, Tumble


LevelClass Features
21Trap Awareness
22Ninja Arts +6
23Bonus Feat
24Sneak Attack +11d6
25Secrete Poison
26Ninja Arts +7
27Bonus Feat
28Sneak Attack +12d6
29Concentrated Poison
30Ninja Arts +8
31Bonus Feat
32Sneak Attack +13d6
33Instant Poison
34Ninja Arts +9
35Bonus Feat
36Sneak Attack +14d6
37Poison Memory
38Ninja Arts +10
39Bonus Feat
40Sneak Attack +15d6



Trap Awareness(Su): As of their 21st level, if a Ninja passes within 5 feet of a trap, they are entitled to a Search check to notice it as if you were actively looking for it. This functions just like the Epic Feat Trap Sense - if you already have the Trap Sense feat, or gain it later, the distance is instead doubled to 10 feet.

Ninja Arts (Su): A Ninja's Ninja Arts is a variable used in certain Ninjitsu that can dictate the range, potency, duration, and other effects.

Bonus Feats: At level 23 and every 4rd level afterwards, a Ninja gains another bonus feat. It can be any feat the Ninja qualifies for, including Epic feats.

Sneak Attack: At level 23 and every 4rd level afterwards, a Ninja gains +1d6 to their existing Sneak Attack damage.

Secrete Poison (Su): At 25th level, a Ninja's training in poison has been so extensive, they gain immunity to all poisons and venoms. They also gain the ability to ingest a dose of any injury poison or venom in order to manufacture the compound in their own bodies, secreting it through their palms, allowing them to automatically poison their weapons via their Master Poison Use ability. The DC for their secreted poison is their total Ninja level + the value of the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability - this DC replaces the DC of the poison originally ingested. The ability to manufacture and secrete the ingested poison lasts one hour, after which another dose of an injury poison or venom would need to be ingested to again gain the benefit. a Ninja cannot have more than one actively secreted poison at a time, and must wait the full hour before ingesting another dose, otherwise it has no effect.

Concentrated Poison (Su): At level 29, the poison created by their Secrete Poison ability now adds the Ninja's Constitution Modifier to the DC.

Instant Poison (Su): By the time a Ninja has reached level 33, the poison created by the Secrete Poison ability now inflicts its secondary damage in the round after infliction instead of one minute after infliction.

Poison Memory (Su): No longer restricted to the poison they have ingested in the last hour, a Ninja of 37th level can automatically manufacture any poison they've ever ingested at-will.

[Biscuit]

Ninja Alternate Class Features


Planar Ninja
Level: 1st
Replaces: Trapfinding Class Feature
Benefit: Instead of the Trapfinding Class Feature, an Planar Ninja gains the feat Portal Sensitive
(Underdark, p. 27) as a bonus feat, and ignore the normal race restriction for the feat. In addition, Planar Ninjas treat all portals as if they were effected by the Portal View (Underdark, p. 60) spell, allowing them to view the other side with perfect clarity.


Spell Sense
Level: 3rd
Replaces: Trap Sense
Benefit: Much like how Trap Sense gives you an AC bonus vs Traps, Spell Sense Instead gives you that AC bonus vs Spells instead.


Spell Reflection
Level: 7th
Replaces: Evasion (If you would later gain improved evasion as a special ability, you gain Evasion instead.)
Benefit: You gain the supernatural ability to reflect magical attacks back on their caster. If an enemy misses with a spell or spell-like ability aimed at you, you can use an immediate action to redirect the effect back at its originator. The spell or ability attacks the original caster (who makes a new attack roll using the same modifier as the original attack). If it hits, the caster is subject to the normal effect of the spell or ability.

For example, if a 3rd-level wizard missed you with a scorching ray, you could use an immediate action to redirect the ray back to the wizard. The wizard would immediately make a new ranged attack roll (using the same modifier) against his own touch AC; if the attack succeeds, the scorching ray deals its normal damage to the wizard. This effect applies only to spells and spell-like abilities that require an attack roll. Other spells and spell-like abilities that affect a target aren't subject to this reflection.

If a single spell or ability misses you more than once at the same time (such as scorching ray cast by a high-level caster), you can redirect each portion of the spell that missed. Using the example above, if you were missed by two of the three rays from an 11th-level wizard's scorching ray spell, you could redirect only those two rays (but not the one that hit).


Bonus Feats
Level: 2nd
Replaces: Sneak Attack Class Feature
Benefit: Instead of the Sneak Attack Class Feature, a Ninja may opt to instead select Fighter Bonus Feats or Ninja Feats (Listed Below) at levels where they would normally gain or improve their Sneak Attack ability. They may select any Fighter Bonus Feat or Ninja Feat (Below) for which the Ninja qualifies for at the time of selection. Taking this alternative class feature allows The Ninja's class levels to count as Fighter levels for the purposes of qualifying for Fighter Bonus Feats such as Weapon Specialization.


Shadow Skirmisher
Level: 2nd
Replaces: Sneak Attack Class Feature
Benefit: Instead of the Sneak Attack Class Feature, a Ninja may opt to instead gain the Skirmish class feature, which increases in potency at every level you would normally gain Sneak Attack, following the chart below. You are given a set bonus to damage done by any attack within a round in which you moved at least 10' before attacking a target, and you receive the corresponding dodge bonus to Armor Class until the beginning of your next turn. You also become more mobile in general, gaining a base land speed enhancement.

LevelDamage BonusAC BonusBonus to Base Speed
2+1d6-+5
4+1d6+1 AC+10'
6+2d6+1 AC+10'
8+2d6+2 AC+15'
10+3d6+2 AC+15'
12+3d6+3 AC+20'
14+4d6+3 AC+20'
16+4d6+4 AC+25'
18+5d6+4 AC+25'
20+5d6+5 AC+30'


LevelDamage BonusAC BonusBonus to Base Speed
24+6d6+6 AC+30
28+6d6+6 AC+35'
32+7d6+7 AC+35'
36+7d6+7 AC+40'
40+8d6+8 AC+40'




Armored Ninja
Level: 3rd
Replaces: Poison Use, Improved Poison Use, Master Poison Use (See Spoiler for Epic Continuations)
Benefit: Instead of the Poison Use class features, a Ninja instead gains the ability to wear armor as if it were a second skin, no longer interfering with their other Ninja abilities.

At level 3, instead of Poison Use, a Ninja gains proficiency with Light Armor and is treated as unarmored even when wearing light armor for the purpose of their Ninja class features.

At level 9, instead of Improved Poison Use, A Ninja gains proficiency with Medium Armor and is treated as unarmored for the purposes of their Ninja class features even when wearing medium armor.

At level 19, instead of Master Poison Use, A Ninja gains the Armor Specialization feat (Player's Handbook II, p. 75). Additionally, sleeping in Light or Medium armor does not cause you to become fatigued. Further, you can make Listen checks without a penalty while sleeping in the armor. If you make a successful Listen check while sleeping, you can choose to wake up or to remain asleep, depending on the noise you hear.

Special: The Armor Check Penalty, if any, of armor worn by a Ninja with the Armored Ninja alternative class feature, is reduced by the numerical value of their Ninja Arts, to a minimum of 0.


[Epic] Armored Ninja
Level: 25th - This is automatically selected if the Ninja had previously taken the Armored Ninja alternative class feature.
Replaces: Secrete Poison, Concentrated Poison, Instant Poison, Poison Memory
Benefit: As the ninja had previously given up the use of Poison, an Epic Armored Ninja instead gains enhanced armor-related abilities.

[Epic] At level 25, instead of Secrete Poison, the Epic Ninja instead gains proficiency with Heavy Armor and is treated as unarmored for the purposes of their Ninja class features even when wearing Heavy armor.

[Epic] At level 29, instead of Concentrated Poison, the Epic Ninja instead gains proficiency with all Exotic Armor.

[Epic] At level 33, instead of Instant Poison, the Epic Ninja is instead now treated as suffering no Armor Check Penalty from wearing armor, no matter the type.

[Epic] At level 37, instead of Poison Memory, the Epic Ninja instead never suffers a penalty to speed for wearing armor of any type.



Psionic Talent
Your psionic talent is stronger that others of your class, giving you access to a limited number of powers and providing a pool of power points with which to manifest them.
Level: 1st
Replaces: Novice Ninjitsu, Adept Ninjitsu, Expert Ninjitsu, & Master Ninjitsu class abilities
Benefit: You gain a base Power Point Pool and Powers Known selected from the Psychic Rogue (https://web.archive.org/web/20210729143628/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) power list and the powers normally exclusive to Shaper Psions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powerList.htm#shaperMetacreativityDisciplinePowers ). Psionic Ninjas must have an Intelligence score of 10 + Power Level in order to manifest powers. Int is also used to determine bonus power points and the DCs to resist Powers.
Special: Your Ninja Arts numerical value is added to the DC of any Psionic Power that you manifest.

LevelPower PointsMax Power LevelPowers Known
131st1
261st2
391st3
4121st3
5152nd4
6192nd5
7232nd6
8272nd6
9313rd7
10353rd8
11403rd9
12453rd9
13504th10
14554th11
15604th12
16664th12
17725th13
18785th14
19845th15
20905th15

[Biscuit]

Ninja Substitution Levels


Changeling Substitution Levels:
Add Perform to your class skill list. A Changeling Ninja also adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to their Charisma-based skills checks as an insight bonus.
1st level: Gains Deceptive Ki & Loses Trapfinding.
3rd level: Gain Sharp Tongue & Loses Trap Sense class feature at levels 3, 9, & 15
7th level: Gain Mirrored Enemy & Loses Uncanny Dodge at level 5 and Improved Uncanny Dodge at level 15.

Deceptive Ki: A Changeling Ninja uses their Charisma modifier instead of their Wisdom modifier when calculating Ki points and the effects and DCs of Ninjutsu that normally incorporate their Wisdom modifier.

Sharp Tongue: When using a weapon that Ninjas have proficiency in, a Changeling Ninja can expend 1 point from their Ki pool as a swift action to add their Charisma modifier to all of their attack and damage rolls that round with such weapons.

Mirrored Enemy: When using your racial Minor Shape Change ability, you can opt to copy the exact appearance of the person you choose to mirror, so long as their race is a valid target for your Minor Shape Change. When mirroring someone's appearance, you can make a Perform (Acting) check with a DC equal to their HD+10. If successful, you begin to mirror the target's body language to throw them off, causing that person to have a penalty to all attack rolls against you equal to 1 + your numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability.

By expending 1 point of from your Ki Pool as a free action during your Minor Shape Change, the appearance of any equipment you wear and any weapon wielded changes to match that of your chosen target for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability - After which your Minor Shape Change and the effects of this ability end and you revert to the appearance you had beforehand.

When enhancing this ability with Ki, the targets penalty on attacks against you increases their penalty by -2, and their allies have a 50% chance to accidently strike at your target when trying to strike at you unless they make an opposed spot check against your original Perform (Acting) check.

Special: This ability only functions while the people in question can see you. This ability can only be used on one target at a time.



Drow and Half-Drow Ninja Substitution Levels:
Add Knowledge (Nobility & Royalty) and Knowledge (Local) to your class skill list. A Drow & Half-Drow Ninja also adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to their initiative as an insight bonus.
1st level: Gains Ninja Maneuvers & Lose initial Novice Ninjitsu known.
3rd level: Gain Web of Intrigue & Lose Trap Sense class feature at levels 3, 9, & 15
6th level: Gain Blood Ki & Lose initial Adept Ninjitsu known.

Ninja Maneuvers: A Drow & Half-Drow Ninja add the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to their rolls for the special combat actions Disarm, Feint, grapple, and Trip as an insight bonus.

Web of Intrigue: When lying via Bluff, Intimidate, or Diplomacy, as well as when speaking to someone under a Charm effect, a Drow & Half-Drow Ninja may 'take 10' on their rolls, even when circumstances such as combat would normally disallow it.

Blood Ki: Whenever you successfully execute a sneak attack on being with an intelligence of 3 or greater, your Ki pool is refilled by half the number of sneak attack damage dice, rounded down. Any points gained that would exceed your current maximum ki pool are instead converted into temporary hit points instead.

These temporary hit points last a number of minutes equal to 10 times the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability. If you already have temporary hit points gained from using this ability when you acquire more, the duration of all such hit points are refreshed to the new duration. These temporary hit points cannot bring your health above your maximum HP + 10.



Halfling Ninja Substitution Levels:
Add Knowledge (Geography) and Ride to your class skill list. A Halfling Ninja adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to all Sneak Attack rolls made with slings. Halfling Ninjas increase the damage of slings as if they were one size catagorz larger, but lose proficiency with short bows and hand crossbows.
1st level: Treat slings as having double their listed range & Lose Trapfinding
3rd level: Ignore the 30 feet restriction for ranged sneak attacks when made with slings & Lose the Trap Sense ability at levels 3, 9, & 15.
6th level: Gain Constant Threat & Lose the +1d6 Sneak Attack damage normally gained at this level.

Constant Threat: While wielding a sling, a Halfling Ninja always has a stone or bullet loaded and ready to fire. They may make attacks and attacks of opportunity with a sling, treating it as as if it had the melee statistics of a nunchaku with any magical ability or bonus normally granted to its ammunition, so long as it can also be applied to a melee weapon.



Gnome Ninja Substitution Levels:
Add Knowledge (History) and Appraise to your class skill list. A Gnome Ninja adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to all Sneak Attack rolls made with Darts and can wield Darts as if it were a melee weapon with the statistics of a dagger.

1st level: Treat Darts as having triple their listed range increment & Lose Trapfinding
3rd level: Dart Marksman & Lose the Trap Sense ability at levels 3, 9, & 15.
6th level: Gain Dart Flick & Lose the +1d6 Sneak Attack damage normally gained at this level.

Dart Marksman: When making a skirmish attack or sneak attack with a Dart, the range at which you can make such an attack is increased to 60 feet.

Dart Flick: Whenever a Gnome Ninja moves at least 10', as part of their move action, they can draw and throw one dart at a single target within 30 feet at any point during their move action. They can also throw a dart already held in a hand, rather than drawing one, if they choose.

With at least 9 ranks in Slight of Hand, a Gnome Ninja with a concealed Dart is always considered arms for the purposes of threatening vs attacks of opportunity and can also draw a Dart and make an attack of opportunity with it as if it were a melee weapon with the statistics of a dagger - this is treated as any other attack of opportunity.



Kobold Ninja Substitution Levels:
Add Knowledge (Dungeoneering) and Survival to your class skill list. A Kobold Ninja adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to all Sneak Attack or Skirmish attack rolls made with all variations of Hand Crossbows and are also proficient with Double Hand Crossbows.
1st level: Gain Crossbow Modification & Reduce Ki Pool
5th level: Gain Duck and Cover & Lose Uncanny Dodge at level 5 and Improved Uncanny Dodge at level 15.
7th level: Gain Kobold Sniper & Lose Evasion at level 7 and Improved Evasion at level 17.

Crossbow Modification: Customizing their crossbows is a point of pride for Kobold Ninjas, as it appeals to their love of nasty surprises. At 3rd level, a Kobold can begin to make modifications to their hand crossbows, based on their level. The penchant for traps that Kobolds are known for is deserved, and the hand crossbow becomes inoperable if someone other than the Kobold Ninja who modified it attempts to use it - a failsafe so that it can never been used against their creator. Hand Crossbows that have been made inoperable can be repaired for 25gp worth of raw materials, but only by their creator.

Making Modifications to, or repairing their hand crossbow requires a Craft (Trapmaking) check with a DC of 10 + The Required Ninja Level for the Modification, or DC 15 for a repair. Repairing a sundered or destroyed Hand Crossbow increases the DC to 30 and quadruples the repair cost.

Because they are more focused on tinkering with their weapon, their traditional trainer suffers and their Kobold Ninja substitution levels do not count as ninja levels when calculating their Ki Pool.

Special: Only a Masterwork Hand Crossbow (or Masterwork Double Hand Crossbow) can be modified in this way.


Ninja Level RequiredModificationEffectCost in MaterialsAdded Weight
1Crossbow SightHand Crossbow range increment is doubled to 60 feet.50gp+0.25lbs
3Crossbow HookInstall a hooked blade, treating it as Masterwork Light Pick when wielded in melee. This weapon can be enchanted separate from the crossbow element, and they do not share enchantments.150gp+0.25lbs
7Covered RepeaterInstall a case feeder mechanism, treating it afterwards as a Repeating (Hand) Crossbow. Bolts are now secured in place cand cannot be lost unless fired or intentionally unloaded.300gp*+0.25lbs
6Extended Bolt CaseCases of Crossbow Bolts used for Repeater function now hold 20 bolts each.500gp*+0.25lbs
9Wrist MountedIntegrate the Hand Crossbow into a bracer that covers one forearm. Folding the arms and other attachments back to conceal the weapon requires a full round action, snapping them out to use as a weapon is a free action. If modified with a Repeater, it is now always pre-loaded so long as it retains ammo in the clip. If modified with a Hook, you can choose to unfold just the hook or just the bow arms, or both. This modification gives you a +10 circumstance bonus to opposed disarm checks and a +10 circumstance bonus to Slight of Hand checks made to conceal it.750gp+0.50lbs
11Braided Springsteel StringYour Hand Crossbow's base damage increases as if it were two size categories larger, changing the base damage from 1d3 to 1d6.1,000gp*+0.50lbs
13Shield PlateYour Hand Crossbow now sports a small shield-like plate covering the top. This can be enchanted like any other shield, separate from the weapon itself. This shield plate does not count as a shield for the purposes of their other Ninja class abilities, but has the same statistics as a Masterwork Buckler otherwise, providing a shield bonus of +1. Any enchantments are separate from the crossbow element and does not share enchantments between them.1,250gp+1lbs
Note: When making a sunder attempt on the crossbow, the Crossbow, Hook, and Shield portions (when applicable) are considered separate targets. The same goes for spells and other effects that target inanimate objects.
Weights given in the table are for a Small sized Hand Crossbow. Double the listed weights for Medium sized.
* = For double hand crossbows, you need to add these modifications twice - once for each of the two firing mechanisms. A double hand crossbow modified with the two extended bolt case mods hold a total of 40 bolts.


Duck and Cover: When firing a hand crossbow from at least partial cover, a Kobold Ninja can make a Hide skill check after their attack as a free action, even while being observed. Anything that provides a Kobold Ninja with a 20% miss chance (like partial cover) instead grants 25%. Anything that provides a Kobold Ninja with a 50% miss chance (like total cover) instead grants 60%.

If also wielding a Hand Crossbow that has a Shield Plate modification on it, anything that provides a Kobold Ninja with a 20% miss chance (like partial cover) instead grants 30%. Anything that provides a Kobold Ninja with a 50% miss chance (like total cover) instead grants 70%.


Kobold Sniper: When making a skirmish attack or sneak attack with a hand crossbow, you add your Dexterity or Wisdom modifier (Whichever is larger) as extra damage to such attacks.

If using a Hand Crossbow that has a Crossbow Sight modification on it, the range at which you can make such an attack is increased to 60 feet.

Special: This ability does not stack with feats like Crossbow Sniper, Dead Eye, or other means of adding Dexterity damage to your ranged attacks.



Warforged Ninja Substitution Levels:
Add Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) and Knowledge (Dungeoneering) to your class skill list. Warforged Ninja adds the numerical value of their Ninja Arts ability to their Fortitude Saves as an insight bonus.
3rd level: Gains Concealed Storage & take a -2 Penalty to the armor bonus from their Composite Plating.
5th level: Gain Shuriken Launcher & Lose Uncanny Dodge at lvl 5 & Improved Uncanny Dodge at lvl 15.
7th level: Gain Shadow Oil Finish & Lose Evasion at lvl 7 & Improved Evasion Dodge at lvl 17.

Concealed Storage: A Warforged Ninja sacrifices armor for concealed storage spaces built into their bodies. This storage spaces can hold a material of as much as 2 cubic feet in volume or 20 pounds in weight in total. Anything stored within is considered to be concealed as if the Warforged Ninja 'took 20' with their Slight of Hand skill, applying the appropriate modifiers with an additional bonus equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts class ability. While storing anything in this space requires a move action, retrieving things from the space is a free action. Clothing and equipment does not hinder the function of this storage space.

As an added bonus, a bag of holding or a handy haversack can be fitted in such a space to increase the amount of concealed space available, but only one such item can be installed. Everything held within the extradimensional storage item benefits from the concealment of the hidden space. While a handy haversack retains the ability to retrieve a single item as a free action, a bag of holding uses a free action as well for a single item being retrieved unless the bag of holding contains more than the hidden storage would normally hold (2 cubic feet in volume or 20 pounds in weight in total), in which case retrieving a specific item becomes a swift action instead.

Special: A Warforged Ninja with this ability is considered to have the Unarmored Body feat. If a Warforged Ninja takes the Mithril Body feat, the composite plating they gain is only a base AC of +3 instead of +5. If a Warforged Ninja takes the Adamantine Body feat, it is considered Medium Armor instead of Heavy Armor, and it provides +6 base AC instead of +8.


Shuriken Launcher: A shuriken launcher is a special Warforged modification that adds a small port at the wrist joint of a Warforged's dominant hand. As a full round action, a Warforged Ninja may launch a barrage of shuriken equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts class ability at a single target within 5 feet + 5 feet times the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability, using separate attack rolls for each shuriken. Alternatively, they can fire up to two shuriken at the same target as a standard action, or in place of an iterative attack when making a full Attack action, also using separate attack rolls for each shuriken.

The Warforged Ninja can choose to fire any number of shuriken with each attack, up to the maximum allowed by the ability, but the modification can only hold a maximum of 12 shuriken. Reloading the Shuriken Launcher normally requires a full-round action. The Shuriken Launcher is considered a Hand Crossbow for the purposes of qualifying for or benefitting from feats.

Special: By expending spending 1-5 points of Ki from their Ki Pool as a swift action, a Warforged Ninja can grant all shuriken loaded into their launcher an enhancement bonus equal to the amount of Ki spent. This enhancement lasts a number of hours equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts class ability, or until the launcher is reloaded.

With a 12 or more ranks in Slight of Hand, and if the Warforged is otherwise unarmed, the target is denied their dexterity bonus for the first shuriken launched at it in any given round.


Shadow Oil Finish: A Warforged Ninja can expend 1 point from their Ki pool to saturate their metallic body with a conjured oil made of shadows for 24 hours. All their metal parts lose any polish and luster and become matte black. They also gain an insight bonus to both Hide and Move Silent checks equal to 1 + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts class ability. This also grants the benefit of the Darkstalker feat when active.

Special: While under this effect as well as benefitting from partial concealment from any source, their miss chance increases from 20% to 30% and when benefitting from full concealment from any source, the miss chance changes from 50% to 75%.





Ninja Feats


Expanded Ki Pool
[General]
Your reserve of Ki is more robust than is usual for one of your skill level.
Prerequisites: Ninja Ki Pool.
Benefit: When taking this feat, add 3 to your total daily ki pool.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times, and its effects stack.



Extra Ninjitsu
[General]
Your arsenal of Ninjitsu becomes even more varied.
Prerequisites: Ability to use Adept Ninjitsu.
Benefit: You learn one additional Ninjitsu from the list available to you, choosing an Ninjitsu of one grade lower than the highest grade of Ninjitsu you know. For example, a 6th level Ninja could learn a Novice Ninjitsu, while a 16th-level Ninja could learn any Novice, Adept, or Expert Ninjitsu.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time, you gain an extra Ninjitsu of any grade (Novice, Adept, or Expert) up to one lower than the highest grade of Ninjitsu you can currently use.



Ninja Focus
[General]
By focusing your mind on your weapon training and investing your Ki, your attacks increase in focus for a limited time.
Prerequisites: A Ninja Ki Pool or 2 or more.
Benefit: By expending 2 points of Ki, you temporarily gain a +1 insight bonus to attack rolls with all weapons for which the Ninja class grants proficiencies for. This effect lasts a number of minutes equal to 1 + the numerical value of your Ninja Arts class ability.
Special: This benefit stacks with both Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus.



Practiced Ninja
[General]
You keep up your ninja training, even when learning other disciplines.
Prerequisites: Ninja Arts +1
Benefit: Your Ninja level when calculating your Ninja Arts and Ki Pool class abilities is treated as 4 levels higher. This benefit can't increase your Ninja level to higher than your Hit Dice. However, even if you can't benefit from the full bonus immediately, if you later gain Hit Dice in levels of other classes, you might be able to apply the rest of the bonus. For example, a human 7th-level Ninja/3rd-level Fighter who selects this feat would increase his Ninja Arty bonus from +2 to +3 and Their Ki Pool from 7+WidMod to 10+WisMod (since they have 10 Hit Dice). If they later gained a fighter level, he would gain the remainder of the bonus and his sorcerer Ninja level would become 11 and their KI Pool would increase to 11+WisMod (since they now has 11 Hit Dice) and could continue to progress his Ninja class levels without losing any progression of their Ninja Arts or Key Pool abilities.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times, and its effects stack.



Shadow Caltrops
[General]
You concentrate and spread your palm open, as if you were throwing jacks. Motes of shadow spring from your palm, filling the corridor with small four-pronged spikes that fade from view as they touch the ground.
Prerequisites: Ninja Ki Pool, Ninja Arts +1
Benefit: Upon taking this feat, you can expend ki from your ki pool to spread caltrops over a small area. The number of ki points you can use to activate this ability is equal to your Ninja Arts numerical value.

This ability covers adjacent 5-foot-by-5-foot squares with caltrops equal to the amount of points of Ki used to activate it. Every time a creature moves into an area covered by caltrops or spends a round fighting while standing in such an area, it might step on one. The caltrops make one attack roll (with a melee attack bonus equal to 5 + the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability) against the creature. For this attack, the target's shield and deflection bonuses do not count, nor does its armor bonus for armor worn. A target wearing shoes or other footwear gains a +2 armor bonus to Armor Class (which does count). If the caltrops succeed on the attack, the creature has stepped on one.

A successful attack by a shadow caltrop deals damage equal to the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability, and its land speed is reduced by one half (rounded to the nearest increment of 5') because of the injury. This movement penalty lasts for 24 hours, until the creature is successfully treated with a Heal Check with a DC of 15 + the numerical value of your Ninja Arts ability or until it receives at least 1 point of magical healing. Creatures of Large size only take half the numerical damage, rounded down, and Tiny or smaller creatures take double the amount instead - in both cases, the movement penalty is the same. A charging or running creature must immediately stop if it steps on a shadow caltrop.

The DM judges the effectiveness of caltrops against unusual opponents or opponents that are Huge or larger. A giant centipede, for example, may be able to scuttle among the caltrops with no chance of hurting itself due to having so many legs it can shift its weight instantly to other limbs, and a Cloud Giant wearing thick, massive boots might be immune to such tiny attacks altogether
Special: This requires a move action to activate, but can be reduced to a swift action if you pay double the original Ki cost. This ability cannot be used in brightly lit areas (the ki is still used up if you attempt it, however), and the effects are dispelled by a Daylight or similar spell or effect.

[Thunder999]

Dispelling Strike - When making a successful Sneak Attack, the Ninja can sacrifice the extra Sneak Attack damage dice and instead imbue their successful strike with a dispelling effect (as the Greater Dispel Magic spell). The Dispelling DC is 10 + 1/2 their Ninja level + the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.

This doesn't really make any sense since there's no save for Dispel, just a CL check.
I'd make it a normal Dispel Check using Ninja level as the caster level.

[Biscuit]

This doesn't really make any sense since there's no save for Dispel, just a CL check.
I'd make it a normal Dispel Check using Ninja level as the caster level.

I have updated that Ninjutu as follows:

Dispelling Strike - When making a successful Sneak Attack, the Ninja can sacrifice the extra Sneak Attack damage dice and instead imbue their successful strike with a dispelling effect (as the Greater Dispel Magic spell). The Ninja makes a dispel check (1d20+10) against each ongoing spell or spell-effect currently affecting the creature. Successfully dispelled spell effects granted by continuous-effect magic items are instead suppressed for a number of rounds equal to the numerical value of their Ninja Arts.

Thank you for the feedback!

[Biscuit]

I added more minor functionality to the Planar Ninja Alternate Class Feature to be more thematic.
I have added Epic Progressions to some of the Alternate Class Features that replaced class features that extend to Epic levels.
I corrected some level requirements for alternate Class Features that were pointed out to me (Armored Ninja and Shadow Skirmisher were listed at 3rd level, but now properly start at 2nd)
I added 1 more Discipline & Technique Ninjutsu at each level to add more variety.
I modified the all the existing Tricks so that while you can use the base forms, you can now invest Ki to enhance their effects, giving more uses for Ki points so someone who takes all Disciplines and Tricks instead of Techniques would still have a use for them.
I cleaned up the wording of the Bonus Feats Alternative Class Feature and changed it so Ninjas that adopt that feature count as Fighters for Fighter Bonus Feat prerequisites.
Expanded the Practiced Ninja feat to include Ki Pool Progression as well as Ninja Arts.