Upgrading the Ninja

[Hunter Noventa]

So today I've been mucking about with character concepts and I took a look at the ninja class. It's a decidedly mediocre class, and while there are some interesting abiltities, they are severely limited in their uses per day. At 20th level, assuming an above average wisdom (16), and no wisdom boosting abilities, they can use thier Ki abilities a mere 13 times in a day, compare that to the versatility of almost any other class, and the Ninja falls far short. The ninja relies on ghost step to deal effective damage. Without Ki, they're just a weaker monk.

Here is my idea to make the ninja more effective, drawn from the martial adepts and how they use manuvers-

First, make the Ki pool rechargable. A concentration check as a full round action restores a modest amount of Ki, somewhere in the realm of 1d4 Ki.

Second, make the Ki recharge completely 1 minute after the end of an encounter. This is similar to the martial adepts without making Ki totally unlimited.

Third, to compensate for this, the only Ki ability that has an extended duration, Ghost walk, reduces the maximum Ki pool by 1 for the rest of the day when used, and costs two uses on top of that.


I think this rebalances the ninja to be more in line with the power level of most other classes, and gives them the ability to actually be useful for more than one or two combats in a day. What do you all think?

[Tokiko Mima]

Why not just switch Ki to be on a 'per encounter' basis instead of 'per day?' A lot of people have suggested this for other per day reuse abilities, like Smite Evil. It seems like that's where you're going with your second change anyway.

[Hunter Noventa]

That's sort of what I meant. I was basically thinking of how martial adepts can recover manuvers in combat if need be, so that ninjas should too.

But i suppose removing the one minute thing wouldn't change anything.

[Fenria]

I agree, the one minute addition does very little. What DM is going to have their Tome of Battle players finish a battle, then throw them into another one 56 seconds later. Personally, I think the one-minute rule is mundane and un-needed. It would be far better to go per combat on this one.

I do like the ideas though, having the Concentraition check to restore Ki would give the Ninja more usefulness, while keeping it at 1d4 keeps them from being overpowered. I like it.

[Aristrofl]

I just posted another version of the ninja. Tell me if you like it!

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41169

[Proven_Paradox]

There are about six million different versions of the ninja somewhere. I've got one too, in my signature. Your ideas would work as well, though. If mine falls flat when I get to playtest it, I would probably do something similar to yours.

One thing about your analysis, though... A 20th level ninja with 16 wisdom has done something very, VERY wrong. If I were playing a CAdv. Ninja, wisdom would be the first score I buff up. With no armor, you're hurting for AC, and wisdom does that and more for the Ninja.

[Matthew]

I would like to see less specialisation and more 'Ninja Bonus Feats', I think.

[knightsaline]

there seemed to be some ninja only feats in dragon 351 that allows you to do some cool stuff with ki. to not breach the OGL, ill make it general descriptions.
one allows you to use one stat rather than the other for search and disable, another allows you to heal yourself, another allows you to make a smite attack and another allows you to gain certain feats for 1 round.

if you wanted a historical ninja, substitute perform and profession for craft. add a listening tube, disguise kit and some other stuff and you have a historical ninja.

[Goff]

Personally I think that this makes for a pretty good take on the ninja...

[knightsaline]

Good one Goff, you could make a non ki ninja using that class, just don't put ranks into diplomacy and other "social" skills.

[XtheYeti]

anytime anyone wants to make the ninja better i am all for it and this did a pretty good job, props

[MethodicalMeat]

Pretty good ideas, I might try them out next character I make.