There was also info about them in Best of the Dragon Mag I or II, IIRC. We took that info and modified it for out highly moded AD&D game in the mid 80's.
You remember correctly! The authors of the handbook reference Dragon Magazine:
Ninja have been here before, in the pages of DRAGON Magazine and theOriental Adventures supplement.
Responding to the thread in general now, I should've added earlier that the developers of The Complete Ninja's Handbook say, quote,
What is a ninja? Everywhere you turn, you find a different definition, especially in the movies. Is the ninja a cruel supernatural assassin with godlike powe rs of invisibility, illusion, and teleportation? A modern, feeling Oriental man with family, job responsibilities, and an interesting double life? A stone-faced westerner who miraculously inherits the duties of an ancient ninja clan tradition when his adopted brother is slain? A martial arts practitioner celebrating hundreds of years of unbroken tradition?
While this discussion is a great thought exercise, Rule Zero applies in practical applications of what is and is not a ninja in D&D terms. Quote the handbook one last time for this reply,
The key word here is "optional." No DM is required to introduce any of these rules into his campaign simply because they're in print. Likewise, any DM should feel perfectly at ease plundering these guidelines for rules and options he likes, whether or not he introduces ninja characters into the campaign. Ultimately, the DM, not this rulebook, is the final authority on what appears in the campaign.
Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
Do you want to play a historically accurate ninja or a video game/anime ninja? Because the two are very different.
A historically accurate "ninja" would actually be called a shinobi, and "ninja" is almost certainly an ahistorical mispronunciation of the kanji. A historically accurate shinobi would be a subclass of fighter or ranger. They were largely samurai trained in special sets of skills, mostly scouting and leading troops through terrain. Spying and sabotage would be done, but mostly shinobi were scouts that could lead and support a team in the wilderness. They would pretty much never perform assassinations. They would likely wear medium to heavy armor. In direct combat they would fight exactly like conventional samurai, so they would be a fighter. They would only be "agile" in the sense of being able to travel through the wilderness more swiftly than a conventional army.
Great information. I think most video game ninja completely ignore this, and focus on stealthy killing. Both are fun though. You could be a historical ninja who does "spy-like" missions but more for gathering intel OR you could be a fancy assasin who gets paid per kill. (which is basically a mercenary)
Do you want to play a historically accurate ninja or a video game/anime ninja? Because the two are very different.
A historically accurate "ninja" would actually be called a shinobi, and "ninja" is almost certainly an ahistorical mispronunciation of the kanji. A historically accurate shinobi would be a subclass of fighter or ranger. They were largely samurai trained in special sets of skills, mostly scouting and leading troops through terrain. Spying and sabotage would be done, but mostly shinobi were scouts that could lead and support a team in the wilderness. They would pretty much never perform assassinations. They would likely wear medium to heavy armor. In direct combat they would fight exactly like conventional samurai, so they would be a fighter. They would only be "agile" in the sense of being able to travel through the wilderness more swiftly than a conventional army.
Great information. I think most video game ninja completely ignore this, and focus on stealthy killing. Both are fun though. You could be a historical ninja who does "spy-like" missions but more for gathering intel OR you could be a fancy assasin who gets paid per kill. (which is basically a mercenary)
I find the whole history of ninja to be fascinating. I would assume other places would perduce their own versions of ninjas. The colonial Rangers come to mind.
You remember correctly! The authors of the handbook reference Dragon Magazine:
Responding to the thread in general now, I should've added earlier that the developers of The Complete Ninja's Handbook say, quote,
While this discussion is a great thought exercise, Rule Zero applies in practical applications of what is and is not a ninja in D&D terms. Quote the handbook one last time for this reply,
Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
- The Assemblage of Houses, World of Warcraft
Great information. I think most video game ninja completely ignore this, and focus on stealthy killing. Both are fun though. You could be a historical ninja who does "spy-like" missions but more for gathering intel OR you could be a fancy assasin who gets paid per kill. (which is basically a mercenary)
I find the whole history of ninja to be fascinating. I would assume other places would perduce their own versions of ninjas. The colonial Rangers come to mind.
Outside the Lines Fantasy – A collection of self published fiction stories.