Here's a build I'm interested in trying and I'd like to hear what others have found is a good build for an ideal assassin. If you want to post a lvl 1 or lvl 20 build, or somewhere in between, feel free.
Lvl 11/6 split as a Mystic/Monk (Soul Knife/Shadow Monk). So Shadow monks can teleport and cast basic illusions, but it is largely limited to night-time operations. The Mystics can augment this using Mastery of Light and Dark to cast a psionic Darkness in the area. Yes, you are effectively blinded, but with the lvl 11 Mystic, you gain access to Psi Points each day that can activate multiple Concentration disciplines at once. Therefore, drop a Darkness cloud, then activate Third Eye which allows for Truesight. You now have blinded enemies in a 30' radius and the ability to teleport for free wherever you want across 60' every turn. Combine that with various physically-augmenting disciplines, and you can become a psionic blender in the darkness.
The major downside to this build is action economy. The Shadow Monk's teleport takes a minor action, which is also used for many of the Mystic's abilities. You could swap out 1-3 levels of Mystic with either Fighter (Action Surge, Champ for 19-20 crits, EK for spells, BM for Maneuvers) or Rogue (Sneak Attacks, Expertise, Assassin or Arcane Trickster).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Personally, I'd argue for just plain old Arcane Trickster. Hard to beat Misty Step and Improved Invisibility for stabbing people to death unawares. Mage Hand bonus action can be used to apply poison to the blade every round. Can be used interchangeably as a sniper or in melee, depending on the situation; most other sneaky builds have to focus on single style, but not the rogue. You could even go Eladrin and come with racial misty step. Expertise in stealth means that you can hide from even creatures with True Sight or Blind vision, etc, while Expertise in Deception means you can pull off a disguise well to infiltrate places.
If you are going for shadow monk, it's generally worth a dip into warlock to let you see through magic darkness. Can also be done with shadow sorcerer, though requires 3 levels rather than 2.
Here's a build I'm interested in trying and I'd like to hear what others have found is a good build for an ideal assassin. If you want to post a lvl 1 or lvl 20 build, or somewhere in between, feel free.
Lvl 11/6 split as a Mystic/Monk (Soul Knife/Shadow Monk). So Shadow monks can teleport and cast basic illusions, but it is largely limited to night-time operations. The Mystics can augment this using Mastery of Light and Dark to cast a psionic Darkness in the area. Yes, you are effectively blinded, but with the lvl 11 Mystic, you gain access to Psi Points each day that can activate multiple Concentration disciplines at once. Therefore, drop a Darkness cloud, then activate Third Eye which allows for Truesight. You now have blinded enemies in a 30' radius and the ability to teleport for free wherever you want across 60' every turn. Combine that with various physically-augmenting disciplines, and you can become a psionic blender in the darkness.
The major downside to this build is action economy. The Shadow Monk's teleport takes a minor action, which is also used for many of the Mystic's abilities. You could swap out 1-3 levels of Mystic with either Fighter (Action Surge, Champ for 19-20 crits, EK for spells, BM for Maneuvers) or Rogue (Sneak Attacks, Expertise, Assassin or Arcane Trickster).
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Personally, I'd argue for just plain old Arcane Trickster. Hard to beat Misty Step and Improved Invisibility for stabbing people to death unawares. Mage Hand bonus action can be used to apply poison to the blade every round. Can be used interchangeably as a sniper or in melee, depending on the situation; most other sneaky builds have to focus on single style, but not the rogue. You could even go Eladrin and come with racial misty step. Expertise in stealth means that you can hide from even creatures with True Sight or Blind vision, etc, while Expertise in Deception means you can pull off a disguise well to infiltrate places.
If you are going for shadow monk, it's generally worth a dip into warlock to let you see through magic darkness. Can also be done with shadow sorcerer, though requires 3 levels rather than 2.
Assassin11/Gloomstalker5/Battlemaster4 is my prefered route.
if allowed, Brute 15/Assassin5 is also good.
I've been building a Gunslinger 17/ Rogue 3 for a while now.
As a Mercer Gunslinger you get proficiency in initiative, and with alert + high dex. You get an Initiative bonus of +16.
16.
Assassinate can't come easily enough, especially when you consider Violent Shot.
"Roll for kink."
My homebrews - Naturalcrit