The Assassin. Core Class or Prestige Class? Spell-Casting or Non-Spellcasting?

[Ahnehnois]

They're called Rogues.

Rogues don't get death attack do they? An assassin is similar to a rogue, and the core class would essentially be a variant rogue. An "assassin," however, shouldn't really have evasion or uncanny dodge (they're the ones snwaking up on you). A rogue is a passable assassin, but he's also a good scout, and they made a new core class for that.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Frankly I think that to be an effective assassin in the D&D world, you have to have magic to be at all competitive. You have to have counters to all those spells that can detect you and you have to have a disguise spell to fit in with the wierd races about. To be perfectly honest, I don't think the assassin spell list goes far enough - it needs more counters to obvious wizard tactics.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Rogues don't get death attack do they?

8d6 (4th-level rogue, rapid shot with a shortbow) damage looks an an awful lot like a death attack to the majority of the world.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I'd say Poison Use would be a good feat, if it had some appropriate prereqs-- I favor 4 ranks of Craft (alchemy).

As for Death Attack, I think Sneak Attack covers that adequately-- and with a lower Massive Damage Threshold variant, it's perfect.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I'd say Poison Use would be a good feat, if it had some appropriate prereqs-- I favor 4 ranks of Craft (alchemy).

I'd say, Craft (poisonmaking)