D&D 5E Split the Assassin from the Rogue back into its own class

[CleverNickName]

The difference between an assassin and a serial killer: paychecks.
The difference between an assassin and a soldier: politics.
The difference between an assassin and a hero: public opinion.
The difference between an assassin and a rogue: ... I honestly have no idea.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

The difference between an assassin and a serial killer: paychecks.
The difference between an assassin and a soldier: politics.
The difference between an assassin and a hero: public opinion.
The difference between an assassin and a rogue: ... I honestly have no idea.

In truth, when you look it that way, assassin would be better as Background.

Assassin

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Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner's kit, disguise kit

Equipment A vial of basic poison, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Feature: Infiltrator

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You can unfailingly create false identities for yourself. You must spend seven days and 25 gp to establish the history, profession, and affiliations for an identity. You can't establish an identity that belongs to someone else. For example, you might acquire appropriate clothing, letters of introduction, and official-looking certification to establish yourself as a member of a trading house from a remote city so you can insinuate yourself into the company of other wealthy merchants.

Thereafter, if you adopt the new identity as a disguise, other creatures believe you to be that person until given an obvious reason not to.

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So with that, a Trickery Cleric, a Illusionist, a Thief, a Berserker or whatever could be assassins.

 

[CleverNickName]

In truth, when you look it that way, assassin would be better as Background.

And with a single sentence, @vincegetorix assassinated the whole thread.

The Assassin Background is perfection. I'm adding it to my house rules immediately.

 

[DND_Reborn]

And with a single sentence, @vincegetorix assassinated the whole thread.

The Assassin Background is perfection. I'm adding it to my house rules immediately.

Seconded!

I'll still have the subclass, but this is a nice background as well.

 

[Minigiant]

There is no room for non-combat classes in 5e. If you had two rogue classes, one that was good at killing things and one that was not good at killing things no one would play the bad-at-killing-things class. You might as well delete it from the game.

I ddn't say the Rogue is not combat or that any class doesn't fight.

My point iss that the 5e Rogue is a chicken. It isn't designed to be a warrior. It's main attack only triggers with advantage or a "flanker". Only one of its subclasss can fight straight up and it has literally be in a one on one duel to do it. The class stabs people in the back then runs away like a punk.

The Assassin isn't the best warrior. Nor a true warrior. But it can hold it's own. It doesn't poop ts pants once the guards pounce. It puts a Black Widow, James Bond, or Batman and whoops butt. It can flank with the Barbarian and not be scared if the Skeleton Knight targets him with 3 necrotic longsword attacks. Sure, it can keep it up for a few rounds but the Assassin didn't bolt like a yellowbelly coward.

 

[LoganRan]

Assassin should never have been a class in the first place (shakes fist at EGG). A character whose entire premise is killing for pay should only be an NPC. Why would such a character ever go on adventures whose primary purpose wasn't to assassinate a specific individual?

(That last point also applies to Druids IMO. Druids have no business going on 'adventures' other than those which are specifically about dealing with threats to Nature or 'The Balance'.)

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

And with a single sentence, @vincegetorix assassinated the whole thread.

The Assassin Background is perfection. I'm adding it to my house rules immediately.

I've always felt that background where a design space left half-forgotten in the PHB.
You can really customize base classes to add them a little je ne sais quoi that reminds you of you favorite things.

Warlord

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Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set

Languages: One of your choice

Equipment: A dagger that belonged to a fallen comrade, a folded flag emblazoned with the symbol of your company, a set of traveler's clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp

Feature: Strategist

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You are used to being in charge of military operations and your reputation for reliability has you on a short list when the job is critical. Experience has taught you to rely on your gut. Others recognize this and look to you for direction when a situation gets serious. You are able to identify the most defensible locations for camping or when picking a battlefield. If you are part of a military outfit or a warband, you are able to attract two additional soldier that are loyal to you based on your reputation. You have an excellent memory for maps and geography and can always determine your cardinal directions while traveling.

 

[Parmandur]

No (other).
I would prefer only four classes: Warrior, Mage, Priest, and Sneak. Everything else (including Assassin and Monk) should be subclasses of those four.

Yeah, I don't feel the need for any more Classes, and fewer would be preferable if a change is desired.

 

[Parmandur]

I didn't even realize Assassin wasn't still its own class in 5e. It certainly should be, and is also the class that can fill the role of part-Fighter part-Thief/Rogue for those as want such.

Well, it's a Subclass still.

 

[Minigiant]

Yeah, I don't feel the need for any more Classes, and fewer would be preferable if a change is desired.

I want more classes.

If it were up to me I'd split the Rogue at least 3 ways.

Assassin
Thief
Scholar

But I am a lot more creative in mechanical design than the average D&D fan. Even more than many hardcore fans. So I doubt my true preferences would ever catch one. That's whyI'm only gauging the one that existed first.