Building a competent OAssassin

[Rechan]

I've heard a lot about how the OAssassin can't compete as a strong striker. And after looking at the class I'm worried too.

And yet I want to play one. So I can I get some help building an OAssassin that will not fail at the striker duties?

It's a game that goes from 6th level to 10th (so no worry about PPs etc). I am leaning more towards playing a Revenant or Half-Orc (but can go Changeling). I like the former two races, and the Bleak Disciple looks like it can survive longer (another risk of the Assassin) - but the other can do more damage. Choices choices.

Since I don't know if we'll be doing themes or anything, I don't want to worory about the frills right now.

 

[Neonchameleon]

How does your DM play? Because the core assassin duty is that of a mobile striker - beating up and upsetting behind the lines artillery and lurkers (see: Monk, Avenger). Face a brute or soldier head on, and you'd better hope you have a good defender (a Paladin won't cut it). From memory you can use a fullblade - but you need a decent basic attack somehow to prevent the archer walking off and shooting you full of holes.

But what do you like about the oAssassin anyway?

 

[keterys]

Just something quick... haven't picked items or anything:

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 6
Revenant, Assassin
Guild Training Option: Night Stalker
Choose your Race in Life: Drow

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 13, DEX 20, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 18

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 13, DEX 17, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 15


AC: 18 Fort: 15 Ref: 18 Will: 18
HP: 43 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 10

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +13, Athletics +8, Bluff +12, Stealth +13, Thievery +13

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +3, Diplomacy +7, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +6, Heal +2, History +3, Insight +2, Intimidate +9, Nature +2, Perception +2, Religion +3, Streetwise +7

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Revenant Utility: Dark Reaping
Assassin Feature: Assassin's Shroud
Assassin Utility: Black Flame Form
Assassin Feature: Shadow Step
Assassin Attack 1: Leaping Shade
Assassin Attack 1: Executioner's Noose
Assassin Attack 1: Shadow Darts
Assassin Attack 1: Targeted for Death
Assassin Utility 2: Converging Shadows
Assassin Attack 3: Inescapable Shadow
Assassin Attack 5: Twilight Assassin
Assassin Utility 6: Vanish

FEATS
Level 1: Shadow Reservoir
Level 2: Cruel Shroud
Level 4: Killer's Insight
Level 6: Lethal Shroud

ITEMS
====== End ======

Ossassin is terribly feat starved. Ki Focus Expertise and the feat to make shrouds move after you kill someone both desirable, as is the free shroud when you reap. Choose what you will.

Standard encounter start:
Pick a target on its own.
Minor - Black Flame Form
Free - Shroud (x2 due to feat)
Shadow Darts, use shrouds

~6d8 + 8, with a 15% chance to crit (3 opportunities) and combat advantage.

Nova would be something like...
Targeted for Death, then above for
9d8 + 21

Pretty solid start, all told. Things get less awesome from there. It helps if you're just comparing to usual rogue stuff (say 3d8 + 13) and not a charge-kit striker.

Getting the +Cha damage for getting a target alone is definitely necessary. I'm guessing better off with 1d6 shrouds instead of 1d8s, in exchange for getting one of the other feats. Or something. Dunno.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Honestly, one feat well worth getting for an oAssassin is Weapon Proficiency: Fullblade. And Shadow Resevoir doesn't stand up to Ki Focus Expertise.

Black Flame Form I think beats Shade Form comfortably (a free shroud! Wheee!)

 

[Rechan]

How does your DM play?

No clue. It's an online DM on Maptools who is recruiting for Madness at Gardmore Abby.

I like the class for various reasons. It feels like a "Ninja" or other magic wuxia class (or a magical rogue, if you will). I like the Shroud mechanic and how it can have a nice burst/spike, how the power "builds" over several rounds. I like the mood of the powers and overall flavor of the class.

Edit: Found all the powers/feats Keterys suggested. None of them really get me. Maybe Inescapable Shroud. Lethal Shroud isn't bad if there was a free feat - I feel more a fan of Brutal Shroud but. I think Inescapable should be free a class feature of the Assassin's; Oh well.

I make a point to never get Expertise feats, and I'm not too interested in finding the best weapon. I don't need the Best CharOps can Offer, just competent.

 

[keterys]

It should perhaps be noted that I don't particularly love _any_ of the assassin powers, so I was more just... making the best of a bad selection. Feat-wise I just selected the first few I liked and listed the remaining couple. With someone who does, say, 1d8 + 11 damage, +1 attack vs +2 damage, though? Eh. It's sad if fullblades are the way to go for assassin damage, cause that's clearly off goal.

You can always be an Executioner or Rogue or Thief. Or go hybrid. I think it'll land with a lot more solid of a character. If you like shrouds, you can even do a shroud-based executioner or hybrid.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

One of the players in our Dark Sun game started out as an Oassassin, and was reasonably effective.

He then, at a rebuild point, hybridized into a ranger||assassin, and works very nicely now.

Brad

 

[Rechan]

No thanks; I always play rogues, and have little interest in the Executioner or Thief.

As far as Feats go, I think...

Brutal Shroud
Lethal Shroud
Grave Dust Assassin
Grave Dust Advantage
Inexorable Shroud
Killer Instinct

It's just a matter of what level I take which, really.

Shame the class is a little feat starved; I'd have enjoyed going with a Past Soul or some of the Revenant feats. Or damage adder feat.

 

[Vael]

If you want to get a Fullblade, I think a Revenant with the Past Life of Githzerai is your best bet. Then you can get Githzerai Blade Master, which will package proficiency with a better weapon focus.