Dragon 379: Assassin Heroic Tier

[Shazman]

Looking at the PHB1, not all classes got paragon tier feats, and only one class (Wizard) gets epic level feats. So, the assassin articles basically give us an assassin on-par with what the PHB1 provided, with the notable exception of ki focuses.

The lack of ki focus enhancements sucks, but it can be circumvented by allowing a ki focus to be enhanced with any weapon enhancement as Mike Mearls suggested.

Well, every single class to date has a multi-class feat associated with it, except for the assassin. Not only do we get to pay for most of the class now, and the rest of it later, but we get to wait a month longer than usual for it to be added to the character builder. Let's face it. We are being taken. If they aren't giving up a whole class when they say they will, they are effectively doubling the price of the class. I say forget the assassin and all other "exclusive" DDI content.

 

[Riley]

Let's face it. We are being taken.

Yes, but they're taking us to such a very beautiful place. I like the Assassin better than any of the other classes they've introduced since PHB1. It really shows off the potential for creating truly unique classes in 4e.

If it takes another month, it'll be worth an extra $5 to get the details right.

 

[SkidAce]

Because each type of object can be enchanted only with certain types of enchantments.

And in my case, I complain about it because I play in the RPGA where the rule is that if it isn't in the books it isn't allowed. Which means, you can't use any type of workaround for months. You CAN'T use Ki Focuses.

I see your point now. Thank you.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

If they'd never mentioned Ki-Foci anywhere in the class description it would be '100% playable' and noone could complain it was 'incomplete'. I.e. by providing less, they'd fullfilled your criteria of 'completeness'.

But the reason they didn't exclude that from the class is because it is a significant part of the class. There are two builds of the class: The weapon using build who uses mostly melee attacks and the implement using build who uses ranged attacks through his Ki Focus. Optionally, the second build can use a weapon as an implement. But the way it reads to me is that the class was build along those two lines. And despite being able to play both halves of the class with weapons, it feels incomplete.

 

[Shazman]

The lack of ki focus is troubling and is incomplete, but at least you can play an assassin that just uses weapons, even magic weapons. Try to play a rogue that multiclasses into assassin. You can't. Want to play a ranger with the obsidian stalker PP? Too bad. You have to subscribe for several more months for that, and you still may not get it, because I never read about Mearls saying anything about an assassin MC feat yet. Personally, I don't really like the direction they took with the assassin anyway. I would have preferred a less supernatural assassin with a ranged weapon sniper build and a more melee focused build. Keep the assassin shroud and give them lots of powers that do ongoing poison damage and you would have a decent class that is different enough from the rogue. I really don't like the shadowcaster/shadowdancer with a watered down version of death attack that they decided to go with.

 

[Rechan]

From this month's Ampersand article:

December follows right on the heels of that article with a follow-up to the release of the assassin, detailing new feats, powers, and ki focus items to expand the options for assassin characters

 

[Phaezen]

Been looking at the Channel Divinity: Raven Queen article, and the Raven Knight Epic Destiny is a nice fit for the assassin, bonuses to movement, teleport and the Dark Scythe Utility power are awesome.

 

[Phaezen]

Just a question for those who have tried the class out so far, did you also find it worthwhile to attack smaller monsters while building up the shrouds on an elite and then ganking the elite when you had built up 3 or 4?

 

[Shazman]

From this month's Ampersand article:

So we have to wait until maybe Feburary to have the rest of the assassin added to the character builder, and it still may be lacking the multiclass feat? Yep, I'm done with this "exclusive" DDI contnet. If they want to unneccessarily spread out one class over several months just to bilk their customers out of extra money, they can keep their "exclusisve" class.

 

[filthgrinder]

So we have to wait until maybe Feburary to have the rest of the assassin added to the character builder, and it still may be lacking the multiclass feat? Yep, I'm done with this "exclusive" DDI contnet. If they want to unneccessarily spread out one class over several months just to bilk their customers out of extra money, they can keep their "exclusisve" class.

Excellent! I assume you'll be done with bitching about it as well, since honestly, I'm tired of reading it. We GET IT, you are upset. Some people actually want to see some feedback about the class and hear about how it plays without see endless posts repeating the same points.

That is what I'm mostly interested in, hearing from people who have played it and what they think about it, how the class compares to others strikers.