Half-Orc Cleric/Assassin. Possible builds?

[Herobizkit]

The talk about the favorite concepts from 1e got me wondering... what might a 4e Half-Orc Cleric/Assassin look like?

I expect the Avenger/Assassin would make more sense, but as I do not have access to any 4e material at present, I put it to the thread. Thoughts?

 

[pemerton]

I haven't seen the 4e assassin in action, but a PC in the game I GM is an elf hybrid DEX-ranger/WIS-cleric. His main offence is Twin Strike. Most of his encounter attacks are ranger immediate actions (to make sure he gets of quarry damage even when using a cleric standard action). He uses some cleric AoE attacks (the minimum number he has to take as a hybrid) to get a bit of versatility. And most of his utilities are clerical heals.

A build something like this could give you the flavour of a cleric/assassin even if it said "ranger" on the tin - and I imagine you could even use STR-cleric/STR-ranger to get a melee feel if you wanted.

And I'm sure something similar to the build I've described could be replicated as a hybrid cleric/rogue or cleric/assassin.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In 4Ed, I'd maybe go WarPriest or Invoker instead of Cleric. Avenger could work either as a stand-in for Cleric OR Assassin.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Here's my first go-around using hybrids and focusing on the flavor of the thing. Poisons and surprise attacks and a "martial assassin" to get it close to what it felt like to be a 1e assassin.

It can be a surprisingly effective build, I think. While there's nearly ZERO ability score synergy, clerics are pretty flexible and take pretty well to a melee build. Fear powers provide some rich thematic options in both classes, and since Heroes of Shadow, death priests are pretty well supported.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Tomph, level 1
Half-Orc, Assassin (Executioner)/Cleric
Guild Attacks (Hybrid) Option: Red Scales (Hybrid)
Hybrid Assassin (Executioner) Option: Hybrid Executioner Fortitude
Hybrid Cleric Option: Healer's Lore
Occupation - Criminal (+2 to Stealth)
Theme: Outlaw

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 14, CON 11, DEX 16, INT 8, WIS 16, CHA 14

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 11, DEX 14, INT 8, WIS 16, CHA 14


AC: 15 Fort: 13 Ref: 13 Will: 14
HP: 23 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 5

TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate +9, Perception +8, Stealth +10

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +3, Arcana –1, Athletics +2, Bluff +2, Diplomacy +2, Dungeoneering +3, Endurance +2, Heal +3, History –1, Insight +3, Nature +3, Religion –1, Streetwise +2, Thievery +3

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Outlaw Attack: Surprise Strike
Half-Orc Racial Power: Furious Assault
Assassin Attack: Poisoned Dagger
Assassin Attack: Quick Lunge
Cleric Utility: Healing Word
: Swap Daily For Poison Recipe
Cleric Attack 1: Fell Strike
Cleric Attack 1: Inevitable Doom

FEATS
Level 1: Venom Hand Master

ITEMS
Greenblood Oil
Leather Armor x1
Adventurer's Kit
Holy Symbol x1
Morningstar x1
====== End ======

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'd take the multiclass feat for Warlock to get some of those abilities on board.

 

[Obryn]

Isn't an Avenger basically a Cleric/Assassin already, kinda?

-O

 

[Manbearcat]

I'd take the multiclass feat for Warlock to get some of those abilities on board.

The above is a good route (with Divine re-skin).

Depending on how you wanted to mechanically and thematically play it, I would go one of 5 routes:

- Straight Avenger.
- Executioner Assassin/Blackguard Hybrid with Hybrid Talent; Paladin Armor Proficiency.
- Blackguard + Executioner Assassin multiclass and poach feats/powers from Assassin here and there.
- Executioner Assassin/Warlock Gloom Pact (Hexblade) Hybrid re-skinned as Divine (rather than Arcane) with a patron of Raven Queen or another Shadow/Murder/Death God.
- Avenger + Executioner Assassin multiclass and poach feats/powers from Assassin here and there.

 

[Manbearcat]

Isn't an Avenger basically a Cleric/Assassin already, kinda?

-O

Take out the kinda and you're there

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

The talk about the favorite concepts from 1e got me wondering... what might a 4e Half-Orc Cleric/Assassin look like?

What was your favorite part about being a cleric? (Did they have a Trickery sphere, or something?)

I think the closest thing is an avenger. They prioritize Wisdom and have Dex secondary - or at least one of the builds has Dex secondary. If you took the multiclass feats, you could do a little healing, or other stuff, from being a cleric. (That's why I wanted to know what part of the cleric you wanted.)

Alternatively, you might want to be a rogue (Strength secondary build). If you only want the clerical healing, you only need a Wisdom score of 13 to get Healing Word 1/day as a multiclass cleric. (That gives you Religion for free, opening you up for Ritual Caster.)

Just my personal opinion, but I avoid hybrid rules like the plague.

 

[Sunseeker]

Isn't an Avenger basically a Cleric/Assassin already, kinda?

-O

That's what I was thinking. About the only non-typical Assassin feature is the desire for a huge weapon instead of a small sword or dagger.

Personally, if you're looking for playing a holy-type who sneaks and then stabs things, I'd go straight Avenger. But then, I totally love the Avenger class.