Help Me Make a Ninja!

[Gundam]

So, as it stands, I really want to make a ninja for my upcoming campaign, because I just love their history, arts, etc.

So, I used the 3.5e upgraded version form Dandwiki, and so far I like it, but there wasn't really anything that made me stand out apart from a rogue, which was kind of disappointing.

I am making this for a 3.5e/Pathfinder mix campaign, and we are currently lvl 7!

Anything can help

Maybe suggest a new stealth class that really gets into that aspect? Or maybe a prestige class that I can go into? Feats, etc!

I need all the help I can get

 

[Rakusia]

have you looked at the home brew shinobi?

 

[Gundam]

Hmmm, no, I have not, may I ask for a link ?

 

[Rakusia]

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Shinobi_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)
Naruto ANBU Black Ops Agent - D&D Wiki
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Naruto_Shinbi_Sanin_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Shinobi_no_Mono_(3.5e_Class)
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ninja,_Variant2_(3.5e_Class)
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ninja_of_Gax_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ninja_of_the_Hidden_Waters_(3.5e_Class)
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Ninja,_Variant_(3.5e_Class)

 

[Dandu]

Swordsage

 

[Malachei]

I second the Swordsage as the far better Ninja.

Here's a Handbook, unfortunately, important parts are unfinished and it seems it has been left behind.

Then there's Tome of Battle for Dummies, which has a good Swordsage section and covers the fun of multiclassing martial adepts.

 

[Empirate]

Standing out from 'normal' Rogues is not necessarily what you should try to accomplish here. Rogue is a very generic class with almost no flavor you don't add yourself. I'm not seeing a problem with playing a single-class Rogue and give it ninja flavor.

Classes are not - or should not be - thematic. Instead, they're a part of the mechanical side of the game. Some classes come with more flavor attached, but that only means you can do so much less with them. Take advantage of the 'generic' classes' roleplaying versatility:

You can play a straight Fighter as a swashbuckling pirate, a noble knight, a hard-bitten professional soldier, or a dirty pitfighter. You can play a Wizard as a mystic, a mad scientist with lots of strange gadgets, a bookish scholar, even as a frightened man possessed by demons. You can even play a Ranger as an outdoorsy hunter and trapper, a member of the army's elite Giantkiller Squad, Mowgli, or Robin Hood. Similarly, you can play a Rogue as a common street criminal, a bloodthirsty assassin, a romantic vigilante, or - a ninja.


EDIT: I'd second Swordsage from a purely mechanical standpoint, btw. They're very powerful. Also, you can attach any flavor you like, just as with plain core classes. Just wanted to make a point.

 

[TanisFrey]

If you are think of multiclassing at all, consider monk or fighter. There are feats from Complete Scoundrel that let you add monk or fighter level for certain class features of the ninja. They may be worth it if they add to you concept.

Ascetic Stalker combines ninja level with monk levels for unarmed damage and ki pool.
Martial Stalker combines ninja level with fighter level for Ki pool, Ac bonus and fighter feats you qualify for.

 

[Gundam]

Wow ok thanks everyone!

Also, on the "classes shouldnt be themed" thing though, isn't it kinda hard when a rogue does not have things like a ki pool, access to exotic weapons (katana, naginata, etc.)?

I'm KIND OF disagreeing with that statement, to an EXTENT. Being that churning the pot of a base class into something you ACTUALLY want will only get you so far IMO.

Swordsage sounds ridiculously powerful!

Although then again it sounds to "Prince of Persia" of you get my meaning?
I do not want to necessarily be racking up the most damage, but I wanted to show more of a presence, which is what I think this complete scoundrel book sounds like, thank you Tanis!

Although I do have a question about it?
For the classes you mentioned, is it because of the ki pool that I can combine them or does it specifically?

 

[Empirate]

On the damage thing: usually, a sneaky character's damage output relies on precision damage (sneak attack, sudden strike etc.). You rack up lots of d6es by fighting with two weapons. This nearly always runs contrary to the idea of a light skirmisher, in that you must stand still to deliver full attacks. Obviously, the Scout does this a little better, but skirmish damage output isn't that great, only half that of sneak attack/level.

Swordsage solves this dilemma in an elegant way: you can move and still deliver all your most powerful strikes to deal damage comparable to a sneak attacker. Moreover, your boosts and stances, as well as some strikes, allow you to render a target flat-footed or yourself invisible etc., and you'll always have some nice single-use tricks up your sleeve. Setting Sun even allows good battlefield control, while Diamond Mind takes care of a Rogue's weakest area: saves.

All in all, I wouldn't call the Swordsage that much more powerful than an equally optimized Rogue. What I would call him instead is much more versatile. Swordsage is pretty much the best class you can get for a light skirmishing warrior/assassin type.


Concerning classes and themes: sure, ninjas probably need to be proficient in exotic weapons. But a ki pool? That's more mechanics, and nothing about the Ninja class's ki pool (except for its name) cries "ninja" to me.