Hitmen of the Halfling Mafia

[Samnell]

I'm introducing a new PC into my PBEM, and her concept is that she got sort of dragooned into theiving and then when the local guild wanted to assassinate one of the triumvirate of leaders ruling her home city, they set her up as a patsy. But she escaped the trap where she got seen with the body and now she's on the run. The city wants their hands on her since she killed their leader, and the guild wants her dead before she can scrounge up allies or anything to exonerate her and put the blame squarely on their little shoulders.

To have her meet the party, I'm going to have them come to her aid when she's cornered by the hitsquad the guild sent after her. This leaves me with a dilemma. I don't want to just use six or eight identical goons and their slightly more exceptional leader. Plus I have eight second level PCs (well a couple are third) so I can't go too nuts.

Given these constraints, what would you put into the squad?

Obviously a halfling rogue of some kind, probably as the leader.

Some kind of tracker, by which I mean ranger and his companion.

Beyond that I'm stumped.

Here's the party for reference:
Daelric: aasimar paladin (Helm) 2
Kerick: Ghostwise Druid 2
Pablo: elf bard 2
Quip: gnome illusionist/cleric (Garl) 1/1
Rokto: derro rogue 2 (not present)
Rubigail: halfling cleric (Brandobaris)/rogue 1/1
Shanara: human monk 3 (Selune)
Darzenia: human rogue 2 (the quarry)

 

[Micar Sin]

Hmmm... Perhaps some sort of sniper type on overwatch from a nearby rooftop? Could be too lethal if the party doesn't react swiftly to neutralize him.... Halflings are a hard race to envision as legbreakers, really...

 

[Samnell]

Hmmm... Perhaps some sort of sniper type on overwatch from a nearby rooftop? Could be too lethal if the party doesn't react swiftly to neutralize him.... Halflings are a hard race to envision as legbreakers, really...

I like the sniper idea. I'm not thinking along the lines of traditional heavies, more of a well-trained group of strike to kill types. Like assassins, but something a low level party could survive.

 

[Creamsteak]

I've got a couple nasty characters that can be turned into halflings if you like. Plug. Backgrounds and their normal variants are covered in the link.

Re-worked as Halflings

Harlan Scarrald
Halfling War3/Fighter 1
Hit Dice: 3d8+2d10+10 (38 hp)
Initiative: +2 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 18 (+2 dex, +4 chain shirt, +2 Large Steel) Touch: 12 Flat-Footed: 16
Attacks: Masterwork shortsword +6 melee; or light flail +5 melee; or mighty (str 14) composite shortbow +6 ranged
Damage: Shortsword 1d6+2/19-20x2 slashing, light flail 1d8+3/x2 bludgeoning, composite longbow 1d8+3 piercing
Racial Traits: Halfling
Class Abilities: Simple and martial weapon proficiency, light, medium, and heavy armor and shield proficiencies
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 12
Feats: Dodge, Expertise, Mobility, Spring Attack
Challenge Rating: 4
Languages: Common, Halfling, Elven, Draconic

Hera Lysandra
Halfling Psychic Warrior 2
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (14 hp)
Initiative: +3 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 16 (+3 dex, +2 leather armor) Touch: 13 Flat-footed: 12
Attacks: Silvered dagger +1 melee
Damage: Dagger 1d4 piercing
Racial Traits: Halfling
Class Abilities: Simple and martial weapon proficiency, light, medium, and heavy armor and shield proficiencies (not tower shield), psionics, psionic attack modes (mind blast, ego whip)
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +2
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 15 Wis 15, Cha 17
Skills: Autohypnosis +4 [5 ranks], Concentration +6 [5 ranks], Stabilize Self +6 [5 ranks]
Feats: Inner Strength, Talented, Body Fuel
Psionics: (4 Talents/4 Power Points) - Daze, Distract, Burst
Languages: Common, (deities favored language)
Challenge Rating: 2

*I make no statement that these altered stat-blocks are at 100%, I just did them off the top of my head at the moment.

 

[Micar Sin]

Well, the problem being that generally in 3e well trained usually means high-level, but I see your point...
If thats the case then I would create a group with very completmentary feat picks... I.e. someone with improved trip backed up by someone with improved disarm back up by a fighter with power attack and combat reflexes, etc... I'll think on it more, but I'm about to leave work, soo...