Level 4 assassin-type characters

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If you were going to build a lone assassin character, but there were too low level to qualify for the assassin prestige class (they'd both be level 4 or so), how would you do it? What class, magic items, spell and feat selection, etc.

 

[WarlockLord]

Swordsage, shadowphile.

 

[Land Outcast]

Human Ranger 1/Rogue 3

Favored Enemy Humanoid (human)

Improved Initiative
Combat Expertise
Improved Feint

 

[shilsen]

Swordsage, shadowphile.

Beat me to it.

 

[Dykstrav]

I actually missed the assassins from 1E enough that I've designed a 20-level base class assassin for my homebrew. There's no instant death attack, although it's a damned effective class for what it's designed to do. I feel that it's balanced, although I've had discussions with players about it several times.

 

[Land Outcast]

Elven Ftr 4 (Dex 18, Str 14)
Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Weapon Specialization (Longbow)
Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Far Shot

Mwk Composite Longbow Strength Rating [+2]

005 ft - 030 ft: +9/+9 (1d8+5/x3)
035 ft - 165 ft: +8/+8 (1d8+4/x3)
170 ft - 370 ft: +6/+6 (1d8+4/x3)
375 ft - 525 ft: +4/+4 (1d8+4/x3)

No, he doesn't need ranks in Hide. He can comfortably shoot arrows at +6/+6 while having a Hide Modifier of +7 (+4 Dex, +3 cross class) and his victim a spot penalty of -37.

Even with the -20 sniping penalty, he'd get:
+7 (Hide) -20 (sniping) +37 (Spot penalty) = +24

therefore the Spot check DC to beat by the victim/s would be 1d20+24 (with penalties already factored)

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I'd probably go some sort of Fighter/Rogue combo (Ftr 1/Rog 3 or Ftr 2/Rog 2). The Rgr/Rog combo above seems pretty good, too.

Of course, it depends on what type of assassin. I might be inclined to go with a Rog/Clr combo, for a "holy slayer" type. (Give it the Death domain, and either Knowledge, Protection, or Trickery.)

 

[pawsplay]

Probably Rogue 3/Fighter 1, or if I wanted to preserve the magical talents, Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1/Fighter 1.

 

[Napftor]

I've found Green Ronin's Assassin's Handbook quite useful in this regard.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm, I had a two guy team of assassins detailed in my sig. One sorcerer (for firepower), the other one a chainmonkey for battlefield control and a little healing.

As a single char, I'd go warlock, wilder or psio. Even better: Lurk. The lurk has nearly the rogues sneak attack but he can get more sneak attack damage than a rogue by putting PPs into his Lurk Augment thing. All he needs is Ranged Lurk Augment feat.
Put 4 PP into your Lurk augment and at level 4 you'll have a sneakattack with +4d6 damage. Use a handcrossbow with Rapid Shot, +4d6 with the first attack and shoot him again (sneak attack +1d6). Go human for 3 feats. And you'll have all the skills you want plus some additional psionics powers. Skate is great for escaping, Precog and Prescience are good too. Stygian Weapon is great, no save and you might stun him.

That only works within 30ft though... so the singleclass ftr sniper shown above can't be beaten. He is well advised to prepare escape routes and have some horses waiting for him...

Forgot to mention: A bard makes a wonderful assassin. Spells to disguise and social skills to impersonate someone else, more skills to get into someones bedroom at night... CDG with greataxe.