D&D 5E Split the Assassin from the Rogue back into its own class

[Minigiant]

The several times when I've discussed tiers with people, I am reminded that the Rogue class in 5th edition is the only class of this family. The Rogue is the only Rogue class now. Only the Expert sidekick class officially is in the same area. Every other skills based class goes the Warrior or Spellcaster route. All the other roguish and skilled archetypes are pushed within the Rogue class.

And every time I remember this, I ponder about returning the Assassin to full class form. I look at the class and think that its aspects could be shifted down in level, scaled over time, and properly balanced per level. I remember the spellcasting assassins of past editions and assassins of various media.

And I think about having another nonspellcasting base class.

How would I do it?
Probably by cutting out Cunning Action. Free up the bonus action. Possibly just letting the Assassin make a single attack when they Dash, Disengage or Hide. This weaker version of the class feature would allow the disguise and poison stuff to shift down in level position and upgrade better.

What subclass would it have?
Sublasses dedicated to stealth, disguise and poisoning individually. Plus a straight up fighting subclass. And a spellcasting one for the nostalgia and Magic.

1. Chameleon (Disguise Based)
2. Poisoner (Poison Based)
3. Shade (Stealth Based)
4. Executioner (Fighty Assassin Assassin's version of Swashbuckler)
5. Shadow Stalker (Magic Assassin, Assassin's Caster subclass)
6. Holy Slayer (Get some Cleric in your killer. Heal up after everyone is dead)

What do you think?

 

[NotAYakk]

I suspect you didn't play much 4e.

Rogue/Thief/Assassin/Avenger

For 5e, a class should have an archtype - even just a drawing you can point at and say "yep, that is X". It should have a hook as well, and the archtype/hook needs to connect with the D&D combat resolution mechanics (small squad skirmish pesudo-heroic fights).

I kill stuff better than another class isn't really a mechanical identity. It is more about another class sucking, not about what this class does.

I mean, every combat ability the rogue has is in line with what a ninja-esque assassin's abilities might be. "That, but better" is a bit meh. And your tradeoff - "I can do the same thing using slightly different mechanics" - isn't a tradeoff.

If you want to juice up the rogue, just do it?

There are only a few ways to optimize a 5e rogue in combat. MCing (becoming non-rogue), booming blade, readied action tricks, and crit fishing are most of them. The readied action one has the biggest ROI, as it doubles sneak attack. Booming is easiest. Crit fishing can work, but is harder.

Not being a rogue wins more often. Like, assassin 3/gloom 5/hex 3/BM 3 or what have you. Rogue is in there but overshadowed.

A half caster rogue is a fun thought; shadow assassin.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

The several times when I've discussed tiers with people, I am reminded that the Rogue class in 5th edition is the only class of this family. The Rogue is the only Rogue class now. Only the Expert sidekick class officially is in the same area. Every other skills based class goes the Warrior or Spellcaster route. All the other roguish and skilled archetypes are pushed within the Rogue class.

And every time I remember this, I ponder about returning the Assassin to full class form. I look at the class and think that its aspects could be shifted down in level, scaled over time, and properly balanced per level. I remember the spellcasting assassins of past editions and assassins of various media.

And I think about having another nonspellcasting base class.

How would I do it?
Probably by cutting out Cunning Action. Free up the bonus action. Possibly just letting the Assassin make a single attack when they Dash, Disengage or Hide. This weaker version of the class feature would allow the disguise and poison stuff to shift down in level position and upgrade better.

What subclass would it have?
Sublasses dedicated to stealth, disguise and poisoning individually. Plus a straight up fighting subclass. And a spellcasting one for the nostalgia and Magic.

1. Chameleon (Disguise Based)
2. Poisoner (Poison Based)
3. Shade (Stealth Based)
4. Executioner (Fighty Assassin Assassin's version of Swashbuckler)
5. Shadow Stalker (Magic Assassin, Assassin's Caster subclass)
6. Holy Slayer (Get some Cleric in your killer. Heal up after everyone is dead)

What do you think?

I approve.

Use Sneak attack + extra attack + Expertise in very specific skills (stealth, forgery kit, poisoner's kit, disguise, final). Some kind of half-fighter/half-rogue, like the paladin is a half-fighter/half-cleric.

Remove the Infiltration stuff from the archetype as it is something better left to roleplay. Or use them as ribbons.

 

[Minigiant]

I suspect you didn't play much 4e.

I did actually.

Rogue/Thief/Assassin/Avenger

I didn't get to the Avenger yet. Baby steps.

For 5e, a class should have an archtype - even just a drawing you can point at and say "yep, that is X". It should have a hook as well, and the archtype/hook needs to connect with the D&D combat resolution mechanics (small squad skirmish pesudo-heroic fights).

I kill stuff better than another class isn't really a mechanical identity. It is more about another class sucking, not about what this class does.

The Assassin would be the archetype of the Assassin. Getting to a target. Killing it. Then escaping. That's the hook.

The Rogues and Fighters of the world can pursue many roles in D&D combat and exploration world.

The Assassin cuts all of those out to get the kill (excuse the red font mods, the emphasis is needed)

Much like the Paladin, the class has a narrower focus. And by being a class of its own, it can branch out into more directions

 

[Shardstone]

I approve. Assassin guilds, the idea of taking life, and the context wherein you become one of these characters provides a rich narrative framework to operate. Creating a fantasy version of the Hitman, Ezio, Altair, and so on yields narratively and mechanically unique ideas fresh in their inspiration yet still welcome in the genre.

Make many of the subclasses magical assassins, with access to different schools of magic and tricks. Maybe have a Warlock Invocation-esque feature that is your Stable of Techniques, where you learn different packages of abilities, some containing spells, some containing new feats, proficiencies, abilities to do things with weapon, etc depending on the package.

Tie in these packages with the philosophical ideas that comes with being an assassin. Make them do the work of forcing the assassin into rich roleplay knots where they have to be delicate, clever, and cautious, all while maintaining an active energy. And in combat, turn them into glass cannons for the first round, and then they have a stable of tricks to finish the job over the next 2-3 rounds. Maybe if the first attempt to kill fails (which it usually does), the enemy is crippled or openings are made for your allies, or a suite of other effects, making them something like murderous warlords who give orders through their assassination attempts instead of by barking them out.

Give them a strong stable of ribbon features that ties them into the world. The disguise stuff, the actor feat, and probably more ability score improvements then casters (much like a rogue) to let them have a chance to dabble in more eclectic tools for their job.

Let them be able to transition their predatory talents into helping the party with social and exploration challenges. They can spot out the best place for an ambush, or watch someone that the party's face is talking to and examine if they're lying or hiding something — things only an assassin as a master-of-disguise could see.

Yeah, I think you could make a fun, compelling 5E-compatiable class from this.

 

[CleverNickName]

No (other).
I would prefer only four classes: Warrior, Mage, Priest, and Sneak. Everything else (including Assassin and Monk) should be subclasses of those four.

 

[Tonguez]

Ogami Itto, of Lone Wolf and Cub fame , The Shoguns Executioner was a fighter (samurai) not a rogue, and a truely awesome example of Assasin. Assasin is a faction not a class.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I don't think assassin is really worth a new class assuming we're keeping the general 5e class structure - it's a kind of rogue. It could use a re-do, like several other PHB subclasses, but that's about it.

If we want to go off on a tangent about whether 5e's general approach to classes is the best option... that's a tangent I'm willing to engage in, but it is a tangent.

 

[Lanefan]

I didn't even realize Assassin wasn't still its own class in 5e. It certainly should be, and is also the class that can fill the role of part-Fighter part-Thief/Rogue for those as want such.

 

[DeviousQuail]

I don't think assassin is really worth a new class assuming we're keeping the general 5e class structure - it's a kind of rogue. It could use a re-do, like several other PHB subclasses, but that's about it.

If we want to go off on a tangent about whether 5e's general approach to classes is the best option... that's a tangent I'm willing to engage in, but it is a tangent.

This is pretty much my take on it as well. There is a place for the assassin outside of the rogue chassis but probably not in current 5e.

If I was going to add another rogue tier class I would do:
Rogue - Thief, Arcane Trickster, Inquisitive, Mastermind, Phantom
Skirmisher* - Assassin, Hunter, Beastmaster, Swashbuckler, Scout, Soul Knife
Warden** - Ranger subclasses minus Hunter and use the Tasha elemental beastmaster

*I'm sure there is a better name but I'm spacing on it right now. This class would be a mix of 5e rogue and spell-less ranger.
**Pretty much ranger but let it lean into its magical side instead of the tacked on feeling of the current ranger.