The Complete Adventure Class that is, not legends or reality from the real world. I have a player in an upcoming campaign who wanted a skill user/sneak but wanted to look at options. I pointed out the ninja and said that she could be one if she came from a distant land (Uraq, its a Ptolus game). We are working on a background, but I am fine with her playing one.
Given, however, that she doesn't read game books like I do, and is really only familiar with the PHB and a few other niches from previous games, I will be expected to give advice on character creation and advancement.
So, what experiances have you w/ the ninja? Feats, skills, tactics, items, etc. are all welcome.
I found them to be not quite on par with a rogue gaming-wise. They get a lot of cool abilities, invisibility, etherealness, etc... but... By the time they get them as a class ability, a rogue could already be getting them from spells/items... however the ninja is definetly more
They're sudden strike is pretty cool- but not on par with sneak attack... given that sudden strike can be used once per encounter (maybe).
However, they do have a cool flavor-niche, and the PCs jumping about and climbing abilities, all while being stealthy was pretty cool. This PC seemed a lot better as a scout than as a member who contributed to the party- his skills were obviously nice, but once combat started- he was only sort of so-so... They'd make a great assassin.
Along with a rogue in the party though, he managed to bring down a entire gang full of poison-makers and their hired goons- all of about their level (albeit with NPC classes) just by being stealthy and sneaky... till that poisoned dart hit him in the neck... ah that 11 con just wasn't enough... heck of a way to go.
That's incorrect. Against most enemies, the Sudden Strike ability can be used as long as the ninja has uses of Ghost Step (invisibility) remaining. Go invisible, make an attack, and Sudden Strike kicks in. And since the Ghost Step (invisibility) lasts for 1 rd whether you attack or not, you can get full attacks and benefit from it.
The ninja has several class feats that are more magical based, using ki.
I'd suggest that you and the player look at the Scout class, which is also in the Complete Adventurer. It's sort of a cross between a rogue and a ranger, with some great options for hit-and-run tactics.
Last year one of my players had a cross-class ninja/scout and he ended up preferring the scout feats over what he was getting from the ninja.
I know. I think your interpretation about what it is "supposed to be" and how most people will use it is correct. But since none of those locals is highly detailed I have decided that an order of stealthy assassin/spies could have originated in Uraq, which will be more of a Persian/Indian culture for our campaign.
Let me also add that I do not care that "ninja" is "oriental." In fact we may even use a different term (ghostwalker is a likely possibility) for the same mechaics. I can make the culture/background fit my campaign. I'm more concerned with mechanics.
It seems that a lot of people are saying that the ninja is subpar to the rogue, and that maybe true, but as has also been pointed out, the ninja has some interesting flavor. Given that the player in question loves monks and wants to play the skill user this time around I think the ninja is a perfect choice flavor wise.
As shilsen pointed out, ghost step means that sudden strike can be used frequently. I am looking for ways to heighten that and pull on the mechaical flavor of the class.
Somethings I have considered:
Combat Expertise+Improved Feint; Acrobatic Strike; Improved Unarmed Strike + Stunning Fist+Firey Fist+Ki Blast; Thousand Faces Jutsu or one of the other Ki feats from Dragon 342; The Dodge+Mobility+Spring Attack; Telling Blow, Spectral Skirmisher, and Improved Initative.
Obviously not all of those, but wondering about a good direction to suggest. Alchemical items that blind or unbalance an opponent would also seem like good ideas, in which case the Grenadier feat might also be a good one.
EDIT Let me add, the player in question is primarilly a Role Player who also likes to be useful in combat. The "real ultimate power" take on ninjas is pretty antithetical to her typical characters.
