The Assassin Loophole

[Frostmarrow]

About the munchkinism. I'm not suggesting this to gain power. I'm just trying to figure out something new to play. I've played most of the core classes and coming up with new and exiting characters based upon them are becoming incresingly difficult.

If I simply wanted a kick ass character I wouldn't go for a class with sneak attack.

Just so you know.

 

[Pielorinho]

The Road to Perdition? Never seen it -- is it worth checking out?

I was thinking of another movie as a guideline for a neutral-with-good-tendencies ranger/assassin: Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood's finest (IMHO) performance.

Like in that movie, your character should really, really angst about killing people, even when they need killing.

But I don't think you should feel constrained not to use your class abilities: dead's dead, and an assassin is going to know that better than most folks.

Consider working some ritual atonement into your character: possibly you've turned religious (though not clerical), and you have a morning prayer and ablution that you perform, without which you suffer a -1 morale penalty to attack and skill rolls until you perform it. Consier asking the party cleric (or, better yet, paladin) to detect evil on you after battles, to make sure that you're not enjoying death too much. Consider giving money surreptitiously to the family of folks you kill, no matter how evil the folks are.

Daniel

 

[Frostmarrow]

Consier asking the party cleric (or, better yet, paladin) to detect evil on you after battles, to make sure that you're not enjoying death too much.
Daniel

Ooh. I like it.

 

[Darkness]

But, it is also screams munchkin.

Why?

My position is that the skills are naturally acquired and would not be lost, but that a truly attoned assasine would not be able to progress further in assassin.

Definitely.

 

[Xeriar]

I have an NPC that I designed for a campaign I'm in... his name is Dariul Lyle.

He cries himself to sleep every night.

He's a Rogue 8 / Assassin 10th, chaotic neutral. For decades he worked as the guild's most successful assassin, over which time he began to see the results, even if indirect, of his actions (he was a genius, after all).

He had always valued personal freedom, but it became clearer and clearer to him that no one who would ask him for a job cared one whit about such a 'romantic' notion. The money was kind of pointless - he could support his wife and children for a century on his savings alone.

His children...

There was no reason for him to continue what he was doing, except for 'guild retribution' - but he had no reason to worry about a group he developed training sessions and techniques for.

Over time his concious began to return, or at least some semblance of one. The damage he has done, once a scratch, became a mortal wound to some very noble organizations. And no matter how hard he tries, he can never set everything right again.

---

Not having my original description with me, this isn't a very good personality sample, but you should get the idea - I made it a plot point

 

[Quickbeam]

I like the concept. But, I tend to be a DM who favors creative character design and background. Nothing absurd (like one of my players who constantly asks if he can play a celestial half-goblin), but creative is good.

I'd allow your PC to keep his/her assassin abilities without further advancement in the class...just make sure the background story and roleplaying mesh well, and you're fine by me!