What do you think of the ninja


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What I think of Ninjas, especially D&D-Character Ninjas, is not printable.

More seriously, I think a balanced Ninja-type Character can be made with the rogue as a base and some multiclassing. Most often you only see the "better fighter than fighter, better rogue than rogue, better monk than monk, and spellcaster to boot" concept mentioned whenever Ninjas crop up in a gaming discussion. The 2E Complete Ninja's Handbook was almost as bad (and overpowered) imho as 2E psionics.
 

Ah, the Rokugani ninja. I can't say I care too much for it, perhaps because it's a bit too far off from the illusionary ninja types I've been used to since the 2nd edition ninja/spirit warrior kit. For this class I drop BAB from fighter to rogue and add a spell progression, same rate as a paladin or ranger, but spell list and prime stat of an assassin.
 

I might do that let me think on how to do this.

They use there int to cast spells (use a verent of the assan spell list) and ill use a sorcer like spells known shart or use the wizards thing ill Haft to think on it.
 

Played it for a while. In short; It Sucks. Not enough skill points to use the good skill set, not enough stat points to get the Str needed to take advantage of the BAB. d6 hit die, yet the BAB means you will be in combat. It might do well as an archer, but a melee ninja gets stomped.
 

Give it spell progression as the Paladin or Ranger with the Assassin spell list, drop BAB to as Rogue, drop bonus sneak attack dice to at levels 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19, maybe give it an extra 2 skill points if your feeling generous, which I'm not, so don't.

If you wish for me to say that in multiple sentances, just say so.
 

I thought the class looked pretty good as is. It stacks nicely with a few rogue levels (for evasion, and if you plan it right, more sneak attck then youre entitled to) if you want a sneak monster (with a good bab), similarly if you want that "assassin-like" ninja take some sorceror and the appropriate skills/spells. I think its flexible, which is something those classes that have a weak spell progression and a small list of spells don't have, imo.

It seems like it would be like the monk or ranger, who NEED a lot of high ability scores basically everywhere to bring out the full potential. Also, Shadow Run at eighth level seems quite powerful.

I've been wanting to get in a rokugan campaign forever, find someone that has all the books (I have all the fr books, and most of the core, so I don't have the dough for rokugan. Modern may snag me though).

Technik
 

Never Seen the Point

I have enver seen the point of Ninjas in any setting. It is an interesting conciet that says they are mystical assassins. I say that because there is no real evidence of Ninja in Medieval Japan, not as the sort of organised Monk lite killers that we describe them in modern cinema and DnD.

I also find it difficult to reconcile a large number of clans with many ninjas in them, with a functional society. Where the heck do they get money from, asssassination/spying? How about the fact that very few people were assassinated in the culture these people are from. Assuming they are spys and assassins you can guess at 4 or 5 spying jobs and 1 or 2 hits a year. So they would have to earn a shed loads for those jobs. If there is a clan of 100 active ninja, that would be up to 200 hits a year. SO assassination or spying is expensive, nobles etc hiring you, then very quickly there wouldn't be many nobles left would there.

Personally I think they are another pointless add on for the game. The OE is quite well done but surely the ninja is nothing but a rogue, assassin, spy.

Hence don't like them and simply don't allow them.
 


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