Shadow Assassin (3.5e Prestige Class)
Becoming a Shadow Assassin
Shadow Assassin is one who prefers the shadows and darkness. One who has spent most if not all their time growing up and training in the shadows and darkness. Normally people would choose this class because they prefer the darkness and shadows, one could be weak from a low constitution or lack of defenses, maybe they aren't very strong and prefer to out think their opponent ( this class also works if they are strength based ) and or not confident or afraid to be in the light. Maybe they have a light sensitivity or cant sleep at night /insomnia and prefer staying up through the night, maybe they just find accomplishing their tasks is easier in the dark and shadows.... how ever you wish to play this class as long as you can make it fun and interesting.
Playing a Shadow Assassin
Shadow Assassins have trained to use the darkness and shadows to their advantage and to create disadvantage to their enemies. Shadow assassins can move around the field more freely and safer by hiding in the darkness or creating shadows to not be seen or heard and limiting their enemies movement and weakening their defenses making it easier to strike them down. for a fun play on the class and to see where shadows may or may not be, shine a light on the battle map and using any object that would represent the characters and or objects size or shape. this would include a wall, statues, columns, enemies large or small and even your party members and any other object or surrounding that would provide a shadow. For dm purposes they may roll a 1d4 for direction when the direction of the sun can not be determined, north, east, south and west. to determine the direction of the sunlight figure out which way your heading and if the sun is rising or setting behind or in front of you and use your flashlight or candle as if it were the sun. i built and intended to play this as a 3erd or 5th level ranged sneak attack rogue with one or two levels of fighter with targetteer trait. but also leaving it open to having other options to multiclass into other classes like ranger, barbarian or a monk haha or any other class that would be new and exciting and different option to add some flare and flavor to your playstyle or party while not being restricted by just rogue levels and just leave it more open and fun for other classes and builds
special requirements
To become a Shadow Assassin one needs to have the see in darkness ability either from your race or a class feature. must have at least 1d6 sneak attack or skirmish feature from the scout.
Alignment: any
Required Feat Weapon focus
Required Intelligence +15 required
Race: any race as long as you have Darkvision from another source.
Required Skills: +5 hide,+5 move silently.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Hide in Plain Sight, See in Darkness, Darkness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Shadow Step, Sneak Attack +1d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Shadow Cloak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Shadow Sink, Sneak Attack +1d6, Uncanny Dodge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5th | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Improved Shadow Step, Shadow Touch, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Evasion Sneak Attack +1d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th | +6 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Shadow strike | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8th | +7 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Shadow Enhancement, Sneak Attack +1d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th | +8 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Improved Shadow Strike | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10th | +9 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Shadow Embodiment, Sneak Attack +1d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level) ====Class Features==== Shadow Assassins use their Intelligence modifier for all dc checks and saves for casting or using their abilities, a Shadow Assassin can use their shadow skills ( with the appropriate skills and feats ) to be either a ranged sneak attack sniper, strength based 2 handed weapon user, an unarmed fighting or natural weapons from claws as well as dexterity based light/ finesse weapons, as well they may also include two weapon fighting. hopefully the class is fairly well rounded, different and overall fun and exciting option for any class, race and play style. if you feel the class is a little to strong it can be added and countered with light spells that would be stronger than the casters level or add light sensitivity to the character after leaving and or entering their shadow from being effected by direct sunlight or a spell. If both light and darkness ability or spell is at the same level the one with the highest intelligence modifier wins can also add the loser is dazed for one round at DMs discretion.
See in Darkness (Ex): At 1st level, a Shadow Assassin can see in darkness of any sort, even magical darkness. Darkness (Su): At 1st level, the Shadow Assassin can use darkness as a spell-like ability 2/day + their intelligence modifier. this works just like the darkness spell but because of your control over the shadows the radius and duration is increased by double. the shadow touched cannot be effected by this if the caster chooses. Shadow Step (Sp): At 2nd level, a Shadow Assassin can use ((SRD:Dimension door|dimension door)) as a spell-like ability 1/day + their in intelligence modifier. This works just like the ((Dimension door)) spell except that you must start and end in a shadow. You can start in your own shadow and end in someone else's. this takes your move action. if hidden before using shadow step you may make a move silent skill check and if not heard you remain hidden. you may use any shadow as long as your character can fit standing up in, you cannot land in another characters square and must have a free space to end in. if its a large or huge creature, you must have a free square and are able to stand straight up underneath it. Shadow stepping in next to an enemies space provokes attacks of opportunity if not hidden. Sneak Attack : This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 + existing sneak attack damage from other classes, ie the rogue or scout. The increase is as listed at level (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, etc.). If a Shadow Assassin gets a sneak attack bonus from another source, the bonuses on damage stack. Shadow Cloak (Sp): At 3rd level, the Shadow Assassin gains the ability to cloak themselves in shadows hiding their presence, a Shadow assassin cannot be seen, smelt or heard while this spell is active as the shadow hides their presence. this spell works like invisibility spell and ends after attacking. if you end your turn in darkness or a shadow you may make a move silently skill check to remain hidden as the shadows obscure enemies from seeing you. You can use this skill 1/day + your intelligence modifier. Shadow sink (Su): At 4th level the Shadow Assassin has gained such extraordinary manipulation over the shadows that they can create a 30 foot radios of shadows on the ground that cause everyone effected to slightly sink into the shadowy ground each round. this is a full round action to use. anyone affected by this suffers -2 to there armor class and has their movement speed reduced by 10 for each foot they sunken into the shadows. Each consecutive turn they fail their saving throw they continue to sink further into the shadow up to a maximum of 4 feet. On a passing save they are unaffected but if moving out more then 10 feet need to roll another saving Throw. If below the 4 foot or knocked prone you can breath normally and and once the spell ends you are on the ground where your character stands or lays and cannot be permanently held or berried in the shadow ground. Roll dc 10 +character level +intelligence modifier to resist the shadow. on a successful save that area is still affected by the shadow sink effect. moving in and or more than 5 feet anyone in the area must make their save again regardless of succeeding or failing. this lasts for 1 turn + your intelligence modifier Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 4th level, the Shadow Assassin gains Uncanny Dodge. If they already have Uncanny Dodge, they gain Improved Uncanny Dodge. Improved Shadow Step At 5th level gain Improved Shadow Step. if you have the shadow cloak ability active you do not need to make a move silent check as you are not able to be heard while active. this increases to 3/day +intelligence modifier. At level 9 can be done at will and as a swift action. Shadow touch (Ex): At 5th level, the Shadow Assassin can use this ability to allow their teammates to not be affected by any of the Shadow Assassins abilities and allows them to see and move around in darkness and magical darkness as they do by cloaking their teammates in their shadows, a shadow assassin can affect up to 5 allies including themselves + their intelligence modifier. this lasts for 30mins +character level +intelligence modifier and can be casted twice per day. the shadow touched and its caster gain the effects of the cats grace spell ( or bulls strength if you're a strength based Assassin to suit your specific class main ability modifier ) and the spell lasts for as long the shadow touch ability. Pick one, you gain the ability to cast the chosen spell. at 10th level a shadow touched gains the effects of the fox's cunning spell and is now hasted. Evasion (Su): At 6th level, the Shadow Assassin gains Evasion. if they already have Evasion, they gain improved Evasion. shadow Strike (Sp): At 7th level once per turn you can make a shadow strike along with your full round attack or your sneak attack or skirmish ability you can add your intelligence modifier to their main ability modifier. This allows the shadow assassin to strike their foes where it hurts most. this also allows you to add a +1 to your weapon threat range for every attack you make taking it from 20/20 to an 19/20 and so on, this stacks with a keen weapon and other abilities that would lower it further. this ability only applies to the weapon you have selected with the weapon focus feat. to gain this ability on another weapon type you must take the weapon focus feat for each different weapon type you want to be affected by this ability. Shadow Enhancement (Su): At 8th level the Shadow Assassin gains a bonus feat and a +1 ability to their intelligence and main ability modifier. Shadow Strike improved (Su): At 9 level this works just like the shadow strike ability but is now improved. You now are able to use your shadows to strike what would normally not be effected by critical strikes, such as undead and corporeal and other enemies not effected by critical strikes are now able to be effected by critical strikes. while affected by the shadow touch ability you gain the ability to use power attack or powerful shot with ranged attacks with your sneak attack or full round action, works just like the feat and only works with the weapon types you have chosen your weapon focus feat with. you also gain an additional +1 to your weapon threat range taking it from 19/20 to an 18/20 and so on. Shadow Embodiment (Sp): At 10th level, a Shadow Assassin can cloak their self in pure shadow. This works like shadow cloak but at the mastered level and is active while using this ability. this allows the Shadow Assassin to now use the Greater invisibility spell with the shadow cloak skill as they wish. You now have the Darkness spell active while using this ability centered on the Shadow Assassin and also always has the shadow touch ability active. this skill prevents from being seen by see invisibility or true seeing while within their darkness area of effect as they're surrounded by complete darkness.
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