Talk:Codex Assassin (3.5e Class)

Skills
This class has Diamond Mind on its list of available disciplines but Concentration is not a class skill. What the Hell? 78.84.205.102 21:28, September 11, 2009 (UTC)


 * A minor oversight. --Leziad 01:25, September 21, 2009 (UTC)

Discipline List.
Why not Tiger Claw? Seems like a given for an assassin type character.


 * Like it needs any more power? >_> Why not just give it Stone Dragon too, since that can also be finagled as an assassin-type discipline? In fact, just about every discipline can be worded the right way (except maybe Devoted Spirit and/or White Raven) to fit an "assassin" (which is a very broad term in and of itself). --Ghostwheel 00:08, October 19, 2009 (UTC)


 * The generality of the term "Assassin" aside, when someone comes to me and says. "I wanna play a character that is like an assassin, but i wanna be good aligned." The Tiger Claw discipline would immediately come to mind. The ninth level manuever for the tiger claw discipline is, basically, a death attack with a different skill check involved. My personal opinion is to drop iron heart and pick up tiger claw.


 * So, it uses the Warblade recovery method and has a bunch of Swordsage disciplines. As far as for using alternate homebrewed disciplines which of the base Initiators would you consider this closest to? Karuma 15:13, September 12, 2010 (UTC)

Changing the Balance Point
Is there any practical way to change this from a wizard-level class to a rogue-level class without handing the class a bunch of empty levels, or kicking it in the nuts in any other obvious way? I was thinking of dropping the BAB down to medium, and maybe spacing out the abilties that seem to be all over the first 10 levels and very absent in 14, 16, and 18. --For Valor 05:28, 1 April 2011 (UTC)
 * EDIT: Nvm... I think I found it... --For Valor 05:34, 1 April 2011 (UTC)
 * EDIT AGAIN: All right, I really don't like the rogue-level fix for the Assassin, as it's chock-full of dead levels and gross. I would much rather find some other way of balancing the class. --For Valor 05:41, 1 April 2011 (UTC)


 * Well he get maneuvers, so it not really dead-levels. --Leziad 06:05, 1 April 2011 (UTC)


 * Actually, IS this wizard level? Well, the Full BAB is probably pushing it, so you could drop it to medium, and I have concern with the dippability og getting Dex to damage so soon.  But you could spread that benefit out, Weapon Finesse basically at 1st, then Dex to damage at 4th.  And then...


 * Well then it just seems like a fair initiator class. If the initiator classes are good examples of rogue, and it has more or less even trades of class features with, say, swordsage or warblade, then it should be able even level.  I'm not actually seeing the wizard-level part of it.


 * But about the dead levels, looks like you have horror vaccui (me too). Perhaps throw a minor gimme power in there after reducing the BAB and delaying Dex to damage.  Give them bonus feats from a small list: Skill feats mostly.  It's paltry, but it's something to keep them busy and, being a skillful class, it actually does help. Also, what Leziad said, editing while I am apparently.  :P  -- Eiji-kun 06:07, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Balance point too high
I've had the opportunity to test this class in a number of scenarios. I can say that it is incredibly effective. That said, I do not agree with the 'very high' balance point given to this class. I see that some are arguing that the class is high powered because of a full BAB. Allow me to disagree. As you can see by visiting the rating guide for balance points, none of the standard classes in the 'very high' category have a full BAB. I view this class more as a mix between a rogue and swordsage (neither of which have very high balance points). Sure, you have high BAB, but you have less skills than either a Rogue OR Swordsage. Yes, you have dex to damage, but that only makes you passable at the role you were made for: Stealth Combat. Yes, you have maneuvers, but none of the TOB classes are considered 'very high' powered. Aside from that, you get the worst refreshing mechanic for them while only being able to ready a handfull at any given time. The swordsage's full round action refresh is at least offset by the fact that he gets to ready alot of maneuvers. This limits the usefulness of maneuvers for this class barring feats to lessen said limitations. They do give the Assassin a bit of much needed utility (especially shadow hand) in the form of alternate methods of travel, etc. I see nothing in this class that puts it on the same level as a Wizard or Druid. -- BackHandOfFate 13:22, 8 August 2012 (PST)