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With the holidays (and a residency change) my group’s schedule has been out of whack. I was able to get into a 6^th lvl one-shot with the same DM and coincidentally one of the players played an Assassin (Changeling, Bleak Disciple). I was playing a Tiefling Paladin/Warlock Hybrid to try out the new Tiefling feats, but I figured I would discuss my observations of the other player so I could compare my strategies to his. I won’t give an encounter by encounter breakdown as this was a couple weeks ago so my memory is foggy, but I’ll give my impressions.

#1: Temporary Hit-points and Defensive Styles

It seemed to me that the player was trying to play defensively – but not in the way that fits best for his build. Now that I look back, I’m not sure if he remembered all of the Temporary Hitpoints he should have been collecting throughout the fight, but he was often spending time disengaged from targets and using ranged attacks to deliver damage. I know he had Shadow Storm, but he wasn’t making use of it, at least not until the last few fights.

It seems to me the two builds of Assassins require decidedly different tactics; all a Con assassin requires to play defensively is to stick near a defender and attack marked targets, they can afford the luxury of being in the fray for extended periods of time, because they should be constantly buffed with Temp HP. By trading the extra damage for a defensive feature, it opens the character up to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities that often arise in the huddle (and of course making Opportunity Attacks).The Stalker build, by the grace of its features, plays very differently. A stalker that plays defensively remains on the outskirts of the huddle, makes ranged attacks, or engages isolated targets.

By using choosing the Con build and employing Cha build tactics, you’re losing the benefits that both offer and you’ll be less effective all around.

#2: Weapon Choice, DPR, and Striker Effectiveness

It’s common knowledge on these boards that Assassins use big weapons. The biggest, most accurate weapons you can find. This assassin used a Scimitar. I don’t know why he chose a scimitar. Surely there was a reason, but I couldn’t discern it. He wasn’t using a shield, he wasn’t duel wielding etc. His DPR seemed lower, as expected….

…BUT, it didn’t really change his ability to deliver a killing blow or eliminate targets, which I believe is the real strength of the Assassin. With the right tactics and the right setup (Targeted For Death + Killers Insight, etc) you can still deal massive amounts of damage in a short burst. Much of the time that damage is sufficient to kill or severely bloody a target. You can say what you will about the role of strikers in a group, but everyone can agree that they’re goal is to single out and eliminate targets. In many ways, being able to kill a standard creature by your lonesome in two rounds while doing less damage overall is well worth it. For the Assassin, weapon choice has very little to do with this. Being able to do an extra 4d6 worth of striker damage with one well timed blow, with the possibility of following up with an additional 4d6 in the following round (with the right features, feats, etc) is what the Assassin is all about.

For those that are worried whether you won’t keep up with the pack if you don’t wield a Fullblade, I really don’t think your group will notice.

Session 3

Unfortunately due to some scheduling issues, the party only ended up being a party of two. Not wanting to waste the day, the DM ran a short side adventure for the Artificer and myself. We shared any XP with the missing players, but have gotten loot and gold that they will miss out on.

The first bit of the game consisted of us sneaking through the halls of the ruined temple we found ourselves in, trying to find a way around a barred door. After some searching we found a fountain supplied by a natural spring, we pulled off the grate and proceeded into a small cavern filled up to our knees in water.

Encounter 1 – Kruthik

They appeared out of burrows on small patches of land and leapt at, catching us in the middle of the room, the water created difficult terrain so positioning –would- have been difficult if it weren’t for Shadow Step. Round two brought the death of the first creature with a 2 shroud invoke for  21 damage. A second standard monster and an Elite jumped out at as. I began stacking shrouds on the elite in round 3, used shadow step to flank the standard monster and Shade Form to protect against the beating I thought I was going to take. Unfortunately it didn’t come. I picked at the standard again, both hits were around 15-17 damage, the artificer ended up killing it off. The rest of the fight was Nightmare Shades => 3 Shroud Invoke + Scouring Weapon (-2 AC, Artificer) for 1d10+3d6+4+3+3+2 =26 damage. And then staggered 2 shroud invokes until it was dead. We both ended the fight bloodied.

Encounter 2 – Rat Swarm

This fight took place on descending platforms; the rats were at the bottom (distracted) while eating a Kruthik corpse. I snuck down  - Crossbow Sneak Attack : 19 damage. I then retreated and gave the Artificier room to put up his Caustic Ramparts. It was a really quick battle, just one standard. Only had enough time for a single 2 shroud invoke for 22 damage.

Encounter 3 – Abyssal Marauder(s)

I’m beginning to see a pattern where the last encounters of the night is my best (probably because I know the game is ending so I go ahead and use my daily). We were inspecting corpses in the corners, when an Abyssal Marauder charged out of a portal (Some sort of story point, I guess. Something about the temple and what it was used for). It surprised us and charged with a longspear. I went last =(. Artificer opened up with Scouring Weapon, mmm…-2 to AC.

Nightmare Shades – 14 damage
Action Point – Targeted for Death – 18 damage
Free – 2 Shrouds
Move, I circled around behind the Artificier (my crossbow was out)

The Artificer missed his attack, was charged, was attacked.

RBA – 1d8+4d6+2d6+Dex+Cha+Cha = 38 damage, killed the creature. I guess the DM was intending more to come out in staggered intervals, but we killed it so fast that the Artificier was able to complete the small Skill Challenge to close the rift before more could come through. Pretty sweet…

Comments

It didn’t take long before the DM realized that my HP and Defenses were low, but I unfortunately didn’t feel like I could play defensively, because there were only two of us running around. I’m not sure I would suggest playing an Assassin in a small party unless everyone has a comparable Stealth skill. I was however able to quickly duck out of melee when I felt threatened to let the Artificier take the heat. I don’t think it would be as much of an issue, once I get a few abilities that have Invisibility riders, etc.

I didn’t use Lurking Shadow (not that I didn’t have the opportunity). Again, I was trying to share the damage with the Artificier so we wouldn’t die. I’ll be looking forward to this next game.

I’m beginning to see a pattern where the last encounter of the session is my best. I blame caution and Targeted for Death, I tend to hold onto it waiting for a Solo creature or something identifiable as an elite (without trying to metagame). I’ll generally blow my daily when its getting late in the session if I haven’t used it. That one power is such a damage booster, it is hard to imagine that I’ll replace it at higher levels until/if there is another that has the same or better effect line.

All in all it was still fun, despite not having a full party to use party tactics with. My power choices really set me up to do well without always having someone to flank with. Plus Vahn found a Fullblade! Time to pull out the d12.

Notes:

I've always pictured Vahn wielding a Fullblade. There just something about a lightly armored sneak brandishing a big two-handed sword. Fortunately, it is also one of the more optimal choices for an Assassin. There is a possibility that I might switch my weapon choice to Bastardsword/Hand crossbow TWF at some point down the line. I may get bored with the Fullblade. We'll see.

Lurking Shadow is something I've very much been looking forward to trying in combat. I'm sure my party would have prefered the one that lets me share my Stealth Skill, but the potential for staying invisible for the majority of an encounter is just too good to pass up. Expect alot of comments about this power when I make my post tomorrow night.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Vahn, level 2
Changeling, Assassin
Guild Training: Night Stalker
Birth - Among Another Race: Among Another Race (Human)
Background: Arcane Mercenary, Birth - Among Another Race, Occupation - Bounty Hunter, Society - Poor, Geography - Mountains (Diplomacy class skill)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 14, Dex 18, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 16.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 14, Dex 16, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 14.


AC: 17 Fort: 14 Reflex: 15 Will: 16
HP: 28 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Stealth +10, Streetwise +9, Acrobatics +10, Diplomacy +9, Bluff +11, Thievery +10

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +1, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +3, Heal +2, History +1, Insight +4, Intimidate +4, Nature +2, Perception +2, Religion +1, Athletics

FEATS
Level 1: Sneak of Shadows
Level 2: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade)

POWERS
Assassin at-will 1: Shadow Storm
Assassin at-will 1: Executioner's Noose
Assassin encounter 1: Nightmare Shades
Assassin daily 1: Targeted for Death
Assassin utility 2: Lurking Shadow

ITEMS
Greatsword, Leather Armor, Adventurer's Kit, Crossbow Bolts (40), Prime Shot Crossbow +1
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

Background

For those of you that are interested, I decided to elaborate on my character’s background which should shed some light on some of my build choices as well as why I chose Assassin in the first place.

Childhood

Vahn grew up a changeling boy in the city of Hariasa, orphaned by exodus to Anton during the last war. By the age of 10 he had learned to hide his true nature and to use it to his advantage. He lived off of the families of those left behind, taking the appearance of local children to gain access to their parent’s pantries. At 14 his luck ran out and he found himself in the stockades.

The Stygian Brotherhood

It was luck that Vilmoth de Shiva, Master of Arms of The Stygian Brotherhood happened upon Vahn, hunched down with his head and hands clasped in the stocks. It was that luck which set Vahn upon his current path of adventuring for Good instead of languishing in some city dungeon.

The Stygian Brotherhood is an ancient order. Written histories site them as dating back over two millennia, though they are currently on decline, reaching their epoch roughly 500 years ago. They are secretive; in recent times they mostly remain in Shar’toril, colloquially referred to as Duskwatch Keep, a hidden stronghold high in the Hariasa Mountains. It is Duskwatch where they take their new conscriptions to train them, mold them, poison them with their concoctions, and bind their souls to the Shadowfel.

It is commonly understood among the noble lords that The Brotherhood performs these rituals to mischievous ends. These claims are false. It was learned long ago by order’s forbearers that creatures of the night and those that would do evil do not fight by the same laws of honor and chivalry of those that oppose them. These rituals are means to create what is called a Stygian Shade, a nomadic slayer, one who willingly goes into the shadow where nightmares await.

Coming of Age

Vahn has become the first Shade in four generations; the hope of his order rests upon his shoulders. Though the concoctions of the Grand Apothecary Satervath do extend the life of those who partake, The Brotherhood is dwindling. It is the hope that Vahn will prove to the throngs of this land that the Shades still have a place among them. Those protectors of the weak. Those stalkers in the night. Those valiant assassins.

Second Session
Level 1

The first encounter started out like a lurker's dream. Killed a solitary patrol in one round before he could alert the camp of kobolds. Two coup de gras kills before they knew we were there. Unfortunately, I took quite a beating in the first two rounds of combat and soaked up all the heals quickly. Once my party got into position I was able to get to a more easily defended area and the Swordmage started taking the hits. Missed my big 4 shroud invoke, but still did 10 points of damage. Despite missing, it felt like my DPR was on par with the Barbarian.

Second encounter was against two elite dire wolves (I think they were custom monsters). Started combat stealthed, but without a suprise round. I spent two rounds making ranged attacks from a safe distance, hiding behind large rocks to gain CA. By round 3 I had positioned myself to enter melee by getting behind the Barbarian and using Nightmare Shades. Round 4 I used Shadow Step to teleport next to my shroud target and invoke for 39 damage. The Barbarian's big hit that encounter was 32 with Avalanche Strike. By keeping myself in a defensive position and using Shadow Step to keep from being adjacent to more than one enemy I only took 9 damage for the whole fight. I successfully used Shade Form to deter an attacker due to being Insubstantial.

The 3rd encounter was much like the 2nd. This time it was zombies. Shadow Step again played a big role as our Artificier used his Acid wall to create an obstacle for the zombies (and kill the minions) and I teleported into a position where I could reach the baddies without drawing OAs.

The 4th encounter we did really well and I felt like my Assassin was a star player. We came down a hallway into a rectangular room with 8 enemies in it, 4 on each side. I stealthed up and scouted the room without being noticed. We set ourselves up with the Barbarian/Swordmage on either side of the 3 wide hallway beind two pillars so that there was only one square from which the enemies could enter melee without some sort of teleport or push/pull. I was just behind them readinging a range basic for a particular baddie to become visible without cover. The Artificier got their attention, I got off a sneak attack for 22 damage, the barbarian/Swordmage killed a minon that walked into the hall way. Round 2 I used Targeted for Death on my previous target, and round 3 I invoked on a ranged basic with 4 shrouds and dealt 38 damage, killing my target.

By that time the minions had been cleared and the Barbarian swift charged out of our bottleneck to get to the archers in the room proper. I used Nightmare Shades on the last melee standard enemey and teleported into to a flank with the Swordmage. During the round I took 26 points of damage and went down, but was right back up thanks to the Artificer. I invoked with 2 shrouds the next round and did 17 damage, the Artificier finished him off and ran to heal the Barbarian who the Archers had dropped. I ran for the archer on the other side while the other 3 finished of the other one. My target started to run, but I caught him with a 2 shroud Executioners Noose and he was dead the next round.

Conclusions

I felt like the Assassin has some real kill Potential. I've sotra created a standard operating proceedure for combats that I don't intend to use my daily on.

1) Try to get some sort of input from the DM on which enemies are minions, even if they don't say "minion" outright, asking "who looks like they're in charge here" is a good way to know for sure about at least one enemy. Wasted Shrouds are wasted damage.

2) You'll always have enough time for 4 shrouds on your first target as long as your whole party isn't attacking them, choosing your shroud target that is least likely to be attacked or calling them out is optipmal.

3) Invoke ASAP if your target becomes bloodied, don't stack shrouds on a bloodied target. Again, wasted shrouds are wasted damage.

4) Set up your invoked attack. Use Shadow step to disengage in the round you place your 3rd shroud so that you can reach your target as you place your 4th. Combat Advantage is essential and easy to come by.

I think through 4 encounters there was only twice that I didn't get my Night Stalker bonus, not including minion kills (who cares). The fast solo kill of a standard creature in encounter 4 made it feel very much like the Save or Die Assassin of 3rd edition. Of course I had to use a Daily to do it, but it should get easier with more feats and features as I level, which I'm very hopeful about.

Again, I very much enjoyed Sneak of Shadows as opening combat stealthed is fairly easy to do as I'm usually sneaking ahead of the party, and opening combat at ranged with a Crossbow is also very easy to do. I can't wait to try out Lurking Shadow's invisibility as we just hit level 2. It seems like it shouldn't be too difficult to maintain at least for a few rounds in a fight.

I'll post again in two weeks and let you know how it went.

Party

Rageblood Barbarian
Shielding Swordmage
Wis Artificier

Session 1

The first encounter was kind of a bust for my Assassin. We were minion flooded and I was having a hard time picking out the standard creatures. I racked up a few minion kills, but I was easily trumped in the DPR department by our Barbarian who found a standard creature fairly early (in a place I couldn't easily get to) and unloaded with an Avalanche strike.

Second encounter was a bit better for me. I entered combat hidden during the surprise round, so I got a Sneak Attack with a crossbow and did ~25 damage in the surprise round. Round 2 I applied a shroud and moved closer to my shroud target, but attacked a lone creature (minion) with my crossbow. Round two I invoked with my Greatsword and missed but the auto damage was still enough to make me feel like I was doing something. The star of the show that round was the Artificer who cleared 3 guys (minion and bloodied standard) with his Daily Caustic Ramparts. The Barbarian was unconscious for one round and missed on his Avalanche Strike so our DPR was fairly similar it seemed. I didn't have any big rounds as after the first invoke, I invoked every 2nd Shroud.

The third combat, i really shined. I entered combat hidden again in the suprise round. I missed my crossbow attack, but was able to stealth in the first round (Total Concealment from being night and several squares away) and attack again to get my sneak attack. Another easy 25 damage. By round 2, I moved up behind the Swordmage. The barbarian would have had to run to get to the fight and was still licking his wounds and was afraid of granting combat advantage (low defenses). I set up a 1-2 Combo with Nightmare Shades for a 4 Shade invoke on the Elite, the Artificer buffed me with Magic Weapon.

Round 3, Shadow Storm 1d10+4d6+Dex+Cha+Cha+3(adjacent Creatures)+3(Artificer Wis). 41 Damage, the biggest hit of the session. Round after that, I used Targeted for Death, missed but had 4 shouds for the next round and hit for 38 damage.

Conclusions

I felt I was mobile enough, I was always able to get to a position of relative saftey behind our defender thanks fo Shadow Step, and I was only bloodied once. Making sure you've got enough time to invoke your shrouds before a target dies is more difficult than I had expected, but added a level of strategy that I enjoyed. High damage was not garunteed, but was good for one or two big hits per encounter.

I Shadow Storm

I didn't use Shade Form, but it was my mistake. I could have used it to defend myself while I was surrounded, but I used an action point to escape with Shadow Step instead; it is a lesson learned.

I was worried about my choice of Sneak of Shadows at lvl 1, but as mentioned before, I needed it for roleplaying reasons. I was plesantly suprised as it upped my damage in between invoking my shrouds and you don't lose it on a miss. I have a feeling that finding ways to improve my damage during shroud stacking rounds is the way to make my DPR more reliable.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Vahn, level 1
Changeling, Assassin
Guild Training: Night Stalker
Birth - Among Another Race: Among Another Race (Human)
Background: Arcane Mercenary, Birth - Among Another Race, Occupation - Bounty Hunter, Society - Poor, Geography - Mountains (Diplomacy class skill)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 14, Dex 18, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 16.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 14, Dex 16, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 14.


AC: 16 Fort: 13 Reflex: 14 Will: 15
HP: 24 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 6

TRAINED SKILLS
Stealth +9, Streetwise +8, Acrobatics +9, Diplomacy +8, Bluff +10, Thievery +9

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana, Dungeoneering +1, Endurance +2, Heal +1, History, Insight +3, Intimidate +3, Nature +1, Perception +1, Religion, Athletics -1

FEATS
Level 1: Sneak of Shadows

POWERS
Assassin at-will 1: Shadow Storm
Assassin at-will 1: Executioner's Noose
Assassin encounter 1: Nightmare Shades
Assassin daily 1: Targeted for Death

ITEMS
Greatsword, Leather Armor, Adventurer's Kit, Crossbow, Crossbow Bolts (40)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

About my build

1) I took Sneak of Shadows for roleplaying reasons. I wanted to free up a Skill slot to take Diplomacy as granted by my background and retain all my Roguesque skills.
2) I took Executioners Noose because I saw my character as using a Crossbow if he was ever not in melee, and Executioner's Noose has nice flavor.

I've decided to keep a journal of my play experiences as an Assassin, which I started in this thread. I'll be keeping those posts here as well in case this format is better for some people.

I'll begin by stating my reasons for keeping this:

1) To give people a source of information about how the class plays without resorting to DPR calculations and comparisons to other classes.
2) To include party tactics and the "DM Factor" into the discussion of how a class performs.
3) To encourage a trend: I can't say how often I've waffled back and forth between two or three different classes because I could never be sure how well they would perform and scrutinized optimized builds only to be disappointed because they didn't match what I thought they would do in application.

With that, I hope you enjoy what is to come.