Shadow Assassin (3.5e Prestige Class)

Becoming a Shadow Assassin

Shadow Assassin is one who prefers the darkness, one who has spent most if not all their time growing up and training in the shadows or 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 proper defenses and or not confident 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 find accomplishing their tasks is easier in the dark. how ever you wish to play this class as long as you 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 eventually preventing them from moving and 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 flashlight on the battle map and using any object that would represent the character or objects size or shape. this would include a wall, statues, columns or any 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 on the map shine the light in the direction of the rolled 1d4. If the sun is shinning and your heading north and it's mid day so the sun would be behind you. in a dungeon you can roll and adjust the light accordingly.

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 3d6+ sneak attack or skirmish feature from the scout.

Alignment: any

Required Intelligence +15 required

Race: any race as long as you have darkvission from another source.

Required Skills: +5 hide,+5 move silently,+5 spot,+5 listen, +5 search

Table: The Shadow Assassin

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Hide in Plain Sight, See in Darkness, Shadow Step
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+0	Darkness, Sneak Attack +1d6
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+1	Improved Shadow Step, Shadow Cloak
4th	+3	+1	+4	+1	Shadow Sink, Sneak Attack +1d6, Uncanny Dodge
5th	+4	+1	+4	+1	Shadow Touch,
6th	+5	+2	+5	+2	Evasion Sneak Attack +1d6
7th	+6	+2	+5	+2	Shadow image
8th	+7	+2	+6	+2	Improved shadow sink, Sneak Attack +1d6
9th	+8	+3	+6	+3	Shadow Strike
10th	+9	+3	+7	+3	Shadow Embodiment, Sneak Attack +1d6
Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level) Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha). ====Class Features==== Shadow Assassins uses 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 assassin, dexterity based light weapon user, they may also include two weapon fighting. hopefully the class is fairly well rounded and a fun option for any 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. Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): At 1st level, a shadow Assassin can use the Hide skill even when being observed. See in Darkness (Ex): At 1st level, a Shadow Assassin can see in darkness of any sort, even magical darkness. Shadow Step (Sp): At 1st level, a Shadow Assassin can use 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. Shadow stepping in an enemies space provokes attacks of opportunity if not hidden. At 3rd level, (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 as a swift action. Darkness (Su): At 2nd level, the Shadow Assassin can use darkness as a spell-like ability 1/day + their intelligence modifier. this works just like the darkness spell but because of your control over the shadows the radios and duration is increased by double. at level 6 can be used 3/day +intelligence modifier and is now cast as deeper darkness . a shadow touched cannot be effected by this if the caster chooses. 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 theory 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 they shadows obscure enemies from seeing you. can use this skill 3/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 with their shadows. this is a full round action to use. anyone affected by this suffers -3 to there armor class and has their movement speed halved. 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 or out anyone affected must make their save again regardless of succeeding or failing. this lasts for 1min +character level +intelligence modifier. this counts as a shadow. Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 4th level, the Shadow Assassin gains Uncanny Dodge. If she already has Uncanny Dodge, she gains Improved Uncanny Dodge. 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 + their intelligence modifier. this lasts for 30mins +character level +intelligence modifier. and can only be casted once per day. the shadow touched and its caster gain the effects of the mass cats grace spell and the spell lasts for as long the shadow touch ability. a shadow touched makes no sound when moving around. Evasion (Su): At 6th level, a Shadow Assassin gains Evasion, if they already have Evasion they gain improved Evasion. shadow Image (Sp): At 7th level the Shadow Assassin can cast mirror image as the spell. these are made and formed by the shadows and are affected by shadow touch ability and last for twice the duration. casted as the casters level. can be casted 1/day +intelligence modifier. these count as shadows. Improved Shadow sink (Su): At 8th level the [[Shadow sink] ability enhances to improved shadow sink . works as the shadow sink ability but as the improved version shadow hands come out of the affected area and grabbing everyone affected by Shadow Sink ability, anyone affected loose their armor class to their ac and are considered grappled. shadow touched allies are not affected by the shadow sink ability. see shadow sink ability for saves and duration. Shadow Strike (Su): At 9th level, the Shadow Assassin gains the ability to add her intelligence modifier to her dexterity modifier to strike their foes where it hurts most, once per turn you can make a shadow strike along with your sneak attack or skirmish ability that allows you to add +1 to your weapon threat range taking it from 19/20 to an 18/20 and so on, this stacks with a keen weapon and other abilities that would lower it further. also this increases your critical multiplier by 1 taking a weapon from a x2 to a x3. Shadow Embodiment (Sp): At 10th level, a Shadow Assassin can cloak their self in pure shadow. This works like shadow cloak but upgraded. this allow the Shadow Assassin to use the Greater invisibility spell as they wish for as long as they like. this skill allows the user to not be seen, heard or smelt by see invisibility or true seeing within a 60 foot radios around them as they are surrounded by complete darkness. you also add your intelligence modifier to your primary ability modifier such as dexterity, strength or wisdom while active. Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Prestige Classes