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, 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 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 weakening their defences 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 on the map pick a number for a direction and shine the light in the direction of the rolled 1d4. If the sun is shinning and your heading north and it's mid day, the sun would be behind you. in a dungeon you can roll and adjust the light accordingly. i built and intended to play this as a 5th level rogue and having options to multiclass into fighter or being a fighter gone rogue... haha or any other class that one would be fun and 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 options and classes.

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 Feat Weapon focus

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.

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 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
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 weapons dexterity based light weapon user, they may also include two weapon fighting. hopefully the class is fairly well rounded, open 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 or add light sensitivity to the character after leaving and or entering their shadow from being effected by direct sunlight or a spell. 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, 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. 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 6/day +intelligence modifier and 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 2/day +intelligence modifier and is now cast as deeper darkness. the 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 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 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 they already have Uncanny Dodge, they gain 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 including themselves + 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 cats grace spell ( or bulls strength if you're a strength based Assassin or you may use owls wisdom or eagles splendor to suit your specific class main ability modifier ) and the spell lasts for as long the shadow touch ability. a shadow touched makes no sound when moving around. 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 the Shadow Assassin now adds her intelligence modifier to her main ability modifier. This allows the shadow assassin to strike their foes where it hurts most. once per turn you can make a shadow strike along with your full round attack or your sneak attack or skirmish ability. this 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. this also increases your critical multiplier by 1 taking a weapon from a x2 to a x3. this ability only applies to the weapon you have selected with the weapon focus feat. to gain this ability on another weapon you must take weapon focus feat for each weapon 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. 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 weapons you have chosen your weapon focus feat with. bows and weapons are now treated as if they where one size category larger, this works like the monkey grip feat but you don't suffer any penalty to your attack as your shadows make it easier to hold and use your weapons. this works with any spell, feat or item that would increase your weapon or characters size. you also gain an additional +1 to your weapons threat range. 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. this allow the Shadow Assassin to use the Greater invisibility spell as they wish for as long as they like. you also have the deeper darkness spell active while using this ability centered on the caster. this skill allows the user to not be heard, smelt and seen by see invisibility or true seeing within a 30 foot radios around them as they are surrounded by complete darkness. Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Prestige Classes