Ninja Skill Monkey (Ninja Build)

Ninja Skill Monkey

Human Ninja

I know how to do that!

The Ninja Skill Monkey is very close to The Classic Ninja, if not for a few attribute rearranging. He gets 12 skill points a level, and is still fairly lethal in combat. Unlike the Bard Skill Monkey, he does have a few skills that are not class skills: Fly, Handle Animal, Heal, Ride, Spellcraft, and Survival. You can dip ranger for most of these, or you can grab a trait or two which adds them. However, he gets more skills than the Bard Skill Monkey.

He dual wields wakizashis and has a number of tricks to gain sneak attack. He also spends a few feats improving his Shuriken abilities, for those times when he really wants to stack on the hurt when enemies are flat footed.

Attributes (with Racial Modifier, Human)

Dex>Con>Int>Cha>Str>Wis

I don’t think putting too many points into Charisma is worth is for Ki. Feel free to switch strength and wisdom if you think an additional 5% resist chance is worth one additional damage per attack.

Put all your attribute gains into Dexterity!

15 Point BuySTR: 10
DEX: 18 (16+2)
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 8
CHA: 10

20 Point BuySTR: 10
DEX: 18 (16+2)
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 10
CHA: 10

25 Point BuySTR: 12
DEX: 18 (16+2)
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 10
CHA: 13

Traits

Adopted -> Carefully Hidden: +1 to Will and other small bonuses.
Reactionary: +2 to Initiative

Feats/Ninja Tricks

1: Weapon Finesse, Two-Weapon Fighting
2: Combat Trick: Weapon Focus: Wakizashi 
3: Improved Initiative
4: Flurry of Stars
5: Point Blank Shot
6:Weapon Training: Weapon Focus: Shuriken
7: Rapid Shot
8: Vanishing Trick
9: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
10: Invisible Blade
11: Dodge
12: Advanced Talents: Crippling Strike
13: Iron Will
14: Evasion
15: Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
16: Improved Evasion
17: Improved Iron Will
18: Fast Stealth
19: Extra Ki
20: Rogue Trick: Ki Pool

Suggested Gear

Nothing terribly unusual here. You want wakizashis that will hit. If you can get agile wakizashis, all the better! And you want your AC to be boosted up.

Sniper Goggles are good, but you probably won’t be able to hit anything from far away with Shuriken.

Amulet of Hidden Strength is great for regaining ki points! +2 Ki points a day for 9,000? Yes Sir!

What the Build Looks Like at...

20 Point Buy, Mundane Gear Only (no magic or masterwork)

Level 1: 12 Skill points. 10 HP, 17 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +2/+2 dealing d6 and d6 sneak attack.

Level 4: 48 Skill points. 31 HP, 17 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +6/+6 dealing d6 and 2d6 sneak attack. Can flurry with Shuriken for +5/+5/+5 dealing d2 and 2d6 sneak attack each.

Level 8: 96 Skill points. 59 HP, 17 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +10/+10/+5 dealing d6 and 4d6 sneak attack. Can flurry with Shuriken for +7/+7/+7/+7/+7/+2 dealing d2+1 and 4d6 sneak attack each (Point Blank Shot).

Level 12: 144 Skill points. 87 HP, 18 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +9/+9/+4/+4 dealing d6 and 6d6 sneak attack. Can flurry with Shuriken for +10/+10/+10/+10/+10/+5/+5 dealing d2 and 6d6 sneak attack each. Each sneak attack deals 2 strength damage, meaning you can do 14 strength damage a turn. Invisible Blade means that you can go greater invisible for 12 rounds for one Ki point, guaranteeing sneak attacks.

Level 16: 192 Skill points. 115 HP, 18 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +13/+13/+8/+8/+3/+3 dealing d6 and 8d6 sneak attack. Can flurry with Shuriken for +14/+14/+14/+14/+14/+9/+9/+4/+4 dealing d2 and 8d6 sneak attack each. Each sneak attack deals 2 strength damage, meaning you can do 18 strength damage. Invisible Blade means that you can go greater invisible for 16 rounds for one Ki point, guaranteeing sneak attacks.

Level 20: 240 Skill points. 143 HP, 18 AC. Attacks with wakizashis at +16/+16/+11/+11/+6/+6 dealing d6 and 10d6 sneak attack. Can flurry with Shuriken for +17/+17/+17/+17/+17/+12/+12/+7/+7 dealing d2 and 10d6 sneak attack each. Each sneak attack deals 2 strength damage. Invisible Blade means that you can go greater invisible for 20 rounds for one Ki point, guaranteeing sneak attacks.

Tactics

You can max out 12 skills, which is pretty nice, or put 10 points into 24 skills, or max out 6 and put 10 into 12. You get the picture. You got a lot of skills to play around with. For reference, there are 22 skills, not including perform, profession, or craft, or knowledge.

Early on, get a flanking buddy. In the surprise round, or if you enemy is flat footed, hit them with as many shuriken as you can - it’s glorious.

At level 10, your tactics change for the amazing. Invisible blade gives you greater invisibility for rounds equal to your level: Price is one ki point. You don’t need to worry about flanking for sneak attacks, and you need to worry a lot less about being hit. At level 12, you will be doing 2 points of strength damage per sneak attack, meaning that a full round flurry of shuriken could take 12 points off of a strength score. That will take out some people immediately, and will drop almost everybody in two or three rounds. It’s awesome.

Guide to the Builds
Comprehensive Guide to the Guides

Zenith's Guide to the Ninja, Part I: Introduction, Attribute, and Races
Zenith's Guide to the Ninja, Part II: Ninja Tricks
Zenith's Guide to the Ninja, Part III: Feats
Zenith's Guide to the Ninja, Part IV: Equipment, Multi-Classing, and Builds