Ninja Assassin

[d3ftblade]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Halfling Female
(1 Fighter \ 6 Monk \ 13 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 300
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 22
Will: 9

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             12                    14
Dexterity            18                    27
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         16                    18
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               8                    31
Bluff                 3                    11
Concentration         2                    23
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device        7                    27
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  8                    39
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  5                    14
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         8                    39
Open Lock             8                    31
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                3                     4
Search                7                    27
Spot                  3                    22
Swim                  1                     2
Tumble                8                    14
Use Magic Device      3                    22

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Bluff (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Hide (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide I
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently I


Level 2 (Monk)
Skill: Concentration (+5)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Monk Jump I
Enhancement: Monk Tumble I


Level 3 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 5 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+2)
Skill: Move Silently (+2)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I


Level 6 (Monk)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning II
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 7 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Halfling Guile II


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Hide II


Level 9 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently II


Level 10 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning III
Enhancement: Monk Jump II


Level 11 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I


Level 12 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Halfling Guile III
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose II


Level 13 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Enhancement: Static Charge


Level 14 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Enhancement: Monk Tumble II


Level 15 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning IV


Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Enhancement: Halfling Guile IV


Level 17 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Improved Evasion
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II


Level 18 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III


Level 19 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Cripling Strike
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training IV

That is My exact build. Keep in mind that I went for kama specialization. So Adjust that accordingly. At lvl 14 you can pick up Ninja Spy. Only thing I didn't like is that Ninja Spy and Assassinate 2 came so late in the game, but I juggled the Lvl ups to keep my Trap skills current for my level. At Max Lvl I have a 30 Dc to my assassinate which hits most everything in the vale consistently, with the exception of those pesky orothons. I did also happen to Assassinate a Flesh render in the Subterrane the other day while my whole guild was watching... i kinda felt like a Bad A$$ xD

I chose the versatility of the kama's over the hand wraps i.e. vorprals and more importantly a paralyzer in the off hand... although I believe hand wraps would give me a 1d8 dmg roll instead of a 1d6, but that gap will close when I finish my greensteel, another perk that hand wraps can't offer xD

Also this char can easily pick up long swords by dropping 1 toughness and picking up whirling Steel. And is centered with short swords. So it gives it a little variety.

Aslo note that this is a halfling build and maximizes the sneak attack that I do have. xD If ur another race drop the Cunning and guile which will free up a lot of AP and pick up whatever u like.

[Aerendil]

don't suppose you could add which action points you took at what lvl?
Would help this newbie out alot

I'm at work currently, but I'll make a mental note to run this through the DDO Character Generator tonight and post the AP selection.
I tend to wing it by level, generally, as I know what I want, but I see how it could be helpful for some to know they're on the right track.

Also keep in mind that when I posted this, this was a concept build and I was going off my DDO experiences to know it would solo well, yet hadn't actually tested it with this combo (as Ninja had just released). I'm levelling one now who's nowhere near cap, so the other experiences from posters at end-game will be a better indication of how this combination fares than what I can provide.

*snip*
That is My exact build. Keep in mind that I went for kama specialization. So Adjust that accordingly. At lvl 14 you can pick up Ninja Spy. Only thing I didn't like is that Ninja Spy and Assassinate 2 came so late in the game, but I juggled the Lvl ups to keep my Trap skills current for my level. At Max Lvl I have a 30 Dc to my assassinate which hits most everything in the vale consistently, with the exception of those pesky orothons. I did also happen to Assassinate a Flesh render in the Subterrane the other day while my whole guild was watching... i kinda felt like a Bad A$$ xD

I chose the versatility of the kama's over the hand wraps i.e. vorprals and more importantly a paralyzer in the off hand... although I believe hand wraps would give me a 1d8 dmg roll instead of a 1d6, but that gap will close when I finish my greensteel, another perk that hand wraps can't offer xD

Couple of good points here I wanted to highlight, as they tackle some questions I've had from other players. One was on race - why did I go with Drow?
Well, mostly for the bonus to shortswords. That +2 per hit/damage can make a difference, especially when you have something like 100 swings in a minute. But truth be told, your main damage is from sneak attack damage, so this build can work this with most races. I wouldn't worry *too* much about that. As noted above, Halfling is always a great racial choice and can work equally well.
Drow will have better shortsword damage and a higher starting INT (generally) for assassinate / trap skills;
Halflings tend to have better saves and better sneak damage.
To each their own, though, really.

As for weapon choices, it's a bit of a double-edged sword here. By going Monk 6 to unlock Ninja I, you unlock the ability to use shortswords - yet you still want to limit yourself to monk weapons to stay centered at all times.
Which means kamas, shortswords, handwraps, shuriken, and quarterstaves. It's not the best selection of weaponry to choose from, but it can work very well.

A good player will make use of *all* of these, as suggested above. Open up your weapon choices to include all of these weapons, and you should never lack for a weapon to use. Need vorpalling? Kamas. Need radiance? Shortswords. Need to tackle slimes or rust monsters? Handwraps.

Handwraps can be both a blessing and a curse to this build, however, so keep that in mind. The bonuses of handwraps are that your str bonus applies to every single hit (which isn't a factor with this build as it's finesse), but also that you only need *one* weapon to equip. Want a monster bane, smiting, disrupting, etc. on every attack? Just use handwraps. With kamas or shortswords, you'd need twin weapons, which can prove to be expensive or difficult to obtain.
However, with kamas or shortswords, you get the versatility to mix and match weapons. Wield an insight weapon in your offhand to boost your AC, or even a backstabbing weapon in the offhand to boost your dps. And kamas and shortswords provide weapon enhancements that you simply can't get on handwraps, such as wounding of puncturing, vorpal, or even min2 or radiance (shroud-crafting).

The end result, though, is that you should never really lack for a weapon to use, no matter the situation. Collect weapons for everything!

One final note on d3ftblade's build is that our levelling path is different, yet either way is perfectly viable. As Ninja 1 is at Monk 6, and Assassinate is at Rogue 12, you're not going to have *both* of these until level 18+ - so it really is a bit of an endgame build. But whichever one comes first is completely up to you and how you build it. D3ftblade clearly went for Assassinate first; I went for Ninja I.
For the record, my levelling path so far has been Rogue 1, Monk 1-3, Rogue 2, Monk 4-6 (Ninja I unlocked), Rog from that point onward.

Hope this helps some.

[spiritor]

thanks both

I should prob have given more information, my plan is to go drow and follow Aer's path to ninja spy1 first, aswell as
7 levels of monk for that 3 min heal that was mentioned.

What i share with with D3ft is wanting to focus on weapons over wraps though i my case short swords would be
1st choice kamas 2nd and was hoping but not sure quarter staves would work on oozes, had forgotten about rust monsters.

Sofar i made it to lvl 1 rogue 2monk, most aps saved was planning on following the 1rog/3monk/1rog/3monk way with adding last monk level as my 10th level, but seeing as i never been higher than lvl 4 dont know if earlier would be better.

Sofar been lot of fun

[d3ftblade]

I fell in love with Vorpals, but I guess you really don't need imp crit for that. Honestly a rad short sword would serve my purposes better as it's got a higher crit range, but I went kama's out of pure flavor. Plain and simple, with that being said, i do carry a few other weapons, that I have stumbled upon. One of my bb's is a short sword, and i carry around wraps. Again, if you went with a str build you could easily wield long swords as well. Although drow don't get racial bonuses for that.

As per soloing, this is a difficult build to solo unless you get yourself some decent gear. I recommend at the very least a para weapon, Still slightly irriated that paralyze doesn't get auto sneak like hold or blind, but oh well. If you have the resources from shroud a rad 2 weap will exponentially increase ur solo viability. As well as an aspect of smoke 2 item. But I tend to stay mainly to parties and raids. Not saying soloing can't be done, it's just a little bit tricky. If you do make sure u don't skimp on the umd. xD

Still wish the **** Devs would have made it possible to go WoTA/Ninja spy, 20% staff haste, 1d10 +6 str staff, and perma incorp would have been SSSOOOOO win. I guess a guy can dream huh?

[tanzer]

Well the rogue gives ALOT of extra DPS as well as adding the possibility to disable, search, open locks and UMD. UMD is very helpful for the most builds since it opens up alot more options like heal scrolls, cure x wounds wands, shield wands, stone skin wands etc.

Multiclassing can sure go wrong if you are not knowing what you are doing but if you do then it can add alot of benefits.

/Khierra

amen to the skills thing.. my spysin (ninja spy assassin.. see what i did there?) has a standing 43 move silent.. cap'd concentration, disable, search, umd, open lock, and if i recall correctly, high/cap'd spot...

[spiritor]

would this end up workable? never used the planner before so prob missed stuff

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Drow Male
(7 Monk \ 13 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 226
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 20
Will: 11

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             14                 15                   15
Dexterity            16                 22                   25
Constitution         14                 15                   15
Intelligence         12                 13                   13
Wisdom               12                 13                   14
Charisma             10                 11                   11

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    26
Bluff                 0                     5
Concentration         2                    14
Diplomacy             4                    23
Disable Device        5                    24
Haggle                1                     6
Heal                  1                     2
Hide                  7                    18
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  2                     4
Listen                1                     4
Move Silently         7                    23
Open Lock             7                    20
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     1
Search                5                    27
Spot                  3                    20
Swim                  2                     2
Tumble                4                    11
Use Magic Device      4                    23

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Hide (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide I
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently I


Level 2 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Monk Jump I
Enhancement: Monk Tumble I


Level 3 (Monk)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Skill: Search (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness


Level 5 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+3)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I


Level 6 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Search (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Defense
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Perception I
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Monk Jump II
Enhancement: Monk Tumble II


Level 7 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance I
Enhancement: Porous Soul


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Adept of Wind


Level 9 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II


Level 10 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide II


Level 11 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+4)
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently II


Level 12 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 13 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II


Level 14 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+5)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III


Level 15 (Rogue)
Skill: Diplomacy (+5)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Expertise
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II


Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III


Level 17 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost III


Level 18 (Rogue)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost IV
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin II


Level 19 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Crippling Strike
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I

[Aerendil]

Updated the original post with U12 build preference.

Of main interest - weapon of choice would now be handwraps over shortswords.

Going 12 Monk / 7 Rogue / 1 XX instead, as others have done, is still viable, but in my experience it's a bit harder to keep all the trapskills up, and your sneak damage would be slightly less as well. But then you get T3 stances, Abundant Step, Touch of Death, and a slightly better base die on your handwraps. To each their own I guess

My main as of this post is going through a Ranger life TR, but once completed, this will be my next (and possibly final) plan.
Provided I'm not torn away by SWTOR

[Vissarion]

I still love this build, and since I TRed my original Ninja Assassin into pure monk, I was thinking about rolling a new one to take into account recent changes. I still prefer the 12/7/1 build, but my conclusions are pretty much the same as yours except I think I'll go Human for the extra feat and skill points.

One of the most fun characters I've leveled and played, and I'm looking forward to see how it will scale with build improvements from the first go-round.