D&Dtools1

Most stonedeath assassins are hobgoblin rogues or rangers, but bugbears and even exceptional goblins have been known to undertake stonedeath training and learn the ways of infiltrating dwarf strongholds by disarming traps, weakening gates, and assassinating dwarf leaders.

Requirements

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Stonedeath assassins gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Meld into Stone (Sp): In perfecting their skills to elude pursuit within the halls of a dwarf stronghold, stonedeath assassins develop a near mystical ability to meld with stone surfaces for brief periods. A stonedeath assassins can use meld into stone as the spell of the same name cast by a cleric of a level equal to the stonedeath assassin's class level. A stonedeath assassin can use this ability once per day per class level.

Trapfinding (Ex): A stonedeath assassin can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. Finding a nonmagical trap has a DC of at least 20, or higher if it is well hidden. Finding a magic trap has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell used to create it. A stonedeath assassin can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. A magic trap generally has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell used to create it. A stonedeath assassin who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it (with his party) without disarming it.

Sneak Attack: If a stone death assassin of 2nd level or higher can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from his attack, he can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Basically, the stonedeath assassin's attack deals extra damage any time his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the stonedeath assassin flanks his target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 2nd level, and it increases to 2d6 at 4th level. Should the stonedeath assassin score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. (See Table 8—5: Attack Roll Modifiers and Table 8—6: Armor Class Modifiers, page 151 of the Player's Handbook, for combat situations in which the stonedeath assassin flanks an opponent or the opponent loses his Dexterity bonus to AC.) Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. A stonedeath assassin can't strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a stonedeath assassin can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. He cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual —4 penalty, because he must make optional use of his weapon to execute a sneak attack. (See Nonlethal Damage, page 146 of the Player's Handbook.) A stonedeath assassin can sneak attack only living creatures that have a discernible anatomy—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to extra damage from critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The stonedeath assassin must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A stonedeath assassin cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment (see page 152 of the Player's Handbook) or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

Stoneskulk (Ex): At 2nd level, a stonedeath assassin learns subtle tricks for moving and blending with stone, especially in caverns and worked stone corridors. When underground and touching a stone surface, the character can use the Hide skill even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.

Corrupt Stone (Su): More than simple assassins, the disciples of this class turn their deep understanding and devoted training against the stone that their dwarf enemies love so much. Starting at 3rd level, a stonedeath assassin can weaken and corrupt objects of stone and creatures of earth with a simple touch. With a successful melee touch attack, a stonedeath assassin can deal 3d6 points of damage to a stone object or a creature with the earth subtype. This damage ignores the hardness of such an object or overcomes the natural damage reduction of such a creature. This damage increases to 4d6 points at 4th level and 5d6 points at 5th level. A stonedeath assassin can use this ability once per round, up to a maximum number of times per day equal to his class level.

Stonedeath Strike (Su): If a 5th-level stone death assassin studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of petrifying the target. While studying the victim, the stonedeath assassin can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target, the target does not detect the stonedeath assassin or recognize him as an enemy, and both remain in contact with a stone surface. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + stonedeath assassin's class level + the stonedeath assassin's Int modifier), the victim's body is petrified (as the flesh to stone spell). Humanoids with the dwarf or gnome subtype take a —4 penalty on this save. If the victim's saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once a stonedeath assassin has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the attack within the next 3 rounds. If a stonedeath strike is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the stonedeath assassin does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before the assassin can attempt another stonedeath strike. Both the stonedeath assassin and the victim must remain in contact with a stone surface while the assassin studies the victim and while the attack is made.

Adaptation

The stonedeath assassin prestige class combines traditional rogue and assassin abilities with ones related to the likely environment the class will hunt in. You could create a similar "poison thorn assassin" class, for example, that was designed for elves, not goblinoids. You would replace meld into stone, stoneskulk, and corrupt stone with forestskulk, tree shape, and perhaps tree stride or blight. Rather than stonedeath strike as a 5th-level ability, perhaps a poison thorn assassin can exude its own poison periodically for a particularly deadly attack.

Advancement