The Ninja is a very unique character class. He is a master of stealth and intrusion, and has a fair amount of fighting ability as well. Their skills are a combination between the rogue and the fighter, and canusually pass off as low or mid level fighters or rogues.
Adventures:Ninja typically find themselves in the role of the spy or assassin, following the local samurai unseen from the trees and bushes, breaking into the shogun's castle to steal his battle plans, killing the evil merchant who more or less owns the village and mistreats his people. Usually the mission is set forth by the clan elders, but there are lone wolf and independent ninja.
Characteristics:Ninja are masters of intrusion and stealth. They focus on many of the same skills as rogues, although they are not quite as good as rogues, and also some skills of the fighter and monk. Ninja are also fair combatants, with a wide array of weapon proficiencies better than that of the rogue. They also have an uncanny ability to sense danger when it is near, and in addition to their martial arts training, they also train themselves mentally.
Alignment:Ninja can be of any alignment, although they typically follow the alignment of their clan.
Religion:Ninja follow any deity worshipped by the clan, but can be of any religion.
Background:Ninja are born into a ninja clan, and begin training in the ninja arts from a very young age. They learn how to fight, meditate, and kill or incapacitate without making a sound. Ninja of the same clan share a special bond, as though they were brothers, but hold no bond with ninja from other clans.
Races:Ninja are by far most commonly human. The clan elders are almost always human as well. However, other races sometimes become ninja, usually when they are found at a young enough age and become accepted by the clan. Elves, half elves, and halflings are probably the best suited to the life of a ninja, as their natural dexterity is a great asset to meny of their skills. Dwarves tend to be better fighting ninja, while gnomes, with their talent for illusion magic, also find a talent for the ninja arts. Half-orcs are least common of all, due to their great size and low intelligence, but occassionally find their way into service of a ninja clan.
Game Rule Information
Abilities: Dexterity and Intelligence are the most inportant abilities for a ninja to have, as most of their skills are related to these abilities.Dexterity also gives the ninja better protection, as they do not wear heavy armors.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6
Starting Gold: 4d4 x 10
The Ninja
| Level | Base Attack | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Unarmed Damage | Special |
| 1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | 1d6 | Unarmed Strike, Stunning Attack, Evasion |
| 2 | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | 1d6 | Sneak Attack +1d6 |
| 3 | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | 1d6 | Uncanny Dodge (Dex bonus to AC) |
| 4 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | 1d6 | Still Mind |
| 5 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | 1d6 | Slow Fall (20 ft.) |
| 6 | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | 1d6 | Uncanny Dodge (can't be flanked) |
| 7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | 1d6 | Sneak Attack +2d6 |
| 8 | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | 1d8 | Slow Fall (30 ft.), Improved Trip feat |
| 9 | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | 1d8 | Leap of the Clouds |
| 10 | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | 1d8 | Sneak Attack +3d6, Weapon Focus (any ninja weapon or unarmed strike) |
| 11 | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | +7 | 1d8 | Improved Evasion |
| 12 | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | 1d8 | Slow Fall (50 ft.) |
| 13 | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | 1d8 | Ki strike (+1), sneak attack +4d6 |
| 14 | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | 1d8 | Uncanny Dodge (+1 vs. traps) |
| 15 | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | 1d8 | Diamond Body |
| 16 | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | 1d10 | Sneak Attack +5d6, Ki strike (+2) |
| 17 | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | 1d10 | Uncanny dodge (+2 vs. traps) |
| 18 | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | 1d10 | Quivering Palm |
| 19 | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | 1d10 | Sneak Attack +6d6 |
| 20 | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | 1d10 | Slow Fall (any distance), Uncanny dodge (+3 vs. traps) |
Class Skills: The Ninja's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Devie (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Pick Pocket (Dex), Profession (Wis), Read Lips (Int), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex)
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6+ Int modifier) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6+ Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the ninja.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ninja is proficient with simple weapons, plus kama, nunchaku, siangham, shuriken, katana, ninja-to, short sword, long sword, wakizashi, hankyu/short bow, daikyu/long bow, and manriki-gusari. The ninja is proficient with light and medium armors but not shields. Note that a ninja can only use a katana two handed unless he or she gains the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Katana) Feat.
Sneak Attack: As per Rogue, page 47, PHB.
Unarmed Strike: As per Monk, Page 39, PHB.
Stunning Attack: As per Monk, Page 39, PHB
Evasion: As per Monk, Pages 39-40, PHB
Uncanny Dodge: As per Rogue, Page 48, PHB
Still Mind: As per Monk, Page 40, PHB
Slow Fall: As per Monk, Page 40, PHB
Improved Trip: See Improved Trip feat, Page 83, PHB
Leap of the Clouds: As per Monk, Page 40, PHB
Weapon Focus: At 10th level, the ninja gains a free Weapon Focus feat for unarmed strike or any weapon on the ninja's class proficiency list.
Improved Evasion: As per Monk, Page 48, PHB
Ki Strike: As per Monk, Page 48, PHB
Diamond Body: As per Monk, Page 48, PHB
Quivering Palm: As per Monk, Page 48, PHB
Human Ninja Starting Package
Armor: Leather +2 AC, speed 30 ft.
Weapons: Ninja-to (1d6+1, crit. x 2, 2 lbs., Small, Slashing),
Hankyu (1d6, crit. x 3, 2 lbs., range 60 ft.,Medium, Piercing)
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to (6 + Int modifier) x 4 + 4
| Skill | Ranks | Ability | Armor |
| Balance | 4 | Dex | 0 |
| Bluff | 4 | Cha | |
| Climb | 4 | Str | 0 |
| Disable Device | 4 | Int | |
| Hide | 4 | Dex | 0 |
| Jump | 4 | Str | 0 |
| Listen | 4 | Wis | |
| Move Silently | 4 | Dex | 0 |
| Open Lock | 4 | Dex | |
| Pick Pocket | 4 | Dex | 0 |
| Search | 4 | Int | |
| Spot | 4 | Wis | |
| Tumble | 4 | Dex | 0 |
Feat: Improved Initiative
Bonus Feat: Alertness
Gear: Backpack with waterskin, bedroll, nightsuit, one day's trail rations, flint and steel, lockpicks. Quiver with 20 arrows.
Alternative Ninja Starting Package
As Human Ninja except
Race: Dwarf, elf, half-elf or half orc
Armor: Speed 20 ft (dwarf only)
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to (6 + Int modifier) x 4
Bonus Feat: None
Alternative Ninja Starting Package
As Human Ninja, except
Race: Gnome or Halfling
Armor: Speed 20 ft.
Weapons: Sling (1d4, crit. x 2, rage 50 ft., Small, Bludgeoning) instead of Hankyu
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to (6 + Int modifier) x 4
Bonus Feat: None
Gear: Sack of sling bullets instead of quiver of arrows.
New Weapons
| Weapon | Cost | Damage | Critical | Range | Weight | Type |
| Ninja-to | 10 gp | 1d6 | 19-20 x 2 | - | 2 lbs. | Slashing |
| Manriki-gusari | 15 gp | 1d6 | x 2 | - | 10 lbs. | Bludgeoning |
| Wakizashi | 300 gp | 1d6 | 19-20 x 2 | - | 3 lbs. | Slashing |
| Katana | 400 gp | 1d10 | 19-20 x 2 | - | 6 lbs. | Slashing |
| Hankyu | 30 gp | 1d6 | x 3 | 60 ft. | 2 lbs. | Piercing |
| Daikyu | 75 gp | 1d8 | x 3 | 100 ft. | 3 lbs. | Piercing |
Ninja-to: This is the basic weapon of the ninja. It is similar to a short sword, although it is a single edge blade. The hilt can be hollowed out so that the ninja can store small poitions, darts, or any other tiny object in the sword. The prcedure costs about 5 gp.
Manriki-gusari: This is a long chain with weighted ends. It can be used as a bludgeoning weapon but can also be used to make entangling attacks.
Wakizashi: This slightly curved, single edged short sword is made with a skill only a masterful weaponsmith possesses. It counts as a masterwork weapon and grants the weilder a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
Katana: While functionally a bastard sword, this sword is the most matserfully made nonmagical weapon in existence. It counts as a masterwork weapon and grants the wielder a +1 bonus to attack rolls. A katana is too large to use in one hand without special training, thus it is an exotic weapon. A Medium-size creature can use a katana two handed as a Martial weapon, or a Large creature can use it one handed in the same fashion. With Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Katana), a Medium-size creature can use this weapon one-handed.
Hankyu: The hankyu is effectively a short bow.
Daikyu: The daikyu is effectively a long bow; however, it may be used on horseback due to its design.
Submitted by Lee Heroux