Now, while assassins aren't intended for use by the players, they make great NPCs. A 5th-level rogue can take the assassin prestige class as soon as he hits level 6, meaning that a mid-to-high-level party could encounter a lot of characters with that prestige class. They work best when unseen, although that doesn't mean they just strike from the shadows; their Disguise skill is something that should never be neglected. The assassin could be anyone. Although Thousand-Faced Thralgar isn't an assassin, he could very easily be adapted into one.
If the PCs become targets of the assassins' guild, give yourself a gaming session or two to plan the assassination; the guild is meticulous in its method. They study their quarry's movements, pick their spot carefully and then strike swiftly out of nowhere. Do the PCs frequent a tavern and often go wenching? Then a female assassin is ideal; preferably an attractive one, capable of slipping poison into a PCs' drink. Do the PCs spend a lot of time in the back streets and rougher districts? Post assassins in the shadows. Do they walk down the main street every day? A sniper concealed in the clock tower might be a good idea. If the PCs seek bodyguards, then perhaps one of their hired hands is a member of the guild!
Naturally you can't expect fully-fledged assassins to be given the contract every time; there aren't enough assassins to go round unless the campaign takes place in a large city. However, if they target the PCs, killing them could be a prerequisite to joining the guild.
Looking at the prerequisites for joining the assassin's guild, here is a list of the levels in the basic classes that a character would have to be before joining the guild. The table assumes that the NPC is single-classed before assuming the assassin prestige class, and gains at least 3 skill points per level due to Intelligence bonus or a racial bonus of 1 skill point per level (as per humans). The minimum levels are calculated from the bare minimum number of skill points that must be spent in the prerequisite skills (4 ranks in Disguise, 8 ranks in Hide, 8 ranks in Move Silently).
| Class | Level | Alignment |
|---|---|---|
| Adept | 13 | Any evil |
| Aristocrat | 13 | Any evil |
| Barbarian | 13 | CE, NE |
| Bard | 5 | CE, NE |
| Cleric | 13 | Any evil |
| Commoner | 13 | Any evil |
| Druid | 13 | NE |
| Expert | 5 | Any evil |
| Fighter | 13 | Any evil |
| Monk | 5 | LE |
| Ex-Paladin | 13 | LE |
| Ranger | 5 | Any evil |
| Rogue | 5 | Any evil |
| Sorcerer | 13 | Any evil |
| Warrior | 13 | Any evil |
| Wizard | 13 | Any evil |
Monstrous Assassins
A number of monsters make ideal assassins too! Some, such as goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears gain a +4 racial bonus to Move Silently. While this does not count towards the prerequisites for the prestige class, it gives them an edge over their competitors. Doppelgangers have an advantage too; they start with (among others) 4 ranks of Disguise, as well as a +4 racial bonus and a higher-than-average Charisma score. While they would still need 5 levels in a class with Hide and Move Silently as class skills -- and would be slightly hindered by only having (8 + Int modifier) × their class level in skill points, they already fulfil one of the four prerequisites. Show a bit of restraint, though: doppelganger assassins are one of the oldest clichés in the book.