Assassins - Choosing a Rearrange
Introduction
This is a subject that comes up frequently on the Assassins' talker channel. The subject has been complicated slightly in recent times by the split of the guild. It should be noted that the four assassin guilds now possess differing skills and so the "ideal" assassin rearrange is now more of a myth than it ever has been.
The reasons and methods
The rearrange command allows a character to alter their stats from the default values, which are 13 in each stat. It can only be performed once, so it is wise to be very sure before you make your choice.
Once you have rearranged, your main options for altering stats are the use of stat altering items or retrophrenology. Stat items often only provide temporary effects and frequently cost guild points to use or benefit one stat to the detriment of another. Retrophrenology, altering your personality through surgery with a lump hammer, is a painful option. It allows you, at great expense, to move one stat point from one stat to another.
The main reason to rearrange is to alter your skill bonuses. Your level in a skill is not a measure of ability, it is a measure of how well trained you are. You actual ability is represented by your bonus in the skill and not your level in it. Bonus is calculated from your level in the skill and the effect that the relevant stats have on it. For example, if I had a skill level of 75 in dagger I could increase my actual ability (my bonus) with a dagger by either advancing my dagger skill or increasing my Dexterity stat. Increasing my Strength stat would also help, but not as much. Dexterity affects the dagger skill four times as much as Strength does.
Further Considerations
Other things, like the rate at which you regain GP and HP are also affected by your rearrange. HP regen rate is mainly affected by Constitution although it is affected by Strength to a far lesser extent. It needs a pretty extreme rearrange before you will see an effect. GP regen rate is linked to favouring stats that are considered in character for your guild.
For an Assassin the main stats affecting GP regen are Dexterity and Intelligence. Constitution has a lesser effect and will only provide half as much benefit as the other two.
Burden is also something to consider when rearranging. Most assassins will use dodge as their primary form of defense. Many will have their combat tactics set to only dodge and never to parry or block. Unfortunately, dodge is affected by burden so assassins often travel lightly equipped. With a higher strength stat you can carry more items without your burden increasing as much. This must be balanced against the fact that Strength is not one of the stats that benefits an assassin's GP regen rate.
Important - Extreme rearranges are better for highly skilled players. I would advise picking a less extreme rearrange if rearranging while your character is young (but one that still favours your desired stats). Migrate points through retrophrenology later, so that you can become more extreme with age. A constitution of eight, for example, will make Hit Points a real struggle to increase if you pick that in you rearrange when young.
Baffled? Then don't rearrange yet! Be very certain before you do.
Examples
Some of the following are taken from the mighty Shinobi's website (now long gone). I would like to give my usual disclaimer that Shinobi did give permission for me to reuse information from his site. I am not the one who caused him to give up writing his site due to plagiarism, I just want to preserve the wisdom of this legend among assassins. All other rearranges given are used with permission. They do not necessarily represent the stats of the player giving the example, just their advice. Some regen rates may be estimated.
Shinobi's All-round Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
This rearrange is probably the best for Newbies and people who don't want to decide what to do just yet. The Dex and Str are necessary to dodge and wear some basic (light) armour and weapons, while still being able to loot and dodge decently.
Shinobi's Covert Assassin
3 HP Regen - 4 GP Regen
This rearrange grants you good dodge and covert bonuses and especially a decent co.it.* bonus, since those subskills use 4/5 intelligence. The 14 str, though, makes it necessary to sacrifice armour and use light equipment. Otherwise your burden will affect your dodging negatively.
Shinobi's Fighting Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
This rearrange will give you excellent dagger and dodge bonuses, your covert.items.* will suffer, but you could make up for that with more levels. To wear more armour, you could put more stats into str, although 20 str seems to be the upper limit of what is reasonable.
Nightshade's Ideal Assassin
3 HP Regen - 4 GP Regen
This rearrange has the high Dex for fighting but still gets 4 GP regen for lots of cool command usage. It's as low as it can go in Con and Wis so don't expect to gain Hit Points easily and perception skills will struggle. That Str isn't going to help burden either so dodging may suffer if you aren't careful. All in all though this is a great rearrange for a dangerous yet stealthy assassin.
Pendrake's Dream Assassin
3 HP Regen - 4 GP Regen
This rearrange is very similar to Nightshade's. I've been working toward it for ages and am almost there at the time of writing. Slightly more of a covert slant to it at the expense of extreme Dex. This is my personal take on the best all-round assassin rearrange.
Alwin's Librarian Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
What sort of arrange does a guild librarian have? Alwin would know and here's his suggestion. He sent this to me ages ago for the site and I've finally got around to including it. Nice high Str there to avoid burden, shame about that GP regen though.
Kitiana's Advice on Rearranges
Not an actual example but her advice on the subject when asked.
Don't try to get a 4 HP regen as it won't happen with a good covert rearrange. Keep Dex, Int and Str in the 15 - 18 range. After that, play around with it to get your own slant. Anything higher than 18 is really for more advanced players and shouldn't be tried in an early rearrange.
I've paraphrased and summarised her comments here rather than directly quoted.
Hirad's Typical Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
This isn't Hirad's rearrange but he suggested it as a fairly typical one that is used. It's very similar to Nightshade's suggestion but sacrifices Int for more Str. Hirad thinks that this one is quite widely used. Got to worry about that 3 GP regen though.
Hirad's Extreme Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
Somebody Hirad knew used this rather extreme rearrange and it seemed quite effective. Very angled toward combat. Perception will be better than most too. Covert skills might suffer but it can be counteracted with skills as you'll earn lots of XP with that Dex.
Prins's Backstabbin' Assassin
3 HP Regen - 3 GP Regen
Prins isn't with us anymore but he highly rated this rearrange. It's similar to Alwin's suggestion but shifts 2 points of Int to Con. Personally I think it's a great move for young assassins to avoid a Con of 8, so this isn't bad at all for a beginner. Modify it with retrophrenology later.
Further Suggestions Willingly Accepted
I will gladly add to this section with other people's suggestions on rearranges and give full credit to the author in each case. If you have a great rearrange and are tired of explaining it over the talker channel then please send it to me in the same format as the above examples. Once it is on here you can just refer people here and save yourself some typing.