[Reaver]

One of the main roles Ninja's traditionally played was espionage, primarily arson. They were also known to use explosive devices. They weren't all about subtlety.

You're talking about a time before radio detonators, time delay fuses, or even compact explosives. The best they had has black powder... It took a heck of alot of subtlety to be able to get into a position to set a fire in the right area (target). As for espionage, that by itself is another form of subtlety. Feudal Japan was different place and time that still shapes Japan's identity. Most agreements were made face to face, only edicts and treaties were committed to paper. Depending on what the ninja was after, espionage would and could consist of eavesdropping, snatch and grab from a dynamo's living quarters, or a host of other things. Now consider that unless you were 'warrior' caste (Samurai, military) the possession of weapons and armor was a death sentence, subtlety was a ninja's best tool.

[Mirikon]

Yes, but the personality types and aptitudes that would make one a good sniper lend themselves easily to becoming a sociopath. You have to be patient, intelligent, capable of calculating multiple variables and adjust for moving targets, and you have to be able to look down that scope and watch someone's head explode because of your actions.

[FuelDrop]

Maybe the Ninja is a sniper with a dart rifle? No obvious damage, the poison could be calibrated for delayed effect, and none of this 'watching heads explode through the scope' business.

[Unahim]

I'd just like to point out that Ninja were very often trained to use the weapons of their enemies, and also in disarming techniques meant to acquire them. Yes, swords were illegal for them, but then again, Ninjas are already illegal anyway, so why would you assume they didn't train with them just because "not available to their caste"? They fall outside of the system.

At least, that's what 2 years of studying Japanology (yes, it's a thing) at college taught me.

I also agree that a ninja would do whatever it takes to get the job done. Whether a particular Ninja knows how to snipe is a case-by-case deal, but all of them would use a sniper if they knew how and the situation called for it. And since they're trained from a much younger age than our current soldiers, direct comparisons to mental states, training time, etc, may not apply.

Maybe some Ninjas would even use Skillwires to complement their art? (like, they'd know stealth, infiltration, disguises, a few weapons, and then if they needed a very specific skill for a 1-off thing... skillwire)

[Stonefur]

Wise Sensei say  "Only piss in wind that is not blowing at you"

[WellsIDidIt]

I also agree that a ninja would do whatever it takes to get the job done. Whether a particular Ninja knows how to snipe is a case-by-case deal, but all of them would use a sniper if they knew how and the situation called for it. And since they're trained from a much younger age than our current soldiers, direct comparisons to mental states, training time, etc, may not apply.

I really can't seem to stress this enough to people. Their method of infiltration was most commonly through disguise rather than stealth, and when it was stealth it was usually accompanied by a nice bright shiny fire that served distraction. Dressing as their enemy to infiltrate their enemy, their normally carried weapons were those of their enemy.

The best they had has black powder... It took a heck of alot of subtlety to be able to get into a position to set a fire in the right area (target).

They used soft shell bombs (often eggshell) to release poison gasses and/or smoke. They also used hard shell bombs with pottery (often the pottery was the shell) or iron for a more grenade like explosive as well. The explosives were not just a tool to destroy for espionage, but also as a weapon.

When subtlety was not enough, they still knew how to get in and light a fire.

Of course they often used caltrop like bits and later even primitive landmines to thin out pursuers as well.

Of course, even when infiltrating without a distraction, a ninja wasn't trying to be completely silent, just quieter than his box of crickets.

[CanRay]

Wise Sensei say  "Only piss in wind that is not blowing at you"

Confucius say:  "He who runs in Shadows, will trip on rocky road of turmoil."

[The Dark Warden]

"rocky road of turmoil."

Ok I should never post whilst a) sick and b) sleep deprived but:

This would be a sort of bonus paydata to go with the maple syrup theft thing? some sort of awakened confectionary?

(They say a joke is no good if you have to explain it but since I suspect I've fallen far beyond my usual incoherence to the kinds of levels normally only exhibited by those who've been mainlining the chemicals section of Arsenal for about a month... Rocky Road  )

[Kat9]

Pew-Pew-Pew-Pew, Ninja Gun, A pew-pew-pew-pew, ninja guuuuuun.

[Stonefur]

You need some like...million or so 2070 G.I. joe Snake-Eyes mini-drone NINJAS, with pilot 6, and a Target:Blades like a hundred...THEN shoot those out of a gun.  Imagine.....like BAM....4 inch tall SNAKE EYES...times like a HUNDRED....uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....na..na..na...naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Stonefur]

or like BAMMMMM its a SNAKE EYES DRONE!!!!!   Times a HUNDRED, plus 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JustADude]

Stonefur, man... I don't know what you're tripping on right now, but you should share.

[Stonefur]

High on life maaaaaaaaaaaaan....and no I don't live in Colorado or Washington lol

[Stonefur]

On a serious note though, i think ninja could have some sort of offensive EMP weaponry...shut down all the wireless networks and electronics that the world relies on.  Ninja best skill is their mastery of perception and deception, using the weaknesses of the enemy.  EMP throwing stars and spikes, things like that. 

[Unahim]

On a serious note though, i think ninja could have some sort of offensive EMP weaponry...shut down all the wireless networks and electronics that the world relies on.  Ninja best skill is their mastery of perception and deception, using the weaknesses of the enemy.  EMP throwing stars and spikes, things like that.

I can dig it.