[Shadowshire]

Well, the Assassin and the Slayer are difficult characters to play since both Warfare and Hunting dosen't provide Pets to take attention o your enemies or huge defensive skills as the Defence Mastery. These classes have "a strong defence" by not letting enemies near. Using Nightshade/Mandrake/Flurry Of Knives/Traps or wielding a bow. What makes the Assassin/slayer some of the weakest in close combat is that they are meant for close combat as they are melee characters, though hunting and rogue provides the best defence being ranged. However there are ways around this problem, though you will always have to plan your gaming more strategic and still your deathrate will be higher than other builds.

First of the Assassins best defence is Flurry Of Knives+Mandrake/Nightshade. This will fire 4 poisoned impailing knives that will slow attacking enemies and make them fumble their attacks = No damage to you. Second Traps (When Maxed or nearly maxed) provides you with high damage and distraction of your enemies from you to the traps IF they attack the enemy before you do. Note that War/Doom horn is a essentiel lifesafer for the Assassin/Slayer as you can Stun enemies around you giving you time to take them down. Last Rogues Flash Powder is Great doing the same thing, just not with stun but by confussing and making enemies fumble their attacks. You could stick with either Flash Powder/War and Doom horn depending on your playstyle.

If your looking for strong and defensive Rogue builds, the Corsair has one of, if not, the best defence in the game, and still deal very high damage with his Spear/Sheild/Flurry combo. I personally beleive that a Corsair with the right skills is almost unbreakable and gives the highest damage in the game, except from the spear brigand. The Bow Brigand is also fairly easy to play as your being both ranged and melee (spear), plus all defensive benefits of Hunting and Rogue Masteries.