[tinkthank]

I personally tend to disagree.
I almost never use assassins early in the game (except for the freebie which comes with Abysia). But with items, I have eliminated even very powerful (albeit: non-SC) pretenders in their home province.
Once equiped with decent items, I find them almost unstoppable.
For nations with easy fire access (this includes Marignon), I find a wand of Incineration quite nice. A little Lucky Coin is a cheap help too. But my favorite winner hands down without blinking is a Lifelong Contract on a Slayer. That's all he needs to take down knights every time. Stick him in the back and set to "cast". It is so easy I want to cry "nerf". With a wand of incineration and a lucky coin, the occasional Horror attack is also no problem if a lesser horror and beatable if a horror. And we havent even put on a Shadow Robe, etc. etc. etc....
In other words, if assassins became even more power-upped, I would find them far too easy to abuse. I find them overpowered as is, even though they stink when naked (not counting those Spider Guys, which I rarely get because of their capital-onlyness and their cost -- but even then they are hardly worth it early game without items).
I would not want them to have the first strike and start nearer.