I just started 3 ninja. how do y'all like to equip them? is bare handed best or maybe polearms? what about ranged combat?

I've enjoyed a fairly wide array of Ninja development. With the returning throwing weapons you can create in the Cosmic Forge (or play one of the mods) the thrown instakill comes into play.
I've also liked duel-wielding using any weapons, especially Nunchaku. Even though they're fairly low-damage, they're fast and KO. Faerie Ninja, the classic with the Cane...
One time just for fun i made Light Sword either-handed and gave a Ninja two of them...
A Hobbit can start as Alchemist and qualify right away for Ninja--but with a lot more DEX if you like. (advantage; free Skill points, Spell picks, and a free potion if you sleep for a couple seconds while still Level one. Plus you can go read the Stamina book, too)

Thanks Scatter, good ideas. I went with 3 Felpurr Ninja. I didn't think about doing the alchemy thing first. I don't even know about making the weapons. I usually don't get that far before starting over.

If you have 3 definately make one a throwing specialist. I don't think the instawacks work with slings but slings will improve your ranged combat and throwing skill. If you are playing a mod then I would recomend two throwers and one melee guy because of all the good returning weapons. You can buy some really good ones from the Don in trynton in flamestrykes mod. You could also start one as a samurie and then delete him and remake a ninja. That way you can start with duel swords because the Sam will leave his behind. The downside is you won't be able to afford ninja gear. You will also find once your stealth gets too high nobody will swing at you or used ranged attacks, they will just stand on gaurd. That can get a little boreing after a while.

Umm, I didn't even know the Don sold stuff. Is that new? I'm even thinking of starting again with the Alch. and switching at lvl 5 or so.

AFAIK the Don always sold stuff, even before there were mods - altho you had to be friendly when you first saw him to get the option (would usually depend on how you'd treated Rattus before meeting the Don).

Don does sold stuff, that's how you "bought" the astral dominae from him remember?

The Don sells Chakrums, which are returnable throwing weapons, and have a 'to kill' bonus.

In the original game, the Don sells only the AD. He sells nothing else except in modified games.

No, he sells other stuff too. I'm currently playing unpatched original game.