Post/Author/DateTime	Post
parad0cz 06-23-06, 11:25 AM	Ok, im looking to make a 'assassian' type character. If anyone has read eve forward's book Villian's by necessity, i want his character to be as he sees the trade. He knows he is evil, but he really doesnt see it that way. He kills who he must and mercifully; he doesnt torture. He kills the target; he isnt random. And killing from the darkness, behind someones back using poison is only intellegent. I mean, if you are going to kill something for whatever reason, there is no reason to make yourself vunerable. Thats not honor, thats stupidity. Thing is, besides character stuff, im wondering is the Assassian PrC really worth it? Is the death attack really all its cracked up to be?("Its a secret attack, but you have to be EVIL!" "Um, why?" "Because its a DEATH attack!" "And 3 feet of steel through the sternum isnt?") Im thinking the character would be highly mobile(Dod/Mob/SpA), but would it go TWF route, ala bounding assult? Would two attacks equal two death attacks? Just what consitutes 'studying' anyway, being in battle with, or sitting out the first three rounds making googly eyes? Im assuming this would be a melee rogue. I have also heard that sometimes its better to sacrifice SA dice for BAB. Is this true? What is the best balence? I assume Nightsong Enforcer would be good for this build. If the death attack is really worth it, you would want to take assassian all the way i think, at least to 9th. 10th might be good to shave off, as all you get is a point more on the DC and a BAB point. And i know it isnt optimal, so i dont really expect anyone to add this, but i love the chameleon class. I think it fits in perfect with the whole 'im going to pretend to be something to get really close to you before i snuff you' assassian style. Even one level of it would work out as the Requirements would be a snap(rouge skills, and hell Able learner is always nice) THough that FLoaty Feat is fun fun fun. Thanks for all the help.
Thaumaturgist 06-23-06, 11:38 AM	Death attack isn't really worth it unless you're interested in focusing everything on it. That means Rogue 2/Cleric 3/Black flame zealot 5/Strife leader 10 Strifeleader is from faiths and pantheons (FR setting) it think. With the feat "ability focus" found in MM, an assassins dagger and a purely maxed out int (+12 int bonus), your DC should be 44. I'd say that you should go get lot's of SA dice, a neat Bab (+16) and take the two-weapon fighting chain... Nothing is as awesome when you push out 7 attacks, all with SA dice. Otherwise, rogue 20 is pretty neat, just 6 attacks, but damn you can whip ass. 70d6+weapon damage = omg, die.
AramilWindwalker 06-23-06, 12:58 PM	I like melee rogue/assassin type builds perhaps a rogue3/swashbuckler3/invisible blade5/assassin9 could work +16 bab, +10d6 sneak, +int to damage, + free action feint(s if pre-eratta) a few nice feats include telling blow and two weapon pounce(both from PHB II) using kukri with improved crit or keen make telling blow go off about 25% of the time and at level 20, you'd have 7 or 8 attacks, so you have an average of 2 telling blow crits per round.
cyberpunks 06-23-06, 01:17 PM	It is also possible to get a DC44 Death Attack(Su) using the new Binder, from Tome of Magic, and the Marchosias Vestige
Xeraph 06-23-06, 02:24 PM	Death attack isn't really worth it unless you're interested in focusing everything on it. That means Rogue 2/Cleric 3/Black flame zealot 5/Strife leader 10 Strifeleader is from faiths and pantheons (FR setting) it think. With the feat "ability focus" found in MM, an assassins dagger and a purely maxed out int (+12 int bonus), your DC should be 44. I'd say that you should go get lot's of SA dice, a neat Bab (+16) and take the two-weapon fighting chain... Nothing is as awesome when you push out 7 attacks, all with SA dice. Otherwise, rogue 20 is pretty neat, just 6 attacks, but damn you can whip ass. 70d6+weapon damage = omg, die. If you use Archivist for this build it will be just right. See my Index of builds in my signature, I have the full version there.
Hanniball 06-23-06, 02:51 PM	Thing is, besides character stuff, im wondering is the Assassian PrC really worth it? Is the death attack really all its cracked up to be? Death Attack can be an excellent way to start off an encounter or end one before it ever begins. If you believe your opponent is somehow immune to death effects you can utilize the paralyzation effect of the Death Attack then proceed to stab them to death, while helpless, over the next 1D6 +1/ass lvl rounds. However, this class feature is truely shines when you focus your build around it and target low-fort save opponents (like pesky wizards) A Rog 3/Ftr 2/Assassin 9/Telflammar Shadowlord 6 with Ability Focus: Death attack and an Assassin's Dagger can be devastating. Would two attacks equal two death attacks? Just what consitutes 'studying' anyway, being in battle with, or sitting out the first three rounds making googly eyes? Death Attack If an assassin studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (assassin’s choice). While studying the victim, the assassin can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the assassin or recognize the assassin as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the assassin’s class level + the assassin’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the assassin. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the assassin has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds. If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the assassin does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack. The bolded sections should answer your questions. Only the first attack made after the 3 rounds of study is considered a death attack (as long as it's also a sneak attack). Also, studying seems to mean "paying attention to, without being recognized as an enemy." That's fairly vague so ultimately it's up to the individual DM. Finally, as great as Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack are for rogues, multiple attacks from TWFing = multiple sneak attacks = damage output rivaling the best fighters. Either way... just my 2 cp