Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tamerlane 03-14-07, 11:41 AM	Magic Weapon Special Ability Assassination Price: +1 Caster Level: 7th Aura: Moderate; (DC 13) divination Activation: -- The striking surface of this weapon is jet black. Although it shows little sign of use, you cannot help but picture it covered in freshly spilled blood. An assassination weapon deals an extra 1d6 points of damage against a foe who is flat-footed or otherwise denied a Dexterity bonus to AC, or who is flanked. If the wielder deals sneak attack damage from other sources, such as levels in the rogue class, the extra damage stacks. In addition, the weapon seems to eagerly drink in poison. The wielder never risks poisoning herself when applying poison to an assassination weapon, and the save DC of any poison applied to the weapon increases by an amount equal to the weapon's enhancement bonus. (Thus, a +1 assassination dagger increases the DC of any applied poison by 1, while a +3 assassination dagger increases the DC by 3.) Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, true strike , sneak attack +2d6. Cost to Create: Varies. Maybe I'm missing something here; I'm guessing it's simply an oversight on the WE author's part. Is the extra damage from this weapon considered sneak attack damage, or simply unnamed "extra" damage such as from a bane weapon? What I'm getting at is, are undead, constructs, etc susceptible to it?
ZiggZagg 03-14-07, 11:45 AM	Since it doesn't specifically say that you are actually targeting weak points when the extra damage comes into effect, I would rule that it applies to all creatures.
Tamerlane 03-14-07, 11:45 AM	On a similar note, now that I think about it... Does the poison function stack with the increased enhancement bonus of a bane weapon? Bane A bane weapon excels at attacking one type or subtype of creature. Against its designated foe, its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus. Would the DC of a poisoned +5 human-bane assassination dagger be increased by +7?
ZiggZagg 03-14-07, 11:47 AM	Hmmm...now that's a good question. However, if I was running it, I would say it doesn't take into account the Bane ability, but it relies more on the inherent magic on the weapon, not the situational spur that comes about from the bane ability. But that sounds like it would be purely up to your DM.
Mouseferatu 03-14-07, 12:15 PM	I guess I could have been clearer, but you'll note the line "If the wielder deals sneak attack damage from other sources, such as levels in the rogue class, the extra damage stacks." This line was necessary because the weapon's extra damage does count as SA damage, and is thus not effective against creatures normally immune to SA. I apologize for not making that more obvious in my write-up.
Tamerlane 03-14-07, 01:20 PM	Thank you, Ari! I did see that line, but couldn't decide which sentence took precedence. The prerequisite of "sneak attack +2d6" also had me inclined to think it was sneak attack damage. What about bonuses to effective enhancement level (e.g. bane) affecting poison DC?
Emeramber 03-14-07, 02:41 PM	If it were in my campaign, I'd use the effective enhancement level, after the boost by Bane. The idea of a bane weapon making its poison even more virulent against its designated targets? That doesn't seem like some mechanical twist or artifact, that seems perfectly thematic and logical.
feraltibbit 03-14-07, 03:13 PM	There's no need for a "sneak attack +2d6" if in the description says: "does extra dmg to flat-footed or DEX-denied foes". This way, a non-rouge type can benefit from sneak-attack via wpn when it's advantageous. A neat twist, esp. if the non-rouge using it then becomes a rouge. Use the Teacher/Pupil scenario to enhance roleplay.
Elzaban the Ethereal 03-14-07, 04:43 PM	There's no need for a "sneak attack +2d6" if in the description says: "does extra dmg to flat-footed or DEX-denied foes". This way, a non-rouge type can benefit from sneak-attack via wpn when it's advantageous. The "sneak attack +2d6" isn't a prerequisite for using the weapon, it's the prerequisite for crafting it. Anyone can use and gain the benefit of an Assassination weapon - only someone with sneak attack +2d6 will be able to make it.
Tamerlane 03-14-07, 06:52 PM	If it were in my campaign, I'd use the effective enhancement level, after the boost by Bane. The idea of a bane weapon making its poison even more virulent against its designated targets? That doesn't seem like some mechanical twist or artifact, that seems perfectly thematic and logical. I totally agree, for the same reasons, but I'm curious if there's an 'official' ruling here.
R4za 03-14-07, 07:43 PM	"If the wielder deals sneak attack damage from other sources, such as levels in the rogue class, the extra damage stacks." Seems to imply pretty solidly that the weapon is, in fact, the unmentioned first source of sneak attack damage.