How do these abilities interact? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do these abilities interact? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kesan
08-10-07, 06:44 PM I'm buiding a ninja class character and I've discovered the following feat, and a similar skill trick ability. I'm wondering if I have both how would play be handled?

Silent Kill, Feat;(The Book of Roguish Luck pp.72)

Benefit: You strike to kill without noise, either by attacking the
mouth and throat or by inflicting enough pain to prevent an alarm.
If you surprise your target when making a sneak attack, the surprise
round of combat is entirely silent and does not attract attention.
You gain a +8 circumstance bonus on your initiative check for
the combat. If you kill your target within 2 rounds (the sneak
attack and the follow-up), the target dies without a sound

and the other one...

Mosquito's Bite, Skill Trick; (Complete Scoundrel pp 87)

Benefit: If you use a light weapon to hit a flat-footed
opponent, you can choose to have the opponent not
realize that it has been hit until the start of your next
turn. Instead, that opponent reacts as if you had attacked
and missed.
Using this skill trick doesn’t require an action on
your part.
This trick doesn’t allow the opponent to ignore any of
the other effects of your attack, such as ability damage
from poison on your blade or falling unconscious when
reduced to fewer than 0 hit points.

Question in particular, if you elect to have your opponent not realize he's been hit until your next turn, what would happen if:

1- Your target is an unsuspecting lone guard, who's a shout away from backup rushing in.

2- You successfully make it into a position where he's unaware of you and are hidden/invisible.

3- Your target is in a threatened square

Here are 2 possibilities:

1- Does your first surprise attack go unnoticed by the guard, thus granting a second surprise attack just at the time he realized you've just hit him with Mosquito's bite?

or

2- Does the phrase, "Instead, that opponent reacts as if you had attacked
and missed." indicate that he is now aware of the surprise attack, but thinks your ambush failed because you missed him, and he just won't know he's bleeding until the next round.

Personally I think it's the second option, but I'd like to see what everyone else thinks.

Thanks for reading!

K
Pentar
08-10-07, 06:55 PM I agree with your assessment, that it would be the 2nd option. By the statement that your opponent reacts as if you had missed, he would become aware of the attack, but think that you wiffed.
Mojo_Rat
08-10-07, 07:14 PM To be honest when i read Mosquito's bite I first thought 'blow gun'

Guard is standing on Duty, heres a 'whiff' of somthing thinkins its a bug and slaps his Neck Not Realizing that A dart just punctured a major artery.

In this case the guard doesnt notice the attack because the dart 'missed' But i dont really know how it would apply in A situation with a bow and Arrow or a melee attack.
Kesan
08-10-07, 11:39 PM The concept of a 'blow gun' is interesting, but not my first choice. Since the benefit description says "If you use a light weapon to hit a flat-footed opponent" and a blow gun is ranged attack, I wouldn't have considered using it.

The other reason not to use a blow gun in this situation would be this; If you're trying to kill a guard quickly, you need to be in a position tactially to execute your move and to use this feat to the fullest extent. For example, if you use your turn moving in for the kill after a ranged attack, you've just wasted the opportunity to dispose of your target and thus wasting the benefit of the Silent Kill feat.

The only way I could see to use it on a ranged attack would be to follow up the blow gun attack with another ranged attack. This may not be a bad idea, but there are other tactial options to consider, especially when you can use other melee feats and abilities to a greater advantage and a faster kill.
Kouk
08-11-07, 01:03 AM I can't say that Silent Kill feat seems balanced to core, but for Mosquito's Bite I would say you become visible because you attacked. He thinks "Whoa! That almost hit me!" and then next round "What the? When did... oh... *gurgle gurgle*"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kesan 08-10-07, 06:44 PM	I'm buiding a ninja class character and I've discovered the following feat, and a similar skill trick ability. I'm wondering if I have both how would play be handled? Silent Kill, Feat;(The Book of Roguish Luck pp.72) Benefit: You strike to kill without noise, either by attacking the mouth and throat or by inflicting enough pain to prevent an alarm. If you surprise your target when making a sneak attack, the surprise round of combat is entirely silent and does not attract attention. You gain a +8 circumstance bonus on your initiative check for the combat. If you kill your target within 2 rounds (the sneak attack and the follow-up), the target dies without a sound and the other one... Mosquito's Bite, Skill Trick; (Complete Scoundrel pp 87) Benefit: If you use a light weapon to hit a flat-footed opponent, you can choose to have the opponent not realize that it has been hit until the start of your next turn. Instead, that opponent reacts as if you had attacked and missed. Using this skill trick doesn’t require an action on your part. This trick doesn’t allow the opponent to ignore any of the other effects of your attack, such as ability damage from poison on your blade or falling unconscious when reduced to fewer than 0 hit points. Question in particular, if you elect to have your opponent not realize he's been hit until your next turn, what would happen if: 1- Your target is an unsuspecting lone guard, who's a shout away from backup rushing in. 2- You successfully make it into a position where he's unaware of you and are hidden/invisible. 3- Your target is in a threatened square Here are 2 possibilities: 1- Does your first surprise attack go unnoticed by the guard, thus granting a second surprise attack just at the time he realized you've just hit him with Mosquito's bite? or 2- Does the phrase, "Instead, that opponent reacts as if you had attacked and missed." indicate that he is now aware of the surprise attack, but thinks your ambush failed because you missed him, and he just won't know he's bleeding until the next round. Personally I think it's the second option, but I'd like to see what everyone else thinks. Thanks for reading! K
Pentar 08-10-07, 06:55 PM	I agree with your assessment, that it would be the 2nd option. By the statement that your opponent reacts as if you had missed, he would become aware of the attack, but think that you wiffed.
Mojo_Rat 08-10-07, 07:14 PM	To be honest when i read Mosquito's bite I first thought 'blow gun' Guard is standing on Duty, heres a 'whiff' of somthing thinkins its a bug and slaps his Neck Not Realizing that A dart just punctured a major artery. In this case the guard doesnt notice the attack because the dart 'missed' But i dont really know how it would apply in A situation with a bow and Arrow or a melee attack.
Kesan 08-10-07, 11:39 PM	The concept of a 'blow gun' is interesting, but not my first choice. Since the benefit description says "If you use a light weapon to hit a flat-footed opponent" and a blow gun is ranged attack, I wouldn't have considered using it. The other reason not to use a blow gun in this situation would be this; If you're trying to kill a guard quickly, you need to be in a position tactially to execute your move and to use this feat to the fullest extent. For example, if you use your turn moving in for the kill after a ranged attack, you've just wasted the opportunity to dispose of your target and thus wasting the benefit of the Silent Kill feat. The only way I could see to use it on a ranged attack would be to follow up the blow gun attack with another ranged attack. This may not be a bad idea, but there are other tactial options to consider, especially when you can use other melee feats and abilities to a greater advantage and a faster kill.
Kouk 08-11-07, 01:03 AM	I can't say that Silent Kill feat seems balanced to core, but for Mosquito's Bite I would say you become visible because you attacked. He thinks "Whoa! That almost hit me!" and then next round "What the? When did... oh... gurgle gurgle"