Are hunter's quarry and sneak attack equal?

[fissionessence]

My players and I are converting from 3.5 to 4E. One player was a monk 4/rogue 2. He built his new character as a monk ranger using the conversion guide from the Converting Your Character pt I article. He's also multiclassing into rogue. Now he loves sneak attack, and I know he's going to hate using it only once per encounter. He's willing to follow the system, but I think it would be cool to let him switch out hunter's quarry (ie monastic battle focus) for sneak attack. Then instead of using sneak attack once per encounter, he would use instead hunter's quarry just once per encounter.

Normally I'd make players follow the rules more strictly, no matter how balanced the change was, unless they had really good justification. In this case, I think the really good justification is to help convert the concept and theme of his character. I'll probably let him make this switch, but only if . . .

it's balanced. What do you think?

~

 

[Dalzig]

I don't see anything terribly wrong with it.

The multiclass sneak attack gives you +2d6 on one attack. The damage is guaranteed as long as you can get Combat Advantage.

The multiclass hunter's quarry gives you two chances to get +1d6 on two separate attacks. You have to hit with those two attacks to get the damage.

Personally, I'd rule that sneak attack is a little bit more powerful because there's not the chance that you miss, effectively wasting the power. So, if anything, he's actually nerfing himself a tad bit.

I'd allow it.

 

[generalhenry]

So long as you restrict his weapon choice. Sneak attack is balanced by lightblades doing less base damage.

 

[Dalzig]

So long as you restrict his weapon choice. Sneak attack is balanced by lightblades doing less base damage.

True, but if it's a monk I don't think there's going to be much trouble there.

Well, it depends on your vision of monk, I guess. My vision of a monk uses sickles, katars, and shuriken... might have to fudge a little if you want to do unarmed.

MMmm... katar. I'll have to do that with my next rogue. [Think I've been watching too much Naruto lately...]

 

[fissionessence]

Thanks for the input

I forgot to mention that I was going to allow him to use sneak attack with his unarmed strikes. (The only attacks he used were unarmed and shuriken.) Now I'll probably tell him that he can switch hunter's quarry for sneak attack as long as he lowers his unarmed attack damage to d6s (the conversion article says to use d8s). The d6s and +3 proficiency bonus will be on par with the short sword (light blade and all), but not as good as the longsword which is what the conversion article basically turned the unarmed attacks into . . . plus the article let you wield two of them. The d6s are looking more and more like a good idea.

~

 

[generalhenry]

also take a look around for fan made 4E monk classes, there are some decent ones out there. http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1049802 isn't a fit for your player, but it's my favorite

 

[NeoNick]

Also remember that Wizard will be producing monk class soon (as also druid and barbarian will come).
I think the best option for your player is to do a temporary conversion now, and then also be able to convert when the monk book comes.

 

[Ander00]

I'd be a bit wary, because frankly, rangers don't seem to need a boost in the damage department.

That said, allowing it probably won't break your game, especially if you lower the unarmed damage to d6s.


cheers

 

[lukelightning]

Just remember that you can only use sneak attack once per round; even if you are a dual-wielding superstar attacking a blinded, dazed, flanked orc barbarian, you only can sneak attack with one of your attacks.

 

[generalhenry]

twin strike with long swords + quary

1d8 + 1d8 + 1d6 = 12.5

homebrew monk fists + sneak attack

1d6 + 1d6 + 2d6 = 14

It's more damage, but.. you only do half damage on rounds where you don't have combat advantage.