A Feat to Help with snipering

[Stalker0]

A big problem I have with 3e DND is its just really hard to assasinate anyone wihtout having the prestige class. For instance, you have the classic need to take out the guy on watch scenario. For a 1st level fighter on watch with a decent con, that's 13-15 hp. An average attack with a longbow does 4.5, meaning it would take 4 shots to kill him!!! That's not, oh there's a chance you won't get him and he'll set off the alarm, that's there is no way to take him out steathily unless your a rogue. So I created this feat. See what you guys think.


Sniper Shot
You can use ranged weapons with deadly accuracy.

Prerequistists: BAB +2, Precise Shot, Proficiency with ranged or thrown weapon used.

Benefit: Pick a target. You must study that opponent for 5 rounds. During those rounds, you can move but can take no other action and you must maintain a constant line of sight with the target. At the end of 5 rounds, the first attack made with a ranged or thrown weapon does the maximum possible damage for that weapon, and its crit range is increased by 2. The attack does not have to come at the end of 5 rounds, but if your line of sight is ever broken, you effect is wasted and you must start again.


So for example, a longbow used in this way would do 8 points of damage, plus any extra mods, and would have a crit range of 18-20. A heavy crossbow would do 10 points of damage and have a crit range of 15-20.

My biggest concern with this feat is if rogue's took it. I would raise the BAB requirement to help that, but then it becomes a high level feat and that's not what I'm looking for.

I'm also probably going to make the requirement that you must be within one range increment for the effect.

So suggestions?

 

[Mr Fidgit]

you could raise the BAB, or have another specialized feat as a prerequisite (something like a feat that gives +2 to hit on the first attack if the target is studied for a full round - or +2 if studied for a round and then the 'sniping' attack is a full-round or standard action (essentially using up two full rounds for 1 attack))

another way to handle the Sniper Shot feat is, instead of "the first attack made with a ranged or thrown weapon does the maximum possible damage for that weapon, and its crit range is increased by 2", you could have the attack automatically hit and threaten a critical. then the sniper would still have to confirm that critical (on a miss, its an errant shot but still does normal damage; on a hit, its a critical - assassination in progress!)

 

[LrdApoc]

sniper feat

There's a sniper like feat in D20 Modern.

Dead Aim
Wisdom 13, Far Shot requirements

Allows player to use a full-round action to 'line up' the shot. Once they have spent the action they recieve a +2 circumstance bonus on the next attack roll. You may not make any movement action(even a 5' move) and if concentration is broken you lose the aiming benefit. (they don;t mention making a Concentration check, but I would probably assign a DC of 15+damage taken)

I believe this is part of the SRD now for D20.. maybe you could adapt that.. since you'd need two feats to take it. Also you should limit it to direct fire weapons, such as the crossbow, and short bow.. most people forget Longbows are not direct fire weapons, they're lofting.

Just my thoughts.

 

[jlhorner1974]

Sniping seems to scream to me "Far Shot" and "Concentration" in addition to Precise Shot.

I like the idea of concentrating for a few rounds before the shot.

Maybe the character should actually make a Concentration check to get the bonus to hit and other benefits? If there were any task that Concentration were suited for, this would be it.

Just a thought.

 

[Hygric]

I like the idea of this, but your example of a 1st level fighter on watch with 13-15 HP? Only 1 in 10 NPC fighters will have this many hit points, and then only if they have a Con of 16+. For a pleb NPC guard, I would say more like 5 HP, which is reasonable to take out with a bow shot, even better with a heavy x-bow.

As to your feat itself, I think that it might be a little to powerful, but it's 5 round line up should deal with that. Only play-testing it would tell if it is to much or to llittle. I would have it doubling the crit range as well, rather than adding 2, as that is more in line with the existing feats / magics that affect crit range.

 

[FireLance]

Sniping seems to scream to me "Far Shot" and "Concentration" in addition to Precise Shot.

I like the idea of concentrating for a few rounds before the shot.

Maybe the character should actually make a Concentration check to get the bonus to hit and other benefits? If there were any task that Concentration were suited for, this would be it.

Just a thought.

Oriental Adventures has a skill, Iaijitsu Focus, that allows you to deal extra damage with a successful skill check (10-14, 1d6; 15-19, 2d6; etc. I think). You could create a feat that allows you to do the same with Concentration.

 

[Stalker0]

Oriental Adventures has a skill, Iaijitsu Focus, that allows you to deal extra damage with a successful skill check (10-14, 1d6; 15-19, 2d6; etc. I think). You could create a feat that allows you to do the same with Concentration.

Hehe, I've had a friend who used OA, and that skill became too badass by the end of our campaign

I like the idea of requiring a concen. check to perform the feat, as that would require a skill that most fighters and rogues don't normally get.

I was using 13-15 hp as to represent a 1st level fighter, who has max 10 hps plus Con.

I think I'll probably go with requireing a feat prereq, and then go with what I have from there.

The reason I'm not just doubling the crit range is because a bow would become 19-20, hardly a big increase. An 18-20 crit is something that you can sink your teeth into, especially with keen arrows and the like.