Assassin Mechanics Questions

[yesnomu]

A quarry target isn't necessarily aware of it, since Hunter's Quarry isn't a power, it's just a designation by the Ranger. I'd allow it to be used on an unaware target secretly. The Curse I'm less sure of, though.

 

[Turtlejay]

Wait, what? Quarry is indeed a power. Check the book.

Jay

 

[DracoSuave]

Wait, what? Quarry is indeed a power. Check the book.

Jay

And what page is this legendary power write up?

 

[yesnomu]

Yeah, I think it got written up in the Character Builder, but it's no more a power than Combat Challenge.

 

[Turtlejay]

And what page is this legendary power write up?

Page 607e, right next to facepalm.jpg

Jay

 

[The Human Target]

There is, in fact, a feat for that: Hidden Insight. It's a stupid, tax-y feat for an ability that should be inherent to the shroud mechanic, but it exists nonetheless.

Yeah I disagree.

Any power that applies an effect to a target in 4E should and does alert the target to the presence of an outside influence.

And the feat is a great way to counteract that.

I do think the assassin is somewhat weak in the striking department, but thats another conversation really.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Let's say a person playing the Assassin class wants to scout ahead in the shadows. He comes across a group of monsters. Can he start putting shrouds on a target, while remaining hidden, then when he has 5 shrouds, sneak up and strike the target for massive damage?

It seems like this is a given for an Assassin, but I'm not sure the rules allow for it.

First off, the act of placing a shroud *might* be ruled to break Stealth...

Secondly, RAW states that a target knows what conditions are affecting them. This seems to limit shrouds by a lot IMHO. Even during battle, when the Assassin is in plain view, as soon as he places a shroud on a target, they are going to know it came from him.

 

[Turtlejay]

Let's say a person playing the Assassin class wants to scout ahead in the shadows. He comes across a group of monsters. Can he start putting shrouds on a target, while remaining hidden, then when he has 5 shrouds, sneak up and strike the target for massive damage?

It seems like this is a given for an Assassin, but I'm not sure the rules allow for it.

First off, the act of placing a shroud *might* be ruled to break Stealth...

Secondly, RAW states that a target knows what conditions are affecting them. This seems to limit shrouds by a lot IMHO. Even during battle, when the Assassin is in plain view, as soon as he places a shroud on a target, they are going to know it came from him.

Firstly, no, since you can only have 4 shrouds at a time.

Secondly, no, unless they had the Assassin feat that allowed him to shroud unaware.

Thirdly, play an assassin, and see how often the enemy has no damned clue where you are, and if they can find you, must run a gauntlet of OA's to get to you. I was worried about low HP's in the class at first, but two sessions in. . .not so much anymore.

Jay

 

[The Human Target]

Firstly, no, since you can only have 4 shrouds at a time.

Secondly, no, unless they had the Assassin feat that allowed him to shroud unaware.

Thirdly, play an assassin, and see how often the enemy has no damned clue where you are, and if they can find you, must run a gauntlet of OA's to get to you. I was worried about low HP's in the class at first, but two sessions in. . .not so much anymore.

Jay

Agreed on all counts.

Plus running ahead of the party that far to find bad guys and then wait around until the other PCs show up isn't an exactly a great idea mechanically and sure doesn't sound like a ton of fun for everybody else.

 

[I'm A Banana]

By my reading, the target is aware that they are subject to the Assassin shrouds.

But the shroud is not an attack, and does not inherently break the Hidden status. So with a good Stealth check, you have a victim who is aware that something evil is happening to them, panicking, looking for the source of this feeling of fear and dread, and if your Stealth check is solid and your hiding spot is clever (Shroud has a pretty long range), you can stay hidden, even if your target is aware of the shrouds.

Unless you do something else to break your Hidden status, you can sealth-shroud. The feat just makes sure that your target doesn't even experience that creeping dread -- it has no idea you are watching it from the shadows. Without the feat, the target knows they've been shrouded, but finding the source of that is quite another matter (not that, given 4 rounds, they can't).