Assassin sneak attack advancement

[Al'Kelhar]

The text of the assassin prestige class in both DMG and SRD states:

Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every other level (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th). If an assassin gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack.

The assassin advancement tables in both DMG and SRD provide for sneak attack advancement every odd-numbered level (1st, 3rd, 5th etc.). The "primary source" rule of interpretation would have assassins have sneak attack advancement every even-numbered level. This would also be consistent with characters qualifying for the assassin PrC with 5 rogue levels, with rogue sneak attack advancement every odd-numbered level (i.e. a Rog5/Asn1 would sneak attack as a Rog6, as opposed to a Rog7). However, on the other side of the coin (the tables override the text) the location of the sneak attack text in the text of the assassin prestige class indicates that it is a class ability gained at 1st level (along with death attack, poison use, and spells), and there are numerous instances of rogue/assassins in published products which use the tables as the governing rule.

So which is it - is assassin sneak attack advancement every odd-numbered level (table overrides text) or every even-numbered level (text overrides table)?

Cheers, Al'Kelhar

 

[Hypersmurf]

So which is it - is assassin sneak attack advancement every odd-numbered level (table overrides text) or every even-numbered level (text overrides table)?

Every odd (table overrides typos) would be my guess.

Or we could hypothesise that they've provided a list of levels (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10), and stated that the damage increases every other level (as in, every level that isn't on the list)

... but that might be a stretch to sell

Hmm. It was unambiguously odd levels in 3E.

-Hyp.

 

[Len]

Hmm. It was unambiguously odd levels in 3E.

Which suggests that they changed it to even levels deliberately, but forgot to update the table. That would also agree with the primary-source guidelines (text over table).

To be on the safe side, you should give the assassin a sneak attack increase at every odd and even level.

 

[Ottergame]

To be on the safe side, you should give the assassin a sneak attack increase at every odd and even level.

Works for me! Oh, can I play in your game? I have a kool assassain idea.

 

[Darklone]

Works for me! Oh, can I play in your game? I have a kool assassain idea.

You wanna play in one of Len's "Kill the undeads" campaign ?

 

[Len]

Heh, it's not "my" campaign, and a sneak attack by my rogue is a rare and wonderful thing. Legions of undead being one reason.