Assassin's Death Attach

[Bloodweaver1]

I apologize if this has been asked before.
I am in the middle of creating a hafling knife thrower for a new campiagn I just joined and I have a quesiton concerning the Assassin's Death Attack. Mainly can it be used with a thrown dagger?

Per the SRD:
"Death Attack: If an assassin studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage....."

"Melee and Ranged Weapons: Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks, though some of them can be thrown as well. Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee."

Yes? No? Would you allow it if you where the DM?
Thanks in advance

 

[shilsen]

I'd say "No". I believe the intent of the 'melee weapon' phrase in the description of Death Attack is to have it be a melee attack. I don't think it makes sense that the Death Attack can be delivered with a thrown dagger but not a thrown dart, for example.

 

[the Jester]

No, by the RAW you can't death attack with a ranged weapon.

However, that makes me want to write a feat for it- the 1e DMG used an assassin shooting down a high-level monk with a crossbow as an example of assassination, and I think 'sniping' is a great way to assassinate someone.

 

[RigaMortus2]

That, or you could just use the Assassin spell that allows you to make a Death Attack at range...

 

[Demoquin]

Yes but it is a lvl 4 spell to boot. Granted it does grant a lot of nice bonuses, like darkvision and increased threat chance?

 

[dcollins]

...the 1e DMG used an assassin shooting down a high-level monk with a crossbow as an example of assassination...

I'm afraid you're mistaken; there is no such example. 1st Ed. assassination is a sub-category of backstabbing, which had to be a melee attack (per 1st Ed. PHB p. 29: "if this fails, normal damage according to weapon type and strength ability modifiers still accrues to the victim").

 

[Bloodweaver1]

No, by the RAW you can't death attack with a ranged weapon.

Can you show me where in the RAW it says that specificlly? Or are you refering to the 'intent' of the defination? Where I do believe such a thing exists in D&D.

Just playing devils advocate but it says melee weapon not melee attack which does seem to be, however similar, two different things. Plus if thier intent was for it to be a melee attack why didn't they (Wotc) just say that? Why say melee weapon? That doesn't make sense.

Plus why could a melee attack with a dagger be used as a 'death attack' and a thrown dagger (range of 10' with Str bonuses) could not? You can sneak attack at that range why not be able to 'death attack' at that range?

I am not familiar with darts but can it be used as melee weapon? I thought those where ranged only...

Just playing devils advocate here...

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Plus why could a melee attack with a dagger be used as a 'death attack' and a thrown dagger (range of 10' with Str bonuses) could not? You can sneak attack at that range why not be able to 'death attack' at that range?

Because a sneak attack and a death attack are not the same thing. Why do you have to wait three rounds to death attack, but you can sneak attack in the first round? Because they aren't the same thing. I can see your reasoning for arguing that a dagger (which remains a melee weapon even when thrown, since it's effective in melee, unlike a dart,) could death attack. But you asked if I would allow it. As a DM, absolutely not.