Death Attack, the BIG threat...

[Jimlock]

The Assassin's Death Attack is one of the most potent class abilities in the game.

When a DM has created a strong Villain-Assassin for his game, there is always the threat of one or more PCs dying out of the blue.

How do you deal with this?

Is there a way to protect your PCs without getting "soft" on them?

Can the PCs somehow thwart the death attack?

I know that a lot of you (I 've got one in mind already!) are gonna argue how there are more powerful classes who can destroy a party with ease. The wizard for example is stronger than the assassin, and is capable of taking down a party even more easily. Still a wizard is not (necessarily) a cold blooded assassin. There are many ways a DM can play him it out, and still avoid the death toll.

On the other hand, assassinations is what an assassin does. Therefore, if one of his targets is a party member, he can easily achieve his goal, without even showing himself. The party will never know what hit them.
There is not much challenge into this for the players...

How do you deal with your NPC assassins?

 

[Dandu]

What's the DC on Death Attack again?

 

[Jimlock]

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, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (assassin’s choice). While studying the victim, the assassin can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the assassin or recognize the assassin as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the assassin’s class level + the assassin’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the assassin. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the assassin has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.

 

[Dandu]

I wouldn't call it one of the most potent abilities in the game. The DC isn't high, and the assassin has to be in melee, which often means revealing himself and dealing with the party.

Anyways, armor with the Fortification property can make you either partially or completely immune to sneak attacks.

 

[Summer-Knight925]

Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Fortification, keeping one eye open when you sleep

all of these can be used to stop an assassin, but if the DM plays the Assassin the way I'd play him, be more afraid of his friends, because he'll attack you after a battle and then flee into the mists


never EVER put your guard down, fighting an assassin is like living in a dungeon full of traps, possibly more deadly than that too, just remember, he has three rounds before he can attack with this, protect those with low flat-footed armor class (like this will matter, everyone has a low flat-footed) and those with low fortitude (the wizard for instance) and once you get a clear shot on the assassin, DO NOT HESITATE!, take him where he stands, focus on him, maybe even use spells that give his position away (I.E. glitterdust) and you'll have this villain gone in no time at all

 

[Jimlock]

I wouldn't call it one of the most potent abilities in the game. The DC isn't high, and the assassin has to be in melee, which often means revealing himself and dealing with the party.

As for the melee... unfortunately:

Sniper's eye (4th level spell) = death attack with any ranged weapon up to 60 feet... which means he doesn't even have to reveal himself to the party... not to mention that by 13th level he's got HIPS as well...

 

[anest1s]

Armor which has the fortification property.

If I recall correctly, it works 50% of the time, when you have a 5 rogue/x assassin, if you have a decent INT and you hit someone of equal level. I think I assumed high saves, but I can't recall.

Well, you paralyze them and then kidnap them. Death attack will only work against one PC and you can try only one time. So you probably try to kill them one by one, and not as a party. So, if they are gonna roll for save or suck, you might as well paralyze them.

Being immune to sneak attack also stops death attacks, and keeping everyone 5ft away prevents the melee strike. Also you can force the assassin to take any action while spending 3 rounds studying you, and force him to have to re-study. Or kill him.

 

[Dandu]

Fortification comes in light (25%) moderate (75%) and heavy (100%).

 

[anest1s]

the assassin has to be in melee, which often means revealing himself and dealing with the party.

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.

Sooo...you could throw a dagger and make a death attack with a melee weapon...

 

[Jimlock]

Sooo...you could throw a dagger and make a death attack with a melee weapon...

read my last post

A bow seems more appropriate for this kind of thing...