Dragon 394: Executioner - at last! Was it worth the wait?

[Aegeri]

Here is the link for everyone.

Unseen spearhead is indeed completely gone. Haven't read it deeply enough yet to see if it is an improvement. It does not have a level 7 feature at least, called hidden stab that grabs the target, grants CA and lets you use your assassin strike on a miss. The poisons all seem well thought out, without being ridiculous and are quite "daily" power like IMO. Vital Strike is absolutely banana's though and will make an executioner pretty reliable damage wise.

Looks fairly solid in the end. Definitely an improvement over last months terrible incomplete version and the original that had nice concepts, but was a bit overly ridiculous.

 

[BobTheNob]

I thought it was very good. Like most essentials builds it has that lovely "distinctiveness". You cant call it a "thief with poison", cause that aint what it is.

Im looking forward to the fully fleshed out version. Is the coming in heroes of shadow?

 

[Aegeri]

No, this is actually the full executioner class. Heroes of Shadow has other stuff in it.

Edit: I am almost underwhelmed this is my 1000th post apparently.

 

[The Little Raven]

I thought it was very good. Like most essentials builds it has that lovely "distinctiveness". You cant call it a "thief with poison", cause that aint what it is.

Im looking forward to the fully fleshed out version. Is the coming in heroes of shadow?

Compare it to the Knight or Slayer. This is the fully fleshed out version.

 

[renau1g]

I wonder if Heroes of Shadow is planning on expanding on this class or the Assassin previously released DDI exclusive.

 

[FireLance]

Old news, seen in a new light:

The assassin gets access to poisons that, if the poison reduces the target to 0 hit points, can render the target permanently insane or permanently and visibly scarred instead of killing him.

It's almost as if "To Live Defeated" was written with assassins in mind.

 

[Aegeri]

These have actual functional mechanics, with a specific context and class behind them. In addition, only the DM decides if the things work that way to begin with and not the PC in question. I mean within their specific context these are fine, the crap that was "To Live Defeated" is precisely the opposite.

 

[Mengu]

I like it. Once per encounter damage potential is pretty huge. Grab sneak of shadows, surprising charge, vanguard rapier, horned helm, add assassin's strike and furious assault, and you're looking at eleven or so dice at heroic levels. Add to this that if you reduce something to 10 or lower HP, they keel over, heroic levels are certainly strong.

At paragon all those dice get 4 as the lowest number if you do your trick on an action point. I'm not sure if I'm reading the 16th level feature right, but I think it makes basic attacks do half damage on a miss. That's one great feature.

Overall it appears to be a good striker. With the versatile options the at-wills give, I'd enjoy playing one, though I would hope the DM would create situations where the bola take down and the like might come in handy occasionally.

 

[Walking Dad]

...

the original that had nice concepts, but was a bit overly ridiculous.

I liked it more than the new one. The only pure shadow power source class. What I have seen of the new one looks like a rogue with some lame darkness magic tricks. Yes, I admit I liked the 'anime' feeling of the old one.

 

[Droogie128]

I liked it more than the new one. The only pure shadow power source class. What I have seen of the new one looks like a rogue with some lame darkness magic tricks. Yes, I admit I liked the 'anime' feeling of the old one.

Other than dex primary and stealth, it's nothing like a rogue at all.