Ethereal Ninja attacking a sleeping PC.

[Shin Okada]

Would you guys please verify if I am doing it by RAW?

Now PCs of my current campaign is delving a big dungeon, and using a certain area of dungeon as their temporal "base". That area is a resident of friendly creatures, so it is assumed to be a relatively safe haven. There are several room in that area and about 200 foot in width.

But now PCs are known enemy of the boss of the dungeon. And he will likely to send his lieutenant who is a Vampire Ninja 12/Fighter 1/Exotic Weapon Master 1. Her goal is to kill as many PCs as possible. And she does not fear being dropped into hp 0. Because she can then escape in gaseous form and return to the center area of the dungeon, where PCs still cannot enter (must find a special key. And the area prevents any dimensional movement.).

Those villains know that PCs are sleeping certain part of the dungeon. So, Ninja can walk around that area in ethereal form and will find the PCs within few rounds (At least, within 8 rounds, she can walk through all the rooms of that area). Then she will use Ghost Strike ability as a move action, and then make a CDG against a sleeping PC from ethereal plane in the next round.

It seems that unless someone standing as a watch happen to have permanent see invisibility ability, there is no way to prevent this CDG, right?

I think this situation favor the ninja much and thus thinking of raising EL at least +1, or maybe +2.

But anyway, I want to double-check if a Ninja can do it by RAW.

 

[ClemLOR]

Hello.

Sitting on my brain ... What's RAW?

Greetings
ClemLOR

 

[Shin Okada]

Hello.

Sitting on my brain ... What's RAW?

Rules As Written

 

[ClemLOR]

Greetings.

Sounds good to me.
Although I'd like to suggest a couple of things about the overall situation ...

The characters rest in a dungeon which is thought to be quite safe to them.

1. But the creatures living in this particular area of the dungeon, which are considered neutral to good towards the PCs, are either ruled by a leader who himself has some grudge/ anger towards the PCs or at least know that there is a dangerous foe around ... I wonder how likely it is that that the creatures and peoples in this dungeons won't be aware of any tales/ rumors around the PCs? But, alas, maybe this monster is the secret loving damage dealer type ...

2. Now, you told that the relation between the PCs and the leader are bad. I wonder: Would PCs rest in the vicinity of an known enemy? Or is it something that thePCs are not aware of?
As this is a huge dungeon (Undermountain?), almost any place I consider as "vicinity".

3. The encounter, as you describe it, is quite tough. It is very, very likely that at least one character is going to die. That itself changes the value of this encounter automatically - at least I'd rule it that way as one PC is simply not there by being "dee ee dee" - dead.

4. Finally: I would give the PCs a chance, a small riddle, a vision or something ... They should get at least the chance of noticing that they may get into a "serious $41t situation" - and even if this means that a vasalle of this enemy tries to warn the PCs in any way or that rumors rise or a strange creature/ghost/sign appears and tells sort of an oracle or something ... CGD with all the preparations of this vamp ... Well ... Make up your mind - if you haven't allready ...


Greetings
ClemLOR

 

[frankthedm]

Away from the books right now, but are you SURE the ninja can attack with the ghost strike FROM the ethereal TO the material?

Also how long does Ghost strike last? If the duration is one round, then this plan can't work. The one round duration ends right before the ninja's next turn begins. That is notably different from durations that "last until the end of your next turn." Now there is a feat that allows one to CDG as a standard action out there...

 

[Jack Simth]

Ouch.

Yes, by RAW, that's doable - Ghost Step lets the Ninja become Ethereal after class level 10, and Ghost Strike specifically lets the Ninja make attacks from the Ethereal plane - it's a move action to activate, but that doesn't matter, as it works on the next attack so long as that next attack happens before the end of the Ninja's next turn.

Hmm.... a Ghost (LA+5) Ninja-8 or higher with a Ring of X-Ray Vision would be a TPK of a CR-10 if the party rests out in the open.

 

[Animal]

if you just slaughter one of your PCs like that it will be very disappointing and discoraging for him. i think, you should give them a chance to somehow foresee the assassin's coming.

 

[frankthedm]

if you just slaughter one of your PCs like that it will be very disappointing and discouraging for him. i think, you should give them a chance to somehow foresee the assassin's coming.

The PC's have let their guard down and chosen to sleep close to a warzone. Sadly for them they will now lose someone to the Magical arms race present in the 3E ruleset. At higher levels something silent and invisible will get close enough to CDG the party unless extra precautions are taken. IIRC Shin's players are fairly rules savey so to me what was disappointing and discouraging was that their only night watch was with mundane vision.

 

[irdeggman]

CDG is a full round action thus it can't be done via this method since the ninja only has a standard action left in which to make an attack.

 

[Jack Simth]

CDG is a full round action thus it can't be done via this method since the ninja only has a standard action left in which to make an attack.

The attack for Ghost Strike needs to be made by the end of his next round, not the current one. Sadly, this isn't a barrier.