Green Ronin's Assassin

[CCamfield]

Any thoughts on balancing this class? From what I've read, their Killing Blow power has the *potential* to have ridiculously high.

I personally don't much like the fact that their KBs are automatic criticals. It seems that that would encourage the use of weapons with x3 and x4 criticals like axes and picks, and those don't seem like the right weapons for assassins to be using.

 

[Zander]

Check out Mongoose Publishing's Power Class: Assassin. I haven't tried playing their assassin yet, but just from reading through it, it seems balanced. And it's only £2 (US $3).

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

It does seem overpowered, but I guess that's the norm for those Green Ronin books. Their necromancer class had way more spells than a wizard could ever hope to cast, and a bunch of special abilities on top of that. I guess they follow the 2nd edition philosophy that NPCs don't have to play by the same rules as PCs.

What if you just replaced GR's death attack with the death attack from the regular assassin?

 

[drnuncheon]

It does seem overpowered, but I guess that's the norm for those Green Ronin books. Their necromancer class had way more spells than a wizard could ever hope to cast, and a bunch of special abilities on top of that. I guess they follow the 2nd edition philosophy that NPCs don't have to play by the same rules as PCs.

Hmm. I don't know if it's fair to say that all GR books are like that - I notice that both of the ones you mention (Assassin's Handbook and Secret College of Necromancy) are by Zeb Cook and Wolfgang Baur. On the other hand, some of their other books (The Shaman's Handbook comes to mind, as does Hammer & Helm) are definitely not on the high-power end of things. I think it's the authors, not the company.

J

 

[CCamfield]

Check out Mongoose Publishing's Power Class: Assassin. I haven't tried playing their assassin yet, but just from reading through it, it seems balanced. And it's only £2 (US $3).

The trouble is, I'm not really interested in spending more money. I don't have an objection to assassins who use magic; when there is a way of doing the otherwise impossible through magic, I think assassins would study magic.

Can you tell me what sort of death-dealing ability the Mongoose Assassin has?

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Hmm. I don't know if it's fair to say that all GR books are like that - I notice that both of the ones you mention (Assassin's Handbook and Secret College of Necromancy) are by Zeb Cook and Wolfgang Baur. On the other hand, some of their other books (The Shaman's Handbook comes to mind, as does Hammer & Helm) are definitely not on the high-power end of things. I think it's the authors, not the company.

J

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I was mostly griping about those two books. I like most of Green Ronin's other stuff.

 

[CCamfield]

In retrospect I should have posted this in House Rules, but since I started the thread here I guess I'll continue it for now.

I looked over the DMG Assassin's Death Attack ability and I think I have come up with what seems like a reasonably powered ability.

To compare:

DMG Death Attack: requires 3 rounds of prep and must be then used within 3 rounds. Can only be used against unsuspecting targets. Fort save is DC 10 + Assassin's Class Level + Int mod. No Attack of Opportunity provoked. No limit on use/day.

Green Ronin Killing Blow: requires sneak attack conditions (denied Dex bonus or flanked), if it hits is automatic critical, DC is 10 + damage done, but provokes Attack of Opportunity and is limited to a certain # of times/day.

My idea: requires sneak attack conditions, not auto-critical, DC is 10 + class level + Int mod, does not provoke AoO, limited uses/day as GR Assassin.

Does that seem like a more balanced ability?

 

[EarthsShadow]

I think its a cool ability, the automatic critical does make sense, but I wouldn't do an automatic kill against anyone (if it allows this, i haven't read it in a while). Other than this, though, the rest of the book is very good and provides a lot of information on assassin's.

 

[Psion]

I was about to say the same thing drnuncheon said...

 

[CCamfield]

I think its a cool ability, the automatic critical does make sense, but I wouldn't do an automatic kill against anyone (if it allows this, i haven't read it in a while). Other than this, though, the rest of the book is very good and provides a lot of information on assassin's.

Dropping auto-kill is a interesting point. The trouble is, what then separates an assassin from a rogue with lots of sneak attack damage?

The big problem I have with an automatic critical is that threat range becomes a non-issue - multiplier becomes really important. It rewards the assassin who uses an axe or a pick over one who uses a sword or dagger, or one who uses a bow over a crossbow. Yet in the fantasy books I've read with assassins they tend more towards swords, daggers, and crossbows. The possibility of doing straight double damage (including sneak attack damage) crossed my mind.