Help me with this encounter!

[gizmo33]

I doubt this will work because the druid has crazy spot and listen skills, and one of the PC's has scent because he has contracted lycanthropy. While feather falling the assassain wouldn't make any noise so he wouldn't ahve to move silently at this point, right? Would the druid not get a chance to notice the invisible assassain (spot DC 20) before the attack occurs, or would the extenuating circumstances preclude said spot check? How would you guys handle this?

I'm in the camp that puts "killing players through assassination" to be at the bottom of my "fun things to do list"

That being said, you seem to be in the habit of wanting to preclude ability checks. I've found it much more diplomatic, and probably in the spirit of the game, to get more in the habit of thinking that nothing is impossible. Look at the reasoning behind the DC 20 check for spotting invisibility, or look at the Epic level handbook skill section for some ideas on why you might not want to preclude anything.

Instead, try modifiers. Start with a circumstance modifier for noticing something invisible on the ceiling. Consider that a dungeon ceiling is probably going to be covered in all kinds of mold and loose rock, which would attract attention if knocked loose. Pick a circumstance modifier. Maybe -4 to Spot? (In fact, noticing falling dust particles might provide some suspense and tension - what is on the ceiling? Then the assassin encounter would start to run the risk of being interesting.)

As far as feather falling silently - it's not silent if you have super-human hearing. Clothes rustle. Stomachs rumble. The assassin's elbow could make a clicking noise when he rears back to strike. If I have a +50 listen I can probably hear the nervous assassin's heart beating. If you get into the habit of not allowing chances for things, then your players are going to see it as a matter of surival to argue with you over the zillions of possibilities in every situation. If you just say "ok, all freak occurances can be simulated by giving the feather falling person a +20 on their move silently" then I think that fairly covers the situation. On the flip side, one wonders if the assassin's move silently training allows him to apply his full bonus towards falling through the air - it's probably much better designed for walking quietly.

Also, don't manipulate the situation to punish characters for being specialists. It's no fun to play the game with a high listen and spot check if the DM is just going to thwart that ability with custom rule calls when it suits him. Consider the idea that the character has probably under-developed other aspects of his character and try to challenge them in those areas equally.

 

[scrubkai]

Would the druid not get a chance to notice the invisible assassain (spot DC 20) before the attack occurs, or would the extenuating circumstances preclude said spot check? How would you guys handle this?

Remember that Invisibility gives a bonus to hide a hide check. (+20 if moving, +40 if standing still)

Assuming that the assassin hides as well as being invisible, you should have a good chance of getting past the druid's spot checks for a few rounds.

 

[gizmo33]

well the assassin is at least lvl 6 character level.

The assassin should probably NOT stand much of a chance of killing the PC unless he is of significantly higher level than the party. If you're pretty well assured of a 6th level assassin killing a 6th level PC in a group of similar PCs, then something's wrong.

If the DM is trying to make his players believe that the assassin COULD have killed the PC, then that's probably better handled by clever description rather than stacking the deck in favor of the NPC.

 

[JimAde]

If I'm not mistaken, just spotting the assassin won't negate the death attack. The description just says the assassin needs to make a Sneak Attack after studying the victim. Being invisible (IIRC) makes your opponent lose his dex bonus to AC, allowing Sneak Attack. Is that correct?

So the druid may very well realize the assassin is present, but that first invisible attack will still be a Sneak Attack, and so a potential death attack.

 

[diaglo]

The assassin should probably NOT stand much of a chance of killing the PC unless he is of significantly higher level than the party. If you're pretty well assured of a 6th level assassin killing a 6th level PC in a group of similar PCs, then something's wrong.

If the DM is trying to make his players believe that the assassin COULD have killed the PC, then that's probably better handled by clever description rather than stacking the deck in favor of the NPC.

Huh?

i was only stating the RAW. the assassin is at least 6th character lvl. he could be 20th for all we know.

the PCs could be 1st.

i wasn't saying use a 6th lvl character.

 

[Gomez]

I'm in the camp that puts "killing players through assassination" to be at the bottom of my "fun things to do list"

Though "trying to kill a player though assassination" can be very fun and put the fear of god into the PC's.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

If I'm not mistaken, just spotting the assassin won't negate the death attack. The description just says the assassin needs to make a Sneak Attack after studying the victim. Being invisible (IIRC) makes your opponent lose his dex bonus to AC, allowing Sneak Attack. Is that correct?

So the druid may very well realize the assassin is present, but that first invisible attack will still be a Sneak Attack, and so a potential death attack.

Close, but not quite.

The first initial attack will be a Sneak Attack; that much is true.

Death Attack, however, has an additional requirement:

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.

 

[illuminatus]

One other little problem, he is casting True Strike: [True Strike Components: V, F]

Verbal component, unless he has silent spell everyone has a listen check with only a distance modifier. Unless assassins get to cast silent for free, cant quite remember the rules.

Illuminatus

 

[JimAde]

Close, but not quite.

The first initial attack will be a Sneak Attack; that much is true.

Death Attack, however, has an additional requirement:

That's only during the three rounds of study. I mean when the assassin actually lands next to the druid and attacks. If the assassin is detected before he has studied for three rounds, then yes it's foiled. But given the bonuses to hiding from being invisible (and the fact that the roof may be quite some distance away, not sure) I'm thinking the detecting will happen when the assassin lands.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That's only during the three rounds of study.

Right. Which is what I assumed you meant when you said, above, "If I'm not mistaken, just spotting the assassin won't negate the death attack."

Spotting the assassin before he makes his death attack will foil it. Spotting him as he's making the attack will not.