How would you adjudicate rappelling down a string from a flying kite?

[Len]

Night+dark clothes+most people don't actually look up+ distance.

Yes, guards do look up. Guards with ranks in Spot especially - that's part of what Spot represents. As for night and dark clothes, those work on the ground too. And distance only works until he starts floating over the camp. (Remember, if they can't see him, he can't see his landing spot.)

Think of it this way: You're giving the character something like the Hide in Plain Sight ability, except better because he doesn't even have to attempt a Hide check! Doesn't sound fair to me.

 

[Grogtar]

I'd certianly allow it. I'd start with a Craft check to make the thing, DC in the 25ish range if they had the specific craft, higher if they dont.

Getting in silently will be a large problem, anything that catch's the wind is going to make noise.

He will glow like a signal flare to anyone with Darkvision. Also all the conditions you asked for (Moonless + Cloudy + Windy) are going to be hard to string together. Most important to this is the last one, Windy, because you are going to need a LOT of wind to pick a 200 pound adventurer off the ground from a dead stop.

Getting out is also going to be a big problem because if the wind is string enough to hold him up, when he isnt there its going to rip just about any anchor right out of the ground.

The historic things bieng referenced are not what you think they are. They are more like modern hang-gliders than anything else. Probably designed to be launched off a large cliff or wall, more likely an escape device.

Other ideas in this same train of thought that might work better :

A Fly spell.
Trebuchet + Feather Fall.
Invisibility.
Did I mention a Fly Spell ?


Also, with his idea getting out is going to be really, really hard.

 

[Storyteller01]

You'd get an MS bonus, but since you can't actually HIde the guards would get a static DC for their Spot check; you have no control of the kite and they will be looking up at the tops of the tents (it isn't called a firewatch for the pretty name... ).

Then you have to stop over the target. Either use rope use for a quick tie off or signal someone (which could reduce your Hide DC).

Deploying the rope will alos require a H/MS check: I'm assuming the target in question has personal guards around their tent. Prbably with a -5 to -10, since the winds will bemoving the kit.

Another H/MS check would be needed while climbing down the rope (those personal guards again), probably at a -5 to -10.

While you're doing this, someone else has to make rolls to keep the kite in the air. If they fail, so does your mission.

If you pull all this off, you still need an escape plan...


By the way (a question for all), what roll would be needed to determine the effects of hot air/embers from all the campfires (an active army encampment will have dozens, if not hundreds) on the kite in question?

 

[Nim]

Yes, guards do look up. Guards with ranks in Spot especially - that's part of what Spot represents. As for night and dark clothes, those work on the ground too. And distance only works until he starts floating over the camp. (Remember, if they can't see him, he can't see his landing spot.)

Think of it this way: You're giving the character something like the Hide in Plain Sight ability, except better because he doesn't even have to attempt a Hide check! Doesn't sound fair to me.

Well, no - let's think about the illumination. The camp is presumably lit with torches and campfires, a mixture of direct and shadow illumination. The camp is also full of guards (people who are actually on watch and reasonably alert) and resting/sleeping soldiers (who might accidentally spot you, but who aren't actively looking). Assuming the target's in the middle of the place, sneaking in by actually hiding is going to be pretty tricky. You'll have to pass near guards or soldiers frequently.

Above 20 feet, there's nothing but shadow illumination. Above 40 feet, it's dark, unless there's moonlight or starlight. The KITE is in the dark, but that doesn't mean the landing zone is. Someone in the dark can see into the light just fine. Absolutely, the elevated approach makes avoiding being seen much easier. (Sure, you can't see anything in the air around you - it's dark. But it's the middle of the air. What're you going to run into? And you can see the ground just fine.)

Now, if there are any guards with low-light vision, that 40-foot range jumps up a bit, and the flying ninja is in trouble. If he gets spotted and someone puts a light on him, he's instant target practice for any spellcasters in the area. Not so much with the archers, if it's the middle of camp...all those arrows that miss have to come DOWN someplace, after all.

The real problem I see here is the NOISE. If there's enough wind to keep a kite like that aloft, you're going to hear the snapping of the canvas, the rope twisting, etc etc. And the darkness won't help you with that. And of course, there's the problem of getting back OUT.

 

[Nim]

Incidentally, though this is all a very amusing plan, I think it'd all be a lot easier if the would-be assassin had gone with Disguise, instead. Then he'd just need enough sneaking to get past the perimeter guards, and he could WALK through the rest of the camp. If you look right, and you're already inside, you'd have a good chance of not being questioned much.

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

A silence spell would work for all the noise. Cast it on the kite.

Then like Grogtar said, an Invisibility previously cast on the ninja, plus Feather Fall or Levitate on the ninja to land in the target zone, and he's there.

Getting out is the trick.

 

[Len]

WThe KITE is in the dark, but that doesn't mean the landing zone is.

If the landing zone is lit then he'll be seen as he comes down. Just like if you're walking on the ground and you walk near a campfire.

 

[domino]

However, the length of time you'll spend easily visible from the air is much less than the length of time you'd spend easily visible were you to walk through the eyes.

Assume people have decent night vision to 40 feet. Now, walking to the target would most likely bring me within 40 feet of GOBS of people. Coming straight down only brings me within 40 feet of those people in the immediate area of the landing spot.

 

[domino]

Also, the point is to do this without magic, or with very little. If I wanted to just stab someone, scry buff teleport slaughter is a simple standby. But I'm looking for a more mundane, exciting idea.

 

[Len]

However, the length of time you'll spend easily visible from the air is much less than the length of time you'd spend easily visible were you to walk through the eyes.

True, but keep in mind that if you walk in you can try to hide from those eyes If you drop from the sky you don't get to use your Hide skill.

I'm not saying you can't do it, just that a kite doesn't give you free invisibility.