Is this fair?

[Amal Shukup]

Further on the NPC's getting 'handwaved' into position...

My Human Sorceror/Fighter got whacked by an Assassin's Death Attack at a sporting event. Assassin snuck in through the crowd improved invisibly, got right behind me (in a box seat), studied me and did his thing. DM (who is generally quite good - old school - but good) was quite pleased with himself, although chagrined that I failed my save...

I was livid. First of all, I'd paid extra for a box seat specifically so things wouldn't BE behind me. Secondly that somehow the assassin and help (a caster) managed to beat several hundred spot checks in the crowd getting to my position + the party's (including a Ranger) spot and listen checks (within a foot or two) sneaking into our box seat. Thirdly, they managed to escape through a panicking crowd before the surviving party members managed to nab them (I was kinda annoyed at my party 'bout that - but how did the Assassins reasonably expect to survive the mission?).

But MOSTLY, I was pi$$ed because a hostile (non-human and well known to us as our main enemies in campaign) creature stood within a few feet of me for 18 seconds with a poisoned dagger in hand and neither my Familiar, nor the WOLF curled up at the Ranger's feet 5 feet to my right (both with the SCENT ability) managed to notice 'em...

So don't forget to roll ALL the opposed checks (horses, Familars, Sleeping PCs...) The party only needs to get lucky ONCE - and it still sounds like a doozy of a fight (unarmored, just waking up, diverse, numerous and pepared baddies). Sounds like fun

A'Mal

 

[Plane Sailing]

Out of interest, does it say why it bases its calculations on ECL rather than CR?

It doesn't say it in the spreadsheet, I honestly can't remember whether the issue is addressed in Grim Tales but I remember that it allows fractional CR additions for all manner of special qualities (thus allowing in an appropriate fashion for lycanthropic characters IIRC) so I just winged it. Anything good in that calculation comes from Wulf, anything bad in it is attributed entirely to me!

Cheers

 

[Philip]

A second the 'handwaving into position' comments made. Additionally, I would like add a second common mistake: 'handwaving communication and timing'. The DM often assumes that the baddies have perfect communication and timing, knowledge of each other's plans and positions etc., even though the baddies rarely have the means to do so.

For example: in the given scenario it is practically impossible for the two invisible assassins to strike at the same time, if they are unable to communicate (by telepathy or something). Let alone coordinate their strikes with the Phase Spider.

 

[shilsen]

A second the 'handwaving into position' comments made. Additionally, I would like add a second common mistake: 'handwaving communication and timing'. The DM often assumes that the baddies have perfect communication and timing, knowledge of each other's plans and positions etc., even though the baddies rarely have the means to do so.

For example: in the given scenario it is practically impossible for the two invisible assassins to strike at the same time, if they are unable to communicate (by telepathy or something). Let alone coordinate their strikes with the Phase Spider.

And I third (fourth? fifth?) the comments. NPCs who apparently have plot immunity to being detected and telepathic abilities to boot really irritate me as a player and are something I never use as a DM. I always roll up all chances of them being detected beforehand. It breeds a lot of confidence in your fairness in players if they discover that NPCs make mistakes and get heard/spotted, fail to coordinate their attacks (I've had NPCs launch attacks before all of their allies in position, etc.), and generally do the same things that PCs do when ambushing someone themselves. And when a perfect ambush does go off, my PCs are usually very curious about how the enemy pulled it off and respectful of their abilities.

 

[reveal]

For example: in the given scenario it is practically impossible for the two invisible assassins to strike at the same time, if they are unable to communicate (by telepathy or something). Let alone coordinate their strikes with the Phase Spider.

I definitely agree. The assassins will close in and only one will be able to attack. Everyone else will be 60 feet back.

I will give the people on watch Listen and Spot checks like I always do when they're on watch.

 

[cmanos]

Worst case scenario. Warforged watch gets taken out silently by the assassing and all the rest of the players fail thieir listen check. TPK.

Best case. Warforged hears the approaching assassin and rouses the group to , unarmored and without spells memorized fight an armored and well rested fully spelled up group.

Fair? I don't know. I want to know how it comes out.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

For example: in the given scenario it is practically impossible for the two invisible assassins to strike at the same time, if they are unable to communicate (by telepathy or something). Let alone coordinate their strikes with the Phase Spider.

Well, if by "practically impossible" you mean "the 6th-level sorcerer traveling with them might want to cast the 0th-level spell Message"...then I can see what you mean.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Doesn't the party set up an Alarm? There are magical resources avalable designed to keep you from getting killed in your sleep...

 

[Shin Okada]

Best case. Warforged hears the approaching assassin and rouses the group to , unarmored and without spells memorized fight an armored and well rested fully spelled up group.

It will be unlikely to happen. Unless the PC party hacked a dungeon that day, spellcasters should still have most of their spells. And they can of course use scrolls and wands.

They may use some spells if they meet wilderness encounters. But so as tracking assassins.

Also, 6th-level assassins do not have much spells anyway.

 

[reveal]

Doesn't the party set up an Alarm? There are magical resources avalable designed to keep you from getting killed in your sleep...

They never have. They always have at least 2 people on watch, sometimes more. The warforged pretty much never sleep.