Need help with a requested assassin death attack-related feat

[Sammael]

One of my players recently approached me and asked if I'd allow a new feat for his assassin character. He'd like the feat to extend the time he has to perform the death attack after looking at a subject for three rounds; basically, he'd like to be able to death attack more than one person at a time, by watching one person, then another, and then performing death attacks on both (presumably by using the sniping variant rule to hide immediately after the first death attack; I allowed him to use a ranged weapon for death attack and haven't had too much trouble so far).

The question is, is this reasonable? Would you allow it or disallow it, and why?

 

[the Jester]

I'd prolly go for it. It doesn't seem too broken or anything.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Apologies in advance if you know or are the person who created the non-magic using assassin variant. Some time ago, someone emailed me a word document (I no longer have that email, but kept the .doc) with a variation on the assassin that did not use spells, but had some other good abilities. At 10th level, it got the following ability:

Death Comes to All (Ex): If the assassin studies a group of creatures for the requisite 3 rounds he may use his death attack on each of them so long as he is able to reach them all, and has enough attacks. Example, Justin has attacks at +11, +6, and +1 and he is hidden in the shadows within 30 ft of three guards. After studying them for 3 rounds he uses a full attack action to throw a dagger at each guard. If any daggers hit, the guard must save or die as a result of the attack.

 

[the Jester]

Apologies in advance if you know or are the person who created the non-magic using assassin variant. Some time ago, someone emailed me a word document (I no longer have that email, but kept the .doc) with a variation on the assassin that did not use spells, but had some other good abilities. At 10th level, it got the following ability:

Death Comes to All (Ex): If the assassin studies a group of creatures for the requisite 3 rounds he may use his death attack on each of them so long as he is able to reach them all, and has enough attacks. Example, Justin has attacks at +11, +6, and +1 and he is hidden in the shadows within 30 ft of three guards. After studying them for 3 rounds he uses a full attack action to throw a dagger at each guard. If any daggers hit, the guard must save or die as a result of the attack.

That... is fantastic.

Even with the standard magic-using assassin, it would be a great epic feat.

(Scribbles a note)

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I love the non-magic assassin variant. Whoever created it, thanks!!!

Would the feat even need to be epic? Just make the prerequisite something like "Assassin's Death Attack Ability, BAB +10, Hide/Move Silently 13 ranks" or something like that?

 

[Sammael]

Well... I once made a character (monk 11/fighter 6/assassin 3) who could throw 11 shuriken per round. I doubt my player would go that far (he doesn't even have Rapid Shot), but I always try to make feats as balanced as possible. So... I would probably limit the number of targets for Death Comes to All (great name, whoever came up with it).

There is a slight issue I've noticed, however. In the example, Justin couldn't take a full-attack action to kill all three guards, because he'd technically attack first in the surprise round, after which everyone would have to roll initiative. If he won the iniative, I'd declare that he could finish off the remaining guards with death attacks.

I'll have to think about wording the feat properly. Thanks for the help!