Sniper Hazard

[Fallen Seraph]

Posting an Alternative Hazard:

Sniper: Level ? Blaster
Hazard ? XP

The crack of gunpowder is the only warning as a ball of lead whizzes past your head.

Hazard: A sniper is pinning down anyone in range. He can attack anyone during his turn.
Perception
DC ?: Upon activating Initiative can roll to see if you see where the sniper is.
Initiative +?
Trigger
The sniper rolls initiative whenever a character comes within range 45. Henceforth the sniper makes an attack against any character.
Attack
Standard Action Ranged 45 special
Special: The sniper causes slowing upon a successful attack to all creatures.
Target: One creature
Attack: +? vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8 + ? damage, and the target is slowed (save ends).
Effect: Each round on its turn, the sniper attacks one creature.
Countermeasures

• A character can attack the sniper (AC ?, other defenses ?; hp ?). When reduced to 0 hit points, the sniper dies, ending the hazard, upon perceiving the hazard.
• Can use methods to blind the sniper (power, item, pg. 42, etc.).
• Upon reaching melee the hazard becomes a creature. See Stats: (Custom Monster Stat here)

Upgrade to Elite (? XP)
Increases the Target to Two Creatures.

Instead of going with "marked" idea I said earlier in a post. I decided to make it part of a Special, and to change the effect so that it occurs upon a successful attack (idea being that upon a successful hit you would instinctively move slower (ducking) since someone is hit).

I also thought out that if it caused a attack each round the mausoleums would most likely be destroyed way to soon.

I most likely will run it as a Elite to just make it a bit more challenging.

 

[Skyscraper]

One problem that could arise: with the sniper having range 20, one PC could arguably spend an action point and base your sniper in a single round (if they recognize the threat immediately). I know that whenever a sniper homes in on me in any game that i play, my first reaction is to get cover, and my second is to kill the sniper as a priority, engaging him in melee if i can to remove his snipe attack.

Sky

p.s.: the skill challenge was just an option i was proposing to see if it could fit. This being said, although i understand that you prefer the combat mode for this encounter, which is fine, a skill challenge could still be played out on a battle map for determining cover. It's even better if you have 3D terrain. So go build stuff! Hehe.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Hmm... True, I went with just the range of the musket (from the Swashbuckling Fan-Pdf). Hmm... Perhaps, 45? That would take around 6 turns if they ran the whole distance straight (with an initial speed of 5).

Obviously they won't do that most likely (being slowed and taking cover and all).

Oh I know, certainly doable as a Skill Challenge, it was my initial thought, just felt like trying something different