Throat Slit?

[Bastoche]

That's in the introduction paragraph of the coup de grace. Don't remember the page number though...

 

[Lamoni]

My 2 cents...

The barber would definately get a surprise round. The person in the chair isn't expecting an attack. I'd probably allow a sense motive check before they sat in the chair... after they were sitting the sense motive check probably wouldn't benefit the character much.

One round = 6 seconds. So one standard action is probably only 3 seconds. Treating the person in a chair as helpless doesn't make as much sense to me. They are still fully awake and won't be sitting still for 3 whole seconds while the barber runs the blade across his neck. Therefore coup de grace doesn't work.

Giving a surprise round, including sneak attack damage with an automatic hit (probably an automatic critical) is still plenty of damage to do in a free round... the barber could still easily win initiative after the the surprise round and deliver another damaging blow against the unarmed and unarmored guy who was recently on his back in the chair... not to mention taking an attack of opportunity as the guy got up from the chair.

This is a situation that is already lethal most of the time without adding a coup de grace. It could be fun to use against PC's if the PC also had his buddies in the shop or if they were very high level with lots of HP's... then they would have a chance of surviving, and feel good about escaping if they were able to accomplish it and not feel like the DM just wanted to get rid of their character.

 

[Stormborn]

This is a situation that is already lethal most of the time without adding a coup de grace. It could be fun to use against PC's if the PC also had his buddies in the shop or if they were very high level with lots of HP's... then they would have a chance of surviving, and feel good about escaping if they were able to accomplish it and not feel like the DM just wanted to get rid of their character.

This is what I am planning: the PC in question to realize he could have easily been killed and take a lot of damage, to have his buddies there, and a significant fight to ensue which they will be glad to walk away from (as the Assasin is 1 level higher than the average character level), and depending on the result maybe collect the bounty that was on the Assassin's head.

 

[Sejs]

Heh, if the barbsassin tries to slit the character's throat while his buddies are in the shop, he's a damn fool and deserves what he gets. This is one of those things that should've been picked up by the guys that recruited and trained him as an assassin...

Assassin Trainer Bill: "Say, is it just me, or does the new guy seem a bit on the crazy side of reckless?"

*new recruit goes running by in the background, screaming at the top of his lungs, dagger clutched in each hand, arms waving over his head like a muppet*

Assassin Recruiter Carl: "...you may have a point..."
Assassin Trainer Bill: "Yeah, I thought so. I'm thinking we cut this buckwheat loose, the sooner the better. Why did we even pick this guy up in the first place?"
Assassin Recruiter Carl: *looks down at the floor, muttering in an embarassed fashion* "...er, I was kinda drunk at the time."

 

[hong]

This is what I am planning: the PC in question to realize he could have easily been killed and take a lot of damage, to have his buddies there, and a significant fight to ensue which they will be glad to walk away from (as the Assasin is 1 level higher than the average character level), and depending on the result maybe collect the bounty that was on the Assassin's head.

1. A CDG for this scenario is way overkill. This will leave the PC in question DEAD, not "could have easily been killed".

2. A regular sneak attack in the surprise round is adequate for your purposes. Don't forget that if the PC loses initiative, that's another full round of sneak attacks coming his way in the first regular round. This is usually enough to waste any PC, unless they're immune to sneaks for some reason.

3. An assassin who doesn't succeed in killing the target quickly is likely to be easy meat if he doesn't run away. Assassins, like rogues, have a glass jaw: they can dish out the damage, but can't take it.

 

[two]

Becasue of the "more helpless than is normal in a typical surprise situation" you would easily be justified in giving the barbsassin (if anyone can work in a Barberella riff kudos to you) a full round surprise round (instead of a single standard action).

So the Barbsassin could do a full attack suite vs. the seated PC, then they roll initiative, and if the Barbsassin wins, gets another full round attack sequence (all sneak atacks, naturally).

That seems pretty fair, gives the PC some shot at living, but is also nicely deadly.

 

[dcollins]

Geez, am I not wanting to go to the barber now. And I'm starting to need a haircut, too. Thanks, guys.

If I really had to run this scene in core D&D, I would make the barber an Assassin and use the Death Attack mechanic.

 

[Sejs]

If I really had to run this scene in core D&D, I would make the barber an Assassin and use the Death Attack mechanic.

Honestly, that's probably what I would do, too. It's the most elegant solution.


Well, I'd do that and the poisoned shaving creame thing, heh, 'cause I just really like it. Strength poison particularly, so if they don't die from the straight razor across the throat, they're weakened and have a harder time fighting back while you take care of buisness the old-fashioned way.

 

[HellHound]

I would call it a CDG also, but it would first require that the barber beat the target's Sense Motive with a Bluff check.

 

[velm91]

barber o' death

I can't imagine 'rolling' to attack because the PC is sitting in the chair, no armor, no defensive moves. He is letting the barber put an incredibly sharp blade on his face.
I would let the PC do a sense motive, if it failed then sneak attack dam of 6d6, perhaps.