Why an Assassins hand book?

[Psion]

Just curious Psion: I was thinking of getting SCON (I've got Hollowfaust, and there's a necromantic trade city in my campaign setting that might need some more necroinfo). What exactly did you not like?

Oh... hm... I guess I should go check and see if you did a review.

I did do a review (see: http://www.enworld.org/d20reviews.asp?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=Psion&product=CNEC ), but here's a few thoughts. I think conceptually, the book had a lot to offer, and it had some nice historical observations (like how graverobbing REALLY occured) that you can use in your game. And the spells sound like great, creepy necromancer type concepts.

But it shows that they are not experts at 3e conventions. The book throws standard BAB and save advancements out the window for no good reason; I can see doing that if you have your own d20 system game, but if you are targeting D&D, your product should follow the D&D conventions IMO.

The classes are overpowered as are some of the spells. Many spells ignore SR for no good reason, and many spells are much more powerful that core spells of the same level, without compensations like XP cost or costly components.

Finally, the book seems to recognize how powerful its material is, but just recommends that if you allow the players to use them, you just plague the players with more overzealous good guys. That, in my mind, is 1e thinking and just a generally poor excuse.

In short, I like the book conceptually, but I would have to tone almost everything I used from the book down before using it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'm a reviewer on a few companies list and I spend money on stuff some companies don't provide. However, I still don't get everything.

As far as the Assassin's Handbook goes, I like it but think that it didn't follow the Shaman's Handbook in terms of complete coverage. No new weapons, no gods, no monsters, no guild rules, few PrCs... Lots of poisons, lots of DM options, cool core class.

BTW, Swashbuckling Adventure has an assassin core class and lots of PrCs for 'em.

 

[Nightfall]

After seeing the mechanical implementation of SCON, I would be more than a little dubious.

Not to mention I dislike the idea of a core assassin. I was so glad to hear that the core assassin that was in the playtest docs had been moved to PrC status.

While this is all true Psion my friend, I DID feel that SCON has some high points, barring some the mechanical problems involved with the necromancer and death knight.

 

[Psion]

While this is all true Psion my friend, I DID feel that SCON has some high points, barring some the mechanical problems involved with the necromancer and death knight.

Did I not say as much?

 

[Psion]

BTW, Swashbuckling Adventure has an assassin core class and lots of PrCs for 'em.

Didn't like that one, either. Also mechanically flubbed, as well as conceptually.

 

[Nightfall]

Did I not say as much?

Actually you did. I just thought I'd put in my thoughts too which concide with yours.

 

[Psion]

At any rate: I have a huge selection of d20 stuff, and not all of it review material. (I stopped asking some companies because I was sort of over-extending myself... I still have a pretty substantial backlog.) But even I don't have (or for that matter, want) everything.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Ah Psion, I even you're backlog. I got nine products from the con. Four of 'em friends had so I'd already read them and of course, several reviews are up. Still, Book of the Righteous is tormenting me with its ponderous bulk. Ah well, I've only got some odd...three left from the con and four left from before that so I can't complain. Now if only AEG and Mongoose would send me stuff....

Back to Assassins. I like the book but think it has some issues as I've noted elsewhere. When Mongoose comes out with theirs, barring it being a half-sized book like the instant adventurers from AEG and FFG, I'll probably pick it up too. You can never have too many assassins...

 

[Psion]

How'd you score the BOTR and TAHB already? Did you scam Nichole into giving you a copy at the con? Or did you actually put cash on the barrel-head?

 

[Scott814thmpco]

As far as the Assassin's Handbook goes, I like it but think that it didn't follow the Shaman's Handbook in terms of complete coverage. No new weapons, no gods, no monsters, no guild rules, few PrCs... Lots of poisons, lots of DM options, cool core class.

[/B]

Hi-
So in essence, you still have to do most of the foot work. So how much did this book cost? If its under 10 bucks, then even I would consider buying it being the cheap bastard that I am. In my own campaign, I do have a couple of gods dedicated to assassins as well as Monsters such as the Assassin spider and two assassin npc classes, one is a shadow dancer with the assassin ability jerry rigged to that class which I call the Shadow Assassin and the other is the Trouble Shooter; a Rogue with both the assassin and poison capabilities jerry rigged to that class. Guild houses are not that hard to come up with, infact there was an old dragon magazine( I think it was called: “the Assassins Run”) that had a great article on how to run an assassins guild which included ideas on initiations such as passing a test fraught with all kinds of nasty encounters to just going out and murdering an innocent bystander of the guild masters choosing.
Obviously the Assassin is not a nice guy and is truly a loner at hart. So if I did decide to change my mind on running PC sponsored Assassins, I’d probably penalize their abilities since they want to hang out with a group of adventurers, just my idea’s and their free. ; )


Scott