Rogue Suggestion on Way of the Assassin

[Aspenor]

Currently this enhancement is nigh-worthless, especially for all the costs associated with expenditures of AP.

I propose that the Way of the Assassin enhancement work more like certain Assassin prestige class abilities, without adopting the entirety of the class features. While activated, the Way of the Assassin boost could add the character's intelligence modifier to base damage, paralyze the opponent on a critical hit, and on a confirmed critical on a natural 20 cause outright death (just like a vorpal, but with any weapon). These things would take place only during the time the boost is activated.

Currently there are very few benefits to this enhancement line, and I'd like to see it made more viable.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

I don't know that I'd go quite as powerful as Asp suggests but I agree its desperately needs work. I'd probably drop the vorpal effect suggested and instead have poison work correctly as per D&D poison application rules (ie - assume that me clicking the button means I justed applied a poison of my choice to the blade)

[Aspenor]

I don't know that I'd go quite as powerful as Asp suggests but I agree its desperately needs work. I'd probably drop the vorpal effect suggested and instead have poison work correctly as per D&D poison application rules (ie - assume that me clicking the button means I justed applied a poison of my choice to the blade)

I wouldn't view these changes as overpowered. Take into account the killing power of a rogue in PnP vs. DDO. Due to the arbitrarily tacked on HP, rogue sneak attack damage is comparatively negligible. This ability would give rogues an option for killing.

I would propose that an additional caveat be put on the natural 20 + confirm = death attack. The rogue would need to have his boost activated, and ALSO be currently undetected by the monster in question, meaning, he must be qualifying for a sneak attack in order to get the instant-kill.

[Turial]

Now is that paralysis like hold person, such that they are helpless and auto-crit, or like the weapon affect which holds the target in place (most of the time)?

I'm all for changes like those you have highlighted. Just need clarification on this one.

[Aspenor]

Now is that paralysis like hold person, such that they are helpless and auto-crit, or like the weapon affect which holds the target in place (most of the time)?

I'm all for changes like those you have highlighted. Just need clarification on this one.

I imagine I'd say the paralysis would render them flat-footed, but not necessarily helpless to the point of auto-crit. So it would work similar to the spell Holy Smite used to work. The rogue would get backstabs, but not auto-crits. It would also eliminate dexterity bonuses to AC for the creature.

At least that's how I propose it would work.

[Riggs]

The old 2nd edition assassin was built around a one shot kill.

As long as you were undetected, based on your level you had a % chance to instant kill something when you attacked.

Way of the assassin should be much the same as above, boost, get a sneak attack, have a chance to one shot something.

Getting sneak damage is nice, but when monsters have 100's of hit points, even 7d6 damage wont even come close on a single attack to killing something.

[lizardo666]

Definately worth a "bump"

Wrote a thread myself on the "chance to apply poison" and how it makes it completely useless.

This needs to be tweaked, or completely rewritten.