| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Myst |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 17:03:51
Couple things.
Here's the setting:
A PC makes his move silently and Hide and is only inches away from his target he says " I want to slip my dagger in front him and slit his neck" Can He? Or does he still (even with so utterly impossible to miss) have to roll out the damage and sneak attack stuff???
I find that my Pc's sometimes try to call shots and such but in 3.5 you can't or should I say there's no rule on it.
ANd second. Is it me or do your NPC's die at 0? I just forget that they have till -9 even though their unconciuos, Granted most of the time the NPC's are left there to die or burned, buried or something but what if they stablize I often forget that 0 isn't dead for an Npc which is gonna make for some interesting reappearances. I was just curious to know if I was the only Dm that forgot that little Tibi. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Capn Charlie |
Posted - 02 Jun 2004 : 03:14:49
Well, how about check of some kind to render a foe helpless? Perhaps if the hide/move silently checks exceed the spot/listen check of the target by a certain number he is considered helpless.
In my game I have had the problems a lot. About the best I ever came up with is grappling and pinning someone, then coup de grace'ing them with a dagger.
Implementing something like my first idea might jack up the value of spot/listen to the point that it should be on everyone's skill lists though.
Hmm, how about an opposed level check
Ambush Check
d20+level(or HD)+wis for the target vs d20+level+dex for the attacker
Of course you could only make an Ambush Check if you succesfully hid/moved silently. For every say, 5 points over the spot/listen of the target the attacker could get a +2 circumstance bonus. |
| AutoSponge |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 23:43:20
He can describe it any way he wants (he can do 10 backflips before he attempts to cut the opponent's throat while doing a handstand and holding the knife in his foot) but the rules are clear, the opponent is only flat-footed unless he's "paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent's mercy." (def. of helpless condition). |
| Sarta |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 21:31:30
Slitting someone's throat is better represented by the death attack available to assassins (and some assassin-like prc's). The assassin studies their victim for 3 rounds (18 seconds) and then makes a single attack which must hit and the victim must fail their saving throw.
Barring the death attack, he would merely be performing a sneak attack against a flat-footed and flanked opponent.
Sarta |
| hammer of Moradin |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 19:34:00
One good trick is to see if the characters see all of their opponents, and if not have one slip back in to use a potion to cure one of the more powerful opponents to harass the characters. Of course they will die in a few rounds depending on how much damage they have taken.
I agree, unless the victim is helpless the character still must make their roll. The more experienced the victim is, the better chance to survive. Even if the character is successful, they may not kill the person their slitting the throat of. Call it quick reaction, if they're lucky you can tell the player their neck armor, necklace, etc. interfered. |
| Lashan |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 19:02:12
I would say that slitting someone's throat that isn't tied up or otherwise helpless is a sneak attack. Some people are better at sneak attacks then others. Some targets are easier to have their throats slit (i.e. have lower hp). If the target was under a hold person spell, then I would go ahead and give them a coup de grace. In other words, I agree with Myst.
I've tried to remember about enemies and if they get to -9. A lot of the opponenets that the party has fought have been mercenaries. There is also a paladin in the group. It has slowed the party up somewhat when they have to stablize and then turn over to authorities the mercenaries who attacked them. Many of these mercenaries were tricked or fooled into attacking the PCs or just defending the NPCs.
For really bad enemies, I have them show up latter, to really suprise the players. So, once again, I agree with Myst. |
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 17:13:46
The character still has to roll sneak attack damage. If you're feeling generous, and the attacked character seems to be utterly defenseless, you may rule that the defender is helpless, which would permit the rogue to take a coup de grace attack on him as a full round action (see the PH for rules on how this works). There are no rules for called shots, at least not provided by the core rules. Remember also that as a character gets closer, Hide and Move Silently checks get tougher, because those checks depend not only on skill, but the distance from the character making the opposed check.
NPCs die at -10 hp. At exactly 0 hp, a character is unconscious. At -1 and below, they are "dying," and unless they receive help from another character, or have an ability which prevents it (or unless they stabilize), NPCs will lose 1 hp per round until death, just like PCs do. Keep in mind that none of this applies to constructs and undead, who are destroyed at 0 hp. |
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