Assassination (sage ability)

Assassination is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Murder that functions as a form of attack in which the character is able to potentially dispatch the defender with little difficulty. In effect, a weapon is used to strike at a weak point in the victim, bringing about death.

The sage ability is, to a lesser degree, available to assassins who possess less than 10 points of knowledge in murder, on account of their class. In such cases, the practice is termed unskilled assassination, distinguishing it as less effective than attacks make with amateur or greater skill.

Opportunity

Before assassination can be committed, the character first surprise the intended victim, coming upon them in a manner that makes surprise possible. Additionally, the would-be assassin must be near enough to the victim to take advantage of the surprise when it occurs, before initiative is necessary. Creating this opportunity is up to the player's choices in describing the character's actions prior to the attack.

Approach is usually accomplished through stealth, regardless of the character's skill in this ability.

Assassination Attempt

Once surprise and proximity is attained, the perpetrator rolls to hit in standard fashion. Any hand-to-hand weapon may be used.

Skilled Assassins

If the die indicates a hit, the skilled assassin rolls 2d4, adding his or her experience level and subtracting 5 points. If the total is equal or greater than the victim's total hit dice plus experience levels, then the victim is absolutely dead.

For example, 7th level Maria manages to surprise Theodore, a 5th level character, and succeeds in hitting Theodore's armour class. Rolling 2d4, she obtains a "4"; adding her level makes this 11, and subtracting 5 makes this a "6." This is equal to Theodore's level plus 1 hit die for his mass, so the assassination is successful and Theodore is dead.

Note that by this calculation, Marie would be certain to kill any character that was 4 or more levels less than her current level. Her chance of killing Thomas was 13 in 16; were Thomas one level lower, it would have been 15 in 16.

Unskilled Assassins

Those of the assassin class without the sage ability resolve assassinations in the same manner, except that their level bonus is but ½-pt. per level. In the example above, Marie would add 3 to her 2d4 die roll (fraction discarded), which would have resulted in a failed assassination attempt.

Failed Assassinations

If the assassination fails, normal damage for the weapon is rolled; if the defender isn't stunned, then the defender and failed assassin roll for initiative, like any other combat situation following a surprise. Thereafter the combat resolves normally. A second assassination attempt cannot be made, as the defender can no longer be surprised.

Notes

An assassination cannot take place during melee, as according to the rules discussing the surprise of opponents, the defender cannot be aware of the assassin's existence. This is plainly not possible if the defender and assassin are in combat.

Victims of assassination may be restored through the death's door spell.

Regarding the possible assassination of very large creatures, such as giants, if the intended victim is thrice the height of the would-be assassin, or has more than four times the assassin's weight, the victim is too large to be assassinated.

See Also,
Assassin
Murder
Player Characters