Difference between revisions of "Assassination (sage ability)"

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Describes a blow that strikes at a weak point in a humanoid opponent, allowing the attacker to kill an enemy immediately on a successful hit.
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[[File:Assassination.jpg|right|560px|thumb]]
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'''Assassination''' is an [[Knowledge Points|amateur]]-status [[Sage Ability|sage ability]] in the [[Sage Study|study]] of [[Murder (sage study)|Murder]] that functions as a form of [[Attacking in Combat|attack]] in which the character is able to potentially dispatch the defender with little difficulty.  In effect, a [[Weapons List|weapon]] is used to strike at a weak point in the victim, bringing about [[Death|death]].
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The sage ability is, to a lesser degree, available to [[Assassin (class)|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.
  
The sage ability is specifically available to all assassins, even those who possess 9 points of knowledge or less in the practice (unskilled). These are yet able to perform the act of assassination, though to a lesser degree.
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== Opportunity ==
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Before assassination can be committed, the character first [[Surprise (combat)|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|initiative]] is necessary.  Creating this opportunity is up to the player's choices in describing the character's actions prior to the attack.
  
Description of the Act
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Approach is usually accomplished through [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth]], regardless of the character's skill in this ability.
  
The deed requires that the perpetrator be near enough to attack with a hand-to-hand attack. It is also necessary that the intended victim be surprised. The assassination need not be committed from behind, but this is often the case. Usually, to succeed, the assassin approaches the victim through the use of stealth.
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== Assassination Attempt ==
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Once the element of surprise and proximity has been achieved, the assailant proceeds to make a standard [[Roll to Hit|roll to hit]] using any [[Weapons List|hand-to-hand weapon]] at their disposal.
  
If, following the stealth calculation, the assassin is adjacent to the intended victim and the victim is surprised, the assassin may at that time reveal their intention to assassinate. A die is rolled (see below) and the success of the assassination is determined. The victim cannot defend at all unless the assassination fails and then wins initiative. If the assassination fails, the assassin cannot make a second attempt, as the victim ceases to be surprised. The same rule denies an attempt to backstab.
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=== Skilled Assassination ===
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When the dice indicate a successful hit, a skilled assassin then rolls 2d4, adds their own [[Experience Level|experience level]], and subtracts 5 points from the result. If the final total equals or surpasses the combined total of the victim's [[Hit Dice|hit dice]] and experience levels, the target is is absolutely '''dead''', beyond any doubt.
  
Obviously, because an opponent in the midst of combat is not subject to the surprise rule, an assassination cannot take place during normal melee.
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: For example, a 7th level skilled assassin, Maria, successfully surprises Theodore, a 5th level character.  Rolling, she manages to hit Theodore's [[Armour Class|armour class]].  Rolling 2d4, she obtains a result of "4," then adds her level for a total of 11.  After subtracting 5, she arrives at a final score of "6."  This figure matches Theodore's level, plus an additional [[Hit Points per Die|hit die for his mass]], resulting in a successful assassination.  Theodore is dead.
  
Note that if the intended victim that is more than three times the height of the perpetrator, or more than four times the perpetrator’s weight, the victim is too large to be assassinated.
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Based on this calculation, Maria would have a guaranteed chance of killing any character whose level is at least 4 levels lower than hers, once she achieves surprise.  In her encounter with Theodore, her odds of success were 13 in 16; had Theodore been one level lower, her chances would have increased to 15 in 16.
  
Resolution
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=== Unskilled Assassins ===
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Assassins lacking the sage ability employ a similar method to resolve assassinations, except that their level bonus is reduced to a mere ½ point per level.  In the aforementioned example, Maria would add 3 to her 2d4 die roll, discarding any fractions. This adjustment would have resulted in a failed assassination attempt.
  
The perpetrator begins by rolling to hit in the normal fashion, under the usual conditions of combat. Any hand-to-hand weapon may be used.
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=== Failed Assassinations ===
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If the assassination attempt falls short, standard [[Damage (hit points)|damage]] for the weapon is rolled. If the defender is not [[Stun Lock|stunned]], both the defender and the failed assassin proceed to roll for initiative, like any other combat situation that follows a surprise attack. Subsequently, the combat unfolds as per standard combat rules.  A second assassination attempt cannot be made, as the defender can no longer be caught by surprise.
  
If successful, rather than determining damage, the perpetrator and victim’s levels are compared using a roll of 2d4, rolled by the perpetrator. This result is modified by adding the assassin’s level, then subtracting 5 points. If the total is now equal to or greater than the victim’s total hit dice + experience level, the victim is absolutely DEAD, reduced to -4 hit points for combatants without an experience level or -10 for those with an experience level.
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== Further Notes ==
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'''Assassination during combat.'''  An assassination cannot occur within the context of melee combat. As per the rules governing opponent surprise, the defender must unaware of the would-be assailant's presence, which is clearly impossible if both the defender and the assassin are engaged in combat. This would be equally true if the assassin were engaged with another opponent, as combatants also cannot be surprised if ready and aware that there are enemies about. An assassin would have to remove his or her self entirely from the combat, and be supported by darkness, and the defender would have to be separated by more than 60 feet from any other combatant in the melee, for an assassination of this kind to be attempted.
  
An unskilled assassin uses the same method, adding but one-half of levels gained, discarding all fractions. For example, a third-level unskilled assassin would add only 1 pt. to the die, drastically reducing the chance of success even against lower level targets.
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'''Restoring dead from assassination.'''  Any individuals who have fallen victim to an assassination can potentially be revived through the application of the [[Death's Door (spell)|death's door]] spell. [[Raise Dead (spell)|Raise dead]] and [[Resurrection (spell)|resurrection]] would also be obviously effective.
  
If the assassination fails, normal damage is rolled. If the intended victim survives, initiative is rolled.
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'''Assassination of giant-sized creatures.'''  When it comes to the possibility of assassinating exceedingly large creatures, such as giants, a critical factor to consider is the size disparity. If the intended victim is three times taller than the prospective assassin or possesses a weight exceeding four times that of the assassin, the target is deemed too massive to be the subject of an assassination attempt.
  
See Also,
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Assassin
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See also,<br>
Murder
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[[Backstabbing (sage study)]]<br>
Player Characters
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[[Player Characters]]
[[Category:Placeholder]]
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[[Category: Sage Abilities]][[Category: Reviewed]]

Latest revision as of 21:17, 24 March 2024

Assassination.jpg

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 the element of surprise and proximity has been achieved, the assailant proceeds to make a standard roll to hit using any hand-to-hand weapon at their disposal.

Skilled Assassination

When the dice indicate a successful hit, a skilled assassin then rolls 2d4, adds their own experience level, and subtracts 5 points from the result. If the final total equals or surpasses the combined total of the victim's hit dice and experience levels, the target is is absolutely dead, beyond any doubt.

For example, a 7th level skilled assassin, Maria, successfully surprises Theodore, a 5th level character. Rolling, she manages to hit Theodore's armour class. Rolling 2d4, she obtains a result of "4," then adds her level for a total of 11. After subtracting 5, she arrives at a final score of "6." This figure matches Theodore's level, plus an additional hit die for his mass, resulting in a successful assassination. Theodore is dead.

Based on this calculation, Maria would have a guaranteed chance of killing any character whose level is at least 4 levels lower than hers, once she achieves surprise. In her encounter with Theodore, her odds of success were 13 in 16; had Theodore been one level lower, her chances would have increased to 15 in 16.

Unskilled Assassins

Assassins lacking the sage ability employ a similar method to resolve assassinations, except that their level bonus is reduced to a mere ½ point per level. In the aforementioned example, Maria would add 3 to her 2d4 die roll, discarding any fractions. This adjustment would have resulted in a failed assassination attempt.

Failed Assassinations

If the assassination attempt falls short, standard damage for the weapon is rolled. If the defender is not stunned, both the defender and the failed assassin proceed to roll for initiative, like any other combat situation that follows a surprise attack. Subsequently, the combat unfolds as per standard combat rules. A second assassination attempt cannot be made, as the defender can no longer be caught by surprise.

Further Notes

Assassination during combat. An assassination cannot occur within the context of melee combat. As per the rules governing opponent surprise, the defender must unaware of the would-be assailant's presence, which is clearly impossible if both the defender and the assassin are engaged in combat. This would be equally true if the assassin were engaged with another opponent, as combatants also cannot be surprised if ready and aware that there are enemies about. An assassin would have to remove his or her self entirely from the combat, and be supported by darkness, and the defender would have to be separated by more than 60 feet from any other combatant in the melee, for an assassination of this kind to be attempted.

Restoring dead from assassination. Any individuals who have fallen victim to an assassination can potentially be revived through the application of the death's door spell. Raise dead and resurrection would also be obviously effective.

Assassination of giant-sized creatures. When it comes to the possibility of assassinating exceedingly large creatures, such as giants, a critical factor to consider is the size disparity. If the intended victim is three times taller than the prospective assassin or possesses a weight exceeding four times that of the assassin, the target is deemed too massive to be the subject of an assassination attempt.


See also,
Backstabbing (sage study)
Player Characters