Questions about the Assassin PrC

[Marijn]

As the title says:

an assassin gets a death-attack (which is 10+lvl assassin+int mod. vs fortitude), does this stack with a sneak attack? And is it automatic or selected?
For example: can you get 5d6 sneak attack as a rogue AND 5d6 death attack as an assassin?

Furthermore: I assume this PrC is fully implemented in Avlis?
(like the PnP version)

Thanks!

[nonscience]

Death attack is automatic with a Sneak.

Basically it adds dice to your Sneak plus gives a chance of instant kill.

[Jonezie]

Erm, it paralyses the target, it doesn't kill them instantly. And there's additional conditions for death attack - the target can't be in combat, for one.

[Nevyn]

Also a point to note: Death attack must be initiated outside of combat. Once your target is involved in combat you revert to sneak attacks only.

May be slightly off but I do know combat once started does not grant death attacks.

[Marijn]

Errr..

so when NOT in combat: you get a death attack (which paralyses) and a sneak attack (lets say: 3D6 death + 3D6 sneak?).
and when IN combat: you get "only" your sneak attack??

[Jonezie]

When your target is not in combat, and there is no combat going on around you, you can attempt a death attack. This gives a damage bonus of your combined Sneak and Death attack modifiers (So +6d6 if you have a level 5 rogue/5 assasin) and has a chance of paralyzing your opponet.

If the target is in combat, or there's other combat happening around the place, you don't have the opportunity to paralyze. However, if you are eligible for a sneak attack, the damage modifier from death attack still counts (so you still get +6d6 on your sneak).

I haven't played an assasin on Avlis, but I think that's right from what I recall of the HoTU campaign.

[Nightshade]

Jonezie is exactly right.

The chance for paralysis occurs only if the target is outside of combat, but the additional damage occurs anytime you are eligible for a sneak attack.

[Spartan]

Thats what i love about the assassin class. Probably one of the worst ones you can get for abilities stats wise but it's great for role playing.

An assassin is basically a rogue who gets half the skill points and no sweet abilities like improved evasion and all that stuff. You get improved invisibility, darkness and ghostly vissage with a small chance to paralise someone whos standing completly off guard which is exactly what an assassin should be doing. Class is all about role playing unlike the champion of torm class or sometimes shadowdancer class.

I think the this class's abilities, death attack, is one of the most confused points i've seen argued on the avlis boards

[GG26]

I know my interest in the class was purely for the RP around it. Otherwise you're best off going straight rogue and taking crippling strike or something.

[Marijn]

Thats what i love about the assassin class. Probably one of the worst ones you can get for abilities stats wise but it's great for role playing.

The only reason I'm planning on taking it (with help of my beloved DM in question of course). It gives great RP'ing possibilities! Thanks for all your answers.

[VETT SCALES L7]

The assassin 'spell abilities' are vocal and therefore undisguisable as per the official disguise rules. Just something to remember if you ever plan on utilizing them in a combat situation or any other while in a physial disguise as an assassin might.