[DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

The Assassin doesn't have any of its own power-ups.

Which of the general/combat ones, do you think are the best?

Which of the Thief or Ninja power-ups would you allow the Assassin to take and still keep niche protection (especially for the thief)?

Do you have any home brew power-up ideas for the Assassin template?

Thanks

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

I'd steal Coup de Jarnac from the Swashbuckler, call it "Death blow", and make it apply to impaling weapons instead. I might also steal Focused Fury from Barbarians, allowing the Assassin to do massive damage on a strike from surprise. Hand of Death (from Martial Artists) might also appropriate, but you'd have to change the prerequisites.

Backstabber is an appropriate powerup from the thief template; I'd leave the rest alone.

Slayer Training, Mortal Foe, Dirty Fighting, and Finishing Move are all especially appropriate general combat power-ups; I'd also grab Quick-Sheathe for swapping knives in combat.

Other assassin specific power-ups might include the ability to poison things with Immunity to Poisons/Metabolic Hazards and/or garrote things that Don't Breath. I don't know how to price either of those, but they'd be cool. Other high end options might include Invisibility (Accessibility: Only in dim light) or Teleport (Accessibility: between dimly lit locations), representing the assassin's legendary ability to hide in any shadows and move without being noticed.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

I really need to brush off my rough notes for an Assassins Power-Ups article and send it to Steven. The problem is that it's pretty short. :)

For now, I'd just say go with Mike's suggestions, plus allow the Assassin additional levels of their backstab-only Striking ST (allow twice as many levels, which would mean a cap of 8), regular Striking ST (up to 4), unlimited Gizmos, and allow the purchase of Resistance to Poison (+3 or +8) for 5 or 8, respectively*.

That plus the general power-ups and the myriad of advantages on the list should hold you for a bit. :)

* I'm sorry I didn't think to put that on the template in the first place, actually.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Thanks for the great suggestions!

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Heh. I vaguely remember some variant of assassins (most likely from the AD&D2e Thiefbook) who gained the skill to make poison antidotes and identify poisons . . . but neither make nor apply them.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Sounds like a classic Murphy's Rule from poorly chosen wording.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

What game system are you guys talking about?

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

The original post? G4e DF. The Murphy mention is likely from AD&D2e.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Minor nitpick but that should be 5 or 7, given that Resistance rounds down/drops fractions.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Yeah, that's correct.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Hm. I've got a couple of short articles on barbarians and monks... think we could sell him on a "DF for the short attention span" themed article? :D

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

We should try!

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

To be consistent with the Power-Ups for Rogues and Unholy Warriors, I'd suggest allowing backstab-only Striking ST up to 10. Otherwise looks pretty good.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

The player of the Assassin has developed an obsession with shuriken.

Other than striking ST(only shuriken), do you have any ideas to boost his damage?

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Throwing Art or Weapon Master are about it. Plus buying better shuriken, especially ones with Penetrating Weapon and Puissance.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

thank you for the ideas, I dont know why those didnt occur to me!

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

You're welcome. He's just picking a very weak weapon. You need a lot of magic to make up for the inherent weakness of the weapon.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

Of course, in fantasy games, super-quick, super-effective poisons might well exist. Those would also help. Wasn't there a 6d tox instant poison in DF? Using that, it hardly matters whether your weapon attack is doing 1d+1 cut or 3d cut.

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

It's DF, so they do. But you'll need a lot, again, to make up for a weak ranged weapon. Low damage, short range. Plus the costs add up very quickly if you need to poison shuriken (and use multiple doses to improve your chances of beating the target's HT).

Just saying. It takes a lot of effort to make up for a low basic damage!

Re: [DF] Best power-ups for an Assassin?
 

So I was inspired by this thread to finally get off my lazy butt and commit my ideas on power-ups for the Assassin to paper and submit them. They came out today in Pyramid:

Pyramid #3/50: Dungeon Fantasy II


I hope they meet with approval, and thanks to the posters for prodding me into action.