Quote:
Originally Posted by Claudius  I think if you have 8 levels free you can take assassin which will save 2 feats. Spring attack is not necessary for an assassin with tumble 30.
Death attack paralysis is not the point of an assassin. The point is HIPS and sneak attack dice. Aside from taking Assassin 8 there is also the option of taking Assassin 2 on a non-HIPS char to take uncanny dodge but thats actually bugged I think anyhow. Shadowdancer 2 also gives uncanny dodge but the whole problem with shadowdancer is that dodge/mobility/spring attack are crap to a tumble 30 character. |
Yes, a very high tumble can in fact replace Spring Attack under most conditions. But when do you get a very high tumble?
Is it 10? Is it 15? 20? 33 works great, and I've rarely ever been hit with a 30.. but 10? Nope. Nor 15. Probably not 20 either to ensure not getting hit.
Then we have Death Attack Paralysis..
Sorry, Death Attack Paralysis *IS* the point of an Assassin.
Its all about Killing *ONE* opponent fairly quickly, thats what an Assassin does.
Paralysis provides that means by piggy-backing off of Sneak Attack damage. It "allows" continuous Sneak Attack damage until the opponent is dead.
This doesn't mean that you can't use the class as you have suggested, but rather that it isn't really an Assassin.
But even here we have a minor problem.. Just what is the point of having a HiPS character with limited Sneak Attack Damage and a poor to non-existent paralysis feature? This isn't to say that HiPS doesn't have utility, but rather that its utility is considerably lessened UNLESS you have a lot more sneak attack damage available - and that usually means a Rogue. Then you have to ask your self if a Rogue wouldn't be better with one level of Shadow Dancer..
(..note of course that HiPS can be employed in a disabling fashion via Knockdown and Disarm.. but Knockdown is Strength checked and Disarm is Attack Bonus checked, neither of which would make sense with 8+ level's of Assassin - which is a medium BAB class not likely to be employed in a "Strength-type" character.)
Hmm, Uncanny Dodge and Improved Uncanny Dodge - I'd forgotten about those. Yes, I would concede utility with both feats. Rogue-types need to retain their Dex. bonus for AC, and though rare and IF the character is principally a Rogue-type character then the non-flanked Sneak Attack removal is very nice.
