On topic, I just finished a G+ session playing a rogue assassin, level 4.

Compared to the previous packet, I actually like it better.  In the previous packet, you had to chose what subspecialty you wanted to see if you got backstab, or isolated strike, or a variation.  No matter the choice, you didn't have a simple "sneak attack".  It was kind of weird.  Learning open locks, disarm traps, and pick pockets were also weird since it was dependent on specialty, background, or feat.  Now it's all just Dex modifier + skill dice.

I will say the rules are written with a bit too much ambiguity, but once you understand what they are saying, it's easier to manage.  I'm looking at the wording for Trap Expertise, specifically.

In a nutshell, since there are no "skills" like before, pretty much every "thiefy" thing you do, you can add your expertise dice.  This starts as a d6, but goes up to a d12 at high levels.  As you advance in levels, you also gain certain things that can grant you advantage on these rolls.

For the assassin specialty, the focus is on improved sneak attacks.  Personally I think they should call it precise strike because that feels more appropriate because you can technically apply sneak attack damage to any attack in which you give yourself disadvantage.

The way my assassinate ability works is that any time I attack target before it's turn, I get advantage on my attack rolls.  Also, if I attack a creature that's been surprised, it's an automatic critical and sneak attack damage is maxed.

Since I'm level 4, I had the opportunity to increase my stats, or take a feat.  Tough, tough choice because I could get an extra bonus to hit and damage by increasing my Dex.  But I went with the Alert feat, because that not only gives me advantage on spot checks, but most importantly gives me a +5 bonus on initiative (see where I'm going with this)

Actual play effects:  +8 to my initiative (Dex and alert), making me go first almost all of the time.  Since I go first, I get advantage on my attacks.  If I chose to give myself disadvantage (canceling out the advantage so it's a regular attack), my damage is weapon+sneak attack.  At high levels this will be deadly as the sneak attack damage goes up.  And it's very simple to manage.  Either attack at advantage, or regular attack with extra damage.  Nice having that simple choice.  And I think the feat was well worth it over the attribute check.  Our group of 6 players were pretty split down the line on which we preferred, so I guess that means it's working as designed.

Oh, and lore checks are actually quite nice.  I don't mind now missing the skill dice and instead having a couple "skills" that get a huge bonus.  We used lore quite often.  An example was when we were trying to BS our way into the purple dragon cult.  I had forbidden lore, so I made a roll to find out enough about the cult that I was able to put together a believable story.

Quote from: The_Rooster;679632Jesus fuck Christ you people are so anal shit spews from your mouths. Give it a rest. You are superior in every conceivable way and I suck and should never pick up a dice.

Happy?

"Dice" is plural.  "Die" is the singular.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;679640On topic, I just finished a G+ session playing a rogue assassin, level 4.

Compared to the previous packet, I actually like it better.  In the previous packet, you had to chose what subspecialty you wanted to see if you got backstab, or isolated strike, or a variation.  No matter the choice, you didn't have a simple "sneak attack".  It was kind of weird.  Learning open locks, disarm traps, and pick pockets were also weird since it was dependent on specialty, background, or feat.  Now it's all just Dex modifier + skill dice.

Does it maybe feel like FASERIP, where the powers are pretty generic, but the players are intended to 'personalize' the cause and effect?

Quote from: StormBringer;679656"Dice" is plural.  "Die" is the singular.

Quote from: StormBringer;679659Does it maybe feel like FASERIP, where the powers are pretty generic, but the players are intended to 'personalize' the cause and effect?

I'm not familiar with FASERIP, so I don't know.  The abilities didn't really feel generic in the way the players are intended to personalize them.

It was pretty much just having the choice, against opponents I had better initiative on, to either attack with advantage (benefit to hit), or attack regularly, but with extra damage (from sneak attack).

Quote from: StormBringer;679656"Dice" is plural.  "Die" is the singular.

Flawless victory.

Quote from: Piestrio;679667Flawless victory.

It's those damn Muslims, subverting our culture by slowly changing the meanings of words without us knowing.

First they changed what "dice" means.  Now they are trying to put everyone in burkas.  What next?

Quote from: Piestrio;679667Flawless victory.

:hatsoff:

OK, so I guess I was applying the previous packet's sneak attack rules.  In this new packet, you can apply sneak attack damage any time you have advantage (you still get it) or any time there's an ally within 5 feet of your target.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;679665I'm not familiar with FASERIP, so I don't know.  The abilities didn't really feel generic in the way the players are intended to personalize them.

The old Marvel Super Heroes, or the public domain 4C.  I guess Hero would have been a better example; MSH actually had a set of generic powers intermixed with weirdly specific entries.  Energy Generation was anything you wanted it to be, but there was a listing for Web Casting also.

I guess I figured your description sounded like the Rogue has a couple of nondescript slots for 'Rogue abilities', and you could fill those with 'Pick Pockets' or whatever and just roll Dex+mod for all of them.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;680171OK, so I guess I was applying the previous packet's sneak attack rules.  In this new packet, you can apply sneak attack damage any time you have advantage (you still get it) or any time there's an ally within 5 feet of your target.

Which is super annoying since now there aren't any ways aside from hiding to get advantage on ranged shots, which kills a lot of builds.

Quote from: StormBringer;680174I guess I figured your description sounded like the Rogue has a couple of nondescript slots for 'Rogue abilities', and you could fill those with 'Pick Pockets' or whatever and just roll Dex+mod for all of them.

I guess you could sort of look at it like that.  There are really two parts to consider:

1.  Any Dexterity check will also use the skill dice for rogues
2.  Only a few "thiefy" acts require thieves tools, which in turn require a prof. in them (you can get this prof by either being a rogue, taking a thief background, or I think choosing a feat)

So essentially, for some thief skills like pick pockets, anyone can attempt.  Thieves just get an extra dice.  Later on they also get an ability to effectively take 10 on the d20 roll.  For other certain "thiefy" skills, like open locks, require thieves tools so not everyone can attempt.


Also, with the new sneak attack rules, I really have sneak attack on just about every attack I use.  I typically use a bow and stand towards the back.  With my alert feat, I get a +5 bonus to initiative, and by being an assassin, I get advantage every time I attack a target before it goes.  In addition to that, even if I don't go first, as long as I have an ally within 5 feet of my target, I also get advantage.  So I'm adding sneak attack damage on pretty much every attack, without needing to hide at all.

Now, if I DO hide, and surprise the target I attack, not only do I have advantage, but the attack is a critical hit and all sneak attack dice are max'd.  So for a 5th level rogue using a long bow and DEX 18, that's 2d8+4+12 (2d6 sneak attack) points of damage (18-32).  Which is a nasty hit.  I guess that's why they call it the assassin.  I might be squishy, but damn don't let me get surprise on you.