mfc@hp-pcd.UUCP (mfc) (08/11/84)
A fellow DM and I are having a major disagreement concerning surprise
attacks from the rear by thieves and assassins, and the multiple damage
that they get. He says that these two classes only get the multiple damage
(x2,x3,etc.) for hand-held weapons,since the only types of weapons listed
in the PH under the Thief class are hand-held. He also says that the rea-
soning behind this is that the multiple damage delivered is due to the
strength of the attacker being used directly on the victim, and that this
does not apply for missile weapons.
I say that the weapons listed in the PH are given for example purposes
only, and since there is no explicit restriction given anywhere in the TSR
publications concerning the type of weapons thieves and assassins may use
to get double damage, they should get it for any successful attack from
the rear and with surprise. I also maintain that the reason that they get
the multiple damage in the first place is that they have more experience
in the sneaky surprise attack (whether up close or at a distance) and this
ability allows them to be more selective about where they intend to strike
their victim, thus allowing them to do more damage in this form of attack
than, say, a fighter, who is used to facing his/her opponent. If this is
the case then a thrown dagger or (in the case of assassins) an arrow would
be able to do as much injury as a sword thrust.
Note that in the above discussion, I say attack from the rear AND with
surprise. This obviously only applies to thieves. An assassin only needs
to attack with surprise; the attack can come from any direction.
Neither of us has been able to convince the other one of our relative
positions on this subject and the controversy has been going on for over
a year and a half. I am hoping that this posting will generate a signif-
icant response in support of one side or the other, or possibly suggest a
different mechanism or argument altogether.
Stay tuned in for future notes on:
1) Strength bonus for hand-thrown weapons.
2) Drowning and swimming underwater.
3) Drugs in AD&D.
4) The Compleat Equipment List.
5) The 'Light' Spell: point source or area effect?
6) More discussion on the limits of 'Phantasmal Force'.
7) Combat, Critical Hits, and Mortal Wounds.
8) 'Resurrection', 'Speak w/ Dead', and other mysteries
beyond the veil.
9) The effects of Hand Grenade raids (oil bombs) against
various and sundry monsters.
and finally,
10) What to do if a Druid reincarnates you as a badger.
We'll be right back after these words from our sponser.
"Remember, never take the point. That's a Paladins job."
From the World of Vindarten,
Mark Cookpkh@rabbit.UUCP (Paul Pavlidis) (08/14/84)
This is an interestion problem. My interpretaton has been that the theif or assassin gains multiple damage because of knowledge of physiology through training. Because of this, he or she will be able to strike at vital organs or other vulnerable points. As to whether the attacker can do this at a distace with missile ] weapons is another matter. Because he is not right near the victim, you would think that he would not be able to use his special skill as effectively. There- fore, I think that the damage should be considered as being one level `bracket' lower--that is, a thief who could do triple damage would do double damage with missile weapons. One who does double would do normal damage. Thieves or assassins of very high level, probably only gods, could negate this. This is my idea of a compromise between the two views, and it also makes some sense. from the world of Kemen, Paul Pavlidis
lmaher@uokvax.UUCP (08/18/84)
#R:hp-pcd:1854966696:uokvax:2400061:000:350 uokvax!lmaher Aug 18 01:44:00 1984 Our campaigns allowed thieves multiple damage from behind with arrows, so some GMs loved to hide a thief above a doorway and drill the party as it went through. One GM had countless secret doors, with thieves popping out to nail someone with an arrow and then disappearing back into safety. Very Frustrating. Carl ..!ctvax!uokvax!lmaher