Sort of, but you -also- need to beat the given enemys initiative.
basically when you roll initiative the gm chacks who is surprised. After deteemining who is surprised you go through initiative (including those who are surprised). When those who are surprised reach their turn, they skip that turn but are no longer surprised.
in other words, to assassinate the enemy needs to be surprised when you strike, meaning tou also need to beat the enemys initiative count.
No. Enemies can only ever be surprised on the first round of combat. There is no such thing as surprise on the middle of a fight. You do, however, gain Advantage on your first attack roll from being hidden and this allows you to use your Sneak Attack.
To use your Assassinate ability, several things need to happen:
It needs to be the first round of combat.
The enemy must be surprised: Typically this means that you start the combat hidden from the enemy.
You must have a higher initiative count than the enemy: Once the enemy takes their turn, they are no longer surprised.
Furthermore, to combine Assassinate with Sneak Attack, you need to have Advantage on your attack. This also typically happens by being hidden from the enemy while the enemy is visible to you.
In any event, the way Assassins are meant to be played is as the guys who sneak up on the enemy, begin combat with ungodly initiative scores, absolutely demolish a single target on the first round of combat, and spend the rest of the combat being just another rogue. While you are meant to be able to use your Sneak Attack almost every turn, you are not meant to be able to use Assassinate more than once per encounter.
In any event, the way Assassins are meant to be played is as the guys who sneak up on the enemy, begin combat with ungodly initiative scores, absolutely demolish a single target on the first round of combat, and spend the rest of the combat being just another rogue. While you are meant to be able to use your Sneak Attack almost every turn, you are not meant to be able to use Assassinate more than once per encounter.
This is exactly why I don't think I'd ever plan an assassin. Having your 'archetype defining thing' being such a hit or miss thing is, in my mind, unacceptable. I'm always going to choose an archetype that is switched 'on' more than it is switched 'off'
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
ya i think assassin archetype is to situational and not in a good way
I think assassin is fine as you are probably going to get sneak attack from advantage with a high initiative. The surprise does come in handy more than you think in practice and causes you to have to find ways to get surprise rounds. Although yes compared to Swashbuckler it would feel lacking. But flavor is cool and I didn't feel a lack of power since rogue is such a great class.
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Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
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playing a assassin rogue if my party is in a fight and no enemies see me is my attack a surprise ?
Sort of, but you -also- need to beat the given enemys initiative.
basically when you roll initiative the gm chacks who is surprised. After deteemining who is surprised you go through initiative (including those who are surprised). When those who are surprised reach their turn, they skip that turn but are no longer surprised.
in other words, to assassinate the enemy needs to be surprised when you strike, meaning tou also need to beat the enemys initiative count.
was that clarifying?
Furthermore, to combine Assassinate with Sneak Attack, you need to have Advantage on your attack. This also typically happens by being hidden from the enemy while the enemy is visible to you.
In any event, the way Assassins are meant to be played is as the guys who sneak up on the enemy, begin combat with ungodly initiative scores, absolutely demolish a single target on the first round of combat, and spend the rest of the combat being just another rogue. While you are meant to be able to use your Sneak Attack almost every turn, you are not meant to be able to use Assassinate more than once per encounter.
This is exactly why I don't think I'd ever plan an assassin. Having your 'archetype defining thing' being such a hit or miss thing is, in my mind, unacceptable. I'm always going to choose an archetype that is switched 'on' more than it is switched 'off'
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
cool ty guy
ya i think assassin archetype is to situational and not in a good way
Well, it’s very good for one-player games (with a side kick).
I think assassin is fine as you are probably going to get sneak attack from advantage with a high initiative. The surprise does come in handy more than you think in practice and causes you to have to find ways to get surprise rounds. Although yes compared to Swashbuckler it would feel lacking. But flavor is cool and I didn't feel a lack of power since rogue is such a great class.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy