The playtest content provides a good guess for how new features will work that warrants mentioning. The Assassinate feature there grants advantage against creatures that haven't taken a turn in combat yet in the first round (which pairs well with Assassinate also granting advantage on initiative and surprise granting disadvantage), and Sneak Attacks on that first round add the Assassin's level to the damage. This is consistent with "more consistent, less damage."
I really like that you can use True Strike from the Magic Initiate origin feat to create a intelligence, wisdom or charisma based rouge. Of cause you don't need the feat if you make a Arcane Trickster. What I don't like is that it seems like using True Strike is better than using a dexterity based rouge that don't don't use any spells - I think that options should be at least as good.
Interesting! I watched the video and thought they were quite vague, then read the blog and felt the same. I must have missed some detail. My apologies!
1) One correction on your discussion of assassin. There is no surprise round anymore. Surprise now just gives disadvantage in initiative. 2) the rogue can sneak up on someone, wish-cast simulacrum as a bonus action from the ring of three wishes, and then they can both stab a guy for a total of 4 stabs. Brutal
Yeah, surprise round has been a misnomer from 2014 onward, lol, there’s no surprise round now, and won’t be after the new book lands either, but I’ll still probably end up referring to them as that!
There is no surprise round (I know we all like to call it that though) and the surprised condition just gives disadvantage on your initiative roll (for 2024). You can get your core features off in the first round of combat against anyone that hasn't gone yet even if it isn't a "surprise round" (that's why they gave them advantage on their initiative rolls). Because it is more consistent, they lowered the damage (probably a weapon die or similar) so no crits.
I would concur that all sounds quite plausible. It’s not terribly clearly stated yet, but that’d be my general guess on the direction they’ve gone with it.
The playtest content provides a good guess for how new features will work that warrants mentioning. The Assassinate feature there grants advantage against creatures that haven't taken a turn in combat yet in the first round (which pairs well with Assassinate also granting advantage on initiative and surprise granting disadvantage), and Sneak Attacks on that first round add the Assassin's level to the damage. This is consistent with "more consistent, less damage."
Solid point. Assuming they haven’t adjusted further from the UA, that seems likely. Thanks for the comment!
I really like that you can use True Strike from the Magic Initiate origin feat to create a intelligence, wisdom or charisma based rouge. Of cause you don't need the feat if you make a Arcane Trickster. What I don't like is that it seems like using True Strike is better than using a dexterity based rouge that don't don't use any spells - I think that options should be at least as good.
In the videos D&D posted unveiling the changes, they go into much greater detail and explain how the things like Assassin Rogue work now.
Interesting! I watched the video and thought they were quite vague, then read the blog and felt the same. I must have missed some detail. My apologies!
1) One correction on your discussion of assassin. There is no surprise round anymore. Surprise now just gives disadvantage in initiative.
2) the rogue can sneak up on someone, wish-cast simulacrum as a bonus action from the ring of three wishes, and then they can both stab a guy for a total of 4 stabs. Brutal
Yeah, surprise round has been a misnomer from 2014 onward, lol, there’s no surprise round now, and won’t be after the new book lands either, but I’ll still probably end up referring to them as that!
There is no surprise round (I know we all like to call it that though) and the surprised condition just gives disadvantage on your initiative roll (for 2024). You can get your core features off in the first round of combat against anyone that hasn't gone yet even if it isn't a "surprise round" (that's why they gave them advantage on their initiative rolls). Because it is more consistent, they lowered the damage (probably a weapon die or similar) so no crits.
I would concur that all sounds quite plausible. It’s not terribly clearly stated yet, but that’d be my general guess on the direction they’ve gone with it.
The Assassinate ability no longer does auto crit damage, it now just adds the Rogue's level in bonus damage to their sneak attack damage.
Interesting! Numbers hadn’t been included in the videos or blog I’d snatched up, that’s exciting to hear. Thanks!
*claps in rogue*
My 12 y/o nephew would like you to know he thinks you are a robot. I did not know how to respond to this so let me know if you think of anything.
Tell him he's probably right, but that if I am, I probably need an update. :)