> Oh and one other thing, can someone
explain to me the difference between the marksman feat and the special ability
given to the Rifleman prestige class. You need the Marksman feat to get the
coup de gras ability but the coup de gras ability seems weaker that the
feat...I don't get it.
The coup de gras is in my opinion relatively useless as in a hit point
based system you generally kill mooks and such outright anyway. One of those
rules we don't see much use of.
<<Snip>>
Ok, I don't have my
books handy but here's how it goes:
Anybody can do a coup
de gras providing the target is helpless, it's a full round action meaning
you're only allowed to make a 5' movement before, during, or after the
attempt. Without the benefit of the Marskman feat the state of being
helpless can only be applied to opponents who are trussed up, held
by magic, or otherwise restrained and therfore unable to defend themselves.
The Marskman feat is basically for sneaky bast@rd
snipers, with this feat helpless comes to mean anybody who doesn't see the
attack coming. Also, without the Marskman feat, you're limited to making coup de gras
attacks with melee weapons only, or some missile weapons like bows, crossbows
and presumably firearms are include as well but only if you're adjacent to the
target. Now, if all goes well and your attack hits, which is a deviation
because ordinarily a normal coup de gras attack automatically hits but ranged
attacks have more factors to consider like range, wind speed, cover, and
concealment, your opponent automatically takes a critical hit. Now here's the
nasty part: the target may be killed outright regardless of his or
her remaining hit points. He/she makes a Fortitude save (DC 10+ damage
dealt). IF, and I do mean IF he/she makes it he lives but if he
fails he/she gets a one way ticket to boot hill. Like it says in the feat
description, opponents ordinarily immune to critical hits or those with very
high damage reductions may be immune to this feat.
I hope this clears
things up with you. Unfortunately I don't have access to the Rifleman prestige
class writeup so I can't do any cross-checking.
Happi
trailz,
>>Marshal
Wolf
--
Joseph C. Wolf
Line Developer, Dark Heaven Legends
d20
Reaper Miniatures Inc.
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