Deathblow on Sneaks

[Alrik Vas]

So...does anyone here allow use of this on any hit for someone being sneaky? Not just rolling the requisite number, but just saying, "hey, this guy is ripe for insta-death...let's make it happen."

Most deathblows aren't gained until higher level, which matches up with when you get exceptionally sneaky. It can be powerful, but what do you think?

[Veknironth]

Well, there are certainly times where someone can't defend him or herself and you can go with an automatic kill. These are people who are asleep, paralyzed, or otherwise incapacitated. For attacks on creatures that are conscious and motile, I wouldn't allow an automatic kill just because the target is unaware of the attacks. That would make Invisibility very overpowered. There is always a chance that the target might move unexpectedly and the attack will miss.

-Vek
"I quiver to think what this would mean for bow attacks (intended)."

[Prysus]

Greetings and Salutations. No, because Death Blow without a number is a specific technique that costs two actions. Granted, since this is the PF forum I don't think any classes or hand to hand actually grant that version of Death Blow (possible exception of the Palladin and their Demon Death Blow, but that's debatable). However it still exists within the Megaverse. Granting Death Blow freely cheapens it for those that do earn the ability (I also fixed it in my home games by adding hand to hand styles that did grant Death Blow without a called number). Farewell and safe journeys.

[say652]

Heroes unlimited hand to hand assassin gains death blow as desired at Level 7.

Giving a few critical not for sneaks seems fair.

I also allow those work Sniper skill to use a death blow on the first shot from cover.

[Library Ogre]

Death blow is one of those things that sounds really awesome but has really bad mechanics associated with it.

[Alrik Vas]

If you have 2 actions, as you would with an unaware enemy (most likely), why not? It isn't certain death, but it is a smack to the HP, which is pretty lethal.

Though I keep forgetting that there is deathblow at will, as well as on a rolled number.