Pretender assassin - balance?

[JaydedOne]

Here's a theoretical question for you:

Should modders even consider assigning the #assassin flag to a Pretender they create? If so, what should they consider in the balancing and about how much is it, in itself, worth? Should it only go on human-type Pretenders (like an Arch-Mage) or should it be expanded to the mid-range types as well (such as, say, a Bog Mummy or Virtue)? Can anyone make an argument as to whether the big daddy Pretenders (in terms of hps, such as titans or Sons of Niefel) could have the flag and not be grotesquely overpowered?

Discuss, please.

[Truper]

I don't see any reason why a pretender couldn't have the assassination ability, but on the other hand, a pretender should always have better things to do than assissinating. I'd rather have my Titan in battle, flinging lighning bolts and causing havoc, than sneaking aroung looking for a commander worth using a Titan to assassinate.

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive used assassin pretenders. It can be fun. The Lord of the Hunt with a Black Heart for instance.

[pole_shift]

The Mictlan national Pretender (the bat-like Lord of the Night, not the Smoking Mirror guy) *is* an Assassin! Few players know this.

[Vynd]

I agree with Truper for the most part. Most of the time there should be things to do with your Pretender than hiding and sneaking around, assassinating people. From time to time it might come in handy, especially if you can lure your enemy's prophet or Pretender into position for assassination. But it seems to me that most of the leaders you catch won't be all that impressive, and meanwhile you'll be missing out on the Pretender's help in research or fighting or whatever.

Since this is true, it doesn't seem like that unbalancing of a thing to let Pretenders, even powerful ones, be assassins. It would probably be more "realistic" to limit this to the physically smaller Pretenders or the ones with illusionary powers or things of that nature. It's kind of hard to imagine a Titan sneaking up and bushwhacking someone.

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by pole_shift:
The Mictlan national Pretender (the bat-like Lord of the Night, not the Smoking Mirror guy) *is* an Assassin! Few players know this.

I didn't !

[Arralen]

It isn't.
It's stealthy+10 only...

[pole_shift]

It isn't.
It's stealthy+10 only...

He *is*. Try him out. Sneak him into Neutral Province and notice you can select "Assassinate Enemy Commander" as an action. He rocks.

[ April 13, 2004, 23:52: Message edited by: pole_shift ]

[GavinWheeler]

I get the same result, using the Windows Version and patch 2.08: He does not have the 'assassin' ability icon in his description, but does get the option to assassinate.

I would agree that using the pretender as an assassin is not really worthwhile most of the time, so would not be unbalancing.

[Vicious Love]

Soooo...does this mean the Vampire Queen should be an assassin?
Obscenely powerful or otherwise, it just seems thematically appropriate.