A target that is completely unaware of danger is vulnerable to a quick and bloody death, no matter how great their martial prowess or how thick their armor. Execution attacks gives an assailant the ability to down a foe with a single well-placed blade or arrow.
Requires one FULL minute of preparation. For archers, this is time to judge distance, wind direction, and other variables in their shot. For those in melee range, use it to drift into position and get in the correct position to attack. During this minute, the target cannot be alerted or the execution attack fails.
When the execution attack is prepared, the attacker uses a Main Action to trigger the attack. The AC of the defender is not used to see if the attack hits. Melee execution attacks will always hit. Ranged execution attacks use the following parameters:
- At close or point blank range: Dex/Shoot check against a DC of 6.
- At normal range: Dex/Shoot check against a DC of 8.
- At extreme range: Dex/Shoot check against a DC of 10. Warriors can use Veteran’s Luck to reroll a failed check, but it does NOT automatically hit.
If the attack connects, the target must make a Physical Saving Throw with a penalty equal to the attacker’s combat skill level. If the save fails, they are either Mortally Wounded on the spot, or knocked unconscious if attacked by a plausibly non-lethal weapon. If the save succeeds, the target still takes the maximum amount of damage from the weapon.
If the target is unconscious or incapacitated, there is no save. The target becomes Mortally Wounded.