Teleport in a fight

[Xeteskian]

I'm drawing up a nice Fey Rogue antagonist for my PC's and i'm trying to figure out exactly how the fey ability Long step would work in combat.

Basically, how I'd like to introduce the Fey is for him to step out from a hiding spot in plain sight. The idea is that the PC's will all tense up, and wonder if this new NPC is a friend or foe. At that point I see one of three things happening.

1: PC's draw weapons, just in case and demand what he's doing here

2: PC's hail the NPC and ask what they can do to help

3: PC's Attack and ask questions later (unlikley)

So, what I'd like to do as the introduction, is for the Fey at around 30ft away, long step (telport) behind one of the PC's, whisper in his ear "BBEG says hello", sneak attack a dagger in between their ribs and then use the Fey Vanish ability to withdraw from combat. and vanish into the forest.

I'm just not sure is the Fey NPC can get off the sneak attack if the PC's are aware of the enemy.

Any help appreciated

Cheers
Xet

[cnetarian]

How high a level you thinking of?

At level 12 a rogue could have the dimensional savant feat and self flank (which allows sneak attack damage), all it would require is a monor houserule allowing dimensional savant to apply to long step, which seems to be compatible with RAI. If lower level it would require a bigger houserule to create a special variant of dimensional savant but the concept of teleporting to get sneak attacks is already possible in the game so it isn't completely out there.

[Rynjin]

Would work better if they were a duo. On top of the fun of having a pair of antagonists to mess with the party, it allows one to flank with the other (bypassing the need for Dimensional Savant/Dervish if it's unavailable).

One walks up to the party, acting friendly, and stands right in front of the party. Readies an action to Long Step away when his buddy lands his hit (or misses, as is possible).

Rogue uses his Move action to *poof* from the bushes, shanks the party member, and *poof* he goes again next turn.

[Xeteskian]

I was thinking initially a lower class Antagonist, around 2-3 levels higher than the PC's. At the moment that would put him at a Rogue 4.

The concept of a duo is intriguing, I could look at making them twins in similar style to the weird brother/sister in Bioshock Infinite, where each finish each other's sentences.

But what I'm looking for is a single PC that's going to be a continuous thorn in the PC's sides. Instead of going toe to toe (which is what they always love), go more guerrilla tactics, long step in, kill the pack mule, make an escape. Stalk them while they sleep, and basically make them paranoid as hell when they're on the road.

[gnrrrg]

Say "Hello" as a swift action and stab while they are still flat-footed. The fey gets sneak attack.

If the spell ends a round (like using dimension door ends your turn) then the PCs get a perception check after it longstrides in. If they fail then say "Hello" etc. as listed above.

[Kayerloth]

Here's how I'd handle it.

Did the Fey need to move to leave his hiding spot. Assuming he's merely standing there "hiding in plain sight" and waiting to be noticed then ...

As part of the surprise round he can use Long Step to move next to a PC/his target(s)

If he has to use a move action to leave hiding then he cannot also use Long Step during the surprise round (a creature gets either a Move or a Standard during surprise). I'd suggest he says something (Free Action) which should break his HiPS/Stealth while leaving his Move Action for Long Step --> "Hello (uses Long Step) from the BBEG".

Decide at what distance the Fey wishes to start this off. Make perception checks for all the PC's based on this distance. The ones who are successful get to act during the surprise round which starts when our Fey says 'Hello' (He'll say 'Hello' immediately as the first, if any, PC notes his presence). The only real issue here is if the party is using a very perceptive scout in advance of the party. That will complicate things a bit.

If after using Long Step during the surprise round the Fey is still functional (any PCs that did act during the surprise round haven't incapacitated the Fey) he may use a Standard Action (or Full Round Action) to attack any flat footed opponent he threatens with Sneak during his first full round of actions.

Since he used his Standard (or Full) during the first round of combat to attack he cannot also use Vanish (unless it's a Swift Action for him to do so). He could however take a 'melodramatic' 5 step away from the target PC or even just plain back away as a Move Action (provided he didn't Full Attack) hoping the target PC can't attack him while flat footed while he moves away out of any threatened space (PC has Combat Reflexes or similar).

That's more or less how I'd do it as I understand your desire to stage the encounter and without assuming any abilities you haven't mentioned.