Spells That Could Make One Vulnerable To Sneak Attack... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spells That Could Make One Vulnerable To Sneak Attack... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
maskimus
03-20-07, 04:35 PM I know that a Grease spell is great for making opponents vulnerable to the Rogue's sneak attack ability. Are there any other spells that have a similar effect? I was wondering if something like Resinous Tar or Caustic Mire, since they interfere with movement. Neither one says that they cause the loss of Dex., but having been literally stuck in the mud once, I would think it would.
Any thoughts?
orionm42
03-21-07, 10:18 AM Look in the PHB in the combat section for the table on AC modifiers. That table gives you the conditions which cause a defender to lose his dexterity bonus to armor class.

For example, per that table, a blinded creature loses its dexterity bonus to AC and is, therefore, vulnerable to sneak attack. Any spell that causes blindness will give you your desired effect. My favorite here is glitterdust. Similarly, a cowering creature is vulnerable to sneak attack. As such, spells that cause a character to become panicked may cause them to cower if they have no means to flee. Same with helpless defenders, etc.

Hope that helps! :)

P.S. As an aside, grease would not always make a person vulnerable. If you fail your save, you fall to the ground. Such a character is prone. Prone characters do not lose their dexterity bonus to armor class. Unless someone attacks you on your turn while you are moving through the grease (and balancing)...you should be ok.
Inigo Carmine
03-21-07, 10:45 AM Spells that grant you invisibility (greater invisibility is a favorite)
Spell that effectively blind your opponent
Spells that paralyze your opponent (like hold person), granted these allow you to also perform a CDG on them as well.
Spells that stun your opponent
Merestil Haye
03-21-07, 11:02 AM It's much better to find spells that affect the rogue, rather than the victim. Spells aimed at the victim will always have one or more escape hatches - a die roll to negate the spell or a condition to be met that simply nullifies the effect (such as a creature being immune to Grease with five ranks of Balance).

I am fond of the Blink spell, even with a 20% chance of Blinking out at the wrong moment.
Inigo Carmine
03-21-07, 01:23 PM It's much better to find spells that affect the rogue, rather than the victim. Spells aimed at the victim will always have one or more escape hatches

I would temper this by saying that it depends on the number of enemies you face.

Against a single enemy, it allows the entire party to exploit said enemy's new handicap. It could well be worth the risk of failure for that potential gain.

Against multiple enemies, what Merestil says is doubly true though, as it allows the rogue to sneak attack more than just the one enemy that would be targetted with the attack spell.
somethings90
03-23-07, 02:43 PM Grease is good. If they don't have 5 ranks of balance then they are considered flat footed while balancing on the grease.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
maskimus 03-20-07, 04:35 PM	I know that a Grease spell is great for making opponents vulnerable to the Rogue's sneak attack ability. Are there any other spells that have a similar effect? I was wondering if something like Resinous Tar or Caustic Mire, since they interfere with movement. Neither one says that they cause the loss of Dex., but having been literally stuck in the mud once, I would think it would. Any thoughts?
orionm42 03-21-07, 10:18 AM	Look in the PHB in the combat section for the table on AC modifiers. That table gives you the conditions which cause a defender to lose his dexterity bonus to armor class. For example, per that table, a blinded creature loses its dexterity bonus to AC and is, therefore, vulnerable to sneak attack. Any spell that causes blindness will give you your desired effect. My favorite here is glitterdust. Similarly, a cowering creature is vulnerable to sneak attack. As such, spells that cause a character to become panicked may cause them to cower if they have no means to flee. Same with helpless defenders, etc. Hope that helps! :) P.S. As an aside, grease would not always make a person vulnerable. If you fail your save, you fall to the ground. Such a character is prone. Prone characters do not lose their dexterity bonus to armor class. Unless someone attacks you on your turn while you are moving through the grease (and balancing)...you should be ok.
Inigo Carmine 03-21-07, 10:45 AM	Spells that grant you invisibility (greater invisibility is a favorite) Spell that effectively blind your opponent Spells that paralyze your opponent (like hold person), granted these allow you to also perform a CDG on them as well. Spells that stun your opponent
Merestil Haye 03-21-07, 11:02 AM	It's much better to find spells that affect the rogue, rather than the victim. Spells aimed at the victim will always have one or more escape hatches - a die roll to negate the spell or a condition to be met that simply nullifies the effect (such as a creature being immune to Grease with five ranks of Balance). I am fond of the Blink spell, even with a 20% chance of Blinking out at the wrong moment.
Inigo Carmine 03-21-07, 01:23 PM	It's much better to find spells that affect the rogue, rather than the victim. Spells aimed at the victim will always have one or more escape hatches I would temper this by saying that it depends on the number of enemies you face. Against a single enemy, it allows the entire party to exploit said enemy's new handicap. It could well be worth the risk of failure for that potential gain. Against multiple enemies, what Merestil says is doubly true though, as it allows the rogue to sneak attack more than just the one enemy that would be targetted with the attack spell.
somethings90 03-23-07, 02:43 PM	Grease is good. If they don't have 5 ranks of balance then they are considered flat footed while balancing on the grease.