Accidental sneak? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Accidental sneak? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
polsemager
10-02-04, 01:58 PM OK, if you're shooting at an enemy that has cover from one of your friends you can hit the cover ie. the friend. Question is now.....if you have sneak attack or even just point blank shot, that is, attacks that do more damage due to a particular precise attack, will those attacks work on your friend?
Grox
10-02-04, 02:04 PM I would say no.

The RAW may imply that your friend takes the sneak attack damage. However, in theory, sneak attack is "precision-based damage" --- i.e., the difference between a perfectly-aimed shot to the kidney and a glancing blow that bounces off a rib. I would say that such "precision-based damage" is not meant to be inflicted accidentally. Hitting the kidney through luck is based upon the mechanic for critical hits, through weapon quality by the keen enhancement, and through general combat training by certain feats.

The only time I'd allow "accidental sneak damage" would be in a case of mistaken identity. Maybe if you'd been split from your party --- say you were captured and held in an orcish prison, and your buddies magically disguise themselves as orcish guards to get you out; unbeknownst to them, you are planning your own escape attempt with a smuggled dagger, and sneak attack the "orcish guard" who is actually your friend.
Cade Hedger
10-02-04, 02:29 PM agreed.

sneak attack is one of those ablites where intent is implied. It would be much easier to make sneak attacks if you could just shoot at any target and get one.
polsemager
10-02-04, 04:23 PM How about point blank shot?
DarthRandal
10-02-04, 08:55 PM If you "hit the cover," it logically follows that you "miss the target." Since you don't hit what you originally aimed at, I don't think precision-based damage would apply. This would cover sneak attacks, precise attack, point blank shot, etc. I also believe (but I am not sure) that critical hits are also considered "precision-based" attacks, so no accidental crits, either. :D
DM Zoc
10-02-04, 09:12 PM For some reason, I always thought that you couldn't sneak attack anyone who had cover.
Methos of Aundair
10-03-04, 02:41 AM For some reason, I always thought that you couldn't sneak attack anyone who had cover.

Make that concealment and you'd be right.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
polsemager 10-02-04, 01:58 PM	OK, if you're shooting at an enemy that has cover from one of your friends you can hit the cover ie. the friend. Question is now.....if you have sneak attack or even just point blank shot, that is, attacks that do more damage due to a particular precise attack, will those attacks work on your friend?
Grox 10-02-04, 02:04 PM	I would say no. The RAW may imply that your friend takes the sneak attack damage. However, in theory, sneak attack is "precision-based damage" --- i.e., the difference between a perfectly-aimed shot to the kidney and a glancing blow that bounces off a rib. I would say that such "precision-based damage" is not meant to be inflicted accidentally. Hitting the kidney through luck is based upon the mechanic for critical hits, through weapon quality by the keen enhancement, and through general combat training by certain feats. The only time I'd allow "accidental sneak damage" would be in a case of mistaken identity. Maybe if you'd been split from your party --- say you were captured and held in an orcish prison, and your buddies magically disguise themselves as orcish guards to get you out; unbeknownst to them, you are planning your own escape attempt with a smuggled dagger, and sneak attack the "orcish guard" who is actually your friend.
Cade Hedger 10-02-04, 02:29 PM	agreed. sneak attack is one of those ablites where intent is implied. It would be much easier to make sneak attacks if you could just shoot at any target and get one.
polsemager 10-02-04, 04:23 PM	How about point blank shot?
DarthRandal 10-02-04, 08:55 PM	If you "hit the cover," it logically follows that you "miss the target." Since you don't hit what you originally aimed at, I don't think precision-based damage would apply. This would cover sneak attacks, precise attack, point blank shot, etc. I also believe (but I am not sure) that critical hits are also considered "precision-based" attacks, so no accidental crits, either. :D
DM Zoc 10-02-04, 09:12 PM	For some reason, I always thought that you couldn't sneak attack anyone who had cover.
Methos of Aundair 10-03-04, 02:41 AM	For some reason, I always thought that you couldn't sneak attack anyone who had cover. Make that concealment and you'd be right.