Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Denizen Kane 04-09-05, 01:39 AM	OK, Blowguns inflict one point of damage and the needles can be coated with poison, but what I want to know is: Can one add sneak attack damage to a blowgun attack? Can one hamstring (as per the 3.0 feat) with a blowgun needle? Given the RAW, I would say so. It just seems... odd. Last question: Is it just me, or is it that every time I visit the boards, the search function is non-operational. It is rather frustrating (but hey, what do you expect for free?)
Denizen Kane 04-09-05, 06:06 PM	:bump:
epifreak 04-09-05, 06:21 PM	I've never seen a rule on blowgun sneak attacks, so it's probably DM approval. Granted, doing 40 damage with such a measley needle is pretty.......out there.
Denizen Kane 04-10-05, 12:28 AM	Well, Mr. Hanky, you certainly display a lot of class... I refer you to Masters of the Wild, p. 26 for the stats of the Blowgun, but given your apparent ignorance, I will help those that are clearly less fortunate by way of education or civility. A blowgun is a hollowed tube wherein one may place a needle and, by pointing the tube in the chosen direction (referred to as "aiming") and then forcing air through one end of the tube (referred to as "blowing"), the needle becomes a projectile weapon. I'm sure you will find the mechanics of this weapon rather mind-boggling. Anyway, enough of that (and you, hopefully). Anyone else? On the one hand, yes it seems odd. On the other hand, we shouldn't look to D&D for realism, as I have often read on these boards. By way of a comparative example, does a pixie rogue (Tiny size) attacking with an unarmed strike (1d3 damage for a medium creature, but only 1 point of damage when inflicted by a tiny creature) not inflict sneak attack damage (when applicable)? Is there a lower bound of weapon damage for sneak attack damage to be inflicted? From what I can gather, it's all about the careful placement of the blow--in this case perhaps a blowdart needle in the ear, the back of the throat, and perhaps in the case of Mr. Hanky, in the sphincter. Given the size, I suspect it wouldn't be hard to miss. +8 to hit?
High Octane 04-10-05, 01:29 AM	The rules are in favor of it doing sneak attack, but damn it thats ridiculous. Take advantage of rule 0 and say no, PLEASE! In order for a blowgun to do real damage it would have to be a called shot, and a tiny one at that. I would you dont get your sneak attack in, cause you have to hit a major vessel or hit your brain in just the right spot, and Im pretty sure a rogue doesnt know that much about human, much less 100s of creatures, anatomies. An ASSASIN though, might still get a death attack. They spend lots of time studying that sort of thing, and blowguns are spectacularly accurate if use right (much more than any bow)
Denizen Kane 04-10-05, 11:39 AM	Take advantage of rule 0 and say no, PLEASE! *snip* An ASSASIN though, might still get a death attack. They spend lots of time studying that sort of thing, and blowguns are spectacularly accurate if use right (much more than any bow) Whoa... Hold the phone.... I can understand and sympathize with the Rule 0 approach, but does it really make sense to take the position that a blowgun needle can't really hurt you, but it can kill you? Make the save and take 1 point damage, fail the save and die? That seems just as funky as (if not funkier than) allowing sneak attack damage.... I wish the Search function was working...I was expecting more replies on this (not that I don't appreciate the feedback so far...)
Elthbert 04-10-05, 04:08 PM	Whoa... Hold the phone.... I can understand and sympathize with the Rule 0 approach, but does it really make sense to take the position that a blowgun needle can't really hurt you, but it can kill you? Make the save and take 1 point damage, fail the save and die? That seems just as funky as (if not funkier than) allowing sneak attack damage.... I wish the Search function was working...I was expecting more replies on this (not that I don't appreciate the feedback so far...) Well there arn't many poisons that make you make a save or die check anymore, and isn'tthat pretty accurat for the way super lethal substances work, the hole isn't what kills you the poison in the hole is what kills you.
Denizen Kane 04-10-05, 05:30 PM	Right, but I was talking without poisons here...just the needle. It causes 1 point of damage. Now certainly, we all shake our heards at the notion of sneak attack damage being inflicted by a blowgun needle... But on what basis does one say (aside from Rule 0) that it is not allowable? Revisiting the example I gave earlier: A pixie rogue (a combination that is not altogether unrare in D&D) with a Tiny dagger inflicts 1-2 points of damage per attack, basically not much more than a blowgun needle. Do we allow for sneak attack damage from the pixie's dagger but not the medium blowgun needle? What is the difference? It can't be accuracy, since one can be rather accurate with both. It can't be damage per se, because the damage inflicted by both is about equal. Ranged vs. melee? Sneak attacks may be appled to both situations... I don't agree with the called shot perspective mentioned earlier: the sneak attack is the called shot, so to speak. (I'm not opposed to rule 0, but rather I like to have at least a modicum of logic behind it...) Ultimately, since I do have tiny rogues in my game, and I don't want them to be nerfed because of weapon size, I suppose I feel I need to allow SA damage in this case... Be glad I'm not going to ask what happens if it's a tiny blowgun... :smirk:
Silimaure 04-11-05, 01:34 AM	The whole concept of Sneak Attack is to damage a vital part of your opponent. A dart to the ear, throat, <cringes> groin, eye, or other vital areas will cause very very bad results for the target, hince the sneak attack damage. So, unless the rules say it can't sneak attack, trust the rules and actully think about this please.
epifreak 04-11-05, 02:35 AM	Be glad I'm not going to ask what happens if it's a tiny blowgun... :smirk: If that's the case, then: rocks fall, everyone dies.
Colmarr 04-11-05, 02:43 AM	I agree that there is no reason why a blowgun shouldn't be able to inflict sneak attack damage. It's already been pointed out (including by the OP) that by RAW it can, so we only need to address reasons for houseruling why it shouldn't. As has already been pointed out, smaller objects (particularly sharp ones) can be very effective at penetrating vulnerable points such as eye sockets and ears. Historically, small object have also proven devastating when employed against the human temple (as in the side of the forehead, not the building). There isn't really any reason that I can see that sneak attack damage shouldn't apply.
Silimaure 04-13-05, 02:53 PM	Historically, small object have also proven devastating when employed against the human temple (as in the side of the forehead, not the building). lol Cleric: Oh no, everyone get out of the temple, they're using the blowguns!
Sunrider 04-14-05, 07:34 AM	Don't forget that hit points are effectively an abstract concept, representing both your physical hardiness and your ability to avoid damage. If you don't use the WP/VP system, only your last few hit points are really 'damage' - everything else is minor scratches and close shaves.