Rogue ranged sneak attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rogue ranged sneak attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bogjob
02-05-07, 07:39 AM Is there any way to get ranged sneak attacks for my rogue as I dont have weapon expertise as I use Dwarven Waraxe. Usually I get one at the start of a combat round as something is generally still flat footed, sometimes I have a nice mage who hits me with a greater invis to make my day, is there a feat I have missed out on or an ability that lets me do it (other than hiding/move silently) ?
Iswald
02-05-07, 09:47 AM You could try to find some way to make them flat footed vs you. Such as stunning them somehow. Or, make them blind so that they lose their dex bonus.
Bob_the_Theurge
02-05-07, 10:08 AM Is there any way to get ranged sneak attacks for my rogue as I dont have weapon expertise as I use Dwarven Waraxe. Usually I get one at the start of a combat round as something is generally still flat footed, sometimes I have a nice mage who hits me with a greater invis to make my day, is there a feat I have missed out on or an ability that lets me do it (other than hiding/move silently) ?

In order to sneak attack at range, you need to somehow make them flat footed. You can do this in the following ways:

#1 - Beat them on initiative. This only works probably for one shot in the surprise round, presuming you can act in the surprise round, as LG writers love to abusively write auto-surprise-round encounters.

#2 - Have someone cast Grease under them. Until they leave the area of the Grease spell, they will be flat-footed (unless they have 5 ranks in the Balance skill) as per the FAQ.

#3 - Have someone cast Glitterdust, Cause Blindness, or another spell that makes them blind. Hope they fail their save.

#4 - Have someone cast Invisibility or Greater Invisibility on yourself, or find an item to do it. Be aware that regular old Invisibility will pop after your first shot.

#5 - Snipe (Shoot and then hide). You'll get one shot per round, assuming the enemy doesn't have a cracked-out spot check and you invest heavily in the Hide skill and some Hide-improving armor of some sort.

There are a couple other spells that make an enemy flat-footed, but I believe those spells are Limited access, and as a Rogue I doubt you have the spellcaster levels to fire off a Mislead spell upon yourself.
GenghisBob
02-05-07, 03:40 PM if you have int, a level dip of Wizard, or Sorc if you have Charisma, gives you access to Distract assailiant.

A swift spell that makes your target falt footed. as a swift action if they save veresus your puny 1st level spell DC you have not lost an action.

But targeting the usually low Will save suspects will improve your chances.

You also improve your will save with the single level dip, you will also have a likley spell failure chance, but again, not a big worry if you limite your spells to swift actions.

Regards
GB
UMiskatonic
02-05-07, 03:50 PM Changing the lighting can sometimes do it. If you can see them (ex. darkvision) and they can't see you (ex. humans), then you are effectively invisible.

Hide in plain sight will do wonders for the hide/move/shoot plan above.
SgtHulka
02-05-07, 04:02 PM You can use smokesticks.

By the concealment rules, you can stand within the edge of a smokestick and gain concealment to your opponent, but you can choose a corner on the border of your square to fire from, and therefore your opponent has no concealment to you. Since you can hide whenever you have concealment, this is a way to do it. It's basically a poor-man's sniping.

First, you have to pop the smokestick (standard action and both hands free if you have a tindertwig, some Judges my let you get away with less).

Then you have draw your bow.

Then you have to step to the edge of the smokestick and succeed on your hide check. Success gives you one "invisible" shot.

Then you have to step to the middle of the smokestick, where you have full concealment, because your opponent has to lose sight of you before you can hide again. A Judge will probably also force you to make a Move Silently check here.

Rince, wash, repeat.
Bogjob
02-05-07, 04:07 PM This is good stuff so far, keep 'em coming :)
clannagh
02-05-07, 05:34 PM This is good stuff so far, keep 'em coming :)

if you have spare feats have a look at "able sniper" and "woodlands archer" they both can help with tthe move hide shoot stuff
Japangirl
02-05-07, 05:44 PM If you want to base the character around it, Master Thrower out of Complete Warrior has a "trick" that lets you make a Sleight of Hand check to render your opponents flat-footed to you from range.
Bob_the_Theurge
02-05-07, 08:20 PM If you want to base the character around it, Master Thrower out of Complete Warrior has a "trick" that lets you make a Sleight of Hand check to render your opponents flat-footed to you from range.

True; you just have to be a "carries a bucket of daggers" type ranged rogue then.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bogjob 02-05-07, 07:39 AM	Is there any way to get ranged sneak attacks for my rogue as I dont have weapon expertise as I use Dwarven Waraxe. Usually I get one at the start of a combat round as something is generally still flat footed, sometimes I have a nice mage who hits me with a greater invis to make my day, is there a feat I have missed out on or an ability that lets me do it (other than hiding/move silently) ?
Iswald 02-05-07, 09:47 AM	You could try to find some way to make them flat footed vs you. Such as stunning them somehow. Or, make them blind so that they lose their dex bonus.
Bob_the_Theurge 02-05-07, 10:08 AM	Is there any way to get ranged sneak attacks for my rogue as I dont have weapon expertise as I use Dwarven Waraxe. Usually I get one at the start of a combat round as something is generally still flat footed, sometimes I have a nice mage who hits me with a greater invis to make my day, is there a feat I have missed out on or an ability that lets me do it (other than hiding/move silently) ? In order to sneak attack at range, you need to somehow make them flat footed. You can do this in the following ways: #1 - Beat them on initiative. This only works probably for one shot in the surprise round, presuming you can act in the surprise round, as LG writers love to abusively write auto-surprise-round encounters. #2 - Have someone cast Grease under them. Until they leave the area of the Grease spell, they will be flat-footed (unless they have 5 ranks in the Balance skill) as per the FAQ. #3 - Have someone cast Glitterdust, Cause Blindness, or another spell that makes them blind. Hope they fail their save. #4 - Have someone cast Invisibility or Greater Invisibility on yourself, or find an item to do it. Be aware that regular old Invisibility will pop after your first shot. #5 - Snipe (Shoot and then hide). You'll get one shot per round, assuming the enemy doesn't have a cracked-out spot check and you invest heavily in the Hide skill and some Hide-improving armor of some sort. There are a couple other spells that make an enemy flat-footed, but I believe those spells are Limited access, and as a Rogue I doubt you have the spellcaster levels to fire off a Mislead spell upon yourself.
GenghisBob 02-05-07, 03:40 PM	if you have int, a level dip of Wizard, or Sorc if you have Charisma, gives you access to Distract assailiant. A swift spell that makes your target falt footed. as a swift action if they save veresus your puny 1st level spell DC you have not lost an action. But targeting the usually low Will save suspects will improve your chances. You also improve your will save with the single level dip, you will also have a likley spell failure chance, but again, not a big worry if you limite your spells to swift actions. Regards GB
UMiskatonic 02-05-07, 03:50 PM	Changing the lighting can sometimes do it. If you can see them (ex. darkvision) and they can't see you (ex. humans), then you are effectively invisible. Hide in plain sight will do wonders for the hide/move/shoot plan above.
SgtHulka 02-05-07, 04:02 PM	You can use smokesticks. By the concealment rules, you can stand within the edge of a smokestick and gain concealment to your opponent, but you can choose a corner on the border of your square to fire from, and therefore your opponent has no concealment to you. Since you can hide whenever you have concealment, this is a way to do it. It's basically a poor-man's sniping. First, you have to pop the smokestick (standard action and both hands free if you have a tindertwig, some Judges my let you get away with less). Then you have draw your bow. Then you have to step to the edge of the smokestick and succeed on your hide check. Success gives you one "invisible" shot. Then you have to step to the middle of the smokestick, where you have full concealment, because your opponent has to lose sight of you before you can hide again. A Judge will probably also force you to make a Move Silently check here. Rince, wash, repeat.
Bogjob 02-05-07, 04:07 PM	This is good stuff so far, keep 'em coming :)
clannagh 02-05-07, 05:34 PM	This is good stuff so far, keep 'em coming :) if you have spare feats have a look at "able sniper" and "woodlands archer" they both can help with tthe move hide shoot stuff
Japangirl 02-05-07, 05:44 PM	If you want to base the character around it, Master Thrower out of Complete Warrior has a "trick" that lets you make a Sleight of Hand check to render your opponents flat-footed to you from range.
Bob_the_Theurge 02-05-07, 08:20 PM	If you want to base the character around it, Master Thrower out of Complete Warrior has a "trick" that lets you make a Sleight of Hand check to render your opponents flat-footed to you from range. True; you just have to be a "carries a bucket of daggers" type ranged rogue then.