Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Taddilius 08-07-07, 05:13 PM	Can a rogue warlock sneak attack with Eldritch Blast (assuming that you are with in 30 feet and the target would loose thier dex bonus? (thanks for the schooling Anthro, I see the welcome wagon of the geek community still has little to no social grace.)
TheAnthroDM 08-07-07, 05:18 PM	Welcome to 3.X, The answer is no. Mainly because there is no thief class and no backstab ability. You can however use Eldritch Blast with Sneak Attack, Sudden Strike, and Skirmish, assuming you are within 30 ft.
Mr_Teapot 08-07-07, 06:21 PM	TheAnthroDM got the gist of it (including the point about backstab being 2nd ed and havng been replaced). Anytime you make an attack roll and your target is denied their Dex bonus (or you're one of the people flanking the target) you get your Sneak Attack. So that includes Eldritch Blasts and ray spells and other stuff. The sneak attack damage is the same sort of damage as your attack, so if you're using vitriolic blast to make the EB into acid damage, the sneak attack is as well. Since you're rolling an attack roll, you can also crit with your eldritch blast, on a natural 20 for x2 damage.
Kouk 08-08-07, 03:19 AM	Can a rogue warlock sneak attack with Eldritch Blast (assuming that you are with in 30 feet and the target would loose thier dex bonus? (thanks for the schooling Anthro, I see the welcome wagon of the geek community still has little to no social grace.) If you have access to the Complete Arcane book (I hope you do, or it will be tough playing a Warlock), read the beginning of the Feats chapter, and the beginning of the Spells chapter. You can use your Eldritch Blast as a ranged spell that requires an attack roll.
Taddilius 08-08-07, 10:23 AM	Thank you for the updates. I'm looking for a way to build a rogue that can still put out some damage at higher levels. I have run into a wall at around 10th level where the monsters start having more and more DR restrictions so my rogue's attacks are useless and thier skills become less important (how often are you coming across a lock that takes +40 Open Locks and if you do then most likely someone has a knock spell, etc.)
Jaxgaret 08-08-07, 11:57 AM	Thank you for the updates. I'm looking for a way to build a rogue that can still put out some damage at higher levels. I have run into a wall at around 10th level where the monsters start having more and more DR restrictions so my rogue's attacks are useless and thier skills become less important (how often are you coming across a lock that takes +40 Open Locks and if you do then most likely someone has a knock spell, etc.) Rather than taking levels in Warlock, a better plan might be to bump your UMD check up to at least 20 or as close to it as possible and use Wands with ranged touch attack spells in them. Sneak Attack also applies to these attacks. That way you do not lose your SA progression or your other Rogue benefits, which are great after level 10 - you are getting into the Rogue specials at this point, don't quit now! There are also ways to dual wield Wands, which would greatly behoove such a character.
Salla 08-08-07, 01:19 PM	Thank you for the updates. I'm looking for a way to build a rogue that can still put out some damage at higher levels. I have run into a wall at around 10th level where the monsters start having more and more DR restrictions so my rogue's attacks are useless and thier skills become less important (how often are you coming across a lock that takes +40 Open Locks and if you do then most likely someone has a knock spell, etc.) Have you considered two-weapon fighting?
TiwazTyrsfist 08-08-07, 03:53 PM	My personal favorite build this way it to go Rogue/Sorcerer (focused on ranged touch spells) and go into the Arcane Trickster PrC. If you have a fairly reasonable DM, you can probably talk him into a minor change, Like replacing the Mage hand req with the Disembodied Hand Invocation (Comp Mage), and replacing the caster level advancement with Invokeration advancement. Just a thought
Zenox 08-10-07, 07:29 AM	I have a player right now who is playing a duel-wielding wandcaster. Rogue/sorc. He pwns. Wand of Scorching ray. Wand of Lesser, orb (Sonic), and a wand of Ray of enfeeblement to take out any big hitters. His damage output is amazing, and the idea is nice. He plays it nicely, and he is such a conservative player, that I have no problems with him constantly spamming the same spell over and over again. I wish I could say the same for any warlocks. God, I hate them (As DM). honestly, do something besides fly around indefinately and cast eldricth blast over and over again.... No flavor in combat. But yeah, use the wands. Any ray spells ussually do not have DCs to worry about, so there is no reason not to use wands in this case.
Grumman 08-10-07, 07:44 AM	If you have a fairly reasonable DM, you can probably talk him into a minor change, Like replacing the Mage hand req with the Disembodied Hand Invocation (Comp Mage), and replacing the caster level advancement with Invokeration advancement. Actually, I'm pretty sure the PrC is usable by Warlocks as-is. According to page 72 of Complete Arcane, a requirement for a specific spell (in this case, Mage Hand and any spell of 3rd level or higher, as opposed to ability to cast 3rd-level spells) can be met with spell-like abilities. The Spell Hand feat meets the first requirement, and any Lesser or higher invocation counts as a 3rd level spell-like ability.