Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Quetzalcoatl 08-03-04, 02:12 PM	My friend (the rogue) sez my Cloak of Displacement doesn't negate his Sneak Attack. I say he's wrong, and here's why: The description of the item (per 3.5 SRD) is: Cloak of Displacement, Minor: This item appears to be a normal cloak, but when worn by a character its magical properties distort and warp light waves. This displacement works similar to the displacement spell except that it only grants a 20% miss chance on attacks against the wearer. It functions continually. Faint illusion; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, displacement; Price 24,000 gp;Weight 1 lb. The description of displacement (per the 3.5 SRD) is: Displacement: Illusion (Glamer) Level: Brd 3, Sor/Wiz 3 Components: V, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Touch Target: Creature touched Duration: 1 round/level (D) Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) The subject of this spell appears to be about 2 feet away from its true location. The creature benefits from a 50% miss chance as if it had total concealment. However, unlike actual total concealment, displacement does not prevent enemies from targeting the creature normally. True seeing reveals its true location. the description of Sneak Attack (per the 3.5 SRD) is: Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage. (...snip...) A rogue can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach. (Note that the darkness spell will now grant the same 20% concealment, but you can target through it. This makes it...less than useful for blocking line-of-sight (for that, use Fog Cloud) and a helluva lot cheaper than displacement, for what is the same game mechanic.) So the question is, can I officially tell him (and his rogue) that he's full of it?
Egres 08-03-04, 02:34 PM	Yes.
rex 08-03-04, 03:56 PM	However, unlike actual total concealment, displacement does not prevent enemies from targeting the creature normally How are you supposed to interpret that line though? I think it may imply the rogue can target you for a sneak attack.
carnivore 08-03-04, 04:00 PM	you may attack them but not with accuracy or consistency
Quetzalcoatl 08-03-04, 04:01 PM	Originally posted by rex However, unlike actual total concealment, displacement does not prevent enemies from targeting the creature normally How are you supposed to interpret that line though? I think it may imply the rogue can target you for a sneak attack. No, that specifically refers to this line of the SRD (under "Concealment"): Total Concealment: If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight he is considered to have total concealment from you. You can’t attack an opponent that has total concealment, though you can attack into a square that you think he occupies. A successful attack into a square occupied by an enemy with total concealment has a 50% miss chance (instead of the normal 20% miss chance for an opponent with concealment). You can’t execute an attack of opportunity against an opponent with total concealment, even if you know what square or squares the opponent occupies.
The_Ditto 08-03-04, 04:06 PM	Originally posted by rex However, unlike actual total concealment, displacement does not prevent enemies from targeting the creature normally How are you supposed to interpret that line though? I think it may imply the rogue can target you for a sneak attack. Just because you can or cannot target something does not immediately allow sneak attack .. sneak attack is a beast all on its own .. :angel:
rex 08-03-04, 04:19 PM	Yeah, good points.
Dunbar 08-03-04, 06:20 PM	There are 2 schools of thought on sneak attack and displacement. Opinion 1: the text says you can target them normally. Thus, you can sneak attack. Opinion 2: clearly, it says you can target them normally since creatures with full concealment usually cannot be targetted. So you can easily target the square they are in, but since they have concealment you cannot sneak attack them. Personally, I go with opinion 2. Opinion 1 seems to read into the text a little too much...I think there is a fair amount of distance between being able to target an opponent normally and being able to sneak attack them. If I'm attacking someone through fog and they have 20% concealment, I can target them normally and attack...but I can't sneak attack. Besides, I don't see how you can sneak attack someone when you cannot see them, but can only target their image which is near them.