Sneak Attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Sneak Attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Agroth5223
08-12-07, 09:31 PM Now, I've been playing primerily Rouge characters since I started and I know all the general rules and guidelines for Sneak Attacks, but as a still learning player, are there any specific rules or guidelines that my, somewhat inexperienced DM might be keeping from me or may not know about? I've asked him once about ranged Sneak Attacks with no resulting answer, he just stated that he didn't know for sure. I'm only asking because our next campain, I was told, is going to require us using a lot more ranged attack style of combate, something I'm not used to playing the typical Rouge. Also, I'm going to be a Halfling for the first time as well.
Salla
08-12-07, 09:34 PM Check the Rules of the Game archive for the deeper details, but the quick version is:

You get sneak attack on any and all attacks that are made when either:
1. The target is denied his DEX bonus to Armor Class, and/or
2. The target is flanked by you and an ally.

You cannot flank with a ranged weapon, therefore you will have to rely on the former. Also, you will have to be within 30 feet of your target to deliver a sneak attack.

The best way to deal ranged sneak attack is the Greater Invisibility spell.
tuberov
08-12-07, 09:56 PM Now, I've been playing primerily Rouge characters since I started.......

A rouge? Are you from the Revlon Guild?

Sorry, I couldn't help it. My friend made the same mistake on his character sheet and we bust on him about it all the time now :devil:.

Have fun playing DnD.
Kouk
08-13-07, 01:18 AM Pretty much everything is in the description under the Rogue entry in the PHB.

Depending on how many supplements you can get, you might consider Crossbow Sniper (PHB2) which lets you Sneak Attack at up to 60 feet with a crossbow (instead of the normal 30 ft with any ranged weapon).

Other things to remember, are that any time a target is denied his Dex bonus to AC, you can Sneak Attack him. If he is Flat footed at the start of combat, if he is Grappling someone, if he is Climbing or Balancing on difficult terrain (or a nice Grease spell), anything.

Edit: Helpless (not Prone), asleep, paralyzed, unconscious, carrying something so heavy he can only stagger, Stunned, Blind (or if you are Invisible), Cowering, if you successfully Feint him...
1 ton ghost
08-13-07, 01:45 AM firstly, there are no noob questions. never be afraid to ask, that's what this space is here for. anyone gives you static, it's a problem on their end

all the previous posts are are valid/smart for sneak attack.

-sneak attack doesn't work in concealment (fog, darkness, undergrowth, etc.) this is why a smokestick can save your ass from rogues and even Obscuring Mistwill save a mage vs. a rogue
this is a tricky area as you need concealment or cover to get to Hide so you can get into sneak attack position in the 1st place. stay on the fringe, shooting/attacking out of concealment is ok to sneak attack, just not INTO it

-darkvision vs. regular sighted ppl is sneak attack heaven, shoot out their torches/lanterns, etc. Blacklight or Ebon Eyes help facilitate this end

-climbing normally, swimming, balancing (w/ less than 5 ranks)etc., denies Dex
always force your opponent's hand, make him reactive to you, not you to him. get to the battlefield 1st, make him come to you and all that jazz
-mobility is key (not the feat that is) so tumble your ass off if you prefer melee sneak attacks (spring attack and increased speed helps), if you like ranged always mind the windveer (this always sucks, so does rain) and consider Precise Shot if you're friends like to go melee. someone mentioned X-Bow Sniper which is pretty sweet, but reload can be an issue.

-Feint is ALWAYS valid, even against Uncanny Dodge if successful. Improved Feint is terribly deadly if used right. get a high Bluff if not for this, just for all the synergies it provides. always worth it.

-Vexing Flanker (PHB II) is decent, but not the ****, you can charge for a +2

-tanglefoot bags are your friends, keep opponent stationary, easy flank

-potions of True Strike on a poisoned blade during sneak attack, when it absolutely, positively must be there

-and of course, Invisibilty, you're best friend
Kouk
08-13-07, 08:07 AM firstly, there are no noob questions. never be afraid to ask, that's what this space is here for. anyone gives you static, it's a problem on their end

all the previous posts are are valid/smart for sneak attack.

-sneak attack doesn't work in concealment (fog, darkness, undergrowth, etc.) this is why a smokestick can save your ass from rogues and even Obscuring Mistwill save a mage vs. a rogue
this is a tricky area as you need concealment or cover to get to Hide so you can get into sneak attack position in the 1st place. stay on the fringe, shooting/attacking out of concealment is ok to sneak attack, just not INTO it

-darkvision vs. regular sighted ppl is sneak attack heaven, shoot out their torches/lanterns, etc. Blacklight or Ebon Eyes help facilitate this end

-climbing normally, swimming, balancing (w/ less than 5 ranks)etc., denies Dex
always force your opponent's hand, make him reactive to you, not you to him. get to the battlefield 1st, make him come to you and all that jazz
-mobility is key (not the feat that is) so tumble your ass off if you prefer melee sneak attacks (spring attack and increased speed helps), if you like ranged always mind the windveer (this always sucks, so does rain) and consider Precise Shot if you're friends like to go melee. someone mentioned X-Bow Sniper which is pretty sweet, but reload can be an issue.

-Feint is ALWAYS valid, even against Uncanny Dodge if successful. Improved Feint is terribly deadly if used right. get a high Bluff if not for this, just for all the synergies it provides. always worth it.

-Vexing Flanker (PHB II) is decent, but not the ****, you can charge for a +2

-tanglefoot bags are your friends, keep opponent stationary, easy flank

-potions of True Strike on a poisoned blade during sneak attack, when it absolutely, positively must be there

-and of course, Invisibilty, you're best friend

Hmm. Well, Feinting isn't "always" valid. It only applies to melee attacks you make.

NITPICKS:
You can't make a Potion of True Strike, because you can't make Potions of self-only spells; they must be able to affect one or more targets. True Strike has a target of "You". I believe this is the letter-of-the-law, but who knows?

At any rate, putting a potion on a blade won't do anything :P. For one thing, it would have to be an Oil to smear it on something, and True Strike works on the wielder and doesn't change anything about the weapon.
1 ton ghost
08-13-07, 12:20 PM "hmm, well..."?

as for Feint, yeah, it's always valid. it's implied that's it melee only in text. you'd amazed how many ppl think they can feint in ranged. mechanicall and dramatically, i can't even see how that would work...

i didn't know you can't Brew Potion self only spells. truly, really? if this is true, then thanks for the correction. this changes things in a few campaigns (around these parts), but it isn't a major unheaval.

someone mentioned on here or a Dragon mag. forum about poison, sneak, and death attack. apparently, they ruled that the controller/applier can engage the poison first during attack (only matters if it's a Con dmg one) vs. the victim in the hopes it slags his Con and ultimately his FORT save vs. the death attack before the death attack is resolved.

i'm kidna' leary on this as a knife in the spine seems a bit more sudden then even a few seconds for the wyvern poison to circulate in their bloodstream/whatever to hinder natural defense (FORT) vs. the death attack.

it's the age old, what came first, chicken or the egg debate
woutde
08-25-07, 06:36 AM 1 ton ghost,

Found your thread.

Can you point me to a rule that says that Swimming denies your Dex bonus to AC?

How do you come by the link between Feint and Uncanny Dodge?
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-25-07, 08:29 AM On swimming and Dex, among other things. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/wilderness.htm#underwaterCombat)
woutde
08-25-07, 08:55 AM On swimming and Dex, among other things. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/wilderness.htm#underwaterCombat)
Thanks I'll edit my post (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=911876).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Agroth5223 08-12-07, 09:31 PM	Now, I've been playing primerily Rouge characters since I started and I know all the general rules and guidelines for Sneak Attacks, but as a still learning player, are there any specific rules or guidelines that my, somewhat inexperienced DM might be keeping from me or may not know about? I've asked him once about ranged Sneak Attacks with no resulting answer, he just stated that he didn't know for sure. I'm only asking because our next campain, I was told, is going to require us using a lot more ranged attack style of combate, something I'm not used to playing the typical Rouge. Also, I'm going to be a Halfling for the first time as well.
Salla 08-12-07, 09:34 PM	Check the Rules of the Game archive for the deeper details, but the quick version is: You get sneak attack on any and all attacks that are made when either: 1. The target is denied his DEX bonus to Armor Class, and/or 2. The target is flanked by you and an ally. You cannot flank with a ranged weapon, therefore you will have to rely on the former. Also, you will have to be within 30 feet of your target to deliver a sneak attack. The best way to deal ranged sneak attack is the Greater Invisibility spell.
tuberov 08-12-07, 09:56 PM	Now, I've been playing primerily Rouge characters since I started....... A rouge? Are you from the Revlon Guild? Sorry, I couldn't help it. My friend made the same mistake on his character sheet and we bust on him about it all the time now :devil:. Have fun playing DnD.
Kouk 08-13-07, 01:18 AM	Pretty much everything is in the description under the Rogue entry in the PHB. Depending on how many supplements you can get, you might consider Crossbow Sniper (PHB2) which lets you Sneak Attack at up to 60 feet with a crossbow (instead of the normal 30 ft with any ranged weapon). Other things to remember, are that any time a target is denied his Dex bonus to AC, you can Sneak Attack him. If he is Flat footed at the start of combat, if he is Grappling someone, if he is Climbing or Balancing on difficult terrain (or a nice Grease spell), anything. Edit: Helpless (not Prone), asleep, paralyzed, unconscious, carrying something so heavy he can only stagger, Stunned, Blind (or if you are Invisible), Cowering, if you successfully Feint him...
1 ton ghost 08-13-07, 01:45 AM	firstly, there are no noob questions. never be afraid to ask, that's what this space is here for. anyone gives you static, it's a problem on their end all the previous posts are are valid/smart for sneak attack. -sneak attack doesn't work in concealment (fog, darkness, undergrowth, etc.) this is why a smokestick can save your ass from rogues and even Obscuring Mistwill save a mage vs. a rogue this is a tricky area as you need concealment or cover to get to Hide so you can get into sneak attack position in the 1st place. stay on the fringe, shooting/attacking out of concealment is ok to sneak attack, just not INTO it -darkvision vs. regular sighted ppl is sneak attack heaven, shoot out their torches/lanterns, etc. Blacklight or Ebon Eyes help facilitate this end -climbing normally, swimming, balancing (w/ less than 5 ranks)etc., denies Dex always force your opponent's hand, make him reactive to you, not you to him. get to the battlefield 1st, make him come to you and all that jazz -mobility is key (not the feat that is) so tumble your ass off if you prefer melee sneak attacks (spring attack and increased speed helps), if you like ranged always mind the windveer (this always sucks, so does rain) and consider Precise Shot if you're friends like to go melee. someone mentioned X-Bow Sniper which is pretty sweet, but reload can be an issue. -Feint is ALWAYS valid, even against Uncanny Dodge if successful. Improved Feint is terribly deadly if used right. get a high Bluff if not for this, just for all the synergies it provides. always worth it. -Vexing Flanker (PHB II) is decent, but not the ****, you can charge for a +2 -tanglefoot bags are your friends, keep opponent stationary, easy flank -potions of True Strike on a poisoned blade during sneak attack, when it absolutely, positively must be there -and of course, Invisibilty, you're best friend
Kouk 08-13-07, 08:07 AM	firstly, there are no noob questions. never be afraid to ask, that's what this space is here for. anyone gives you static, it's a problem on their end all the previous posts are are valid/smart for sneak attack. -sneak attack doesn't work in concealment (fog, darkness, undergrowth, etc.) this is why a smokestick can save your ass from rogues and even Obscuring Mistwill save a mage vs. a rogue this is a tricky area as you need concealment or cover to get to Hide so you can get into sneak attack position in the 1st place. stay on the fringe, shooting/attacking out of concealment is ok to sneak attack, just not INTO it -darkvision vs. regular sighted ppl is sneak attack heaven, shoot out their torches/lanterns, etc. Blacklight or Ebon Eyes help facilitate this end -climbing normally, swimming, balancing (w/ less than 5 ranks)etc., denies Dex always force your opponent's hand, make him reactive to you, not you to him. get to the battlefield 1st, make him come to you and all that jazz -mobility is key (not the feat that is) so tumble your ass off if you prefer melee sneak attacks (spring attack and increased speed helps), if you like ranged always mind the windveer (this always sucks, so does rain) and consider Precise Shot if you're friends like to go melee. someone mentioned X-Bow Sniper which is pretty sweet, but reload can be an issue. -Feint is ALWAYS valid, even against Uncanny Dodge if successful. Improved Feint is terribly deadly if used right. get a high Bluff if not for this, just for all the synergies it provides. always worth it. -Vexing Flanker (PHB II) is decent, but not the ****, you can charge for a +2 -tanglefoot bags are your friends, keep opponent stationary, easy flank -potions of True Strike on a poisoned blade during sneak attack, when it absolutely, positively must be there -and of course, Invisibilty, you're best friend Hmm. Well, Feinting isn't "always" valid. It only applies to melee attacks you make. NITPICKS: You can't make a Potion of True Strike, because you can't make Potions of self-only spells; they must be able to affect one or more targets. True Strike has a target of "You". I believe this is the letter-of-the-law, but who knows? At any rate, putting a potion on a blade won't do anything :P. For one thing, it would have to be an Oil to smear it on something, and True Strike works on the wielder and doesn't change anything about the weapon.
1 ton ghost 08-13-07, 12:20 PM	"hmm, well..."? as for Feint, yeah, it's always valid. it's implied that's it melee only in text. you'd amazed how many ppl think they can feint in ranged. mechanicall and dramatically, i can't even see how that would work... i didn't know you can't Brew Potion self only spells. truly, really? if this is true, then thanks for the correction. this changes things in a few campaigns (around these parts), but it isn't a major unheaval. someone mentioned on here or a Dragon mag. forum about poison, sneak, and death attack. apparently, they ruled that the controller/applier can engage the poison first during attack (only matters if it's a Con dmg one) vs. the victim in the hopes it slags his Con and ultimately his FORT save vs. the death attack before the death attack is resolved. i'm kidna' leary on this as a knife in the spine seems a bit more sudden then even a few seconds for the wyvern poison to circulate in their bloodstream/whatever to hinder natural defense (FORT) vs. the death attack. it's the age old, what came first, chicken or the egg debate
woutde 08-25-07, 06:36 AM	1 ton ghost, Found your thread. Can you point me to a rule that says that Swimming denies your Dex bonus to AC? How do you come by the link between Feint and Uncanny Dodge?
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-25-07, 08:29 AM	On swimming and Dex, among other things. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/wilderness.htm#underwaterCombat)
woutde 08-25-07, 08:55 AM	On swimming and Dex, among other things. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/wilderness.htm#underwaterCombat) Thanks I'll edit my post (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=911876).