Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Giorin Jul 06, 2012 2:49:32	Hi there! My rogue8/wizard7/spellwarp_sniper2 wants to take the alternative class feature "Death's Ruin" (Complete Champion, p. 51) that grants the ability to sneak undead at half sneak bonus. Our DM allows retraining. In case I attack an undead that is denied its Dex Bonus to AC with a rayspell - does the Sudden Raystrike class feature of Spellwarp Sniper stack with the sneak bonus dice? For the time being I have 4d6 sneak from the rogue class plus 1d6 sudden raystrike. As the description of "Death's Ruin" explicitly says bonus dice are rounded down it would not make a difference at the moment, but at Spellwarp Sniper 4 it would: 4d6 sneak plus 2d6 sudden raystrike --> 3d6 death's ruin or 2d6 death's ruin? Death's Ruin You can channel the power of your faith when making sneak attacks against undead. Level: 3rd. Replaces: This benefit replaces the trap sense class feature, including trap sense bonuses gained at higher levels of the rogue class. Benefit: You can make sneak attacks against undead creatures. However, you roll only one-half your normal sneak attack dice (rounded down) when determining bonus damage for such attacks. This is an extraordinary ability.
#2 Slagger_the_Chuul Jul 06, 2012 3:04:52	Sudden raystrike is a separate ability that normally stacks with sneak attack, while death's ruin is simply a modification for your normal sneak attack (allowing you to deal half damage dice to undead, instead of having no effect).  However, death's ruin only applies to sneak attack, and even though it works in a very similar way, sudden raystrike isn't a sneak attack. So, against an undead target (appropriately flanked and/or denied Dex to AC), you would only ever deal the half sneak attack dice (2d6, in your case); death's ruin does nothing to help sudden raystrike affect undead.  Equally, death's ruin would not apply to other precision-based abilities like the ninja's sudden strike, or the scout's skirmish. You could, of course, ask your DM to allow death's ruin to apply to other kinds of precision-based damage, but it's down to a houserule, rather than a standard game effect.