So does the Oni get sneak attack on his area effects?

frankthedm · Apr 8, 2008

Now, it certainly seems the Oni gets his sneak attack when wielding a great sword {which will have PC rogues grumbling already], but the stat card at least does not seem to indicate it won't apply to the Lightning bolt or to the Freezing blast. I’d kinda hope it does not, but would not such a thing be called out?

TerraDave · Apr 8, 2008

Oni=Ogre Mage

And that cloud walk has a nice wuxia feel, wonder if we will see more of that. (And its got an action point).

As for the question: I would guess only great sword, but yeah, not clear.

Could be fun either way.

malraux · Apr 8, 2008

frankthedm said:
Now, it certainly seems the Oni gets his sneak attack when wielding a great sword {which will have PC rogues grumbling already], but the stat card at least does not seem to indicate it won't apply to the Lightning bolt or to the Freezing blast. I’d kinda hope it does not, but would not such a thing be called out?

Given that the SA is listed as a sub-element of the great sword attack, I'd say that it only applies to that attack. If it could apply to anything, I'd put it as a rider on all attacks and/or in its own section.

Beckett · Apr 8, 2008

To me, with sneak attack right after the great sword (and not in a Special Ability category or something), it looks like it only applies for the great sword attack.

It could also be that this is something in the full rules; perhaps sneak attack is defined as "additional damage on melee or missile attacks when you have combat advantage on a foe." So, no need to point out that the oni only has sneak attack for the great sword, since by definition that's the only attack it applies to.

mearls · Apr 8, 2008

frankthedm said:
Now, it certainly seems the Oni gets his sneak attack when wielding a great sword {which will have PC rogues grumbling already], but the stat card at least does not seem to indicate it won't apply to the Lightning bolt or to the Freezing blast. I’d kinda hope it does not, but would not such a thing be called out?

In the MM, the oni only gains his bonus damage on melee attacks. Also, we dropped the term "sneak attack" from most monsters and used language like "when this creature has combat advantage, it gains X, Y, and Z" precisely to avoid confusing the rogue ability with a benefit a monster might get with CA.

That said, there are creatures that gain bonuses with combat advantage and area attacks.

Voss · Apr 8, 2008

That seems... somewhat pointless. Except for the name, its almost exactly the same thing.

frankthedm · Apr 8, 2008

mearls said:
In the MM, the oni only gains his bonus damage on melee attacks. Also, we dropped the term "sneak attack" from most monsters and used language like "when this creature has combat advantage, it gains X, Y, and Z" precisely to avoid confusing the rogue ability with a benefit a monster might get with CA.

That said, there are creatures that gain bonuses with combat advantage and area attacks.

Thanks for the answers and the clairfication!

Voss said:
That seems... somewhat pointless. Except for the name, its almost exactly the same thing.

Names are a potent thing, Call it Sneak Attack and someone may expect it to work like the rogue class ability. "Sneak Attack? Thats odd, the oni has an ability it can't normally use. I guess that ability is for when it is disguised and only has a dagger available". Also by not calling it sneak attack, it take ammunition away from folks who want to bitch and moan about a rogue’s sneak attack’s limitations. "How come it gets to sneak attack with a greatsword when I can't?!"

Crosswind · Apr 8, 2008

Doesn't seem pointless to me. People have associated a certain amount of flavor with Sneak Attack - namely, that somebody is stabbing somebody else in the kidney, etc.

There would be a huge cry and an uproar here if you could "sneak attack" with fireball because somebody wasn't looking. "Fireball isn't a precise attack!" ... "You can't aim it that well!". Instead, +2d6 damage when you have combat advantage and can fireball somebody? Less complaints.

-Cross

kennew142 · Apr 8, 2008

If a rogue can't sneak attack with a greatsword, then a monster shouldn't have a power called sneak attack that allows it to do so. It isn't the power that's the problem; it's the name. Calling it something different will help to dispel confusion.

Oni · Apr 8, 2008

Obviously it should apply to all manner of attacks both mundane and exotic. Anything less would simply be insulting.

So does the Oni get sneak attack on his area effects?

frankthedm

First Post

Attachments

TerraDave

5ever, or until 2024

malraux

First Post

Beckett

Explorer

mearls

Legend

Voss

First Post

frankthedm

First Post

Crosswind

First Post

kennew142

First Post

Oni

First Post

Similar Threads