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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 6076204" data-attributes="member: 7635">There is, however, a point where protagonism runs into predictability. Pathfinder Sneak Attack works pretty much as you describe (anything with a corporeal body can be SA'd, including plants, undead, and golems). So a group of heroes making their way though a dusty crypt full of ghouls and zombies are fully capable of having their rogue deal SA damage. But the next fight involves a wraith, which by the rules is unsneak-attackable, ignores armor, and resistant to non-force magics. Suddenly, the rogue quivers knowing he's effectively out of the fight. The Fighter is nervous at the fact his platemail armor is practically cloth, the wizard starts debating how to get the most out of his attack spells which do half-damage now (save for 1/4!) and the cleric knows he's doing extra duty blowing channel energy attempts to deal solid damage against the wraith. Oh, did I mention wraith's drain levels yet?To a certain segment of the playing population, this encounter is unfair. It has robbed the PCs to their stock tools (defender's AC, striker's damage, etc) and turned the fight to one PC with a real chance of harming it (the cleric, though the wizard and fighter can still do things at a greatly reduced effectiveness). I have robbed the group of protagonism by forcing them into an encounter with one-hand tied behind their backs. Yet, I find these are the battles that tell the best stories. The cleric boldly holding off the wraith as the rest flee; the rogue who decided to use his UMD on a scroll of magic missile, the wizard who opted to cast mage armor on the fighter, etc. It saves the game from becoming stale; using well-worn tactics (I'll hold him here, you use your wand of lightning, the rogue sneaks in, cleric heals as needed). Sure, a whole dungeon full of wraiths seems like a bad idea, but there are times a fight where the PCs are outgunned is good, and I think the idea that all encounters are met with maximum abilities all the time makes things a tad predictable.</blockquote>

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