Ability damage/energy drain and Sneak Attacks

[Stalker0]

This comes directly from that argument in that other sneak attack post, but I put a new thread here becomes that argument was offtopic, and was getting confusing with everyone so heated.

I just wanted to get a few questions answered.

1) When you sneak attack with an elemental spell, is the sneak attack damage element or normal?

2) Does a spell that does ability point damage get an additional amount of ability point damage equal to the sneak attack damage?

3) When doing a spell that does level draining (ex. enervation) does sneak attack add to the number of levels you drain?

4) Ray of enfeeblement does an ability penalty not an ability damage. Is the damage still temporary damage that heals as temporary ability damage does? Is it correct that an ability penality doesn't get more for sneak attack?

5) Does immune to crits automatically mean immune to sneak attack? Usually, both are explicitily stated together. But for instance, armor of heavy fortification, does that immune you to sneak attack. Do spells that can't be critted with have the potential for sneak attack?

 

[kreynolds]

1) When you sneak attack with an elemental spell, is the sneak attack damage element or normal?

Elemental.

2) Does a spell that does ability point damage get an additional amount of ability point damage equal to the sneak attack damage?

No. Negative energy damage.

3) When doing a spell that does level draining (ex. enervation) does sneak attack add to the number of levels you drain?

See previous answer.

Is it correct that an ability penality doesn't get more for sneak attack?

Yes.

5) Does immune to crits automatically mean immune to sneak attack?

Yes.

But for instance, armor of heavy fortification, does that immune you to sneak attack.

Not sure. Interesting question, but I don't believe it helps against SAs.

Do spells that can't be critted with have the potential for sneak attack?

No.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Sneak attacks with magical spells do inflict Sneak Attack damage, but...

1. It's always hit point damage, never ability damage.

2. It's the always the same "type" of damage as the spell's type.

3. You can only deal Sneak Attack damage with a spell that requires an attack roll.

So, take a Wizard with one level of Rogue, for example...

A Melf's Acid Arrow would do 2d4 acid damage plus an additional 1d6 (sneak attack) acid damage the first round, and 2d4 acid damage the second.

Enervation would deal 1d4 negative levels, and 1d6 points of negative energy (HP) sneak attack damage.

A Ray of Enfeeblement would deal 1d6+1/level temporary Str damage, and 1d6 negative energy damage.

Make sense?

And yes... The SRD says, "Any creature that is immune to critical hits is also not vulnerable to sneak attacks." Personally, my ruling on Fortified Armor would be: Use the same percent chance to negate a Sneak Attack.

[EDIT] Confound you, Kreynolds! I'll get you next time!

 

[Jack Haggerty]

GRAH! double post.

 

[kreynolds]

[EDIT] Confound you, Kreynolds! I'll get you next time!

LMAO

 

[drowdude]

This comes directly from that argument in that other sneak attack post, but I put a new thread here becomes that argument was offtopic, and was getting confusing with everyone so heated.

I just wanted to get a few questions answered.

1) When you sneak attack with an elemental spell, is the sneak attack damage element or normal?

2) Does a spell that does ability point damage get an additional amount of ability point damage equal to the sneak attack damage?

3) When doing a spell that does level draining (ex. enervation) does sneak attack add to the number of levels you drain?

4) Ray of enfeeblement does an ability penalty not an ability damage. Is the damage still temporary damage that heals as temporary ability damage does? Is it correct that an ability penality doesn't get more for sneak attack?

5) Does immune to crits automatically mean immune to sneak attack? Usually, both are explicitily stated together. But for instance, armor of heavy fortification, does that immune you to sneak attack. Do spells that can't be critted with have the potential for sneak attack?

1.) The SA damage = the element.

2. + 3.) No. If it does level drain or ability damage it inflicts the SA dice as negative energy damage.

4.) The enhancement penalty from Ray of Enfeeblement persists for the spells duration; and no, it doesnt get SA damage because it's effect is not defined as damage.

5.) Yes.... Yes.... and if you are referring to spells like Magic Missile, No... only spells that require and attack roll of some sort may be used in conjunction with SA.

(edit: BAH! Running slow...)

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Re: Re: Ability damage/energy drain and Sneak Attacks

2. + 3.) No. If it does level drain or ability damage it inflicts the SA dice as negative energy damage.

4.) The enhancement penalty from Ray of Enfeeblement persists for the spells duration; and no, it doesnt get SA damage because it's effect is not defined as damage.

You just contradicted yourself, there...

 

[drowdude]

Re: Re: Re: Ability damage/energy drain and Sneak Attacks

You just contradicted yourself, there...

Not really. Ray of Enfeeblement imposes an Enhancement penalty to the victim's Strength for the duration of the spell. It inflicts no damage of any sort, and thus cannot be used as a sneak attack.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Re: Re: Re: Ability damage/energy drain and Sneak Attacks

You just contradicted yourself, there...

No, he didn't.

Only spells that do damage (including ability damage) can get sneak attack damage. Ray of enfeeblement does not do damage; it imposes an enhancement penalty to the ability score.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Ability damage/energy drain and Sneak Attacks

No, he didn't.

Only spells that do damage (including ability damage) can get sneak attack damage. Ray of enfeeblement does not do damage; it imposes an enhancement penalty to the ability score.

Gotcha... My mistake.

That'd also be why it's effect says, "Ray", instead of "Ray of negative energy", like Enervation.