Can I flank with a ranged attack?

[Hypersmurf]

From the PHB [3.0] (page 47) & SRD[3.5] under Rogue description
"Ranged attacks can only count as sneak attacks if the target is within 30 feet."

Yup. You can't sneak attack via flanking with a ranged weapon (since you can't make a melee attack with it), but you can sneak attack an opponent who is denied his Dex bonus for whatever reason, as long as you're within 30 feet, with a ranged weapon or weaponlike spell.

Interestingly, there's no limit on how far away you can be to sneak attack with a melee attack. That means that a Kraken Rogue can sneak attack with his tentacles from 100 feet away... or an Arcane Trickster (or other rogue/caster combo) can sneak attack with a weaponlike touch spell via Spectral Hand - explicitly a melee attack - from the extreme range of the spell.

-Hyp.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Why?

Just a hunch!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Just a hunch!

I don't see a need for it.

-Hyp.

 

[buchw001]

Yup. You can't sneak attack via flanking with a ranged weapon (since you can't make a melee attack with it), but you can sneak attack an opponent who is denied his Dex bonus for whatever reason, as long as you're within 30 feet, with a ranged weapon or weaponlike spell.

Yup that's agood point. The target would have to be denied DEX (climbing, flat-footed, or some other reason) to get ranged sneak, since we have discussed the NO flanking with ranged weapons topic.

P.S. - That Kraken Rogue is really a twisted thought, but a good example to help explain the situation (nice job Hyp)

 

[AGGEMAM]

I regrettably misplaced my 3E version of the PHB (at the last game session, I'll get it back this week), but correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that didn't say anything about a unarmed character that is not considered armed not threatening an area as the 3E5 version does.

 

[melkoriii]

Actually this is NOT entirely correct.

From the PHB [3.0] (page 47) & SRD[3.5] under Rogue description
"Ranged attacks can only count as sneak attacks if the target is within 30 feet."


For the other... I agree with what HYP said

Sorry didnt meant o say you cant Sneak Attack with a Ranged weapon.

Only that you can't Flank to get Sneak Attack with a ranged weapon.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I regrettably misplaced my 3E version of the PHB (at the last game session, I'll get it back this week), but correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that didn't say anything about a unarmed character that is not considered armed not threatening an area as the 3E5 version does.

It doesn't, although it was Saged.

An unarmed attacker in 3E explicitly cannot make an AoO against another unarmed strike. Sage Advice (or the FAQ?) expanded this to state that an unarmed person does not threaten.

-Hyp.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Sage Advice (or the FAQ?) expanded this to state that an unarmed person does not threaten.

Neither.

But I seems to recall an e-mail reply from the Sage saying that, but it hasn't been elevated to official status by virtue of Sage Advice, FAQ or errata until 3E5.

EDIT: I don't know if it has any relevance to this subject but I am still thinking that they will clarify you have to threaten you opponent in order to flank him, thus making unarmed attacks that aren't considered armed inuseable for such purposes.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hey, you can Cleave with a Whip, now... or Whirlwind!

Neither feat requires you to threaten; it just specifies "melee weapon" and "within reach".

-Hyp.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Hey, you can Cleave with a Whip, now... or Whirlwind!

Neither feat requires you to threaten; it just specifies "melee weapon" and "within reach".

Very true, and very wrong IMO.

Combine it with power attack, and great cleave, and the buffer creatures of BBDs, and you have a potential death trap.

I liked the ranged weapon status of the whip in 3E, but maybe that's just me.