Can You Sneak Attack With A Spell Cast While Flanking?

[FireLance]

Situation: An arcane trickster with a spiked chain (or some other reach weapon) is on the opposite side of an opponent from a fighter who is engaging it in melee:

AT . O F

1a. Since the opponent is within reach of the AT's weapon, is the AT considered to be flanking the opponent even if he casts as spell instead of attacking?

2a. If you think he flanks the opponent, does he get to add his sneak attack damage to spells such as acid splash and ray of frost?

2b. If you think he does not flank the opponent when casting a spell, would you allow him to flank and get bonus sneak attack damage (when applicable) if he cast a Stilled spell or a spell without somatic components?

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Page 153 of the 3.5 PHB states that you can flank only when making a melee attack. If you are casting a spell, you aren't making a melee attack, so you aren't flanking. Simply holding on to a reach weapon while you're casting your spell (as in your example) isn't good enough.

 

[sithramir]

Page 153 of the 3.5 PHB states that you can flank only when making a melee attack. If you are casting a spell, you aren't making a melee attack, so you aren't flanking. Simply holding on to a reach weapon while you're casting your spell (as in your example) isn't good enough.

Well a spiked chain IS a melee weapon with reach and being 10' away you would be flanking him. However, you wouldn't be able to sneak attack with spells in this situation. You would be able to sneak attack with spells if you get a surprise round and they are flat footed, if your initiative is before them and they are still flat footed, if they are denied their dex bonus for others reasons like invisibility, blinking (ring of blinking), grappling (watch hitting your buddy), etc.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Well a spiked chain IS a melee weapon with reach and being 10' away you would be flanking him. However, you wouldn't be able to sneak attack with spells in this situation. You would be able to sneak attack with spells if you get a surprise round and they are flat footed, if your initiative is before them and they are still flat footed, if they are denied their dex bonus for others reasons like invisibility, blinking (ring of blinking), grappling (watch hitting your buddy), etc.

Correct, except for the first sentence. You're NOT flanking because you aren't making a melee attack with the spiked chain (as per the description of flanking in the PHB).

Edit: Since you're not flanking, no sneak attack in the situation originally described. As sithramir said, though, you can still get a sneak attack by other means.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Also, you can't cause sneak attack damage with the spells you mentioned by flanking since these spells are ranged spells. You could, IIRC, could cause sneak attack damage by flanking when using a melee touch spell, such as shocking grasp or chill touch.

AR

 

[Ottergame]

Also, you can't cause sneak attack damage with the spells you mentioned by flanking since these spells are ranged spells. You could, IIRC, could cause sneak attack damage by flanking when using a melee touch spell, such as shocking grasp or chill touch.

AR

That's so not true. Any spell that requires an attack roll can be a sneak attack.

 

[Scion]

That's so not true. Any spell that requires an attack roll can be a sneak attack.

He said, 'by flanking'

sure if they are flatfooted you can sneak attack with any damage dealing spell that requires an attack roll.

Just cast the melee touch spells and go touch the guy while flanking, that should get you what you want just not at a very far range. (or spellstore it in a weapon)

 

[FireLance]

Right, I hadn't realised you need to make a melee attack to flank. Looks like the best option for continuous sneak attacks from flanking would be Flame Blade (melee touch attack) and a high-level rogue (maybe Rog19/Drd1 and a wand of Flame Blade). Could get really nasty against [Cold] creatures.

 

[Darklone]

The AT in that case should use Shocking Grasp or another melee touch attack (Vampiric Touch is my favorite!)

 

[kwiqsilver]

I have a derived question:
If the AT has sneak attack +4d6 and is an 8th level caster, and he attacks with the Vampiric Touch while flanking, the enemy takes 8d6, but how many HP would the AT get?