Can You Sneak Attack With A Spell Cast While Flanking?

[Darklone]

All by Tome & Blood.

That's exactly why I love that spell so much. It's the only one that's nearly better for the AT than for the normal wizzy.

 

[UltimaGabe]

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?

He would only get back as many Hit Points as the spell itself did (in this case, 4d6). The rest of the damage would just be Negative Energy damage.

 

[Darklone]

He would only get back as many Hit Points as the spell itself did (in this case, 4d6). The rest of the damage would just be Negative Energy damage.

Are you sure about that?

SRD:

Vampiric Touch
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous/1 hour; see text
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
You must succeed on a melee touch attack. Your touch deals 1d6 points of damage per two caster levels (maximum 10d6). You gain temporary hit points equal to the damage you deal. However, you can’t gain more than the subject’s current hit points +10, which is enough to kill the subject. The temporary hit points disappear 1 hour later.

 

[mikebr99]

Are you sure about that?

SRD:

That is what "All about Sneak Attacks - Part 4" is saying...

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A successful sneak attack with a weaponlike spell inflicts extra damage according to the attacker's sneak attack ability, and the extra damage dealt is the same type as the spell deals. For example, a 10th-level rogue who makes a successful sneak attack with a Melf's acid arrow spell inflicts 2d4 points of acid damage, plus an extra 5d6 points of acid damage from the sneak attack (note that continuing damage from this spell is not part of the sneak attack). Spells that inflict energy drains or ability damage deal extra negative energy damage in a sneak attack, not extra negative levels or ability damage. For example, a 10th-level rogue who makes a successful sneak attack with an enervation spell deals 1d4 negative levels plus an extra 5d6 points of negative energy damage.
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Mike​

 

[Darklone]

Vampiric Touch is neither ability nor level drain. The AT simply gains as many temporary hitpoints as he deals damage with the spell, where is the problem?

 

[mikebr99]

Vampiric Touch is neither ability nor level drain. The AT simply gains as many temporary hitpoints as he deals damage with the spell, where is the problem?

Just that every spell described in the Sneak Attack column that was useable as a sneak attack, did exactly as it is described in the PHB... then you added sneak attack damage to that... as the same energy type. So Vampiric Touch does damage to target and gives like amount back to caster (as temp HPs), then sneak attack damage is added to target as negative energy.

Mike

 

[Darklone]

YMMV, but to me it's still clear that Vampiric Touch gives you as much temporary hitpoints as it causes damage (including sneak attack damage).

 

[mikebr99]

YMMV, but to me it's still clear that Vampiric Touch gives you as much temporary hitpoints as it causes damage (including sneak attack damage).

Maybe... I guess if you still stick with the spell's damage cap it that case it would be ok.

Mike

 

[kwiqsilver]

Reading the spell, I'd agree with Darklone's interpretation. However I'd suggest that somebody at Wizards didn't think about that combination when writing about sneak attack and spells. I'd probably limit the healing to the non-sneak attack dice, if I was DMing it.

 

[Darklone]

Reading the spell, I'd agree with Darklone's interpretation. However I'd suggest that somebody at Wizards didn't think about that combination when writing about sneak attack and spells. I'd probably limit the healing to the non-sneak attack dice, if I was DMing it.

I think they didn't think about it when they wrote the Arcane Trickster, the rest is ok

The combination isn't that bad... a good melee machine should be able to dish out more damage than the AT can heal back and neutralizing sneak attack is easy.