Flanking and Ranged Sneak Attacks

[shilsen]

One feat you should check out is Deadeye Shot from PHB2. It lets you ready an attack to shoot an enemy when an ally hits him, and when it occurs, the target loses his Dex bonus against your attack. The feat would allow you to sneak attack at range and would also work well with the Order of the Bow Initiate (since the PrC lets you do extra attack on a shot made as a standard action).

 

[drdevoid]

A ring of blinking will work in addition to what Will mentioned.

 

[Zurai]

Note that you CAN flank with a ranged weapon in one specific circumstance: there's a ranger with the Distracting Attack alternate class feature from PHB2 in the party. Distracting Attack makes the next person to attack the target consider the target to be flanked, regardless of any other factors.

 

[Unkabear]

I second the Dead Eye Shot, you only get one shot but you make it a good one (Unless you have Greater Manyshot then you can add bolts, and mixed with Crossbow Sniper you can even do it from a safe distance of 60' away & add half your dex to damage to boot.

This can still be mixed with OotBI though I would ask if the DM would change the Weapon Focus Longbow to Crossbow.

 

[Darklone]

Note that you CAN flank with a ranged weapon in one specific circumstance: there's a ranger with the Distracting Attack alternate class feature from PHB2 in the party. Distracting Attack makes the next person to attack the target consider the target to be flanked, regardless of any other factors.

AFAIK, that explicitely refers to melee attacks, so again: no ranged flanking.

Stunning is another good option. Get some monks into your group and you'll have plenty of ranged sneak attack opportunities.

 

[Machiavelli]

AFAIK, that explicitely refers to melee attacks, so again: no ranged flanking.

Stunning is another good option. Get some monks into your group and you'll have plenty of ranged sneak attack opportunities.

It actually specifically says "...an attack (whether melee or ranged)...". It's a good ability.

 

[Darklone]

It actually specifically says "...an attack (whether melee or ranged)...". It's a good ability.

Yupp, the ability is great... I'm just confused since last time we checked that during play, we found some melee restriction... I'll check my books next time I see them.

 

[Synchronicity]

Yupp, the ability is great... I'm just confused since last time we checked that during play, we found some melee restriction... I'll check my books next time I see them.

The text says that when you (the ranger) hits an enemy with an attack - either melee or ranged - you count as flanking the opponent for adjudicating the next attack made by an ally. It goes on to say that for example, this could allow your rogue ally to sneak attack with a melee attack. This example implies that Distracting Shot doesn't trump the usual sneak attack/flanking restrictions.

 

[Darklone]

The text says that when you (the ranger) hits an enemy with an attack - either melee or ranged - you count as flanking the opponent for adjudicating the next attack made by an ally. It goes on to say that for example, this could allow your rogue ally to sneak attack with a melee attack. This example implies that Distracting Shot doesn't trump the usual sneak attack/flanking restrictions.

Ah yes and thanks, synchronicity. Yeah, given that a shot at a flanked character doesn't allow you to apply sneak attack damage, that made it rather clear that Distracting Shot doesn't help you to get ranged sneak attacks.