Greater Invis & Sneak Attack

[Li Shenron]

In last night's gaming session, the question arose regarding the party rogue. "When he is under the effects of a Greater Invisibility spell, each foe who cannot see him would be denied their Dex bonus against him. So, would each attack from him be a sneak attack?" That's an awful lot of sneak attacks in a gaming session from a hasted rogue toting a wand of Greater Invisibility.

Yes, they are all sneak attacks. It's a pretty powerful combo, and the price for the wand (assuming 7 rounds covers almost all battles) is 420gp per battle, which maybe it's quite cheap but at least not free.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

At the level where the Rogue can do this with regularity is a level at which there are countermeasures readily available and plenty of potential opponents who would be immune.

There are lots of 1st through 3rd level spells/effects that reduce the effectiveness of this major class ability combined with a 4th level spell.

A fully charged wand is worth 21,000 gp. A half charged wand of Greater Invisibility is 10,500 gp. I would not expect to see a Rogue with either of these until ~9th level or later.

Let him have his fun.

 

[calypso15]

You mean that this rogue, with the help of two fairly high level spells, is able to be almost as effective as a greatsword-wielding barbarian against a far narrower range of opponents? Oh no!

 

[Nail]

You mean that this rogue, with the help of two fairly high level spells, is able to be almost as effective as a greatsword-wielding barbarian against a far narrower range of opponents? Oh no!

Is the rogue using a wand? Or is he getting help from the Wizard? Either way, this isn't broken...I'm just wondering....

BTW, is the DM aware of blindsight, blindsense, tremorsense, scent, See Invisibility, Invisibility Purge, Detect Magic, True Seeing, Summon Monster, Obscuring Mist, Fog Cloud, Darkness, Deeper Darkness, Glitterdust, Blur, Invisibility, Greater Invisibility, Invisibility sphere, Displacement, any cloud spell, most illusion spells, Listen checks, Spot Checks, Undead, Constructs, Elementals, Oozes, Swarms, Plants , Rogues of > 3rd level, Bbns of > 1st level, or even bags of flour? (...and that's just core rules stuff...)

No? Well then he's right: Nothing can stop an invisible rogue!!!

 

[Darklone]

Yeah, you NAILed it. Bags of flour, a mundane fire with enough smoke, simple darkness (dark alley rogues HAVE to be half-orcs) and all the other non-magical tricks to stay away from sneak attacks.

Biggest advantage of skirmish vs sneak attack: No problem with concealment.

 

[zlorf]

All the Rogue needs is a 9000gp magic item and it bypasses 90% of defensive measures that Nail has listed. Fortified armor also helps.

Cheers
Z

Is the rogue using a wand? Or is he getting help from the Wizard? Either way, this isn't broken...I'm just wondering....

BTW, is the DM aware of blindsight, blindsense, tremorsense, scent, See Invisibility, Invisibility Purge, Detect Magic, True Seeing, Summon Monster, Obscuring Mist, Fog Cloud, Darkness, Deeper Darkness, Glitterdust, Blur, Invisibility, Greater Invisibility, Invisibility sphere, Displacement, any cloud spell, most illusion spells, Listen checks, Spot Checks, Undead, Constructs, Elementals, Oozes, Swarms, Plants , Rogues of > 3rd level, Bbns of > 1st level, or even bags of flour? (...and that's just core rules stuff...)

No? Well then he's right: Nothing can stop an invisible rogue!!!

 

[zlorf]

Ok maybe 75% - see previous comments

Yeah, you NAILed it. Bags of flour, a mundane fire with enough smoke, simple darkness (dark alley rogues HAVE to be half-orcs) and all the other non-magical tricks to stay away from sneak attacks.

Biggest advantage of skirmish vs sneak attack: No problem with concealment.

 

[Darklone]

Zlorf? Which 9K item?

And where does he get the 9K from if he just bought a wand of GR Invis ?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I am having a little trouble figuring out how 9K can bypass both Blur and Glitterdust myself.

 

[dagger]

Blindfold of True Darkness from 3.0 Arms and Equipment Guide...?

I think it gives 60 ft Blindsight.