How useful do you consider sneak attack?

[Ranger REG]

Compared to the 1e/2e Thief's Backstabbing ability, Sneak Attack is a lot more useful. I don't mind if the undead is immune to critical hits. They don't have living vital organs that would make them double over in pain. As for the Improved Uncanny Dodge vs. Sneak Attack, you can always surprise and still inflict Sneak Attack damage. Otherwise, find a much weaker opponent to finish off (usually enemy spellcasters are the main priority).

 

[tetsujin28]

Throw in two-weapon fighting and you have one bad-ass combat rogue.

IIRC, only the first attack of a round applies the bonus, not the first attack from each weapon.

I'd say the advantage really depends on your campaign. If you're a bunch of undead and gelatinous cube hunters, you're SOL. If however, you're in a swashbuckling campaign like I was, even a pathetic weapon like a fan or needle (1 pt.) becomes a 4d6+1 blur of death. Add that in as flanking damage to what your fighter's dishing out every round, and most 5th-level encounters are toast.

 

[HellHound]

I like Sneak Attack a lot.

One of the campaigns I am running involves four rogues (one pure rogue, a rogue/fighter, a rogue/wizard and a rogue/cleric) and I have had to adjust some encounters to suit them, but overall it has been very enjoyable.

What is interesting is seeing this party run into the OCCASIONAL construct where they suddenly find themselves significantly reduced in combat power. The animated spiked chain in the first Shackled City adventure was the first true reminder of their limitations. As a footnote, the chain in question still exists, only monster in the module not slain by our fearless rogues.

 

[HellHound]

IIRC, only the first attack of a round applies the bonus, not the first attack from each weapon.

Actually, it's every attack from a weapon with rare exceptions (the exceptions being weapons that get more than one attack with a single attack action such as shuriken or the lesser orb spells from Tome & Blood).

Thus a fighter/rogue with a +16 attack bonus and greater two weapon fighting would get his normal attack, itterative attacks, and off-hand attacks, and all would be eligible for sneak attack damage. (Assuming no bonuses to hit, and a light off-hand weapon - +14 main / +14 off-hand / +9 main / +9 off-hand / +4 main / +4 off-hand, -1 main).

You could also throw in Haste and score one extra sneak attack in there at full attack bonus.

 

[Particle_Man]

Note that with 3.5 I bet that goggles of darkvision are required equipment for rogues that like to sneak attack at night or in dark alleys (unless they already have darkvision of course).

 

[Plane Sailing]

Actually, it's every attack from a weapon with rare exceptions (the exceptions being weapons that get more than one attack with a single attack action such as shuriken or the lesser orb spells from Tome & Blood).

And happily Shuriken has been changed in 3.5e to work like a normal weapon, so that issue doesn't come up there either now (and the orb spells thankfully didn't make it into 3.5... although scorching ray might still leave room for discussion )

Cheers

 

[Darklone]

Sneak attack is really nice. Had several groups with many players and bbn/rog or ftr/rog combinations proved to be more useful than singleclass bbns or ftrs and rogues.

Most of my campaigns are humanocentric, so the rogues have plenty of targets. In low magic campaigns where the rogue is not screwed all the time, it's a good idea to lower the sneak attack progression.

For the standard D&D campaigns: There are official feats to hurt constructs and undeads pretty bad.

 

[Plane Sailing]

For the standard D&D campaigns: There are official feats to hurt constructs and undeads pretty bad.

I don't remember seeing any official feats for these at all... are you sure you don't mean "unofficial feats" which have appeared in classbooks, magazines or 3rd party publishers?

Regards

 

[Darklone]

I don't remember seeing any official feats for these at all... are you sure you don't mean "unofficial feats" which have appeared in classbooks, magazines or 3rd party publishers?

Regards

"Finding the Secrets" in the KPG is official

Tough prerequisites though.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I don't remember seeing any official feats for these at all... are you sure you don't mean "unofficial feats" which have appeared in classbooks, magazines or 3rd party publishers?

Regards

Also, Supernatural Blow from Masters of the Wild allows a Ranger to do extra damage against a favored enemy immune to critical attacks.

It's from WotC, so it's official. But it's not "core" since it's not in the PHB, DMG, or MM.