Less Than Max Sneak Attack

[GuardianLurker]

This came up over in House Rules (as many rule questions do) -

can a Rogue (or any other character with the Sneak Attack ability) do less than his maximum dice of sneak attack damage when he makes a sneak attack?

IOW, can a rogue with a +7d6 sneak attack choose to do +4d6 instead?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Shy of using the feats in S&S, no. I see no problem with allowing it, though.

 

[jontherev]

I'm too lazy to check the actual rule, but IIRC, you can take a -4 to hit and do subdual damage. So, it'd be 7d6 sneak attack dice, but it's just subdual damage. I think it might just work with saps or unarmed though...read the SA description or someone else will correct me I'm sure.

 

[LokiDR]

I'm pretty sure that only saps work for dealing subdual sneak attack. I do believe you can choose not to use sneak attack at all though.

 

[GuardianLurker]

To jontherev: You're quite right - I can indeed convert all of my sneak attack dice to subdual damage, so I could do +7d6 subdual with the sap. But could I do +4d6 subdual, if I'm a 15th level rogue?

To lokiDR: Yes indeed, I can always choose NOT to make a sneak attack. But if I choose to make one, am I stuck with all the dice?

To CRGreathouse: The only feat I can find in Song and Silence that reduces sneak attack damage is Hamstring - but that's trading dice for benefit. Do you know of any other feats that might work?

Wacky idea: Can I mix normal and subdual damage in the same attack? Sneak attack especially, but even broader, *any* attack?

 

[Sir Hawkeye]

Re: Wacky Idea: No, barring special circumstances (i.e, magic that does not currently exist), sneak attacks (and likewise criticals) are the same type as the base damage.

 

[LokiDR]

To lokiDR: Yes indeed, I can always choose NOT to make a sneak attack. But if I choose to make one, am I stuck with all the dice?

Wacky idea: Can I mix normal and subdual damage in the same attack? Sneak attack especially, but even broader, *any* attack?

At first glance, it is a choice to sneak attack or not. At least you have this option. It is better than nothing.

And as far as I know, there is only one way to mix normal and subdual damage: spell storing weapon and a spell that deals subdual damage.

 

[orbitalfreak]

While there aren't any rules specific to sub-optimal sneak attack damage, consider this precedent: A spellcaster can cast any spell at a caster level less than the spellcaster's class level (to a minimum of what is needed for the spell).