Maure Castle OOC (Full)

[Voadam]

I've always understood that sneak attack damage can only be applied one time for a given attack action (standard or full)....as opposed to one attack roll (which seems to be Voadam's interpretation). This is the way I'll be handling it here. It gets tacked on at the end, after the total regular damage has been calculated. To do it the other way would just open the door for some sick damage totals. Unbalancing, IMO.

Correct about my interpretation that the term "attack" in sneak attack damage refers to any individual attack under RAW.

You are the DM, it is your call though, and does not affect my character's powers. I'm fine with whatever house rules or different interpretations of rules that you have as DM as long as you clearly state them so that as players we are not surprised by them and can plan appropriately.

The effect of this ruling is that Tanus is less offensively powerful than I expected him to be but also means that NPC rogues and assassins will be likewise reduced in offensive threat.

 

[Krauss von Espy]

Correct about my interpretation that the term "attack" in sneak attack damage refers to any individual attack under RAW.

You are the DM, it is your call though, and does not affect my character's powers. I'm fine with whatever house rules or different interpretations of rules that you have as DM as long as you clearly state them so that as players we are not surprised by them and can plan appropriately.

The effect of this ruling is that Tanus is less offensively powerful than I expected him to be but also means that NPC rogues and assassins will be likewise reduced in offensive threat.

Voadam, can you cite a portion of the SRD (or any other offical source for that matter) that clarifies this point? I'd like to follow up on it a little further.

Thanks!

 

[Insight]

Sneak Attacks

The rogue’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target.

Above is the only salient passage I find from the SRD regarding when a Rogue gets to apply Sneak Attack damage. The 'any time' part of that sentence certainly makes it seem like Tanus should get the damage on successive attacks against something that is flanked or has lost its Dex bonus.

The current version of the FAQ (I just read thru the whole thing) does not mention Sneak Attacks. I know a previous version did, but I don't recall exactly what it said.

 

[JimAde]

Just to chime in: One point of support is that some ability descriptions (like Manyshot) explicitly say that the damage ONLY applies once. If that were the general case there would be no point in mentioning it.

 

[JimAde]

Random thought about the Unseen Servant: We should probably be having it open doors for us. As long as the door isn't locked or stuck it can do so just fine.

 

[Voadam]

From the srd combat section as well where it is pretty clear you can get multiple attacks in a round. Nothing in the rogue section says that the sneak attack damage is limited to attack actions or added once onto a full attack action, it just mentions attacks the same way multiple attacks are mentioned in a full attack action.

STANDARD ACTIONS
Attack
Making an attack is a standard action.
Melee Attacks: With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any opponent within 5 feet. (Opponents within 5 feet are considered adjacent to you.) Some melee weapons have reach, as indicated in their descriptions. With a typical reach weapon, you can strike opponents 10 feet away, but you can’t strike adjacent foes (those within 5 feet).


Multiple Attacks: A character who can make more than one attack per round must use the full attack action (see Full-Round Actions, below) in order to get more than one attack.

FULL-ROUND ACTIONS
A full-round action requires an entire round to complete. Thus, it can’t be coupled with a standard or a move action, though if it does not involve moving any distance, you can take a 5-foot step.

Full Attack
If you get more than one attack per round because your base attack bonus is high enough, because you fight with two weapons or a double weapon or for some special reason you must use a full-round action to get your additional attacks. You do not need to specify the targets of your attacks ahead of time. You can see how the earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones.
The only movement you can take during a full attack is a 5-foot step. You may take the step before, after, or between your attacks.
If you get multiple attacks because your base attack bonus is high enough, you must make the attacks in order from highest bonus to lowest. If you are using two weapons, you can strike with either weapon first. If you are using a double weapon, you can strike with either part of the weapon first.
Deciding between an Attack or a Full Attack: After your first attack, you can decide to take a move action instead of making your remaining attacks, depending on how the first attack turns out. If you’ve already taken a 5-foot step, you can’t use your move action to move any distance, but you could still use a different kind of move action.

 

[Krauss von Espy]

Random thought about the Unseen Servant: We should probably be having it open doors for us. As long as the door isn't locked or stuck it can do so just fine.

That's a good idea. I'll make a note of it, so long as none of you are opposed.

 

[Krauss von Espy]

Deciding between an Attack or a Full Attack: After your first attack, you can decide to take a move action instead of making your remaining attacks, depending on how the first attack turns out. If you’ve already taken a 5-foot step, you can’t use your move action to move any distance, but you could still use a different kind of move action.

Oops!

My apologies, particularly to Insight. Consider this a reversal of my prior ruling.

If you want to conditionally offer a move action based on the success or failure of the first roll of a full attack, please do.

Again, my mistake.

 

[Krauss von Espy]

Voadam wins again!

I started a thread on the game rules forum to address our debate about the application of sneak attack damage.

Here it is, if you care to check it out...

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=135377

The upshot does indeed appear to be that sneak attack damage can be applied on every successful strike during a full attack action. Again, this will be a reversal of my prior ruling (and much to Tanus' benefit).

I've been playing 3rd edition for years now, but I've still got much to learn it seems. Thanks for all your patience.

 

[JimAde]

Voadam wins again!

I started a thread on the game rules forum to address our debate about the application of sneak attack damage.

Here it is, if you care to check it out...

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=135377

The upshot does indeed appear to be that sneak attack damage can be applied on every successful strike during a full attack action. Again, this will be a reversal of my prior ruling (and much to Tanus' benefit).

I've been playing 3rd edition for years now, but I've still got much to learn it seems. Thanks for all your patience.

Thanks to you for being flexible. I'm having a great time so far.