multiple ray sneak attacks

[Voadam]

Can anybody provide me with an srd rules reference that covers whether an arcane trickster would get full sneak attack damage on each bolt from a spell such as scorching ray or the orb ones from T&B?

Thanks.

 

[Pax]

Yeah, the rules for Sneak Attack.

If your foe is flatfooted (etc), you get your sneak attack for each attack you make, even if it's with the same weapon or spell. That's just how Sneak Attack works.

 

[Magic Slim]

irlgfblblb... (that's not an acronym, btw (this is, though))

In 3.0, when you made multiple simultaneous attacks, only the first one would deliver sneak attack damage. Has this changed in 3.5? If not, since Scorching Ray (in particular) fires off multiple, simultaneous rays, only the first one would deliver Sneak Attack damage, no?

Slim

 

[Nifft]

I'd use the Multishot rules -- you get "precision" damage from only one missile (Ranger Favored Enemy bonus, Sneak Attack bonus, Weapon Specialization bonus, etc.).

Thus, you could Sneak Attack 3 different foes with 3 bolts, but not multiply SA damage on a single foe.

Quicken Spell would be IMHO the only way to get 2 Ray Sneak Attacks off on a target. Note that you can make a Wand of Quickened Ray of Frost.

-- N

 

[Magic Slim]

Note that you can make a Wand of Quickened Ray of Frost.

-- N

... for 21,000gp? (4 X 7 X 750)

Slim

 

[Voadam]

Here is the rogue sneak attack entry from the 3.5 srd

Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage.
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. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every two rogue levels thereafter. Should the rogue score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.
Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a rogue can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty.
A rogue can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.


So is a spell with multiple rays one attack with the addition of one set of sneak attack dice total or is each separate attack roll an attack with their own sneak attack dice?

 

[Magic Slim]

I'd use the Multishot rules -- you get "precision" damage from only one missile (Ranger Favored Enemy bonus, Sneak Attack bonus, Weapon Specialization bonus, etc.).

Thus, you could Sneak Attack 3 different foes with 3 bolts, but not multiply SA damage on a single foe.

-- N

Hm. Shouldn't the Precision damage only apply to the first ray, even if the other rays were aimed at other targets? You should not be able to get multiple Sneak Attacks with a single spell (unless the attacks are not simultaneous), IMO.

Slim

 

[melkoriii]

... for 21,000gp? (4 X 7 X 750)

Slim

Ummm I dont think so.

A quickened Ray of Frost is still a 0th lvl spell.

it would be (.5 X 7 X 750) 2,625gp

The thing is that activating a Wand is always a standard action so you gain nothing.

 

[melkoriii]

Hm. Shouldn't the Precision damage only apply to the first ray, even if the other rays were aimed at other targets? You should not be able to get multiple Sneak Attacks with a single spell (unless the attacks are not simultaneous), IMO.

Slim

Good rule of Thumb is if a spell attack has you roll for each ray then its not a Percision attack.

Scorching Ray give you 1-4 Rays that each one is a separate attack.

 

[Magic Slim]

Ummm I dont think so.

A quickened Ray of Frost is still a 0th lvl spell.

it would be (.5 X 7 X 750) 2,625gp

So a wand of empowered fireballs wouldn't cost more than a normal wand of fireball? Doubt it.

Slim