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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercutio01" data-source="post: 5839383" data-attributes="member: 37277">Honestly, since that bit is fluff, I just ignore it. If a creature has discernable anatomy, is not immune to critical hits, and is denied is dexterity bonus or flanked, sneak attack damage applies. I'd allow a halfling sneak attack damage against a storm giant without a second thought. I'd allow this gnome the sneak attack damage against the jailer because it was both a sneak (the jailer had no idea it was coming) and an attack. His fluff of kicking at the shins doesn't affect the mechanics of the situation.If you forced me to nail down a definition, I'd probably defer to pressure point charts, martial arts training targets, and the obvious areas like throat, eyes, groin, kidney, femoral artery, brachial artery, joints, and spine. A rogue is assumed to have been trained in all of that, and to know how best to affect each of those areas (bludgeon, slash, pierce) for the greatest impact.EDIT - Sure. Like I said, I don't use the fluff as mechanics. Let me clarify a bit. If someone was going to sneak attack a captor by stomping on the bones of the foot near the toes, then absolutely that would be a vital spot. I think we look at sneak attack as something different from each other. I see it as someone trained to provide the most pain possible (like they studied anatomy), but they have to catch their opponent off-guard. I don't see it as a backstab/assassin. Picture a doctor with his knowledge of blood vessels. In a straight up fight, a thug with a baseball bat is going to win. But in the proper circumstances, the doctor could stab through the foot in a way dumb thug with Louisville Slugger wouldn't be able to prevent.</blockquote>

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