Arkhandus
First Post
From skimming your post Coredump it seems to me that your responses were right, though. Players from 2E and earlier need to forget the old Backstab mechanic altogether and re-read Sneak Attack as the completely different beast that it is.
Note though that you only 'flank' an opponent when you are able to reach them in melee at the moment, and you have an ally on exactly the opposite side of the enemy from you who also is in melee reach of the foe. Only melee weapons can 'threaten' an opponent in melee, meaning that only they can be used for attacks of opportunity and for 'flanking' purposes. A longsword or javelin is adequate (as javelins have a rule in their description saying they can be used in melee, though at a penalty to the attack roll because they are not balanced well for it), but a longbow, crossbow, whip, or shuriken are not useable for 'flanking' attacks nor attacks of opportunity.
Besides flanking an opponent to get Sneak Attacks, a rogue can also just catch them flat-footed. This can be done by sneaking up behind an opponent without them noticing you (via successful Hide and Move Silently checks, but it usually cannot be done in the midst of battle), or using the Bluff skill to 'feint in combat' after which your next attack against them within 1 round is considered to have caught them flat-footed (I think Bluff only works that way in melee though, I'd have to check the SRD/PHB to be sure). Catching an opponent flat-footed is the only way to get in a ranged Sneak Attack, by shooting an opponent who is not aware of you before your attack. I think the rogue's Opportunist ability can also be used to get a ranged Sneak Attack, but I forget some specifics of Opportunist.
Note though that you only 'flank' an opponent when you are able to reach them in melee at the moment, and you have an ally on exactly the opposite side of the enemy from you who also is in melee reach of the foe. Only melee weapons can 'threaten' an opponent in melee, meaning that only they can be used for attacks of opportunity and for 'flanking' purposes. A longsword or javelin is adequate (as javelins have a rule in their description saying they can be used in melee, though at a penalty to the attack roll because they are not balanced well for it), but a longbow, crossbow, whip, or shuriken are not useable for 'flanking' attacks nor attacks of opportunity.
Besides flanking an opponent to get Sneak Attacks, a rogue can also just catch them flat-footed. This can be done by sneaking up behind an opponent without them noticing you (via successful Hide and Move Silently checks, but it usually cannot be done in the midst of battle), or using the Bluff skill to 'feint in combat' after which your next attack against them within 1 round is considered to have caught them flat-footed (I think Bluff only works that way in melee though, I'd have to check the SRD/PHB to be sure). Catching an opponent flat-footed is the only way to get in a ranged Sneak Attack, by shooting an opponent who is not aware of you before your attack. I think the rogue's Opportunist ability can also be used to get a ranged Sneak Attack, but I forget some specifics of Opportunist.
