Ranged Sneak Attack

[Ahrimon]

I would like to optimize my sneak attack abilities while using ranged attacks, but I'm not finding too many options. Is there any good way to use sneak attacks in ranged combat. Melee has options like flanking and feint but there isn't much for ranged. All of the options for ranged are the same for melee though. All I can think of is being the 1st in initiative and catching the target flatfooted or being invisible or hidden. Are there any other ways to use sneak attack at a range? Spells would be an option too. The party casters would be willing to help me out in that department.

Thanks for any help.

Ahrimon

 

[Infiniti2000]

Put a grease under your opponents. Unless they have 5 ranks in balance, you'll be able to sneak attack them because they become flat-footed. Grapple them with spells like black tentacles. Just be careful that if your meatshields grapple the opponent, you'll have an equal chance to hit them as well as your targets.

 

[sfedi]

Try to Hide.

You can Hide (move action) and attack (Standard action).

Thus, you need cover or concealment.

Cover usually depends much on terrain.
Concealment can be gained through a coin/stone with Deeper Darkness.

Another thing to make good ranged sneak attacks is to use the lvl 0 Frost Ray and Acid Splash, instead of a missile or thrown weapon (they are ranged touch attacks) but you need a spell casting class level.

 

[scrubkai]

If you are willing to spend a couple feats you can also use Flick of the Wrist to gain a ranged sneak attack on someone.

In our game we have found that sneak attacking from range is hard to come by. However magic makes it MUCH easier. So I normally either work with the party's casters, or pick up a bunch of UMD skill and that makes it much easier for me to get a ranged sneak attack.

 

[Thanee]

Blink is one of the better options out there.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ahrimon]

I guess I'm not as up to speed on my hiding knowledge. If my character is in the middle of a room and has cover/concealment he can try to hide as a move action? If that's the case, then I guess I need to research some spells to give my character cover/concealment. Does blink work the same way? Or does it use another rule?

I'll have to check out the grease spell.

The character I'm aiming for is a sneak attacking ray/rtt weilding sorcerer. So getting the spells shouldn't be a problem.

Ahrimon

 

[andargor]

Put a grease under your opponents. Unless they have 5 ranks in balance, you'll be able to sneak attack them because they become flat-footed. Grapple them with spells like black tentacles. Just be careful that if your meatshields grapple the opponent, you'll have an equal chance to hit them as well as your targets.

This made me learn something. I thought you never "became flat-footed", since I thought it only applies at the start of combat. You're flat-footed until you act.

Flat-Footed: A character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, not yet reacting normally to the situation. A flat-footed character loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) and cannot make attacks of opportunity.

But the Balance skill does contradict that. Interesting.

Being Attacked while Balancing: You are considered flat-footed while balancing, since you can't move to avoid a blow, and thus you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). If you have 5 or more ranks in Balance, you aren't considered flat-footed while balancing. If you take damage while balancing, you must make another Balance check against the same DC to remain standing.

Andargor

 

[ARandomGod]

Blink is good.

The Ninja class (complete adventurer?). Gains the ability to go invisible a number of times a day for a full round (not dispelled by attacking).

I think there are new assassin spells to increase the range of sneak attack. You might be able to access them from the arcane side too, for some Arcane Trickster goodness. Extra range is always important.

The seeking ability on a weapon, tremorsense/blindsense, and an item to give everything total concealment. (I think I'd houserule against this, for flavor, but RAW looks like it'd work).

Grease works...

Hide in plain sight, manyshot, shot on the run... move (hiding as part of a move), release a multishot, move again (hiding some more). This one is particularly fun in my opinion.

"If my character is in the middle of a room and has cover/concealment he can try to hide as a move action?"

No... hiding is part of a move action. It doens't take a full move action in itself. Sniping takes a full move action, and has you not move but remain hidden. However you get a -20 to your hide check.

 

[Henry]

Well, you could move 5 feet and still snipe, could you not?

The important thing is to find as many ways as possible to make the enemy give up his dex bonus versus you. This can be hide/snipe, invisibility, getting surprise, and as someone pointed out the Grease spell.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Can you get access to the Book of Iron Might? One of the weapon style feats allows ranged feints.