Ranged Sneak Attack

[Samothdm]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I couldn't find it.

One of my players is a rogue and was trying to use a short-bow from less than 30 feet to sneak attack. I said that he can't legitimately threaten from 30 feet so unless his target had already been denied his AC bonus, he can't get his sneak attack damage.

He argued that he was "flanking" by being opposite of another party member who was attacking the same target (although this other party member was in melee with the target).

I reminded the player that he'd be shooting into melee and would take a -4 to hit. The party was getting beat up pretty badly and this rogue is useless in melee combat so he was trying to use his skills to his advantage to get the sneak attack. I didn't let him use it, though. Is that right?

 

[IceBear]

You can't flank with a ranged weapon. He could make a ranged sneak attack from 30ft or less if the opponent has been denied his Dex bonus, but not via flanking.

IceBear

 

[smkun]

Yes you were correct. You do not flank with missile weapons. If the rogue had some other way t meet the requirement (i.e. Invisible) or the target was denied his dex then he could sneak attack. Song and Silence on page 86 has a good list of when rogues can sneak attack.

 

[kreynolds]

One of my players is a rogue and was trying to use a short-bow from less than 30 feet to sneak attack. I said that he can't legitimately threaten from 30 feet so unless his target had already been denied his AC bonus, he can't get his sneak attack damage.

This is the problem: Generally, you don't threaten an area with a ranged weapon, not even at 5 feet. You have no threatened area at all, meaning 50,000 Orcs could walk right by you on both sides and you would never get an AoO against them.

 

[Artoomis]

Re: Re: Ranged Sneak Attack

This is the problem: Generally, you don't threaten an area with a ranged weapon, not even at 5 feet. You have no threatened area at all, meaning 50,000 Orcs could walk right by you on both sides and you would never get an AoO against them.

Yeah, but if 50,000 Orcs want to walk right by you on both sides, would you want to get an AoO? Maybe it would be better to just watch them go, eh?

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Ranged Sneak Attack

Yeah, but if 50,000 Orcs want to walk right by you on both sides, would you want to get an AoO?

LMAO

Maybe it would be better to just watch them go, eh?

Sure, he only has to deal with 1,000, but still, tell that to Drizzt.