Rogue with Blink gets Sneak Attack! (Thanks)

[Cloudgatherer]

I recall seeing something about displacement and sneak attack, but I can't recall. Any references about rogues, sneak attack, and displacement?

Thanks!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

"The rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment." Last sentence, page 47, the last paragraph describing SAs.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Yeah, I know that part. I think there was something about a rogue getting sneak attack if he was under displacement. Not sure where I heard that, but can anyone confirm/deny it?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

No. Rogues get sneak attack when their opponents are denied their dex bonus.

The opponent of a displaced character is not denied his dex bonus.

Therefore a rogue does not get sneak attack because he is displaced.

Blink, invisibility, and improved invisibility grant sneak attacks. Displacement doesn't.

 

[tburdett]

You may be confusing Displacement with Blink.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Ah, that was it. Blink! I knew I read it somewhere...

Thanks!

 

[Thanee]

Yeah, I know where you read it.

Someone said, that the rogue should get sneak attack under displacement (which he does not), because there is no real difference to blinking or being invisible, as the attacker doesn't really know where the attack is coming from.

But rulewise, since the displaced rogue does not negate one's Dex bonus to AC, there are no sneak attacks from displacement!

Bye
Thanee

 

[demiurgeastaroth]

Does Blink give Sneak Attack, though?

You can't get sneak attack benefits when the target benefits from concealment.
When blinking, your target gets concealment on every attack you make! (unless you can both see invisible and strike incorporeal).
Blink spell description, third paragraph:
"Physical attacks suffer a 50% miss chance, ... [skip to the relevant bit]... If the attack is capable of striking ethereal or incorporeal creatures, the miss chance is only 20% (for one-half concealment)."

Since the lesser penalty (20%) is half concealment, the 50% penalty is by extension full concelment. Thus, while blinking, you can't strike accurately enough to use sneak attacks.
(This ruling came in handy in my game where a rogue spotted the Ring of Blinking would allow him to make every attack he EVER did a Sneak Attack.)

 

[Thanee]

Hint: You should better read the part, that is about the attacks made by the blinking character, not the part, that is about the attacks made against the blinking character!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Re: Does Blink give Sneak Attack, though?

Either way, the miss chance from blink doesn't come from concealment. Instead it comes from etherealness/incorporeality. That's why Blindfighting doesn't help someone using blink with their 20% miss chance or someone fighting a blinking individual with their 50% miss chance.

You can't get sneak attack benefits when the target benefits from concealment.
When blinking, your target gets concealment on every attack you make! (unless you can both see invisible and strike incorporeal).
Blink spell description, third paragraph:
"Physical attacks suffer a 50% miss chance, ... [skip to the relevant bit]... If the attack is capable of striking ethereal or incorporeal creatures, the miss chance is only 20% (for one-half concealment)."

Since the lesser penalty (20%) is half concealment, the 50% penalty is by extension full concelment. Thus, while blinking, you can't strike accurately enough to use sneak attacks.
(This ruling came in handy in my game where a rogue spotted the Ring of Blinking would allow him to make every attack he EVER did a Sneak Attack.)