Skirmish Vs. Sneak, Do They Stack?

[NEXxREX]

now iv heard that skirmish dmage doesnt stack with sneak attack, and from a balance stand point this makes perfect sense. but iv also heard others say that they do stack, and after reading both sneak attack and skirmish damage i see nothing they would stop them from stacking. the once similarity i saw in the wording was percision based damage.

can some point me in the direction of the ruling that would explain why skirmish and sneak attack wouldnt stack.



i know im going to get replies, thx in advance -NEX

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Yes, they stack. There's even a feat for Rogue/Scouts to advance both skirmish and sneak attack damage progression through rogue levels, which would be quite silly if they did not stack. It's often difficult to qualify for both for any extended period of time, though, or at least for full attacks. Skirmish requires you to move 10 ft, SA requires foe to lose dex to AC against your attack or be flanked by you. It's often easier to just focus on one and gaining the condition it requires and full attacking with that.

 

[NEXxREX]

the character concept i had was a two weapon fighting scout-rogue

i had a +3 LA and im not going to take a PRC until lv 17 so my guy by lv 16 would be 4 scout/9 rogue

with skirmish i can do damage when i move and with the acrobatic backstabber skill trick i can tumble through their square and get sneak attack damage(tumbling also counts as moving). travel devotion allows for a full rouind attack. with the fast movement from scout i can move 40 ft. or tumble 20 (this would require having no armor on or taking a -10 on tumble check to move at full speed, which i dont know if im going to do yet) so improved skirmish can add damage. and improved two weapon fighting will give me 4 attacks. so

skirmish - 4d6 + 3AC
improved skirmish - 2d6 + 2AC
sneak attack - 5d6

with 1 attack i would get - 1d8 + 11d6 + 5AC

full round attack i have the possibility to do - 4d8 + 44d6 + 5AC

but i would only get this as many times per day as i would take travel devotion. so i would be limited, once i use travel devotion its 10 rounds and with that kind of damage i would end the encounter pretty quick (assuming i was hitting and depending on the kind of enemies). even with out travel devotion, being able to add all that to one attack is still pretty damn good.

does anyone have anything that i did wrong or comments as towards the effectiveness of what im trying to do?

 

[Wyvernhand]

Look in Complete Scoundrel for the feat "Swift Ambusher". Try not to make too big of a mess...

 

[NEXxREX]

sorry i didnt say that i was already taking it, thats why im taking four lvs of scout for the bonus feat.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You'd need them to lose dex to AC or be flanked in order to gain sneak attack. Acrobatic Backstab is a skill trick, and thus only once per encounter. And until higher levels, DC 25, +10 if you need full speed for Improved Skirmish to happen, +2 per additional foe that threatens you at any point during the tumble, and any sitational DC increases the DM assigns for uneven surfaces and the like...I think you're taking it for granted that this tactic will always work...

In any case, I suggest dipping cloistered cleric if you're going to rely on Travel Devotion for multiple uses per day and the ability to get it for free instead of a domain. And I would avoid LA...

 

[NEXxREX]

hmmmm thank you for letting me know that skill tricks can only be used once per encounter. but considering my DM or any of us didn't know that, ill talk with him but we have been using them pretty much unlimitedly so i dont think it will be a problem.

and the dc isnt what worries me, i cant use that skill trick until lv 12 anyway cause i need to put 12 ranks into tumble. and uneven gorund is a factor i hadnt thought of either, but my guy also has a HHH with shortswords he throws.....yes he throws shortswords.....i got like 15 of them from an encounter . i do have range attacks i can use (ie. throwing a short sword).

and my main idea is to have the ability to do all these things. if one or two of them cant be done one time maybe ill be able to do them another. but there are items and feats/skills i can use to increase the effectiveness and opportunities i can use them.

o, and the LA is non negotiable. playing a crazy race seems to be a habit of mine...

 

[Jackinthegreen]

See if you can talk your DM into allowing the LA buyoff rules. Reducing Level Adjustments :: d20srd.org

Which race did you choose to play anyway? We might be able to help you optimize based on that.