Sneak Attack and Rays

[Timely Drought]

Is the rogue with his use magic device and wand that casts ray of frost dealing sneak attack damage kosher in 3.5?

And can the rogue deal sneak attack while flanking with a ray of frost?

 

[Chronosome]

You'd get the sneak attack for casting a ray, but not for flanking (it's a ranged attack).

 

[Timely Drought]

Does it say anywhere in 3.5 books that sneak attack stacks with rays? Originally that came from Tome & Blood, right? Haven't found anything in the 3.5 FAQ.

 

[reanjr]

I did find the following

Ray

Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. You don’t have to see the creature you’re trying to hit, as you do with a targeted spell. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your line of sight or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at.

If a ray spell has a duration, it’s the duration of the effect that the ray causes, not the length of time the ray itself persists.

If a ray spell deals damage, you can score a critical hit just as if it were a weapon. A ray spell threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit.

It doesn't specifically state it, but kind of implies it from the fact that rays can cause criticals. Best I can do.

 

[Timely Drought]

Thanks, that seems good enough.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Any melee or ranged attack that deals damage can be a sneak attack. The rules don't have to list every possible kind of attack for that to remain true. The discussion of sneak attacks and rays in Tome and Blood (or wherever it was) is just a clarification of this fact, not a new rule.

 

[Kabol]

Not ANY spell that deals dmg can be sneak attackable. Only spells that require and attack roll and that are with in 30' So Rays with in 30 feet can be Sneak Attacked. But a Magic Missle can not.

This is for 2 reasons, 1. Sneak attak is about hitting a vital area - you need to aim for that area - and be with in 30 feet to be able to notice the oppertunity if it comes up. 2. Its insanely overpowered to allow SA on no Atk roll spells, Allowing SA to automaticaly hit as long as mob not have total cover ( magic missle ) would be incredably powerful.

Imho

 

[Timely Drought]

Another question: If the target of the sneak-enhanced ray of frost has cold resistance greater than the base damage of the spell, or cold immunity, does the sneak attack damage apply at all? Does the sneak attack stack with the base damage to overcome resistance? Is it counted separately?

Same question with damage resistance. If I can't overcome a creature's damage resistance with weapon damage + modifiers, does the sneak attack apply?

 

[Scion]

in both cases the attack itself does extra damage. It isnt calculated in later.

So a ray of frost would do d3+xd6 all cold damage. A weapon would do the weapon damage + sneak attack and all if it would count towards breaking through DR.

 

[Timely Drought]

in both cases the attack itself does extra damage. It isnt calculated in later.

So a ray of frost would do d3+xd6 all cold damage. A weapon would do the weapon damage + sneak attack and all if it would count towards breaking through DR.

Thanks. What about cold immunity against the sneak attack ray of frost? That would mean no damage, if I understand correctly.