Sneak Attack Question

[Macbrea]

Worry, not your rogue will probably not be overly powerful.

Simple items can change his day.

My Human Rogue 5/Assassin 3/ Herald 1 last fights have been in order from most recent to beginning.

1 stone golem
2 ghasts
10 stone hardened zombies
2 vampire
4 Wererat rogues
1 beholder
20 zombie like undead with tenicles
10 rapter like critters with sonic attacks and tremersense
4 iron constructs (animated statues)
1 ghost
10 skeletons
4 ghouls
100 or so bug like creatures (8 hps each)
1 owlbear
3 displacer beasts
10 orcs


As you can see my sneak attack can quickly become useless to the party if the game master wishes it.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

I say this is too powerful

Then rule 0 it and accept the fact that rogues will be the only core PC class to have no place in combat.

--Snippety Spikey

 

[Sinjin the Rogue]

Sneak attack

I find that I frequently outdamage the fighters in my group, when the circumstances allow, but then again, at other times, I am almost no help to the group. Environment, situation and monster types are the factors that will either hinder or allow a rogue to use his/her sneak attack, and in most cases, one or allof those factors serve to hinder.

Someone else mentioned that sneak attacks aren't as common as you might think and he is correct.

Undead are not susceptible to sneak attacks.
Constructs are not affected.
Creatures of the plant kingdom are not affected.
Rogues and barbarians of 3 levels or less than the rogue are not affected.
Creatures that aren't affected by critical hits are not affected.
Rogues can only sneak attack a creature if vital spots can be reached, so many huge and colossal creatures are difficult to sneak attack.

A rogue has to be able to flank or in some way be able to attack the enemy when it is denied its dex bonus to AC. Smart NPC's or monsters will usually try to maneuver themselves into positions where flanking is difficult or impossible.

Only melee weapons can be used to flank, so ranged sneak attacks are even more rare.

Sure, occassionally I get buffed with an improved invisibility, and I can then leave behind a trail of blood and gore, but those opportunities are rare. If you limit a rogue's ability to dole out sneak attacks even more, you aren't going to find anyone who wants to play a rogue.

 

[Lord Ben]

If that's overpowering then it's the DM's fault for letting them buy that many Alch fires. 20gp each is a lot of money. That makes up for bypassing a few points of armor. If you disagree that's fine, but I think the negatives balance it out. Rogues are still weak even if invisible. Invisiblity doesn't make you immune and what group of enemies is complete without a hunting dog with scent to pinpoint locations of invis creatures. Start swinging at air with your fighter and eventually you'll hit. And if Rogues are powerful that means the barbarian ability to ignore sneak attacks is nice.

 

[Taloras]

I play a 4th level rogue/1st level ranger, with the rest of my party at around the same levels(4 members, a fighter/ranger, a cleric, a mage, and the rogue), and I have the second highest amount of hit points. I deal almost as much damage as the fighter does in combat (I hit more often with a +8 to hit from a Rapier +1 and Weapon Finesse(Dex of 17, gets me a +3, ive got a +4 base attack bonus)). The rogue is one of the most important classes to play, especially when you go looking through dungeons(only rogues can find most traps, and only they can disarm them.) Ive got the best reflex save of the group. I may only have a 16 AC, but with the spell Cats Grace, that can go up to either an 18 or 19(i think). So dont say the rogue is a weak combat fighter. Sneak attacks are great on the few times i get to use them.

 

[kreynolds]

I say this is too powerful

This is 3rd edition, not 2nd edition. You have 3 choices:

1) Go back to 2nd edition
2) Ban the Rogue class
3) Get over it.

Just some friendly advice.

 

[Crothian]

Many people seem to have fast reactions to thinks. Everyone thought the Monk was too powerful at the beginning. People look and read things, or see things used a few times and claim they can tell if it's balanced or not. Sometimes, it is further complicated by them not being familiar with the rules and the ways things work.

 

[kreynolds]

Many people seem to have fast reactions to thinks. Everyone thought the Monk was too powerful at the beginning. People look and read things, or see things used a few times and claim they can tell if it's balanced or not. Sometimes, it is further complicated by them not being familiar with the rules and the ways things work.

I have a very simple reply to that.

Yep.