Sneak attack questions

[Demogorge]

They really just need to update the DnD Faq with a section on sneak attacks.

1) Can you make sneak attacks with a spectral hand? (like a ranged attack)

The hand always attacks from your direction and requires line of sight, so you can see what you're hitting...

2) Does a character with Blindsight have precise enough "sight" to make sneak attacks in the dark?

3) Can you use Bluff to sneak attack a character with Uncanny Dodge?

 

[hong]

They really just need to update the DnD Faq with a section on sneak attacks.

1) Can you make sneak attacks with a spectral hand? (like a ranged attack)

If the spell you're casting through the hand requires an attack roll, and it deals damage, it can be used for a sneak attack. You still need to satisfy the usual requirements for a SA.

2) Does a character with Blindsight have precise enough "sight" to make sneak attacks in the dark?

Why not?

3) Can you use Bluff to sneak attack a character with Uncanny Dodge?

Yes. UD just lets you keep your Dex bonus to AC if you're flat-footed. Bluffing in combat has nothing to do with flat-footedness, it simply denies your opponent their Dex bonus to AC.

 

[Demogorge]

My thinking was that if you can't easily discern a creatures anatomy to strike a vital area, you can't sneak attack. A spectral hand may not have the fine motor control to strike that vital area. Blindsight may let you see a glob where a person is, but you may not be able to tell where his liver is. But I can live with sneak attacks being allowed in both circumstances.

 

[hong]

My thinking was that if you can't easily discern a creatures anatomy to strike a vital area, you can't sneak attack. A spectral hand may not have the fine motor control to strike that vital area. Blindsight may let you see a glob where a person is, but you may not be able to tell where his liver is. But I can live with sneak attacks being allowed in both circumstances.

Thinking too hard about D&D will get you in trouble someday.

 

[Uller]

Thinking too hard about D&D will get you in trouble someday.

Right. The rules do exactly what they say they do. No more no less. Trying to "logic" your way through is more work than you need. Why can't blind sight let you sneak attack? How do you know it doesn't let you "see" where your opponent's vitals are? Spectral Hand doesn't say anything about not providing fine enough detail to allow precise strikes. In fact, it give the character a +2 to attack...so why shouldn't it allow you to sneak attack if you're within 30' and your opponent is denied his dex or if the hand flank's the target?

Granted...I wouldn't expect individual spells or abilities to mention sneak attack specifically. So this is really up to individual DMs, but if I don't see hard evidence in the description of something that it disallows sneak attacks, then I'm not going to allow it to trump them.