Sneak Attacks!

[Stark]

I am sure this subject has been discussed many times but searching for sneak attack just bring back about 1 thousand posts.

So if any of you would be so kind to post your thoughts and opinions again here, I would appreciate it.

I have taken quickly to the rogue class and enjoy it much.

Some confusion, however, has occured between me and my DM. After carefully re-reading the PHB ( I dont have S&S yet : ( ) I am under the impression that ANY attack I get that fits the criteria for a sneak attack would recieve the additional SA damage.

I.E. at 8th level I have a +6+1 BAB and thus if I am in position to land a sneak attack they would both recieve the +3d6 damage if they are hits, not just the first one.

Is this true and if so, is there more 'canon' to back it up then the fairly ambigious PHB?

Thanks,

 

[Dreaddisease]

Any time you are flanking an opponent in melee or have a ranged shot within 30 feet that meets the same flanking criteria then you get SA damage.

You cannot sneak attack a creature that is immune to critical hits.

Thats the basic rule. So for two attacks you get two possible Sneak attacks. Powerful, really powerful, but there are plenty of things out there that you can't hit. Just wait until your battling elementals, damn elementals.

Anyways, Game on.

 

[Darklone]

Yes, every attack made against someone you flank or someone who lost his Dex bonus is a sneak attack by the rules.

Many guys (me not included) think that's overpowered and allow only the first one, that's why many others are confused. Btw, at lvl8 you don't have sneakattack damage +3d6... but 4d6. And yes, it works for all attacks, even if you fight twohanded. Or use rapid shot (within 30ft).

Hmm. Lvl2 Ranger/Rogue human,... with Point Blank shot and Rapid shot,... could throw three daggers at a -3 (-4 for rapid shot and twohanded, +1 point blank) with nice extradamage...let's assume favored enemy human... Huhm, gotta play a daggermaster soon!

Edit: someone was faster and I forgot he had no Quickdraw.... Well, two drawn daggers in the hand and one between the teeth? Like the idea!

 

[Dr_Rictus]

I never even understood what was supposed to be ambiguous about this. The PH says what under what circumstances an attack qualifies as a sneak attack. That's when it qualifies. In case of any questions, well, there are no secret hidden rules that aren't right there.

 

[Setanta]

Stark- If you're looking for something official to show your DM, it's in the FAQ somewhere, which is available at Wizards' site. I can't remember exactly where it is, but it's in there.

 

[EOL]

It should also be mentioned that this particular subject has been the subject of many heated debates generally with one person saying only one sneak attack per round and everyone else saying, "I'll admit it seems overpowered at first glance, but just try it.."

 

[Henrix]

Any time you are flanking an opponent in melee or have a ranged shot within 30 feet that meets the same flanking criteria then you get SA damage.

You never flank with a ranged attack. Flanking is based on threatened area, and you only threaten with melee attacks.

 

[theridion]

- you can only get ranged sneak attacks on opponents caught flat footed, or, if they are flanked and you fire into the melee...

- secondly, about the dagger thrower, two weapon combat does not count for thrown weapons, only melee.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

It should also be mentioned that this particular subject has been the subject of many heated debates generally with one person saying only one sneak attack per round and everyone else saying, "I'll admit it seems overpowered at first glance, but just try it.."

Not one per round, but per action. In my game, the player playing the rogue agreed that sneak attack can be used and abused to no end (I used it on the party, he used it back).

Originally, we did use it by the book. After several sessions, myself (the DM) and the rogue agreed to the change. The rogue suggested it even, and I had been considering changing it anyway.

So our fix is to make sneak attack an action. This allows rogues to move and make a sneak attack in a single round. It does not allow a rogue with every TWF feat under the sun to take a half-dozen attacks and add 10d6 to every strike while using a full-round attack action. Making it an action also represents an effort on the rogue's part to specifically target some vital area, as opposed to other melee characters who apparently don't do this (that was sarcasm if you did not catch it).

 

[Caliban]

- you can only get ranged sneak attacks on opponents caught flat footed,

True.

or, if they are flanked and you fire into the melee...

False. You can sneak attack targets that you are flanking, not that other people are flanking. You can't flank with ranged weapons.

- secondly, about the dagger thrower, two weapon combat does not count for thrown weapons, only melee.

The Two Weapon Fighting feat doesn't offset apply to ranged attacks, but you can still try to throw something with your off-hand. You just get a larger penalty.