Spectral Hand

[javcs]

That doesn't explain how he's going to locate his opponent's weak spot, in order to sneak attack, from 'one hundred feet or more' away.

Refer to my post following yours.

Ie, spot check. Assuming that within 30ft it's automatic to pick out such a spot, the DC can't be more than 20 to locate such a spot at a distance of 100ft.


EDIT: Upon seeing your edit, it is probable that the rogue can only put an arrow/bolt/thrown weapon with sufficient precision, due to air current variances and such within 30ft.

 

[moritheil]

That doesn't explain how he's going to locate his opponent's weak spot, in order to sneak attack, from 'one hundred feet or more' away.

Edit: The rogue's sneak attack ability is normally limited to 30' (for ranged attacks) because, "a rogue can't strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range." Seeing your target from 100' may be DC15 but picking out its vitals should be much harder, or why limit the ranged sneak attack?

Aha, that's the hangup. Let me remind you that this is a MELEE attack. The 30' limitation exists for RANGED sneak attacks. Hence my statement that that is the real usefulness of the spell.

 

[Ranes]

We'll have to agree to differ. Sure, SH is a melee attack but you're guiding it and you're further away from your target than a rogue can attack with the accuracy necessary for sneak attack.

 

[moritheil]

We'll have to agree to differ. Sure, SH is a melee attack but you're guiding it and you're further away from your target than a rogue can attack with the accuracy necessary for sneak attack.

Per RAW, it's a melee attack. That's as far as one's reasoning needs to go. I understand it may cause you a bit of cognitive dissonance, though.

 

[Ranes]

Well, like I said, we differ. The rule about the rogue being able to "see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot," does not relate only to ranged attacks. What's a vital spot, the heart? Miss by a half an inch and it's not so vital. I'd say it's easy to miss by half an inch of detail over 100' or more away.

 

[moritheil]

Well, like I said, we differ. The rule about the rogue being able to "see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot," does not relate only to ranged attacks. What's a vital spot, the heart? Miss by a half an inch and it's not so vital. I'd say it's easy to miss by half an inch of detail over 100' or more away.

I could just as easily shrug and say, "It's magic. Part of the magic of SH allows you to make the attack accurately." Let's agree that you take issue with that use of SH and leave it at that.