D&D 5E Touch attacks and finesse property.

[Gabriel Pendragon]

It makes things slightly more difficult as it's a pub game not an at home game. At home talking the dm into it would likely be pretty easy as at worst I may have to trade something to get it. But pub games do allow all the books, so I might look into those spells. Booming seems like it might also be a good fit thematically.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Finesse doesn't relate to ranged weapon attacks, does it? Unless you are throwing a finesse weapon, and there aren't any.

Finesse does relate to ranged weapon attacks as the finesse property allows the choice of Strength or Dexterity to be used, so ranged weapons with the property aren't locked-in to using Dexterity. You've also overlooked darts.

 

[Coredump]

I've seen mention that certain ray's can be used as ranged weapon attacks and can apply the sneak attack damage with them. But they only mentioned one spell, scorching ray. Raises the question of what other spells fit into this category?

I don't know of any spells that work that way. And none of them are finesse.

Magic Stone using a sling, or BB/GFB using finesse are the only ways I know of to use a spell and get SA damage.

 

[BoldItalic]

Finesse does relate to ranged weapon attacks as the finesse property allows the choice of Strength or Dexterity to be used, so ranged weapons with the property aren't locked-in to using Dexterity. You've also overlooked darts.

Quite right. Darts and Daggers. I was forgetting. Thank you.

 

[Li Shenron]

Magic Stone using a sling, or BB/GFB using finesse are the only ways I know of to use a spell and get SA damage.

What are BB and GFB? And where is the Fire Seeds spell?

I've found Magic Stone in the Elemental Evil Player's Companion, but it specifically mentions it's a spell attack so once again I think technically a sneak attack is not allowed.

 

[Gabriel Pendragon]

I know for ranged weapons finesse only applies to thrown weapons, as fired weapons always use dex. But that is mostly irrelevant to the discussion.
For more insight as to why I'm asking see the full write up as to character plan near the bottom of the first page.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Quite right. Darts and Daggers. I was forgetting. Thank you.

You are welcome.

I do want to point out though that darts and daggers don't actually fit into the same group on account of the dart being a ranged weapon, and a dagger being a melee weapon which remains a melee weapon even when thrown to make a ranged attack.

 

[Gabriel Pendragon]

I decided that the crossbow expert feat serves the purposes just as well and went with that for the character. Thus allowing me to do any ranged attack in melee range.