Touch attacks with Sneak damage?

[Clumsy Bob]

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you can cause sneak attack damage on a touch spell. Would a cleric with rogue levels casting harm almost certainly kill anything he can sneak attack. Lose all HP's but 1d4 then take 1,2 or more d6 sneak attack damage.

Munchkin heaven if you ask me.


Bob

 

[Chacal]

5 off of d3+10d6 isn't going to help much.

Sneak Attack bonus damage is applied for each attack that qualifies just like a Flaming weapon does d6 of fire damage even if the physical blow doesn't deal damage.

Strange ... if this and the double damage for fire subtype are both true,
that looks like a double standard : is SA energy or not ?

Chacal

 

[IceBear]

The rule in Tome and Blood states that a sneak attack from a spell would take on the energy form of the spell. That's the one part that could unbalance that if the correct spell is used against a vulnerable monster, imo.

As for those saying just touch him for the sneak attack damage, it doesn't work that way. It's the spell's damage being delivered in a vulnerable spot that causes the sneak attack damage. No base damage no sneak attack damage.

IceBear

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Alchemists Fire won't work with sneak attacks (grenade effects, PHB).

Care to provide a citation more specific than "PHB?" I've read both indexed sections on grenade-like weapons, plus the glossary entry on them, and saw nothing that would support what you said.

 

[Chacal]

The rule in Tome and Blood states that a sneak attack from a spell would take on the energy form of the spell. That's the one part that could unbalance that if the correct spell is used against a vulnerable monster, imo.

As for those saying just touch him for the sneak attack damage, it doesn't work that way. It's the spell's damage being delivered in a vulnerable spot that causes the sneak attack damage. No base damage no sneak attack damage.

IceBear

Agreement with all the above. I might even House Rule the unbalanced part.

I also realise how bad my question was worded. Thanks for finding an adequate answer to it.

Chacal

 

[Darklone]

Care to provide a citation more specific than "PHB?" I've read both indexed sections on grenade-like weapons, plus the glossary entry on them, and saw nothing that would support what you said.

Sorry Doc, I'll check the FAQ... but I was rather sure it was in the PHB... perhaps something like the TWF bonus rule mentioned in the heavy crossbow description...

Edit: Can't find it right now, excuse me.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Alchemists Fire won't work with sneak attacks (grenade effects, PHB).

I think you're gonna have to quote that because I can find no such restriction.

EDIT: sorry, didn't see you retracted that statement.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

IIRC, the entry that you are looking for is under precision damage and non-targeted effects.

However, even that simply states that the splash portion of the grenades damage doesn't get the benefit of PBS, WS, or SA. The target whose AC you had to beat still takes your extra damage for having Alchemist's Fire down his shorts.

 

[jontherev]

5 off of d3+10d6 isn't going to help much.

Sneak Attack bonus damage is applied for each attack that qualifies just like a Flaming weapon does d6 of fire damage even if the physical blow doesn't deal damage.

5 off of d3 means the spell didn't effect the foe, which means sneak attack is irrelevant.

 

[AGGEMAM]

5 off of d3 means the spell didn't effect the foe, which means sneak attack is irrelevant.

Chapter, and verse please ...