Vital spot OR Can a halfling sneak attack a human?

[frankthedm]

From the SRD -


quote:
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A rogue can only sneak attack a living creature with a discernible anatomy. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is also not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach a vital spot. The rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.
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[bolding is mine]

It IS part of the sneak attack rules. Now for the halfling to troll comparison i personally would say yes to a sneak attack in melee considering thier stooped battle stance. Now for a huge size class giant swinging a weapon at you, i would say the guts are far out of reach for your melee sneak. The limbs are not counted in the 'vitals' for what the sneak attack aims for. The Ki lines /meridians may be what the monks stunning aims for, but rogue got to go for the guts...

so get a reach weapon!

 

[Darklone]

Reach weapons for small PCs? Check the rules again, Frank

No idea why everyone here seems to think you have to reach the torso of someone to kill him with one nice stab. Ever seen how a cut at the upper leg bleeds if you hit the arteries?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Reach weapons for small PCs? Check the rules again, Frank

Ah, the heavy lance. Is there nothing it can't do?

-Hyp.

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

From the SRD -


quote:
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A rogue can only sneak attack a living creature with a discernible anatomy. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is also not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach a vital spot. The rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[bolding is mine]

It IS part of the sneak attack rules. Now for the halfling to troll comparison i personally would say yes to a sneak attack in melee considering thier stooped battle stance. Now for a huge size class giant swinging a weapon at you, i would say the guts are far out of reach for your melee sneak. The limbs are not counted in the 'vitals' for what the sneak attack aims for. The Ki lines /meridians may be what the monks stunning aims for, but rogue got to go for the guts...

so get a reach weapon!

Then the Hamstring feat has no function.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

From the SRD -


striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.
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I always thought they were stateing you can't hit the limbs when the vitals are beyond your reach for a sneak attack. Which would about only occur when a rogue readies an attack to hit a limb when a reach creature attacks him/her. Otherwise your one square away, and within reach of its vitals which can include its limbs.

 

[RigaMortus]

The Ki lines /meridians may be what the monks stunning aims for, but rogue got to go for the guts...

Because we all know the ONLY vital spot on a person is their guts, right?

Tell that to Achilles