Was This the Right Call or Am I On Crack?

[TrizzlWizzl]

I ruled today that a player character could in fact deal his sneak attack damage to a creature with damage reduction 20/+2 on a successful attack with a searing light spell. The character in question was under the effect of an improved invisibility spell and was standing 15' away... why can't I find the rule concerning whether or not it's possible to sneak attack with a ranged touch attack? I mean, where is this thing? I searched desperately through about three rulebooks before giving up and just going with a snippet I found in the PHB about how it's possible to critical with a ranged touch attack, so seeing as how creatures immune to criticals are also immune to sneak attacks my brain did this wierd d20 permutation and decided that attacks that can critical can also deal sneak attack damage.

I'm pretty sure that part's not right, but it made sense at the time. Anyone want to clear this up for me?

Bottom line: can a PC with the Sneak Atttack ability use a ranged touch attack to deliver a critical (I'm almost positive one can), and if so... where is are the rules for it?

Thanks...

 

[Crothian]

Yes, a ranged touch attack is just like a ranged attack and the same rules apply. It's addressed in T&B.

 

[TrizzlWizzl]

Dang. The one class book I didn't check.


Thanks.

 

[Quaestor]

Yes, you can sneak attack within 30' with a ranged attack. However, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can ever sneak attack anything that has any concealment or miss chance, as you cannot reliably target any particular piece of anatomy. Yes, this can make Blur very useful.

Quaestor the Wanderer

 

[Macbrea]

Correct, A rogue in a dark alleyway by the rules may never sneak attack any happless drunk. Due to the fact it is dark out.

 

[Darklone]

Correct, A rogue in a dark alleyway by the rules may never sneak attack any happless drunk. Due to the fact it is dark out.

Not really right, he may, if he's close enough

 

[Macbrea]

Hmm, maybe you read the book slightly differently then me.

The rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.


One-Quarter Light fog; moderate darkness; light foliage 10%

Concealment is still concealment and the description was a dark allyway...heh.

Edit: Hmm, he might be able to sneak attack himself if he was the drunk....but I guess that is alittle too close.

 

[Darklone]

Sorry, ain't got the books around here as usual, but wasn't there something in the PHB or DMG (not SRD) about the concealment for creatures that are more than 5ft away?

Could be I am wrong, but I think I would rule it that way :=)

 

[hong]

Sorry, ain't got the books around here as usual, but wasn't there something in the PHB or DMG (not SRD) about the concealment for creatures that are more than 5ft away?

Could be I am wrong, but I think I would rule it that way :=)

There are spells (eg obscuring mist) that impose different concealment levels on creatures at different distances. Other than that, though, concealment is concealment. Someone isn't any less invisible, for instance, if they're right next to you than if they're a mile away.

As for sneak attacking in murky conditions: note that moderate darkness is what imposes a 10% miss chance. In D&D terms, if a miss chance exists, you can't sneak attack. If conditions are just dim, I'd assume that's "slight darkness" which doesn't impose a miss chance, and thus doesn't negate sneak attacks.

 

[Romotre]

my PC's are ninja's so i let them disregard the first couple of concealment miss chances. i forget how far. would this make a nice feat for rogues (maybe just the first one).