How does Ranged Sneak Attack work?

[von Traube]

I usually dont use any rulesets when playing roleplaying games and but now we have started (mostly thanks to OotS) using D&D 3.5. Problem is that I cant seem to understand how ranged sneak attacks work... Any help is appreciated.

[Neftren]

You treat it just like a sneak attack, except with a shooty weapon, except only when within 30 feet*. So you just don't get it from flanking, but if you used it with some sort of invisibility spell, you could get a ranged sneak attack.

[hewhosaysfish]

If your target is flat-footed (usually by being surprised) and you're within 30ft then you can add Xd6 damage to the attack (unless the enemy is undead, ooze, plant, etc or has concealment, in which case: tough luck, rogue).

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

Anything else that is unclear to you?


Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage. The rogue’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every two rogue levels thereafter. Should the rogue score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.

Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a rogue can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty.

A rogue can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is 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 such a spot. A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

We are always happy to help. :smallsmile:

[icthius]

If you're using a thrown weapon you can eventually take the master thrower prestige class to make ranged attacks with a slight of hand roll so that they get free sneak attacks :)

[Frosty]

Meh. Don't go with ranged Sneak Attack. Go with ranged Skirmish instead.

[von Traube]

Thanks to everybody!

Ranged sneak attacks seems to be hard to make. :mitd:

[MobiusKlein]

Thanks to everybody!

Ranged sneak attacks seems to be hard to make. :mitd:
Well, they are powerful - unlike a melee attack, you don't have to move first. So you can use a full attack action and still threaten a large area. If you have greater invisibility, you can sneak attack with all your attacks too. Add in Haste, and your Rogue can get in (at 8th level) 3 ranged sneak attacks. Add in Rapid Shot and you are attacking 4 times w/ a min of 5d6 damage per shot. A nice gig when the stars align. It certainly can pay off.

[Person_Man]

Thanks to everybody!

Ranged sneak attacks seems to be hard to make. :mitd:

Well, yes and no.

Once you get Greater Manyshot take a Standard action to fire several arrows, and apply your Sneak Attack to every arrow (assuming your enemy qualifies). So in the Surprise Round, you're much more likely deal a lot of damage. Then you need a friend to cast Greater Invisibility on you. Or you need to buy a Wand. Or you can PrC into something with Greater Invisibility, like Assassin or Slayer of Domiel. Or you can buy a Ring of Blinking and use the Pierce Magical Concealment feat to ignore your miss chance but still strike as an Invisible enemy. Plus you gain the benefit of being able to Move and fire every round.

So its sometimes harder to pull off then flanking, and the long term investment is definitely higher. This will lead to a much less flexible build. But its definitely do-able, and you'll be much less likely to get hurt compared to a melee Rogue build.