Iterative attacks and sneak attack

[Telperion]

Can a rogue make multiple Sneak Attacks in a single round against a target that is, for example, flat-footed? The example also assumes that the rogue has a high enough Base Attack Bonus to make multiple attacks while using the Full Attack action.

 

[Piratecat]

Yes he can.

In addition, lets say that a rogue with iterative attacks gets surprise and wins initiative, too. He'd get sneak attack damage on his surprise attack AND each iterative attack during his first round's full attack.

There are a few wacky weapons that disallow precision-based damage (shuriken limit it to one shuriken, for instance), but they're the rare exception.

 

[Kalanyr]

Yeah he can, like PC said. And there's been many a debate on whether or not this makes the rogue too powerful at higher levels. Searching around Rules should find you a whole bunch of them if thats something you feel interested in.

 

[Telperion]

Thank You =).

Just wanted confirmation on this, since I couldn't find anything to forbid multiple Sneak Attacks. I have a 12th level rogue in my group and he is damn scary with a hand crossbow and the Rapid Reload feat. Okay, he has to get within 30 feet, but that's okay since he has loads of ranks in Move silently, Hide, Listen and Spot.

 

[Thanee]

Then you havn't seen a two-weapon fighting fighter/rogue doing that all the time while flanking in combat. Now that can be scary!

But it's so often to fight opponents (like undead, elementals, constructs, other rogues, etc), where sneak attack is not so very useful, it really isn't a problem IMHO.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Darklone]

There are a few wacky weapons that disallow precision-based damage (shuriken limit it to one shuriken, for instance), but they're the rare exception.

3.0 shuriken and Manyshot 3.5.

3.5 shuriken are treated normally IIRC.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Thank You =).

Just wanted confirmation on this, since I couldn't find anything to forbid multiple Sneak Attacks. I have a 12th level rogue in my group and he is damn scary with a hand crossbow and the Rapid Reload feat. Okay, he has to get within 30 feet, but that's okay since he has loads of ranks in Move silently, Hide, Listen and Spot.

If he does that then he probably only gets 1 attack in the surprise round...

AR

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

3.0 shuriken and Manyshot 3.5.

3.5 shuriken are treated normally IIRC.

Yeah, 3.5 shurikens are basically tiny daggers enchanted with the Quickdraw feat

AR

 

[the Jester]

Yes, he gets SA on all applicable attacks.

Picture this: high-level fighter/rogue with BAB +16 (four attacks), Combat Reflexes, Expert Tactician and Opportunist... and haste.

Surprise round: one sneak attack plus Expert Tactician.

Round one: if you're still flat-footed, take six 'normal' attacks with sneak attack, including one from Expert Tactician...

Even better, throw this guy a longspear and have him tumble to the far edge of the fight where he can flank just about everyone...!

Now, as to the balance of this, imho it's fine. Without what lil combat ability sneak attacks render up to the rogue, he's just a distraction in combat. There are a million limits and defenses against sneak attack, too.

I believe the designers have stated that the game was balanced with the idea that the rogue would be getting his sneak attack on virtually every attack. Thus all the defenses against it.

 

[Crothian]

Sneak attack can be hard to get though, it is very situational. But fear the rogue that get's like Jester describes above