Sneak attack with a firearm, dazzling display and shattered defenses

[mysticbelmont]

If I have sneak attack, and I have used dazzling display (with shattered defenses) to make my foe flat footed, I can use a firearm to sneak attack, right?

If so, with them being considered flat footed against the attack, could I choose to target touch ac and still sneak attack?

[Alistus]

I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to. There aren't a lot of ways to target Flat-Footed Touch AC, also known as "Almost every creature in the game now has 10 AC", but I'm pretty sure that's one of them.

[Kazaan]

"Touch AC" and "Flat-Footed AC" are de facto terms to describe your AC with certain modifiers omitted for the purpose of specific kinds of attacks. They aren't mechanical terms in the sense that you have "normal AC" and a separate "Touch AC" and a separate "FF AC"; they're just pre-calculated values to be used in certain circumstances.

If the target is flat-footed or otherwise denied Dex to AC, you leave out Dexterity modifier (or alternate stat if an ability like Nature's Whispers swaps out Dex for some other ability score), Dodge bonus, and any other particular bonus that specifically calls out being lost if you're denied Dex to AC. If you target Touch AC, you leave out Armor bonus, Natural Armor Bonus, and Shield bonus. If your attack targets Touch AC and the target is denied Dex, you leave out all of the above, meaning they are left with just base 10, deflection bonus, and any other particular bonuses (ie. Monk AC bonus) that aren't affected by either rules element.

[Majuba]

mysticbelmont, if you're asking whether you can sneak attack with a touch attack (or ranged touch attack), the answer is yes. Works well for arcane tricksters with surprise or greater invisibility.

If you're asking whether Shatter Defenses works with ranged weapons - yes, neither it nor Dazzling Display is limited to melee.

[KainPen]

just remember it takes two to 3 rounds to even get that sneak attack damage.

it a full round action to dazzling display no attacks no damage you just sit there and take a 5ft step and hope you have a really good intimidate. because you have to beat it by over 5 to make sure you can pull this off. because intimidate only last for 1 round so shaken end when your turn started next time around if you don’t beat dc by 5.

round 2 if you have only one attack you don't get sneak attack until the next round, because shattering defenses require you to hit something before they become flat footed to you. If you do have more than one attack, every attack after the first successful attack will be considered flatfooted. Otherwise you have to wait till round 3 since shatter defense last til the end of your next turn I think. Also you have to hope your target is still with in 30ft, unless you have sniper goggles or some other way to extend range of sneak attack.

All of this is very conditional, and possible, and feat heavy to try and make it effective. If you can find a way to intimidate as free action it would be a good tactic. you’re better off just full attacking every round especial with a gunman touch ac is easy enough to hit.

[Kazaan]

2 levels of Cavalier/Samurai with the Cockatrice order will give you Dazzling Display that you can use w/out a weapon and as a standard action.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Cornugon Smash allows you a free intimidate check whenever you land a hit on which you were Power Attacking. Guess that doesn't really help much for someone using firearms.

[Kazaan]

I guess that would work if you were pistol whipping... but who even does that?