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Just a question re sneak attacks. A high level rogue using 2 weapons vs a flanked opponent gets sneak attack bonus. If the rogue is high enough level then said rogue can cause more damage to a single target than most wizards & sorcerors and even fighters using the old power attack/greatsword combo. They become in effect a mini fireball if you like as each attack they make hits. Or am I getting something wrong about sneak attack?
If both attacks qualify for sneak attacks (which they should if simultaneous), then they both receive the sneak attack bonus.
Just a question re sneak attacks. A high level rogue using 2 weapons vs a flanked opponent gets sneak attack bonus. If the rogue is high enough level then said rogue can cause more damage to a single target than most wizards & sorcerors and even fighters using the old power attack/greatsword combo. They become in effect a mini fireball if you like as each attack they make hits. Or am I getting something wrong about sneak attack?
You got it right. Assuming they can gain flanking as you say and fight with two weapons they could see 6 attacks in one round and assuming they all hit deal 60d6 + weapon damage(six times). So if that is what you are assuming, then yes.
But pulling that off aint as easy as it may seem. It's the hitting that hurts, 15 BA -2 for TWF +2 for flanking maybe another +15 from dex, weapons, whatever and that +15 is really high, then maybe he totals a +30/+30/+25/+25/+20/+20. Anything worth the challenge of a level 20 will have an AC of at least 35 - 40 range, assuming it can be sneak attacked. So yes it works but at that level, well when it happens it will be a great moment.
Feint would remove any Dex bonus the target may have, though I'm not sure if that would actually apply to all the attacks or just one single attack.
Also, if one moves beyond just Pathfinder, there are several ways to make your melee attacks touch attacks, getting past armor and natural amror bonuses. If a dedicated Rogue using TWF rly wants to hit with all his attacks, he can pull it off.
Unfortunately this is nothing new as a result of Pathfinder (outstanding issue from 3.0), although I'm glad to see people checking out aspects of the game they may not have really looked at before.
Faint doesn't work for TWF sneaks as it only works of "the next melee attack you make against the target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any)." Using Improved Invisibility is a standard Core option you see for dealing with a lack of Flanking, and gets you a slight bonus to hit. Provided they don't have a counter and/or Uncanny Dodge.
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Your still rolling dice and things have lots and lots of HP.
Plus you've got things like Damage Reduction, Regeneration, magic.
Loads of stuff to help keep it balanced.
It all seems to contribute to the arms race that is 3.5 and by about 10th level what I have seen is a mad scramble by PCs to get their killer attack in before everybody else - no cooperation and if you have an interesting (read not min/maxed) character you can end up frustrated as the combat monsters sweep the battle field with combats lasting only a couple of rounds - a great feeling for a little while but eventually leading to boredom - the multiple sneak attacks being only 1 example of this. Ratching up the monsters to counter this isn't necessarily the way I want to go.
I had a duel-weilding rogue in a 1-20 campaign (Shackled City), and the truth is that the power is right on par with what a spellcaster can do, or even less. By the end of the game, I had seven attacks and did nine d8's for sneak attack vs. evil(prestige class and feats got those) and it still only took one Implosion from the level 20 cleric (a lichfiend) to ruin me.
What you are referring to is the problem with high-level D&D. There are many "gotcha" effects as levels increase. Things like Maze, Forcecage, Destruction, Slay Living, Finger of Death, Planeshift are caster "gotcha"'s. Six 9d6 sneak attacks is a rogue's "gotcha" and, comparitively, it's far less effective and effecient.
I honestly don't know how fighters keep up unless they have the power attack feat.
A third level rogue using two weapon fighting can do 6d6 points of damage (plus other modifiers like strength bonus), assuming he is using short swords, so I wouldn't call it a high level problem.
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how often he hit? and how often are foes flat footed?
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how often he hit? and how often are foes flat footed?
He just needs a flanking partner. Assuming a 15 dexterity and weapon finesse, he will have a +4 on attack rolls while flanking and two weapon fighting. The AC of a CR 3 monster should be about 15, so he has a 75% chance of hitting at least once and a 25% chance of hitting both times.
It should be noted, however, that a 3rd level barbarian, fighting with a greatsword, using power attack and overhand chop and raging, has (assuming a strength of 18, surprise accuracy and weapon focus) has an attack bonus of +8 while dealing 2d6+18 points of damage on a succesful attacks. His chance of hitting AC 15 is 0.7, he has the advantage of increased mobility and gains much more by critical hits than the rogue.So, while the rogue is certainly able to deal lots of damage, he isn't the strongest damage dealer, at least not on those levels.
A third level rogue using two weapon fighting can do 6d6 points of damage (plus other modifiers like strength bonus), assuming he is using short swords, so I wouldn't call it a high level problem.
A third level rogue can't hit jack, so I wouldn't call it a problem.
Ah, this has already been addressed. Well, it holds true throughout the game. As your reach higher levels and mobility improves (monsters fly a lot earlier than PCs) creatures tend to control where battle occurs (you're attacking their temple/dungeon/lair) and their abilities typically remain higher than PCs much of the time (10th lvl rogue BBEG has nothing to fear from 6th level rogues) it never really becomes child's play to set this up.
Plus, y'know, if you've got a rogue with the brains to milk out dozens of dice with touch sneak attacks; your other PCs ought to be able to adjust accordingly if it bothers them. Not one player's fault if he's a pro.
And it's not like it ever becomes hard to threaten a character/party. I hear about "power creep" all the time, but as someone pointed out; this is something rogues have had for quite a while. And it's for good reason, it's balanced fine on average and if someone takes the time to "break" it by being particularly good at it, well that's their right as a player. Everyone has the option to make a character that's really capable, they just don't necessarily exercise it.
It's other classes that have had more and more good options tacked on, basically casters, and PF has hamstrung some of the more crazy stuff they got. *cough* Polymorph *cough*
Here's the thing about high level fights, they are mobile. No one stands still long because if they do, they die. So while TWF might get a few times where he is getting his 7 or 8 attacks (not an uncommon thing for a level 20 rogue to have a speed weapon/haste), it wont happen often. His foes will keep on the move, and frankly so will he. He no more wants to get hit 7 or 8 times then his foes do.
People will be flying about and the rogue will be sneaking until he can get his first hit in, and until the foe is vulnerable. He doesn't want to attack an image or an undamageable foe so he will bide his time as his party's casters try and disable the foe's protections. Then he will strike but he will spend at least a few rounds doing not much, so sure he has a nice burst from time to time, but he has huge spots where his damage is far less. Same with everyone, bursts of damage that have to be built up to and don't happen every fight.