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I have a player that insists that if other party members are flanking a creature that he should get his Sneak Attack damage with a ranged attack within 30 feet. I keep telling him that ranged attacks do not threaten nor do they receive the +2 to attack unless. However, I have not found any definitive listing of under what conditions does a creature loose their Dex bonus. I believe that during a surprise round when they are flatfooted counts, and possibly during a Hold Person/Monster spell, and during a grapple, but are there any others? Any assistance would be appreciated. This player is new to Pathfinder but old to 3.5.
blind does which hammered my coluxus demon last session after he failed against glitterdust
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Intimidate + Shatter Defense + hitting once = flat footed. Next round he can do a full attack (to get that extra shot off with his bow). If he rolls high enough with intimidate this can last ...
"The DC of this check is equal to 10 + the target’s Hit Dice + the
target’s Wisdom modifier. If you are successful, the target
is shaken for 1 round. This duration increases by 1 round
for every 5 by which you beat the DC."
The nice thing about this is EVENTUALLY you can take 10 on it and do it all the time. Oh and its unoppsed except by the stats (no real roll).
of course immunity to fear negates it in theory. But otherwise: take 10 + Ranks + STR mod(feat) + Cha mod + 3(class skill) + 2(feat) = intimidate. 3 more if you wear a cheap headband. sO RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE A ROGUE CAN get about 32 on this at lvl 10 (using + stats).
I have a player that insists that if other party members are flanking a creature that he should get his Sneak Attack damage with a ranged attack within 30 feet. I keep telling him that ranged attacks do not threaten nor do they receive the +2 to attack unless. However, I have not found any definitive listing of under what conditions does a creature loose their Dex bonus. I believe that during a surprise round when they are flatfooted counts, and possibly during a Hold Person/Monster spell, and during a grapple, but are there any others? Any assistance would be appreciated. This player is new to Pathfinder but old to 3.5.
Flanking
When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner.
Ranged weapons don't "threaten" which is a specific game term unless the player has the snap shot feat.
At present the party is 4th level. In researching this I noticed that Grapple does not qualify for him to get his Sneak Attack damage. I have to tell him every game session that he does not threaten with a bow to qualify for the Flank bonus.
I am asking for enough information to convince him that he does not need to ask the same question every session.
There's probably no amount of information that will satisfy him.
I would either a) just tell him straight up "this is my game, and NO."
or b) make a feat that lets him do it. He's about to hit 5th level, so that should take care of things w/out being super unbalanced IMO (especially since archers tend to be feat heavy already).
In 3.5, there was a feat for this - Ranged Threat required Combat Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and a +6 BAB. Alternatively, I think there was a Ranger variant which switched out your Animal Companion for the feat. Just to give you a sense of the power balance, here. ;)
Unfortunately for your player, a ranged rogue rarely gets to do sneak attack damage. If he wins the first round of initiative, if he is invisible, if his target is blinded, stunned, paralysed, running, climbing, balancing or helpless he gets to do sneak attack damage. Sadly for him, a rogue has no native ways to apply these conditions to his enemy himself, so he is going to rely on the party casters to prioritise using spells to help him.
I believe that if he feints an opponent successfully, they are flat-footed to him for a short time. Improved Feint would let him feint as a move action, so he can still get in an attack.
I agree. The Imp. Feint feat only states that an opponent loses his DEX bonus to AC during your next attack. So melee or ranged works here.
Since you have pointed it out more than one I would tell him to find out where it say he can do it.
Not only that:
Snap Shot (Combat)
With a ranged weapon, you can take advantage of any opening in your opponent's defenses.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus, base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: While wielding a ranged weapon with which you have Weapon Focus, you threaten squares within 5 feet of you. You can make attacks of opportunity with that ranged weapon. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when making a ranged attack as an attack of opportunity.
Normal: While wielding a ranged weapon, you threaten no squares and can make no attacks of opportunity with that weapon.
No threaten equals no flank.
I would then inform him that unless he can find information to counter what you have shown him the matter is settled.
I had assumed that feint was restricted to targets you threaten, but I am not seeing any language regarding range, so I suppose one could feint to get sneak attacks with a ranged attack.
Thanks to you all. I will examine all suggestions. I am getting tired of this constant questioning of the rules. BTW he always confuses me when he calls Sneak Attack damage Backstab damage.
Thanks to you all. I will examine all suggestions. I am getting tired of this constant questioning of the rules. BTW he always confuses me when he calls Sneak Attack damage Backstab damage.
The burden of proof is on the one making the claim especially when convinced with evidence saying otherwise. Respectfully tell him bring proof or nothing is changing, after showing him the evidence. :)
Backstab is from 2nd edition D&D.
Thanks wraithstrike. I started playing 2E just before 3E came out so I never got the hang of it. Trying to figure out THACO was always a problem for me. Now I don't have to figure it out.