Sneak attack with Bleeding Touch ?

[Malag]

I know that certain spells that use touch attack and deal hit point damage can profit from sneak attack if certain conditions are met, but can this spell-like ability profit also?

I just can't see it right because I am not sure if damage is "fixed", meaning that amount cannot be greater than that or if it can apply precision damage to it.

The Bleeding Touch is from the Cleric's Death domain and it simulates bleed effect (but is not bleed effect):

Bleeding Touch:

(Sp): As a melee touch attack, you can cause a living creature to take 1d6 points of damage per round. This effect persists for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum 1) or until stopped with a DC 15 Heal check or any spell or effect that heals damage. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

If it does apply sneak attack would the damage simply be 2d6 first round and 1d6 next? (considering for the moment that my cleric level is 4) Or 2d6 and 2d6 next round?

[Malag]

Bump.

[Atamis]

it looks to me like if sneak attack applies it would only work on the first round. And as far as i known there isn't a limitation on using a melee touch that does damage to do sneak attack. Over all I would say it works on the first round but not after that unless you use another bleeding touch.

[Malag]

Thanks on answer, but I would still like to hear few more comments on it so here goes bump second time.

[Claxon]

I would agree with Atamis. You would get sneak attack damage on the initial touch attack with Bleeding Touch, and then 1d6 worth of bleed damage for a number of rounds as indicated by the special ability.

Considering that you cleric is only level 4, you would get 1d6 bleed damage and no sneak atatck because you don't have levels in a class that grants sneak attack ;). Howver, if you take 3 levels in rogue you would get 3d6 damage on the first round, and 1d6 damage on the next round and then the effect would end since your still only a 4th level cleric. It's hardly an optimal ability since it would kill your caster progression.

Remember, you would also have to meet the normal qualifications for sneak attack to occur in the first place, i.e. flat footed or flanking or invisible, etc.

[Valandil Ancalime]

Atamis wrote:

... I would say it works on the first round but not after that unless you use another bleeding touch.

That's how we played it. Only the initial damage got the sneak attack.

[Malag]

I didn't really plan it to be optimal. I plan to take 1 rogue level and this just came up along other things, so I am just wondering if it will boost my ability.

It's actually really cool since Bleeding Touch isn't defined as to what kind of damage it is, so it bypasses certain resistances.

My cleric tends to often get into flanking position and even has +3 bonus in flank instead of regular +2, so it kind of all makes sense even flavorwise.

Thanks everyone on answers.

[sloden]

According to the Lead Designer sneak attack damage is part of the damage roll, not a special effect that accompanies the attack. Therefore there damage should be full bleed damage. You basically nick an artery and force him to heal check or bleed out.

This was also discussed when using Vampiric Touch and sneak attack to get the healing benefits of the sneak attack damage.

citation

Jason Bulmahn wrote:

DR does not negate sneak attack damage. The sneak attack damage is not a special effect that accompanies the attack, it is part of the damage roll.

Hope that clears it up.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing

[Liz Courts]

Edited post above to make it clearer.

[Mojorat]

Sneak attack generally is only applied when an attack roll is made. Additionally the quote used doesn't seem connected to spells.