| Surion |
I've got a question about how sneak attack and stealth function in combat. Suppose a rogue succeeds in sneaking into a room with a monster present. The rest of the party enter and engage the monster in comabt, all the while the monster remains unaware of the presence of the rogue. If the rogue were to attack with a bow while hidden, would the attack count as a sneak attack? Should the rgoue succeeds on the sealth check following the attack, would each additionally attack constitute as a sneak attack. If the monster is unaware of the rogue, as his embroiled in combat with the rest of the party, is he considered flat-footed in regards to the rogue until he succeeds on his perception check?
| Drakkiel |
To attack and then stealth as you are suggesting it is covered in "sniping". He would get one attack and then immediately roll stealth again, but at a -20 to maintain his concealed location.
As for sneak attack it depends, about 95% or so believe that attacking from stealth (or hidden, whatever you want to call it) should give sneak attack, since its almost like attack from invisibility (so opponent denied dex). So if your GM is within that threshold,(or if you are the GM and you are as well)as long as he's within 30ft he gets sneak attack.
Malag
|
I would agree somewhat with Drakkiel, but the Stealth rules are still partly enveloped with shadow. While you could "snipe" target from afar, you couldn't get into melee unseen since monsters generally auto detect you if you get into the 5 feet range.
I would grant a rogue ability to continue sneaking around tho if monster didn't notice him before, but not the denied Dex to Sneak Attack him. There is nothing stoping the rogue however from sneaking to flanking position and simply getting the Sneak Attack per normal rules.
These are just my opinions, not the RAW.
| DM_Blake |
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In case that wasn't clear, you cannot use Stealth to gain Sneak Attack in combat. You cannot use Stealth while attacking. The rules don't provide for that to work. The only exception, as already mentioned, is Sniping (it is described under the Stealth skill - only one attack per round and a -20 penalty to become stealthed again, and really, I don't even think that gets Sneak Attack according to the RAW).
As Drakkiel said, many DMs are more lenient than the rules explicitly allow, which is fine, but make sure to ask this same question of your DM - if he's strictly playing by RAW, you cannot use Stealth while attacking.
Now, what you can do, is use stealth to get into position to make your first attack. The instant you begin attacking, you become visible, but since your target has not engaged in combat he's flatfooted, so you can sneak attack in your surprise round and if you beat his initiative, sneak attack again before he acts in his first round.
So your questions about attacking with a bow while hidden, strictly, don't allow sneak attack. Making repeated attacks or not, none of your attacks are made with stealth. If you're sniping, you can "maintain your unobserved location" with a hard roll, -20 on your Stealth check, but you'll only get one attack per round and there is nothing in the RAW that says doing this causes the target to lose DEX or be flatfooted, so still no sneak attack.
Unless your DM is lenient on this.
As for your final question, no, the monster becomes un-flatfooted as soon as he gets his initiative in combat - at this time, he is fully alert and watching for danger on all sides, and since you strictly cannot use Stealth while attacking, the most you can get is sneaking around the battlefield using Stealth while not attacking - but the instant you begin to attack, you're visible (DC 0 Perception check to see you). Being visible, you gain no benefits on your attack roll, the monster gets his full DEX, etc.
Again, some DMs might be lenient here, requiring the monster to make that DC 0 Perception check to see you, applying penalties for distance, distractions, and conditions, but even then, if you're close enough to use Sneak Attack (usually 30') then the most you'll get is a DC 12 Perception check. These lenient DMs may treat you as Invisible if the monster fails it, since it doesn't see you. This would be houseruling, but many DMs do it.
So, again, talk to your DM about this and find out how lenient he is. Or if you're the DM, talk to yourself about it and find out how lenient you are.