Hey guys, i know I read this somewhere but now I can't find it. Where can I find the rule that states that the precision/sneak attack damage done with a spell is considered to be damage of the type of the spell?
IE: the sneak attack damage from ray of frost would be of the cold type.
Uh, what other kind of damage would it be? Sneak Attack damage is bonus damage on top of the attack. Rapier Sneak Attack damage is piercing, so ray of frost sneak attack damage is cold.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2kvtr?Rules-Clarification#7
Maybe?
The basic sneak attack entry states it pretty clearly: the attack deals extra damage. The extra damage is going to be the same damage of the as that of the initial attack. It's simply common sense.
A bludgeoning attack would deal bludgeoning sneak attack damage.
A piercing attack would deal piercing sneak attack damage.
A slashing attack would deal slashing sneak attack damage.
I can't see how these could be argued, so the logic flows to other types of damage: cold, electricity, sonic, force, acid, fire.
Even the typeless damage of a disintegrate spell is still affected normally, so the sneak attack deals typeless damage.
In the event of two separate types of damage, such as flaming weapon bonus damage, then the issue gets a little complicated. I rule that the sneak attack damage is set from the primary attack's damage type, not any bonus damages added to the primary attack.
It was certainly the way the OP has stated it in 3.5, in Pathfinder they never explained it further than the CRB rules. The link I put earlier has Jason saying it continues to be that way.
Found it, it's under arcane trickster, for a specific ability, but I think it applies universally.
"Surprise Spells: At 10th level, an arcane trickster can add
her sneak attack damage to any spell that deals damage,
if the targets are f lat-footed. This additional damage
only applies to spells that deal hit point damage, and the
additional damage is of the same type as the spell. If the
spell allows a saving throw to negate or halve the damage,
it also negates or halves the sneak attack damage."
I agree it's common sense by my GM wanted proof.
Basically, you can deal sneak attack damage with every attack that give you an attack roll. I can't check now, but it should be in Combat section. In case check the faq, you should find it. Take into account that spells can crit, as said in Combat section. And the ability of the arcane trickster refer to any spell, not just spells that have an attack roll. For example, with that ability, you can deal sneak attack damage with a fireball, which normally don't allow that.