Sneak attack, How to do it alone?

[Zautos']

How to do it?

[kinevon]

High initiative, hide in plain sight, vanish trick, invisbility, greater invisibility (or is it improved?), improved feint, just off the top of my head.

[Haladir]

Act in a surprise round; win initiative; attack while stealthy; attack while invisible; feint in combat.

There are probably others, these are what came to mind.

[tsuruki]

Dirty trick to blind.
Feint.
Surprise round.
Stealth.
Invisibility.

Blinding fireworks.
Darkness (magic or natural).
Called shot to each eye to render blind.
Good sniper stealth check.

Target is climbing and has no climb speed.

[Valandil Ancalime]

Could a rogue/witch with the prehensile hair hex(10' reach) flank a med sized (or smaller) creature by him/herself?

[A Man In Black]

Valandil Ancalime wrote:

Could a rogue/witch with the prehensile hair hex(10' reach) flank a med sized (or smaller) creature by him/herself?

No. Flanking specifically requires an ally.

[kinevon]

A Man In Black wrote:

Valandil Ancalime wrote:

Could a rogue/witch with the prehensile hair hex(10' reach) flank a med sized (or smaller) creature by him/herself?

No. Flanking specifically requires an ally.

And, unless you really want to get in trouble, it is actually 15' to get around to the far side of an opponent. 10' would have to go through his square.

[Imbicatus]

Improvised weapons + catch off guard attacking unarmed opponents.
Intimidate + Shatter defenses.

[XMorsX]

The carnivalist rogue can flank with an improved familiar, as long as it is small (a dust mephit probably) (its own class feature, so he sneak attacks "alone").

A rogue with animal ally for a wolf companion.

[Valandil Ancalime]

kinevon wrote:

A Man In Black wrote:

Valandil Ancalime wrote:

Could a rogue/witch with the prehensile hair hex(10' reach) flank a med sized (or smaller) creature by him/herself?

No. Flanking specifically requires an ally.

And, unless you really want to get in trouble, it is actually 15' to get around to the far side of an opponent. 10' would have to go through his square.

I'm imagining a situation where the witch attacks from 1 side while the hair attacks from the other. While the hair goes through the opponent's square, I don't think it would provoke an Aoo. Is there any feat or such that would allow this?

[Laerlorn]

Catching enemy running (without Run feat)

Sleeping target.

[soupturtle]

If you somehow can get yourself the dimensional agility feat chain, the fourth one in the line (dimensional savant) lets you flank with yourself. I don't see any way to get both that feat line and a worthwhile number of sneak attack dice though.

I think a companion (if that qualifies by your measure), greater invisibility, greater feint, shatter defenses and dirty trick are the most worthwhile options, as those are the only ones that allow you multiple sneak attacks per round. Greater invisibility is expensive though, and greater feint requires you to give up one of your attacks for the feint. Dirty trick is great with a single level of maneuver master monk, but will probably (GM dependent) only work on enemies with eyes.

In the end, I think the best way to go is either intimidation or dirty trick (unless you can get a companion, which is better, off course). Intimidation gets a slight edge because it's easier to make the DC really high. Then once you get to higher levels you could add a wand of greater invisibility.

[Fomsie]

Rogue scout archetype gains SA on a charge at 4th and then gains SA when they move more than 10 feet at 8th level.

[lemeres]

XMorsX wrote:

A rogue with animal ally for a wolf companion.

Interesting thought on the companion- does the scout archetype work if you are charging on a mount? If so, then you could take advantage of that and take the mounted skirmisher feat to get your full attack off even if your mount moves. Admittedly, this is an option almost no one can take until 14h level, but hey...you can still use the companion as a normal flanker until then. The only other problem this presents is that you would have to spend another 3 feats on top of the ones for the animal companion and your style (usually TWF since this idea is for a melee rogue that really needs full attacks)

That level is also the one where a nonmulticlass rogue also qualifies for those racial pounce feats for the kitsune and catfolk.

[Kahn Zordlon]

Buy a sipping jacket and a few potions of greater invisibility from the summoner spelllist. The jacket lets you use potion rounds as a swift action. Swift invisibility and sneak attack.

[TriOmegaZero]

Goz mask and smokesticks.

[Shadowlord]

Scout Archetype and Skulking Slayer Archetype do pretty well dealing SA on their own.

Someone mentioned the Dimensional Dervish feat line, to go along with that Fetchlings can gain the ability to cast dimension door at 9th level. After that it's a matter of retraining to make a build work.

Also, I think in a solo game, Leadership is probably the most powerful feat you could take. Get yourself a Flanking buddy with PC levels. Plus, with a Cohort you can start taking Teamwork Feats.

Also, never underestimate the power of Use Magic Device. A wand of Blindness/Deafness could go a long way.

[Calybos1]

This thread topic just struck me as odd... in the days-gone-by when sneak attack was called "backstab," it was assumed that the rogue/thief would pretty much ALWAYS be using stealth and working alone to deliver it.

Now, it's understood that sneak-attack generally requires a flanking buddy, and it's harder to come up with ways to do it solo.

[CalethosVB]

If you're willing to look at 3PP, TPK Games Malefactor class provides a way to flank by yourself. From there you jump into your favored sneaky class and start sneak attacking.

[mswbear]

you can also take the scout archtype. He gets a sneak attack on a charge attack at 4th level and at 8th level only has to move ten feet (dodge, mobility, spring attack)

[mswbear]

Calybos1 wrote:

This thread topic just struck me as odd... in the days-gone-by when sneak attack was called "backstab," it was assumed that the rogue/thief would pretty much ALWAYS be using stealth and working alone to deliver it.

Now, it's understood that sneak-attack generally requires a flanking buddy, and it's harder to come up with ways to do it solo.

Pathfinder also got rid of facing rules which in general i dislike. I feel like if you sneak up behind someone they shoud be subject to sneak attacks. I also feel like if you are in combat and stealth around someone being distracted by archers or wizards you should also get a sneak attack...oh well