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If I start with stealth and cast a spell with multiple attack rolls (scorching ray or fiery shuriken)would I get sneak attack on each ray since I'm releasing them all at once? or only on the first one that I roll?
Only the first one. Sniping is irrelevant, as even a character affected by Greater Invisibility would not gain multiple Sneak Attacks.
See HERE.
Sneak Attack: Can I add sneak attack damage to simultaneous attacks from a spell?No. For example, scorching ray fires simultaneous rays at one or more targets, and the extra damage is only added once to one ray, chosen by the caster when the spell is cast.
Spell-based attacks which are not simultaneous, such as multiple attacks per round by a 8th-level druid using flame blade, may apply sneak attack damage to each attack so long as each attack qualifies for sneak attack (the target is denied its Dex bonus or the caster is flanking the target).—Pathfinder Design Team, 06/19/13
No, most certainly with scorching ray you will only apply sneak atatck once per any casting.
Not even once per target, just once.
Rules in question
Breaking Stealth: When you start your turn using Stealth, you can leave cover or concealment and remain unobserved as long as you succeed at a Stealth check and end your turn in cover or concealment. Your Stealth immediately ends after you make and attack roll, whether or not the attack is successful (except when sniping as noted below).
Sniping: If you've already successfully used Stealth at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack and then immediately use Stealth again. You take a –20 penalty on your Stealth check to maintain your obscured location.
If I start with stealth and cast a spell with multiple attack rolls (scorching ray or fiery shuriken)would I get sneak attack on each ray since I'm releasing them all at once? or only on the first one that I roll?
Only the first ray or shuriken will have Sneak Attack.
If I only get it automatically on my first roll am I able to make an additional stealth check (at -20)between each attack roll? What if I left cover to make my attack? I would have technically successfully used stealth 10 feet away, but would no longer typically qualify for a stealth check because I left cover to do it? I'm guessing the sniping rule is most specific and so would trump the standard stealth rule?
Thanks.
You can't Stealth in between attacks, Scorching Ray is a single Standard Action that can't be sub-devided. Also, while attempting to Snipe, using Stealth is a Move Action; so you would only get one roll and it can't be in the middle of your Standard Action. Besides, as pointed out by Nefreet, you would still only get SA on the first ray even if under a Greater Invisibility spell.
Why wouldn't he get sneak attack on multiple rays while under the effects of Greater Invisibility? Surely the target has lost his Dexterity modifier against all the rays and thus qualifies.
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Yep..its just that trickster is the only way I'd be interested in playing a roguish character. Natural weapon or dual wielding rogue just isn't up my alley.
You could also do a ranged-focused character. We have a Ninja in our Eyes of the Ten game that regularly fires a volley of arrows from Greater Invisibility and does massive amounts of damage...
...when we're not fighting Elementals, Oozes, Swarms, things with concealment...
Because of the FAQ that I linked and Claxon quoted.
I thought that only applied when he was using mundane stealth.
The FAQ makes no mention of stealth or invisibility, it just assumes you meet conditions to sneak attack and says that any simultaneous spells only get to add sneak attack once.
How you qualify for sneak attack isnt relevant here.
Nope, the FAQ still says just one.
First, it says along with some other things to apply bonuses or modifiers "applied to the attack" and not the damage. So if you want to get really into rules lawyering then sneak attack would not apply but bonuses to hit from being in stealth or invisible would apply.
Second, when looking at something like this in general, ask yourself if you think a 2nd level spell should be able to apply sneak attack or have the effect that you are discussing apply to all of the targets in an area. It is already a powerful spell. Please do not give in to the munchkin side and try and push it past what is was meant to be.
It is because people want to read things into every little nuance of a spell or ability that developers get driven nuts and stop replying to threads like this because they know their words will just be twisted even further and taken to mean things that they never meant them to mean. They are hesitant to say anything because of what implications it may have. They are not lawyers and everything they said is not worded 100% to avoid being taken out of context or misinterpreted.
If you want it to run, that way, run it that way. You should know, however, that most people probably do not interpret it to mean that and would not run it that way.
It was not meant as an attack on you personally. I am sorry if it came out that way. No, you are not personally responsible, and I cannot speak for all of the developers, but I have heard of their frustration with what sometimes can become excessive rules lawyering.
I am not sure about the change that occurred 6 months ago but I do know that the capstone ability for the Arcane Trickster allows you to add sneak attack for area effect spells and such.
Yes, it is a seldom used spell, but I have several archer ranger types that keep one handy because when it does comes into play it is a powerful effect, especially at higher levels.
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Here's a question, does that FAQ ruling trump the Arcane Trickster capstone ability?
I do wish Paizo said why you wouldn't be able to sneak attack multiple targets if you fire 2 rays from a single Scorching Ray spell at two different bad guys who do not have their dex bonus against you. My best guess says their reply would be, "because sneak attacking something requires all your concentration" but as I was hinting above, that would pretty much negate the capstone ability of Arcane Trickster.
Sadly reality with Paizo tells me they're more likely to say, "because ... reasons."
Here's a question, does that FAQ ruling trump the Arcane Trickster capstone ability?
I do wish Paizo said why you wouldn't be able to sneak attack multiple targets if you fire 2 rays from a single Scorching Ray spell at two different bad guys who do not have their dex bonus against you. My best guess says their reply would be, "because sneak attacking something requires all your concentration" but as I was hinting above, that would pretty much negate the capstone ability of Arcane Trickster.
Sadly reality with Paizo tells me they're more likely to say, "because ... reasons."
By the strictist interpretation of that FAQ, then in fact yes, you would only get to apply sneak attack once from the spell.
Personally, I don't like how extreme that FAQ is, and instead say that you can get sneak attack once per target per spell in general. What Surprise Spell really provides is that where you normally couldn't sneak attack with a fireball because it doesn't have an attack roll, now you can.
The FAQ affects the at Capstone if it is a more specific ruling.
There'd a general sneak attack rule that says attacks that meet its conditions and have an attack roll grant sneak attack.
We have the faq that says spells like scorching ray only get 1 SA.
Then the capstone says aoe that do damage get SA.
I think the AT capstone is outside the scope of the FAQ personally.