Phase Spider rogue, sneak attack, and readied actions

[King of Vrock]

While using it's ethereal jaunt ability does the phase spider rogue attack as invisible thus gaining sneak attack because it's ethereal until it attacks?

Also do readied actions against the rogue go off before it attacks or after as it uses it's move action to return to the ethereal?

prd wrote:

Ethereal Jaunt (Su) A phase spider can shift from the Ethereal Plane to the Material Plane as a free action, and shift back again as a move action (or as part of a move action). The ability is otherwise identical to ethereal jaunt (CL 15th).

--NOT Vrock solid

[yumad]

Well, as to the readied actions, those interrupt the victim's turn so if they are set to attack as the spider pops into the material plane and attacks the readied action would strike before the spider does. If the readied action killed the spider no attacks would come from the spider at all.

"The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character's activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action."

As for ethereal jaunt, I don't believe if following the rules strictly a phase spider rogue (is this a thing?) would benefit from being invisible in terms of getting sneak attack or not. The target is visible while attacking, even if they weren't visible until the last moment, so no sneak attack dice. Logically something that was invisible suddenly becoming visible and attacking you out of no where would probably be able to land precision damage to take advantage of your unawareness, you could perhaps houserule that.

[wraithstrike]

You would have to invisible while making the attack. What the phase spider is doing is effectively no different than dismissing invisibility and then attacking. However as soon as invis is gone you are seen so no sneak attack dice if you attack after becoming visible.

[yumad]

wraithstrike wrote:

You would have to invisible while making the attack. What the phase spider is doing is effectively no different than dismissing invisibility and then attacking. However as soon as invis is gone you are seen so no sneak attack dice if you attack after becoming visible.

Pointless nitpick, dismissing invisibility is a standard action and would prevent you from dismissing and then attacking. <3

[Are]

However, what the Phase Spider can do is to stalk its victims, start a surprise round by phasing into the material plane and attacking (gaining sneak attack against its flat-footed foes if it's a rogue), and then phasing back out again before round 1 begins (possibly with a grabbed foe along with it; I'm not entirely sure if the rules allow that).

Continuing those tactics at varied intervals for a while should lead to a party becoming fairly paranoid and/or frustrated.

[yumad]

Are wrote:

However, what the Phase Spider can do is to stalk its victims, start a surprise round by phasing into the material plane and attacking (gaining sneak attack against its flat-footed foes if it's a rogue), and then phasing back out again before round 1 begins (possibly with a grabbed foe along with it; I'm not entirely sure if the rules allow that).

Continuing those tactics at varied intervals for a while should lead to a party becoming fairly paranoid and/or frustrated.

Ethereal jaunt does not pull touched targets in with the caster. As the phase spider ability works like ethereal jaunt, this is a no-go.

Using the phase spider for guerrilla tactic-style fighting is a good idea, especially if it targets some of the less hardy party members who might be more susceptible to poison (metagaming: low fort saves!).

[wraithstrike]

yumad wrote:

wraithstrike wrote:

You would have to invisible while making the attack. What the phase spider is doing is effectively no different than dismissing invisibility and then attacking. However as soon as invis is gone you are seen so no sneak attack dice if you attack after becoming visible.

Pointless nitpick, dismissing invisibility is a standard action and would prevent you from dismissing and then attacking. <3

I know that. I was working under a situation where you did not need a standard action to make a point. :)

[King of Vrock]

The given tactics of a phase spider rogue in an AP is for the solo spider to make poisoned sneak attacks by jaunting back and forth. I just wanted to verify the tactic worked by the rules (I didn't believe it did). No worries though as I have allies for the rogue to flank with.

--Mwk Vrockpicks

[Are]

King of Vrock wrote:

The given tactics of a phase spider rogue in an AP is for the solo spider to make poisoned sneak attacks by jaunting back and forth. I just wanted to verify the tactic worked by the rules (I didn't believe it did). No worries though as I have allies for the rogue to flank with.

--Mwk Vrockpicks

It is a functional tactic, as written. Note that the AP tactics (assuming you refer to Paeta) doesn't state the phase spider does this every turn. Rather, it specifically mentions using ethereal ambush (an ability that only works in the surprise round) to make poisoned sneak attacks. Since it speaks of repeating those tactics, it's essentially suggesting using guerrilla tactics as outlined above (ie; ambush, poisoned sneak attack, retreat, set up new ambush). It's not saying that it continuously does this multiple times during a single combat.

[King of Vrock]

After rereading the tactics I believe you're right. It makes sense for Paeta to stalk the PCs as they explore the fort forcing them to expend resources.