This one is pretty simple.
"The rogue's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 every two rogue levels thereafter. Should the rogue score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet."
So let's say I am a 3rd level rogue with +2d6 sneak attack, wielding a dagger with a 12 strength (+1 damage). So my damage is 1d4+1. I am flanking the target. My damage now becomes 1d4+1+2d6. The monster I am fighting has DR 10/Silver. I inflict 11 points of damage before damage reduction, resulting in 1 point of damage.
Tricky part comes from poison. In this case, I don't roll decent for damage with my poisoned dagger against the same foe, I inflict 9 points of damage (sneak attack and all). The poison becomes wasted because I wasn't able to injure it.
As for the monsters being sneak attacked, that is correct. Rogues can sneak attack almost everything. That is why Fortification armor is golden against sneak attackers. You can also negate sneak attack with effects like obscuring mist, etc. Any form of concealment negates sneak attack damage.
I call sneak attack in our games "A planned crit" because it is alot of damage, but can be a lot of team work and work on the rogue and the party's part most of the time. Which is the nice thing to encourage. Our golden rule when surrounded by rogues. Attack the rogue in front of you and acrobatics out of there so that way you don't get two weapon fighting sneak attacked. It's alot of damage and you don't need it. Even the monsters I GM do the same exact thing.
a) sneak attack does not bypass DR, but it does get added to the total damage instead of being separate.
For example, a rogue doing 1d6+5 + 2d6 sneak attack would do an average of 15 damage with his attack. Against a monster with DR of 5, this would be 10 damage.
b)
You can sneak attack absolutely anything that isn't 'immune to precision damage'. Constructs CAN be sneak attacked as they are not immune to precision damage. A devil from another plane could also be sneak attacked just fine.
The 'creature types and subtypes' page on the OGC is a good place to look if you are unsure about whether a type of creature can be sneak attacked.
a) sneak attack does not bypass DR, but it does get added to the total damage instead of being separate.
For example, a rogue doing 1d6+5 + 2d6 sneak attack would do an average of 15 damage with his attack. Against a monster with DR of 5, this would be 10 damage.
Where is this rule written? I have a GM who is convinced that sneak attacks only apply if you are able to do more damage than the creature has DR. I'd like to un-convince him :)
I don't think it's written down because it shouldn't need to be. It's like saying that a fighter's weapon training bonus doesn't apply if he can't beat DR.
I suggest you get him to show you the rule that says otherwise.
There is a dev comment on it. Sneak attack is a seperate damage pool. You add all of the damage together.
Where is this rule written? I have a GM who is convinced that sneak attacks only apply if you are able to do more damage than the creature has DR. I'd like to un-convince him :)a) sneak attack does not bypass DR, but it does get added to the total damage instead of being separate.
For example, a rogue doing 1d6+5 + 2d6 sneak attack would do an average of 15 damage with his attack. Against a monster with DR of 5, this would be 10 damage.
Where is this rule written? I have a GM who is convinced that sneak attacks only apply if you are able to do more damage than the creature has DR. I'd like to un-convince him :)a) sneak attack does not bypass DR, but it does get added to the total damage instead of being separate.
For example, a rogue doing 1d6+5 + 2d6 sneak attack would do an average of 15 damage with his attack. Against a monster with DR of 5, this would be 10 damage.
many thanks blakmane
This one is pretty simple.
"The rogue's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 every two rogue levels thereafter. Should the rogue score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet."
So let's say I am a 3rd level rogue with +2d6 sneak attack, wielding a dagger with a 12 strength (+1 damage). So my damage is 1d4+1. I am flanking the target. My damage now becomes 1d4+1+2d6. The monster I am fighting has DR 10/Silver. I inflict 11 points of damage before damage reduction, resulting in 1 point of damage.
Tricky part comes from poison. In this case, I don't roll decent for damage with my poisoned dagger against the same foe, I inflict 9 points of damage (sneak attack and all). The poison becomes wasted because I wasn't able to injure it.
As for the monsters being sneak attacked, that is correct. Rogues can sneak attack almost everything. That is why Fortification armor is golden against sneak attackers. You can also negate sneak attack with effects like obscuring mist, etc. Any form of concealment negates sneak attack damage.
I call sneak attack in our games "A planned crit" because it is alot of damage, but can be a lot of team work and work on the rogue and the party's part most of the time. Which is the nice thing to encourage. Our golden rule when surrounded by rogues. Attack the rogue in front of you and acrobatics out of there so that way you don't get two weapon fighting sneak attacked. It's alot of damage and you don't need it. Even the monsters I GM do the same exact thing.
How do the monsters you GM know to do that? Seems a bit metagame.