One of my players is currently playing a kineticist with the trickster mythic path. He asked me if he was able to use the trickster's surprise strike for the kinetic blast.
Off hand I'd assume you can't but I said he could use it until I got a better ruling.
So anyone know?
Surprise Strike (Ex)
As a swift action, you can expend one use of mythic power to make a melee attack or ranged attack against a target within 30 feet, in addition to any other attacks you make this round. When you make a surprise strike, the target is considered flat-footed regardless of any class features or abilities it might have, and you add your tier to the attack roll. Damage from this attack bypasses damage reduction.
Kinetic Blast (Sp)
At 1st level, a kineticist gains a kinetic blast wild talent of her choice. This kinetic blast must be a simple blast that matches her element.
As a standard action, the kineticist can unleash a kinetic blast at a single target up to a range of 30 feet. She must have at least one hand free to aim the blast (or one prehensile appendage, if she doesn't have hands). All damage from a kinetic blast is treated as magic for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. Kinetic blasts count as a type of weapon for the purpose of feats such as Weapon Focus. The kineticist is never considered to be wielding or gripping the kinetic blast (regardless of effects from form infusions; see Infusion), and she can't use Vital Strike feats with kinetic blasts. Even the weakest kinetic blast involves a sizable mass of elemental matter or energy, so kinetic blasts always deal full damage to swarms of any size (though only area blasts deal extra damage to swarms). A readied kinetic blast can be used to counterspell any spell of equal or lower level that shares its descriptor. A kinetic blast that deals energy damage of any type (including force) has the corresponding descriptor.
I don't see why not, Kinetic Blast is a ranged attack.
Indeed. I seem to remember even in 3.5 that sneak attacking with spells was possible, so the principle probably applies to Surprise Strike as well. Just a bit more challenging than normal thanks to what was involved in casting. Hell, Beguiler had Class Features just for that. Seems like it's good to me.
I don't see why not, Kinetic Blast is a ranged attack.
True, although I'd assumed spells/spell like abilities may be considered in a different class of attack. It basically amounts to a quickened spell.
I find that a bit odd since the "caster" paths archmage/heriophant would have to work a bit harder to obtain a quickened spell every round since their wild arcana/inspired spell require a standard action http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gl#v5748eaic9r83
EDIT: For that matter there is a pretty significant difference between a rogue getting a 7th, 8th, or even 9th attack when he already has so many and a wizard getting a second disintegrate.