Just another sneak attack with spell thread

[Blackstorm]

Hi guys. I searched for this, but cannot find a RAW answer: how can I say, RAW, wether or not a spell that doesn't hp damage deals also sneak attack damage? Where are the rules? The only kind of rules I found about things like enervation or touch of fatigue spell refers to 3.5 CArcane, so I'd like a PF only answer. Can you help me? Maybe some post from developers in some remote thread?
Thanks for help :)

[BigNorseWolf]

In pathfinder no HP damage no sneaky attack.

[Dark Midian]

There's still no dev clarification for this. Most people seem to think you need to be dealing damage with the spell for it to function, because sneak attack damage is the same type of damage that the attack is, which means if your attack does no damage, there's no sneak attack.

There's also the fact that only the 10th level arcane trickster prestige class ability specifically mentions being able to sneak attack with spells, so who knows, maybe they specifically intended only the arcane trickster to be able to do that.

[Java Man]

I'm highly confident that you need hp damage and a to-hit roll. But heck if I can site a source for that at the moment.

[Blackstorm]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

In pathfinder no HP damage no sneaky attack.

Do you have any rule about that?

Java Man wrote:

I'm highly confident that you need hp damage and a to-hit roll. But heck if I can site a source for that at the moment.

I searched almost anywhere for a source about this topic. Can't find any.

[Claxon]

There is no stated rule, but the understanding is that to deal sneak attack damage (which is extra damage) you need to first deal damage (hp damage, not other types of damage like ability score).

[DmRrostarr]

Java Man wrote:

I'm highly confident that you need hp damage and a to-hit roll. But heck if I can site a source for that at the moment.

Arcane Trickster with the Surprise Spell ability doesn't need an attack roll to do sneak attack, but that is a corner case.

[DmRrostarr]

Blackstorm wrote:

Hi guys. I searched for this, but cannot find a RAW answer: how can I say, RAW, wether or not a spell that doesn't hp damage deals also sneak attack damage? Where are the rules? The only kind of rules I found about things like enervation or touch of fatigue spell refers to 3.5 CArcane, so I'd like a PF only answer. Can you help me? Maybe some post from developers in some remote thread?

Thanks for help :)

The first line under sneak attack implies you have to do damage:

"Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for EXTRA damage.

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."

Can't do extra damage if you can't do regular damage....