Sneak Attack Question.

[Hyrulian182]

So i was reading the Book 1 till my eyes hit Sneak Attack.

The question is: "Why only short weapons"? What about other weapons and ranged weapons? No offense, but i think this is limiting

[K2K]

Well, large weapons could be called 'cumbersome equipment' - carrying them makes it impossible to perform a Sneak Attack, as stated by the rules. Obviously, this is subject to personal interpretation, but I imagine a long sword just can't be wielded in a way to perform a Sneak Attack.

Ranged combat has its own Fighting Style, Archery. I *can* see how a Sneak Attack would make sense for a stealthy archer, however. As a GM, I'd probably allow the Sneak Attack to be performed with a bow, though we haven't encountered this problem yet.

[Hyrulian182]

Well, large weapons could be called 'cumbersome equipment' - carrying them makes it impossible to perform a Sneak Attack, as stated by the rules. Obviously, this is subject to personal interpretation, but I imagine a long sword just can't be wielded in a way to perform a Sneak Attack.

Must agree there even if I didn't meant by "other weapons" a longsword

My bad

Ranged combat has its own Fighting Style, Archery. I *can* see how a Sneak Attack would make sense for a stealthy archer, however. As a GM, I'd probably allow the Sneak Attack to be performed with a bow, though we haven't encountered this problem yet.

Was my thought too, what brings me too another question!
Wich skill would be rolled then? Would you take in account only one skill benefit (example: +5 Dmg) or would you allow either (example: 5 dmg + 2 and no penalties)?

I personaly would take the higher skill and the benefits for either into account

[K2K]

Ranged combat has its own Fighting Style, Archery. I *can* see how a Sneak Attack would make sense for a stealthy archer, however. As a GM, I'd probably allow the Sneak Attack to be performed with a bow, though we haven't encountered this problem yet.

Was my thought too, what brings me too another question!
Wich skill would be rolled then? Would you take in account only one skill benefit (example: +5 Dmg) or would you allow either (example: 5 dmg + 2 and no penalties)?

I personaly would take the higher skill and the benefits for either into account

Well, Archery seems to be an in-combat skill, since the player sacrifices speed in order to shoot more accurately, while Sneak Attack is a pre-combat action.

Out of combat, I'd let players use Sneak Attack as it is, i.e. granting a free attack before the start of combat with +5 damage, with two or three succesful Stealth checks as a prerequisite.
In combat, I'm not sure whether I'd even allow Sneak Attack, at all. Combat in my view of SoE is a quick, messy and violent business. After a character has executed a Sneak Attack, there probably is no way for them to escape their opponents' view in the less than 10 seconds acombat usually takes. Well, maybe with a 10 on their Stealth check...

How would you handle it?

[Hyrulian182]

Well, Archery seems to be an in-combat skill, since the player sacrifices speed in order to shoot more accurately, while Sneak Attack is a pre-combat action.

Out of combat, I'd let players use Sneak Attack as it is, i.e. granting a free attack before the start of combat with +5 damage, with two or three succesful Stealth checks as a prerequisite.
In combat, I'm not sure whether I'd even allow Sneak Attack, at all. Combat in my view of SoE is a quick, messy and violent business. After a character has executed a Sneak Attack, there probably is no way for them to escape their opponents' view in the less than 10 seconds acombat usually takes. Well, maybe with a 10 on their Stealth check...

How would you handle it?

Depends on the players, moment and atmosphere
But again, personaly, with my players, I would take everything into account (because my players like bonuses/penalties trough logical and reality based explanations).

First let's take into account that there are more Sneak Attack situtations:
Pre-Combat and In-Combat.

Pre-Combat:

Stealth vs Percpeption contest, ofc +/- bonuses and penalties from:
- Advantage and Disadvantage
- Penalty from low health/ilness
- Circumnstance bonuses/penalties (terrain, sound, vision etc.)

If I see that the favors go way ahead (like cca. +5 or more without dice) against the NPC, i would ask just 1 roll from the PC (or 2 for a more tense and dramatical scene in case he gets "critical failure" or/and a Luck/Intution roll in case the guards "coincidently" senses the PC) and visa-versa in all variants.

If th PC succeeds in the attempt, i would give him ALL the bonuses and penalties for the shot, take all from above again but include:

- Target moving, running or standing
- Way + Ambush (i count that as a offensive attitude) + Archery + Weapon dmg

And if it hits against Defense Rate,

Success Margin + Sneak Attack 5 dmg - Protection Rate = Damage points

In-Combat: Again, debatable

The only thing i don't understand is why, Archery (why is it in the "Close Combat" Domain anyway?), Sneak Attack and Mounted Combat aren't Disciplines for the Shooting and Throwing Domain? It seems that there will be very enough things to houserule for me and my players

[iznurda]

Myself I remove the +5 of the defense score when the target are surprised, the most of the time with ranged weapons (it's the sneak bonus, in fact :p) It is very lethal but it seems logical to me that an archer can kill someone with one arrow. The same with an assassin.
Anyway, ranged weapons are very efficiency in SoE.

iz

[K2K]

Actually, a penalty to defense for being surprised or unaware does make sense. I'll keep that in mind for our group.