Fiddlehead Fern
2004-02-16 06:53:16 UTC
Hola,
The campaign I'm playing in right now is Rogue (and Assassin) heavy, and
the group is involved in a struggle with a rival assassins guild, so we
find ourselves fighting lots of roguey types. The problem that's vexing us
now is the issue of Uncanny Dodge versus Sneak Attack.
My basic question is this: does Uncanny Dodge always trump Sneak Attack?
Example 1: An undetected Rogue jumps out of the shadows and attacks a
target. My understanding is this: if the target has Uncanny Dodge it is NOT
a Sneak Attack no matter what the level of the attacker.
There was some discussion that it is still a Sneak Attack, but the Uncanny
Dodge just allows the defender to keep the DEX bonus to their AC, but I do
not think that is consistent with the rules for Sneak Attack. As I read it,
as long as a character gets their DEX bonus, they are immune to surprise
Sneak Attacks.
Example 2: A rogue flanks a target and attacks. If the target has Improved
Uncanny Dodge, then it is NOT a sneak attack unless the Rogue has 4 more
levels than the target. Assuming the attacking Rogue is not high enough
level, the attacker does not even get the +2 flanking bonus, since Improved
Uncanny Dodge states outright that you cannot be flanked, yes?
Would it be unreasonable to attach the 4 level exception to regular Uncanny
Dodge? It seems a little odd that a 4th level Rogue or a 2nd level
Barbarian is immune to the scariest part of surprise attacks from the most
powerful Rogues and Assassins.
ff
The campaign I'm playing in right now is Rogue (and Assassin) heavy, and
the group is involved in a struggle with a rival assassins guild, so we
find ourselves fighting lots of roguey types. The problem that's vexing us
now is the issue of Uncanny Dodge versus Sneak Attack.
My basic question is this: does Uncanny Dodge always trump Sneak Attack?
Example 1: An undetected Rogue jumps out of the shadows and attacks a
target. My understanding is this: if the target has Uncanny Dodge it is NOT
a Sneak Attack no matter what the level of the attacker.
There was some discussion that it is still a Sneak Attack, but the Uncanny
Dodge just allows the defender to keep the DEX bonus to their AC, but I do
not think that is consistent with the rules for Sneak Attack. As I read it,
as long as a character gets their DEX bonus, they are immune to surprise
Sneak Attacks.
Example 2: A rogue flanks a target and attacks. If the target has Improved
Uncanny Dodge, then it is NOT a sneak attack unless the Rogue has 4 more
levels than the target. Assuming the attacking Rogue is not high enough
level, the attacker does not even get the +2 flanking bonus, since Improved
Uncanny Dodge states outright that you cannot be flanked, yes?
Would it be unreasonable to attach the 4 level exception to regular Uncanny
Dodge? It seems a little odd that a 4th level Rogue or a 2nd level
Barbarian is immune to the scariest part of surprise attacks from the most
powerful Rogues and Assassins.
ff