DM Q&A: sneak attacks (Even more on...)

[Kain]

In that other thread, I believ it was decided that a Lawful cahracter would find distate in someone who uses sneak attacks. What wasn't specified was ranged attacks or melee. I mean in melee, a sneaky, dihonorable attack would stand out more than to hit a critcial point with an arrow from 30 feet away, dontcha think? So can you detect a sneak attack if its ranged as well?

[DM Valkyrie]

I would imagine, that the "sneak attack" with a ranged weapon would look as if the arrow/bolt/dart what have you, would appear to be "an excellent shot", going into the gaps of your opponent's armor, through thier eye, hitting just as they raised thier shield or guard as they were fending off your PCs attack etc.

How you decide to play that out, is up to how your character would think.

[Retired DM Gallin]

kain said:

In that other thread, I believ it was decided that a Lawful cahracter would find distate in someone who uses sneak attacks. What wasn't specified was ranged attacks or melee. I mean in melee, a sneaky, dihonorable attack would stand out more than to hit a critcial point with an arrow from 30 feet away, dontcha think? So can you detect a sneak attack if its ranged as well?

I'd like to correct that SOME lawful characters may find distaste in USING sneak attack, such as the Samurai mentioned by Laurk. However, that does not mean that any lawful character cannot have sneak attack, or even death attack. The assassin who carries out his contracts to the letter is still Lawful Evil, and would no doubt perform a death attack to kill (in the case of NWN, immoblize) his prey.

At the same time, this does not create a blanket statement that lawful companion's will be disgusted by a rogues fighting style. People can be lawful for many reasons. If that includes a certain sense of honor and a wish for a fair fight, then you may be trouble by it. But even then it's up to a call by an individual character on whether you would impose your own code of standards on those you travel with, or if it is something you use only as a personal marker.

Lawful can refer to either the upherence of a personal code of conduct, OR living the laws of the land.

~Gallin

[Kain]

Ah I mean to say a Lawful character could find sneak attacks distasteful, did not mean to imply that everyone had to. Ok and thakns for the answer.