Cunning Strike [3.5]

[SilverLeaf167]

I've got two questions about the Factotum class feature.

1.) Does the Sneak Attack last until the end of the encounter?
2.) Is it possible to spend additional Inspiration points to get a better Sneak Attack?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[Forged Fury]

1. The text implies that SA from Cunning Strike only effects a single attack roll.

2. According to Mike Mearls, Lead Developer for Dungeonscape, the answer is yes (https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20070412a).

[SilverLeaf167]

Okay, then I guess I have a potential one-hit encounter ender... my Factotum 9 has 20 Inspiration points, so SA 20d6 combined with a Wraithstrike... pretty much a sure hit, and the opponent should be at least severely wounded.

[Doc Roc]

Okay, then I guess I have a potential one-hit encounter ender... my Factotum 9 has 20 Inspiration points, so SA 20d6 combined with a Wraithstrike... pretty much a sure hit, and the opponent should be at least severely wounded.

Damage is damage, hitting is the hard part, even with wraithstrike. Wstrike is a darn good start though. :)

[true_shinken]

Okay, then I guess I have a potential one-hit encounter ender... my Factotum 9 has 20 Inspiration points, so SA 20d6 combined with a Wraithstrike... pretty much a sure hit, and the opponent should be at least severely wounded.

Then your opponent uses Abjurant Jaunt, Wings of Cover or Walls of Blades and you have nothing left to give.
Also, your using Wraithstrike from a wand, right?

[SilverLeaf167]

Well, if I manage to get a successful surprise attack (quite likely thanks to Brains over Brawn and high Dex+Int) or feint, the opponent will also be flat-footed. At level 9, a flat-footed touch attack ignores pretty much all of the opponent's remarkable AC boni.

[Forged Fury]

Okay, then I guess I have a potential one-hit encounter ender... my Factotum 9 has 20 Inspiration points, so SA 20d6 combined with a Wraithstrike... pretty much a sure hit, and the opponent should be at least severely wounded.
There probably should be a level cap somewhere in there, but the whole class is written somewhat inexactly (for instance, try to figure out exactly how Opportunistic Piety works. Touch? Range? AoO?). With Font of Inspiration abuse, you can get it somewhere around 65d6 or so.

[SilverLeaf167]

I'm trying to not go THAT much over the top... and I don't think I'll even really use the trick, it was merely a thought exercise and clarification of how the class feature works.