Spell and Sneak Attack Question

[Stultus]

Hello all, an npc my group is about to fight is a rogue/assassin, so he has some of those nifty assassin spells and he has a sneak attack. I know that I can apply the sneak attack dice to spell damage, and that the sneak attack damage changes type and all that. What I am wondering is if he were to sneak attack with a maximized, lets say Ice Knife, would the sneak attack dice be maximized.

The SRD for Maximize Spell reads,
"All variable, numeric effects of a spell modified by this feat are maximized. Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spells without random variables. A maximized spell uses up a spell slot three levels higher than the spell’s actual level."

I can see the argument that precision damage is extra and doesn't count as a spell effect, but I can also see the argument that because the sneak attack changes type, the new damage is a direct effect of the spell.

So basically, I'm not sure what to do... :smallconfused:

[Diarmuid]

Your ruling is right in the SRD text you quoted.

Are the Sneak Attack dice a numeric effect of the spell? No, then they arent maxmiized.

[Stultus]

Thanks, I feel really silly for not realizing that.

[Diarmuid]

No sillyness involved. Just an honest question.

[Annos]

any spell that has an attack roll can be used to sneak attack

[Siosilvar]

any spell that has an attack roll can be used to sneak attack

That wasn't the question. You'd have to know that to ask the question in the first place.

[SSGoW]

I ask questions to things I don't know before asking them....

Is there a spell that gives sneak attack in some way? I know there is a spell called "rage" and "transformation" that gives the wizard the barbarian stuff (plus better since they can buff before hand) so did they ever make a *grant sneak attack* spell where you gain 1d6 sneak attack/ 3 (or whatever) levels? That could get scary maximized and empowered.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Hunter's Eye (Ranger 2) does precisely that, giving you 1d6 sneak attack dice per 3 CLs for 1 round. Pretty bad in a ranger as they have an awful CL; but Unseen Seer's love it due the Divination CL buff they get and that they can persist it wihout a lot of hoops.

[Siosilvar]

I ask questions to things I don't know before asking them....

Is there a spell that gives sneak attack in some way? I know there is a spell called "rage" and "transformation" that gives the wizard the barbarian stuff (plus better since they can buff before hand) so did they ever make a *grant sneak attack* spell where you gain 1d6 sneak attack/ 3 (or whatever) levels? That could get scary maximized and empowered.

I don't think you could maximize or empower hunter's eye (which, by the way, is in the PHB2). It just gives you the sneak attack ability; the extra damage isn't caused by the spell.

[Togo]

Nighstalker's Transformation Wizard/Sorceror 5

It gives, amongst other bonuses, 3d6 bonus damage that 'works like a rogue's sneak attack ability. It works very much like Transformation.