Getting Sneak Attacks

[Arkusus]

So, if I'm making a rouge-type character (any class with sneak attack) what are some extra ways to get sneak attacks other than flanking?

I'm particularly interested in ways that can be used when being the first character to engage an enemy. Basically the idea is to drop Strength in favor of Dex, but maintain reliable damage as much as possible.

[Starbuck_II]

So, if I'm making a rouge-type character (any class with sneak attack) what are some extra ways to get sneak attacks other than flanking?

I'm particularly interested in ways that can be used when being the first character to engage an enemy. Basically the idea is to drop Strength in favor of Dex, but maintain reliable damage as much as possible.

You can use fear effects to be able to sneak attack if you multiclass into Complete Scoundrel's Dread Executioner.
There are a phrethla of ways to give fear effects.

If you have a friendly mage or Use Magic Device, a scroll/wand of Grease denies Dexterity (due to Balancing rules).

The Feint maneuver works, but should be counted as a class resort due to wasting standard action prior.

Invisibility or greater version will work.

Blink will work, but there is a chance you'll miss 50% of time.

[GameSpawn]

Going first :smallsmile:. (This is actually a semi-serious point: boosting your initiative is a fairly effective way to get one sneak attack off).

The acrobatic backstab skill trick (Complete Scoundrel) allows you to make an opponent flat-footed once per round (requires 12 ranks in Tumble).

The feat Telling Blow (PHB II) allows you to deal sneak attack damage anytime you get a critical hit.

Turning invisible or something similar is a pretty popular option.

[Emperor Tippy]

If you act before your enemy does in combat then he is flat footed and thus denied Dex to AC, which gives you sneak attack.

So pump your initiative and go first.

[prufock]

People compile lists of this kind of thing.
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5875080&postcount=7
Link button isn't working for some reason.

[Kennisiou]

Another good way is to just deny your enemy dex to AC. Simply casting grease on anything without 5 ranks in balance works (assuming it isn't flying/swimming), since even if it succeeds on the balance check it's denied its AC. A wand of grease and UMD works nicely, or you could play a psychic rogue and add psionic grease to your powers list with the expanded knowledge feat.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Get Quick-Draw and a bunch of marbles (A&EG). Put a batch of marbles in a folded square of cloth and ready it on your belt as a weaponlike object. You can quick-draw it (free action) and drop it in an adjacent square (free action), the folded cloth will fall open and spill the marbles. Per the Balance skill, the opponent will be considered balancing and thus flat-footed if they don't have at least five ranks in the Balance skill.

A Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) can help you flank if you're off by yourself. You can get a high Dex companion with decent Hide and Move Silently, give it Martial Study and Martial Stance for Island of Blades, and always have it next to you so anything you both threaten is considered flanked. If you get a companion that's one size smaller than yourself, it can actually ride on you (probably on your shoulder) so even if it gets a horrible initiative, it will still threaten anyone you're threatening.

[A.A.King]

If you want to build around going first, consider Sneak Attack Fighter and Drow Fighter, even if only for 1 level. The first is an ACF from UA and gives you Sneak Attack progression (like a rogue) in exchange for your bonus feats and Drow Fight is an ACD from DotU which gives you a +2 to initiative and Dex To Damage when targeting a flatfooted opponent (which is what your opponent will be when you go first) in exchange for Heavy Armor Proficiency and Tower Shield Proficiency.