How to sneak attack through concealment?

[ayvango]

What spells or items may be used to foil sneak attack restriction about concealment? True seeing explicitly specifies that it does not help against concealment, including fog. So cheap obscuring mist could make a rogue useless. In the mist case specifically, the Cloud Cloak may help. But what about other cases of light concealment? Could chain of eyes be used to observe the target before striking sneak attack? Other creative uses of common spells?

[Troacctid]

Blindsight should do it.

[ayvango]

Would chain of eyes to a blind-sight creature work, or you need to become blindsighted yourself?

[Lord Vukodlak]

Would chain of eyes to a blind-sight creature work, or you need to become blindsighted yourself?

Anything that defeats the concealment would work. But looking at the spell I'd say no. Chain of Eyes let you look through another creature's eyes. Blndsight uses nonvisual senses. It would work on a creature with true seeing or perhaps even lifesense. There are items that can defeat concealment. I recall some goggles that ignored smoke and fog, I think they were called fogcutter goggles.

[rel]

lets see:

seeking weapon enchantment (range only)
the faerie fire spell
torchbug paste alchemical item
the pierce magical concealment feat (works on wizard tricks only)
truestrike (inefficient)
crystal mask of insight magic item
bracers of accuracy magic item (possibly ranged only)
rapier of unnerring direction (relic)
psi power moment of insight
touch sight psi power
mind sight feat (might not work)
guided shot spell (partial concealment only)
critical strike spell
improved precise shot (no full concealement also terrible prereqs)

I'm missing a ranger spell and a few class features I think,

[ayvango]

lets see:

seeking weapon enchantment (range only)
the faerie fire spell
torchbug paste alchemical item
the pierce magical concealment feat (works on wizard tricks only)
truestrike (inefficient)
crystal mask of insight magic item
bracers of accuracy magic item (possibly ranged only)
rapier of unnerring direction (relic)
psi power moment of insight
touch sight psi power
mind sight feat (might not work)
guided shot spell (partial concealment only)
critical strike spell
improved precise shot (no full concealement also terrible prereqs)

I'm missing a ranger spell and a few class features I think,
1. Seeking weapon just negates miss chance but does not lift concealment, so rogue still could not observe his target properly.
2. Faerie fire spell is good, but works against limited list of concealment effects, doubles true seeing but could be cast on target instead of attacker
3. Like faerie fire.
5. Again, it ignores miss chances, but does not lift concealment
6. Could not find the source
7. Again, it deals with miss chance, not with negating concealment
8. Miss chance is not equal to concealment. Even if you hits automatically with weapon, you could not control where exactly the blow lands.

[ekarney]

True Strike is my personal favorite and for something like sneak attack it's almost ideal.

It specifically states that it ignores concealment and the +20 to hit is appreciated

[ayvango]

It specifically states that it ignores concealment and the +20 to hit is appreciated



You gain temporary, intuitive insight into the immediate future during your next attack. Your next single attack roll (if it is made before the end of the next round) gains a +20 insight bonus. Additionally, you are not affected by the miss chance that applies to attackers trying to strike a concealed target.
But the target remains concealed, so it does not ignore concealment.

[ekarney]

But the target remains concealed, so it does not ignore concealment.

The spell itself gives you suggestions such as wind, or you know fire.
Or Dispel, for reasons unknown tends to make spell effects moot.

If they're invisible, spot check for foot prints/listen for sounds should allow you to narrow it to a single square

Moving 5 squares to the left or right negates cover since you can then see past it.

Dawn burst is an option.
Fiery eyes is a level 1 spell you can burn the fog with (depending on interpretation)
Any spells which grants decent wings or gust of wind.

Alternatively, chances are your DM is trying to challenge you for this one encounter and probably wants you to think outside of sneak attack.

If this is a common occurrence, doing anything in game won't help.

[rel]

If you cannot sneak attack because of it you are being affected by the concealment. Ergo, anything that says you are not affected by concealment allows you to sneak attack.

Similarly if the target does not benefit from concealment then the benefit of immune to precision damage does not apply.

[Darrin]

Torch bug paste. 25 GP, Complete Scoundrel. Negates concealment (except magical darkness).

[sleepyphoenixx]

Either a Blindfold of True Darkness (9,000gp, MIC, 30ft blindsight but can't see) or the Blindsighted weapon enhancement (30,000gp, Und, 30ft blindsight while wielded) on armor spikes or a gauntlet are the go-to options for my sneak attackers (or anyone who isn't a caster, really).
Before that Torchbug Paste should deal with 95% of concealment issues and everyone can afford it - the only downside is the action cost.
I always carry some around because it works in an AMF, can't be dispelled and helps out allies or summons, even after you get a better item.

Fire Eyes is a druid cantrip (MoTW) that lets you see through non-magical fire, smoke and fog. Doesn't help against Obscuring Mist and the like but it's cheap and useful enough to carry a wand anyway for when it comes up.
Ebon Eyes (SpC, Ass 1, Wiz 1, Cl 1) is similar, it lets you see through magical and nonmagical darkness. The magical part is especially important since that's also pretty rare, and unlike blindsight it has no range limitation so it stays useful - get a wand of that too to share among the party.

Blindsight is the best option since it removes concealment from pretty much everything within range - fog, darkness, smoke, blur/displacement, invisibility, etc. - you name it, blindsight no-sells it.
The only things that get around it is Darkstalker (which few to no monsters have) and Superior Invisibility (which is a short-duration 8th level spell). For those you need Touchsight.
If you're paranoid (or they're really out to get you) but aren't a psion you can try to get it as a Psionic Tattoo from an NPC, they cost the same as potions and work pretty much the same but don't weigh anything. Bit of a hassle and a small expense (750gp/use) but the only thing that gets around Touchsight is incorporeality, so it's a good emergency option.

[Fizban]

The Diadem of Purelight soulmeld gives off light that can negate concealment for everything within it's bright light radius (base 20'), but you need the crown bind for that effect. A two level dip in Incarnate will do it, as will two feats for Shape Soulmeld (DoP) and Open Least Chakra (Crown) with the second feat requiring 6th character level.

Of course it also negates your own concealment so getting sneak via hide is that much harder. You can still pop out from corners but you can't pop out of Darkness of fog anymore. Most people seem to prefer flanking anyway, and the diadem helps the whole party by negating concealment at the source rather than just for you.

[trikkydik]

What kind of concealment?

hiding behind a wall? (Use splash damage, fireball etc.)

hiding in a fog? (wind gust)

Displacement concealment? (true sight, true strike, blind fight)

Magical darkness? (magical daylight, any light spell of stronger casting)

ethereal concealment? (weapons of ghost touch, any force damage)

blink? (blind fight, sensory perception) + ghost touch/force damage = dead blinker.)



ALSO - True strike negates all forms of concealment. it is like divine intervention, true strike always hits, unless ethereal. (in which case true strike + ghost touch sword = dead ethereal monster.)

Hope this helps.

[ayvango]

Ergo, anything that says you are not affected by concealment allows you to sneak attack.

Most things in the list specifies that you are not affected by miss chances. Concealment in general is still in place. e.g. you could hit invisible foe without miss, but you still can not see it, so you could not pick the vital point to attack

[ayvango]

ALSO - True strike negates all forms of concealment. it is like divine intervention, true strike always hits, unless ethereal. (in which case true strike + ghost touch sword = dead ethereal monster.)

Hope this helps.

Where does this wording is from? SRD true strike just add +20 AB.



hiding behind a wall? (Use splash damage, fireball etc.)
You could use spalsh damage, but you could not use sneak attack in that case. Because sneak attach specifically requires unobstructed vision


A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking
a creature with concealment (see page 152) or striking the limbs of a
creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

[Darrin]

Where does this wording is from? SRD true strike just add +20 AB.


From this part:

"Additionally, you are not affected by the miss chance that applies to attackers trying to strike a concealed target."

[Eladrinblade]

Faerie fire ought to be your go-to spell here. Its 1st level and works on the stuff that can be helped.

[Psyren]

If you're playing Pathfinder, Unchained Rogues (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/rogue-unchained) ignore any concealment less than total concealment when sneak attacking, including dim light and blur.

[TheIronGolem]

From this part:

"Additionally, you are not affected by the miss chance that applies to attackers trying to strike a concealed target."

I'm guessing he was referring to the claim about "always hits unless ethereal".