Sneak Attack (Babau)

[Cipollino]

Okay, here's the situation

 P R F
   B  
   B

my dudes:
P - Paladin
R - Rogue
F - fighter

my no dudes:
B- Babau

My dudes looking at them, they are looking at me. And looking me straight in the eyes they do sneak attack. How? I'm in range, I'm holding melee weapon, I know they are there and I see them, I'm able to defend myself. How come they are doing sneak attacks and I'm not. (Well, I see why I'm not)

I can't recall any of Ghoul / Rogues doing this, only Babau.
Is this some special sort of sneak attack?

[HaleMary]

Probably because you're flanked. That's one of the conditions that allows sneak attacks, it's not just visibility. It can also trigger if you're flat footed, blinded, stunned, etc. Babaus use spears so they have a long reach and can threaten a wide area. According to your diagram your rogue should also be able to sneak attack the babau in front since you're flanking it.

[Cipollino]

Originally posted by HaleMary:

Probably because you're flanked. That's one of the conditions that allows sneak attacks, it's not just visibility. It can also trigger if you're flat footed, blinded, stunned, etc. Babaus use spears so they have a long reach and can threaten a wide area. According to your diagram your rogue should also be able to sneak attack the babau in front since you're flanking it.

It's definitely not flat-footed, because it's not first round of contact. It is also not the reach issue, since my Rogue had to get close enough to reach with a rapier. And no, I don't get Sneak Attack just for flanking enemies.

AFAIR, both 3 and 3.5 Sneak Atack rules boils down to "atack someone who is not currently atacking you"
it's either
- initiate combat from sneak/invisibility
- attack from the back
- attack someone who is engaged in combat with someone else
- perform AoO

But it never worked when you are in a plain sight of your target

[Cipollino]

Originally posted by HaleMary:

Probably because you're flanked. That's one of the conditions that allows sneak attacks, it's not just visibility. It can also trigger if you're flat footed, blinded, stunned, etc. Babaus use spears so they have a long reach and can threaten a wide area. According to your diagram your rogue should also be able to sneak attack the babau in front since you're flanking it.

Okay, I double checked, flanking succubus and poking him in the face does provoke a Sneak Attack =/