Hi. I was hoping to get some clarification on this archetype feature.
Regular sneak attack rules: You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Rakish Audacity:You don't need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.
So with the regular rules, you have a target, you have a conscious ally within 5' of them, and you can Sneak Attack. Cool, easy. But with Rakish Authority, it says within 5', no othercreatures are within 5' of me, and no disadvantage. So are these scenarios correct? If not, which ones are wrong, and why?
I am within 5' of Target1. Ally is within 5' of Target1. I can use Sneak Attack per normal rules.
I am within 5' of Target1. No allies are within 5' of us. No other enemies are within 5' of us. I can use Sneak Attack per Rakish Authority.
I am within 5' of Target1. No allies are within 5' of us. TargetB is on the other side of Target 1. I can use Sneak Attack per Rakish Authority.
I am within 5' of Target1. Someone else (doesn't matter, ally or enemy) is within 5' of me. I cannot use Sneak Attack.
So Rakish Authority makes it so it doesn't matter who is within 5' of my target, but I have to be isolated on all sides except for where my enemy is?
You are correct, but I believe it’s easier to analyze the context this ability was inspired: duels. 1x1 combat for the love of the lady.
If you are totally isolated fighting your opponent, like in a duel, you will be able to proceed with Sneak Attack thanks to Rakish Audacity.
If someone else is close-quarters to you, you’ll not be able to proc SA. But that’s why Cunning Action is so great. You could simply Disengage or Dash (or even Hide) to position yourself in a manner to benefit from Rakish Audacity.
Long-story short: Rakish Audacity + Cunning Action + allies with a good sense of positioning = almost 100% chance of SA usage.
This seems right; I tend to think of this feature as being about movement and space, which is why you don't want anyone else next to you.
If you do end up in situation 4., keep in mind you can freely move around an enemy if there's space to do-so, it's only if you move out of an enemy's reach that you trigger an opportunity attack, and if you can't do that, you can always Disengage as a bonus action, so there's very rarely going to be a time when you can't use this ability.
There are a few other Rogue sub-classes that can sneak attack semi-reliably every turn, but Swashbuckler I think is the easiest by far.
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There are a few other Rogue sub-classes that can sneak attack semi-reliably every turn, but Swashbuckler I think is the easiest by far.
Totally agree! Only Arcane Tricksters (Magic Initiate: Wizard) abusing Familiars can have a better way although not so reliable due to familiar fragility.
Oh, yes, I definitely was not complaining about Rakish Audacity's styling! Pulling someone out for a duel makes perfect sense, and I can definitely see it working great paired with Cunning Action or with ranged attacks. Just wanted to make sure I had the mechanics right. ;) I was fighting in close combat recently and was pretty sure I should not have been able to add my sneak attack in one or two of my turns, so I wanted to make sure I understood the rules right for next time. Thanks, all!
I always thought Rakish Audacity was an additional way to get sneak attack, not a replacement to get sneak attack, what I mean by that is, normal sneak attack rules if you have an ally you qualify as you would normally do, but with rakish, you can also go and "duel" an enemy who is by themselves and also get sneak attack as long as no other enemy is within 5 feet of you and the enemy you are "dueling"
I always thought Rakish Audacity was an additional way to get sneak attack, not a replacement to get sneak attack, what I mean by that is, normal sneak attack rules if you have an ally you qualify as you would normally do, but with rakish, you can also go and "duel" an enemy who is by themselves and also get sneak attack as long as no other enemy is within 5 feet of you and the enemy you are "dueling"
Yep that's 100% correct. It doesn't replace any of the typical Sneak Attack options, it just gives the character an additional option to Sneak Attack.
Hi. I was hoping to get some clarification on this archetype feature.
Regular sneak attack rules: You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Rakish Audacity:You don't need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.
So with the regular rules, you have a target, you have a conscious ally within 5' of them, and you can Sneak Attack. Cool, easy. But with Rakish Authority, it says within 5', no othercreatures are within 5' of me, and no disadvantage. So are these scenarios correct? If not, which ones are wrong, and why?
I am within 5' of Target1. Ally is within 5' of Target1. I can use Sneak Attack per normal rules.
I am within 5' of Target1. No allies are within 5' of us. No other enemies are within 5' of us. I can use Sneak Attack per Rakish Authority.
I am within 5' of Target1. No allies are within 5' of us. TargetB is on the other side of Target 1. I can use Sneak Attack per Rakish Authority.
I am within 5' of Target1. Someone else (doesn't matter, ally or enemy) is within 5' of me. I cannot use Sneak Attack.
So Rakish Authority makes it so it doesn't matter who is within 5' of my target, but I have to be isolated on all sides except for where my enemy is?
Not really. #4 is not always like you say. If #4 is an ally and that ally is also within 5 feet of the enemy then you have sneak per #1. If that creature is within 5 feet of you and NOT within 5 feet of the enemy or is not an ally then you can not sneak attack
Rakish Audacity does not take away the normal rules - You can be surrounded by 8 enemies on every side and as long as one of those enemies has an ally of yours within 5 feet of it, then you can sneak attack THAT enemy.
Now if there are no enemies with an ally within 5 feet and if you don't have advantage, in that case yes you need to be isolated on all sides to get SA.
Hi. I was hoping to get some clarification on this archetype feature.
Regular sneak attack rules: You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Rakish Audacity: You don't need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.
So with the regular rules, you have a target, you have a conscious ally within 5' of them, and you can Sneak Attack. Cool, easy. But with Rakish Authority, it says within 5', no other creatures are within 5' of me, and no disadvantage. So are these scenarios correct? If not, which ones are wrong, and why?
So Rakish Authority makes it so it doesn't matter who is within 5' of my target, but I have to be isolated on all sides except for where my enemy is?
You are correct, but I believe it’s easier to analyze the context this ability was inspired: duels. 1x1 combat for the love of the lady.
If you are totally isolated fighting your opponent, like in a duel, you will be able to proceed with Sneak Attack thanks to Rakish Audacity.
If someone else is close-quarters to you, you’ll not be able to proc SA. But that’s why Cunning Action is so great. You could simply Disengage or Dash (or even Hide) to position yourself in a manner to benefit from Rakish Audacity.
Long-story short: Rakish Audacity + Cunning Action + allies with a good sense of positioning = almost 100% chance of SA usage.
This seems right; I tend to think of this feature as being about movement and space, which is why you don't want anyone else next to you.
If you do end up in situation 4., keep in mind you can freely move around an enemy if there's space to do-so, it's only if you move out of an enemy's reach that you trigger an opportunity attack, and if you can't do that, you can always Disengage as a bonus action, so there's very rarely going to be a time when you can't use this ability.
There are a few other Rogue sub-classes that can sneak attack semi-reliably every turn, but Swashbuckler I think is the easiest by far.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Totally agree! Only Arcane Tricksters (Magic Initiate: Wizard) abusing Familiars can have a better way although not so reliable due to familiar fragility.
Oh, yes, I definitely was not complaining about Rakish Audacity's styling! Pulling someone out for a duel makes perfect sense, and I can definitely see it working great paired with Cunning Action or with ranged attacks. Just wanted to make sure I had the mechanics right. ;) I was fighting in close combat recently and was pretty sure I should not have been able to add my sneak attack in one or two of my turns, so I wanted to make sure I understood the rules right for next time. Thanks, all!
I always thought Rakish Audacity was an additional way to get sneak attack, not a replacement to get sneak attack, what I mean by that is, normal sneak attack rules if you have an ally you qualify as you would normally do, but with rakish, you can also go and "duel" an enemy who is by themselves and also get sneak attack as long as no other enemy is within 5 feet of you and the enemy you are "dueling"
Yep that's 100% correct. It doesn't replace any of the typical Sneak Attack options, it just gives the character an additional option to Sneak Attack.
that's is both how it works, and exactly what it says.
Not really. #4 is not always like you say. If #4 is an ally and that ally is also within 5 feet of the enemy then you have sneak per #1. If that creature is within 5 feet of you and NOT within 5 feet of the enemy or is not an ally then you can not sneak attack
Rakish Audacity does not take away the normal rules - You can be surrounded by 8 enemies on every side and as long as one of those enemies has an ally of yours within 5 feet of it, then you can sneak attack THAT enemy.
Now if there are no enemies with an ally within 5 feet and if you don't have advantage, in that case yes you need to be isolated on all sides to get SA.